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

" One of illegitimate birth shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the Lord. ” In our society illegitimacy is rampant and widespread. Illegitimacy and fatherlessness do noticeably affect how people relate to one another in society and the congregation of the Lord and in a society. One of the greatest examples of how illegitimacy affects relationships, is the greater societal tension which exists in our schools and inner cities today, in part because of the destruction of the traditional nuclear family. The additional stress placed upon the children and young people affects how they are able to relate peacefully with one another. So it also seems to be with ministry. While ministry simply means “ to serve ” and serving should be something one is willing to do whenever it is possible or whenever you may be called upon to help. Yet being released into a ministry is quite different. When someone is gifted and proven in a ministry and recognized and released there is a covering, which is a relational protection that goes along with the gift ministry. When those who may have a gift, but have been released in a figurative sense “illegitimately,” most often by releasing themselves, it is noticeable that although the gift may be great, it is often not received into the congregation of the Lord. In most cases it is not even clear if this is a conscious decision on the part of the Church. It seems it is a spiritual unction which is there from the Lord as a form of spiritual protection for the congregation. Recall how David was called by God and anointed by Samuel. With this anointing he went back to his regular assigned labors and proved his abilities and anointing. When it came time to stand before the Giant, he had proven himself in other tests and was ready for the big one with his five smooth stones. He had other tests and had other commissionings as his calling increased. Likewise in the Church today, we need to identify the gifts the Lord has given from on high. We must also allow for proving and testing of the gifts and a time to commission and release them in accordance with the timing of the Lord and the needs of the Church and the harvest field.

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