FIVE SMOOTH STONES - The Five Ascension Gifts in the Heavenly Shepherds Bag

FIVE SMOOTH STONES — The Five Ascension Gifts in the Heavenly Shepherd’s Bag

we have those precious things in the first place. Our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is our reason for the effort we expend. By seeing the connectivity through time between the warning given by Paul and the commendation given by Jesus, it is encouraging that the Lord truly was watching over the Church in Ephesus personally, and, by association, He is watching over the Church today just as carefully and lovingly. Today we have just as much reason to beware that we do not leave our first love or let our love grow cold. Just as the apostle Paul used his example as a true apostle as an example of a true servant leader we have other warnings in scripture about false apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers. One thing that stands out to me through these warnings in scripture is that in each case the warning is being given by someone operating in the exact ministry that is being warned about. The Holy Spirit only used a true prophet to warn of the false. Only a true apostle was called upon to warn of false apostles, true shepherds were used to warn of the false, and so on. Today we are in grave need of true leaders, those who will lead by example and serve through true gifts and calling. These leaders must also be effectively able to reveal the differences between true and false ministry. This also goes for secular leaders, as the same principle is true throughout society. The scripture tells us in Proverbs 29:2, “ When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. ” The same principle which Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24 is also applicable to governments, militaries, businesses and other organizations. When false leaders are in authority the people will be much more likely to lose heart and the danger of lawlessness increases. If we give serious consideration to how these exact things may be affecting us today, we may well be encouraged in our present situation and have the strength to over- come and “not grow weary in doing well.” Proverbs 13:12, “ Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life .”

While it may be true that deferred hope can sicken our heart, and weak and false leaders can cause us to lose heart and leave our first

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