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

Kingdom, but it is not built like a pyramid, but like a net (Matthew 13:47). People are placed like knots in a net, built not from the top down, but from each knot connecting out with others, strengthening and reaching out to one another. He has set order in His Church through those whom He has called to lead. As an example of rank and order in His kingdom, when James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and asked if one could be seated at His right hand and the other at His left - both seats of high authority - He did not rebuke them, but only said it would be up to His Father who would be placed in these seats of authority “ is for those for whom it is prepared. ” 2 (Matt 20:23, Mark 10:40). He then continued by teaching the apostles about leadership in His Kingdom Matt 20:25 ... “ You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave — 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many .” 1 Corinthians 12:28 “ And God has set [placed, appointed] some in the Church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helpers, administrators, various kinds of tongues. ” When Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, that He would “ ... build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it .” He never promised that the powers of hell could not prevail against a Church that He has not built, or that was not built after the pattern which He presented to us. The pattern for His Church is built on fellowship, first with Him, and then with one another, and He reveals His ministry of The Apostle, The Prophet, The Evangelist, The Shepherd, and The Teacher (Jesus), through men and women whom he has called and commissioned into those gift ministries. These in turn raise up and disciple the people of God to exercise His Great Commission. Later Paul the apostle spoke of those whom the Lord has set in order in His Kingdom leadership.

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