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

this and ask for forgiveness. The best place to learn and grow in this is with our company of believers who know us and pray for us and can learn along with us how to correct mistakes, ask forgiveness and identify shortcomings as well as long suits. The apostle Paul gave the exhortation concerning the importance of discerning the body of Christ and judging ourselves so that we can receive the benefits of the Lord’s sacrifice, brought to remembrance with koinonia communion, the Lord’s supper. If we do not, many will be sick, weak or even perish. The best place really to learn to discern the body of Christ, judge ourselves and get back in proper alignment, as both John and Paul express, is with our trusted company of believers with whom we have koinonia relationship. A wise master builder will recognize this and use these relationships to build the assembly, the ekklesia of God, and according to the scriptures we need the koinonia communion with one another to have the same deep fellowship with the Lord.

ENDNOTES: 20 The Complete Jewish Bible: https://www.Biblestudy- tools.com/cjb/ (March, 2018).

21 A few examples of “companies” in scripture, the company of Peter, praying at Mark’s Mother’s House, (Acts 12:12); Paul, Silas, Luke (Acts 15:50; 16:10; Philemon 23); Paul with Timothy (1 Corinthians 4:17) Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25-26); and Epaphras (Philemon 23). A few examples from the Old Testament are David’s three that went into Bethlehem (2 Samuel 23:13-17); the company of Mighty Men (2 Samuel 23:10FF), The Company of Prophets (1 Samuel 19:20)

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