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

In his day Paul also encountered this, but he did not emphasize this as a sign of apostolic ministry, but emphasized perseverance, obedience, humility and servanthood of the true apostle. 1 Corinthians 4:8 “ You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us — and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you! 9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. ” Those same things which are wrongly applied to true New Testament apostles, were likewise wrongly allowed with the kings of Israel. Deuteronomy 17:14 " When you come to the land which the Lord your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, 'I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me,' 15 you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. 16 But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the Lord has said to you, 'You shall not return that way again.' 17 Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself. ” The true New Testament apostle is not to be a Lord over God’s people (1 Pet 5:3), not to be led after “the gold, the girls or the glory,” but are to be involved in God’s true kingdom government which includes administering the justice of God with the wisdom of God. Matthew 23:34 “ Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men… .” Luke 11:49 “ Therefore the wisdom of God also said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles… ” Wisdom in righteous judgment was what the kings were supposed to supply first and foremost for the people of God, and likewise the true New Testament apostle should be known for wisdom in righteous judgment.

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