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

Even in the days of John the apostle there was a spirit blessed by Satan working in the Church which desired to have preeminence. Just as Lucifer desired preeminence in the heavens, this spirit desires preeminence in the Church. This spirit functioning through men, uses the doctrine of the Nicolaitans to secure a position which operates to keep the people bound under the doctrines of men rather than the commissioning of Christ. This is the spirit which comes against the Holy Spirit and the five ministries the Lord uses to equip and often reveal Himself to His Church. We saw that the name Gaius means to rejoice, and through that we know that one way to battle this spirit is to remain energized and joyful and keeping our focus on our first love and praising Him. We saw that Jesus, through John, spoke to the Church in Ephesus and commended them for having discerned false apostles, discerned that they were liars, and did not follow their doctrines. He also reminded them that they had lost their first love in the process of dealing with those false ministers. However, He also commended them for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans which Jesus also hated. The Church in Ephesus had been equipped by the apostle Paul. The elders had been trained and commissioned by him, and prophetically warned by him of the test which would come from among them - of men coming against the people (Acts 20:17-31). They were commended for not allowing false apostles to replace the true apostles, and false leaders to raise up above the others taking preeminence, thereby grieving the Holy Spirit. Christianity is the only major world philosophy whose founder is still alive and can - and desires to - influence the daily activities of His people. A major deception amongst the leaders of Christianity is that Jesus is alive in name only, but not in function. Jesus really is alive and wants to be the functioning head of His Church, raising His people up as disciples through His leaders, those gifts which He has given from His ascended position. This spirit of Diotrephes, often using the doctrine of the Nicolaitans is far too preeminent in His Church, allowing hell to prevail.

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