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

There are two principles that when applied to ministries, bring balance to one another. The first is the principle of proven faithfulness and approval. Concerning ministry, Jesus taught his disciples that if they could not be faithful with the assignments given to them in another person’s ministry, that they would not be given their own ministry. This seems to address the illegitimate birthing of ministries and the training and testing of abilities, calling and gifting Luke 16:12 “ And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own ?” Then there is the other side of the stone, the Church needs to identify and receive the gifts, as they are sent by the Lord. We should seek after the gifts He has provided for us and if we cannot, or will not, it is possible that we will miss the Lord and what He intends for us. Matthew 23:39 “ for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord !'" In conclusion, just as those stones that David picked from the brook had been created by God and had been polished through the tumbling and turbulent flow, and were ready for battle, so the fivefold ministry gifts of God are given by Him to equip the saints into their fullness, to round off the rough edges and prepare us for spiritual battle. These fivefold ministry gifts work together to help the saints to come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, perfected, and increasing in measure to the stature of Christ; so the saints are not immature and tossed around by winds of doctrine, not easily tricked by men. The Bible has presented the necessary instructions to prepare us to avoid the pitfalls and to strengthen the gift ministries in order to strengthen the Church. And so the believer, having walked with, learned from, and matured into God’s calling through the gift ministries that God has provided, is “ able to speak the truth in love, and growing up into the head of the Church, Christ, helping to join and knit together every part of the body of Christ, according as every part does its share, and causing the growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. ” (Ephesians 4:13-16).

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