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

requesting that he would receive the blessings that he prophesied for Israel. This would have been available to him if he were obedient. However, he received the violent death of an enemy of God’s people because his actions did not match his gifting (Joshua 13:22). Jesus said that we would know a prophet by the fruit, Matthew 7:15 “ Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit .” While Balaam was never called a false prophet, he bore the fruit of a false prophet even though his prophecies were true. There is fruit of the ministry, but also fruit of the minister. The fruit of the minister is the fruit of the spirit. Galatians 5:22 “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law .” If a minister is not diligent to perfect the fruit of the spirit in his life, even though he may have a powerful gift and ministry, good fruit will not be produced, and Jesus warned us to beware. Matthew 7:18 “ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 21 Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness !” 1 Kings 13 gives an account of a young man of God from Judah that prophesied against the altars in Bethel. With tremendous confirmation of his word, immediately the altar split and fire came down from heaven. Instantly king Jeroboam pointed to him and ordered the soldiers to arrest him. As soon as Jeroboam pointed at him the king’s hand withered up causing him to call back his troops and ask the young man of God to pray for him. The man of God agreed and the Lord healed Jeroboam immediately. Jeroboam offered him a gift which was wisely declined because the Lord's instructions to the young man of God were to return without recompense. On his way back home an old prophet who was not walking with the Lord,

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