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

way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. 20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. 21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, "Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?" 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. ” We will never be able to answer our question as to when Saul’s calling originated without understanding perspective; God’s perspective and man’s perspective. Answering this question is quite important to understanding the discipleship, calling, commissioning and activities of the men and woman called to serve as apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers in our day and time, and not understanding this has led to much confusion, wounding, and unnecessary frustration, as well as hindering the gift ministries from ministering to His Church in the way that He specified in the scripture. When it comes to perspective we can be enlightened about records in scripture which are confusing to the untrained, and even have led to the false accusation that the Bible, or Scripture, contradicts itself. As the Word of God “ ... never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:19-21). 2 Peter 1:19 “ And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. ” A good example of scriptural perspective can be found in the records regarding the death of King Saul. In this first record, King Saul fell upon his own sword when his armor bearer refused to kill him at the King’s own request: 1 Samuel 31:4 “ Then Saul said to his armor bearer,

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