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

encouraged to do so. I’m sure David could have justified it, either through the law of self- defense or through justifying it as he was already anointed to be king, but he would not get in the way of God’s present anointing to try to rush his own anointing, and God honored him for this greatly. There can be stages of commissioning and release into ministry, and David went through three different anointings to step into his calling as King. First, he was called out and anointed to be future king by Samuel in front of his family (1 Samuel 16:13). Second, he was commissioned as the king over Judah (2 Samuel 2:4), and then finally as King over all Israel (2 Samuel 5:3). The sons of Issachar were credited with understanding the times, including where it was the proper time for David’s commissioning as king over Israel (1 Chronicles 12:32). May we also have the same understanding that they had concerning not allowing ministry to be fully released before it can be proven, so that it may bring all that the Lord intends through the calling. Paul also spoke to this idea when he advised Timothy in the context of recognizing eldership, 1 Timothy 5:22 “ Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people's sins; keep yourself pure .” He was saying that by laying hands upon someone for ordination or commissioning (1 Timothy 3) and releasing someone prematurely, there can be a shared judgment for the one who was released and the one who did the releasing. Better to understand the timing and the testing of the Lord. No man must be perfect before he is commissioned, but he should be purified. There are other types of testing which must be considered and understood so they may not serve as pitfalls. The testing of Balaam, the prophet and false teacher who chose earthly entitlements over heavenly riches, provides such a lesson. Jezebel, who entices the bondservants of God way from their true calling to subvert the anointing for selfish advancements, provides another insight to walking around pitfalls. And Absalom, who betrayed the leader by using the authority which was delegated to him, only to win people’s hearts over to himself to attempt a hostile takeover, teaches a valuable lesson in walking with the Lord.

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