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

to Nineveh came to pass. Yet no one suggested he was a false prophet, nor did anyone suggest stoning him. God changed His mind because the Ninevites changed their actions. People who have such a narrow interpretation of prophecy discount the nature of God where mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13). Likewise, New Testament prophecy is often contingent upon the receptivity or lack thereof of those receiving the word. Another good example is found in Isaiah 38, where Isaiah’s prophecy was altered because of Hezekiah’s prayer, yet no one even entertains the thought that Isaiah may have been a false prophet or worthy of reprimand. Likewise, those who believe that the accuracy and power of the New Testament prophet has diminished from the Old Testament prophet underestimate the power of the resurrected spirit of Christ placed in the New Testament prophet. It is also important to understand the difference between the gift of the prophet and the gift of prophecy. The charismatic gift of prophecy will be in the category of edification, exhortation, and comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3). However, the proven ascension gift of a prophet may include doctrine, reproof, and correction at times. In chapters 12 and 14 of 1 Corinthians the Greek word translated as gift is the word charisma from which we get our English word charismatic. This is a gift which can be manifested by any Christian who has received the gift, charisma, of prophecy into manifestation. Moses said, “ Oh, that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them !” (Numbers 11:29). This actually came to pass on Pentecost. The word which Moses chose to use here is the Hebrew word nabiy which is one of the three types of prophets designated ion the Old Testament. The nabiy type of prophet was one who spoke by inspiration of the spirit. In the Old Testament it was not possible for all believers to prophecy by inspiration, but in the New Testament this is possible. Paul wrote " you all may prophesy " (1 Corinthians 14:31), due to His Spirit. Were any of us translated back in time to the Old Testament we would be considered among the “nabiy” prophets. (See Appendix B)

So, in the New Testament any believer who prophecies by inspiration of the spirit should not be confused with an ascension prophet, but

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