The Lord graciously bestows His many and varied gifts and callings on us, His children, and we each need to know what our function is in the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit of God will bear witness to the gift, by giving unction (anointing) on the function. There will be fruit in the lives of those who are operating in their divine giftings.
A man has no place to glory (take the credit) in his divine function because the source is all of God. Christ in me – the hope of God receiving His due glory! Paul speaks of this in 1Corinthians 4:7; “For who makes you to differ from another? And what have you got that you didn’t receive? Now, if you did receive it, why do you glory as if you hadn’t received it?” As we saw last week, “Of Him, through Him and to Him are ALL things.”
In Matthew 7:15 – 20 Jesus gives a warning and sound advice for us. A good tree is recognised by it’s fruit. A godly life will bear fruit for God’s glory in many ways. The fruit of the Spirit will be evident (Ephesians 5:22 – 23) and the Kingdom of God will be extended in many ways.
When a person is called and gifted of God in a particular field, it is their responsibility , in stewardship of the gift, to keep in tune with God and operate in their function.
In 1 Corinthians 4:2 Paul declares “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
1Peter 4:10, “As every man has received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” Have I ever considered that God showered me with His grace that I, in turn, might minister it to others? It is not for me to just keep to myself and revel in. God will be glorified in my life as I show it to others.
Jesus declared that man should live “….by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God,” Matthew 4:4 – so I need a proceeding word, i.e. a living word/reimer word, to operate in my gift. When God says “Go,” I need to move, but if He says “Stay,” I need to withhold. Jesus was never primarily moved by need. He was firstly related to His Father, who then directed Him where to relate to a particular need. Jesus came to do the Father’s will. He was always tuned in to listen to His word of instruction. The Amplified Bible records it like this, John 5:30, “I am able to do nothing of Myself – independently, of my own accord; but as I am taught by God and as I get His orders, (I decide as I am bidden to decide. As the voice comes to me, so I give a decision.) Even as I hear, I judge and my judgement is right, because I do not seek or consult My own will. I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself, but only the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me.”
Often when God blesses a person operating in a particular gift, they want the rest of the Body to function as they do. Sometimes they go as far as writing a book on “How to ……whatever,”…………but that is for them, not everyone else! We need to be faithful in what God has called us to without trying to make our glove fit another’s hand. It is for everyone
to know their gift and calling individually, and together we make the whole. Unity not conformity!
1 Corinthians chapter 12 declares the diversities of gifts, but of the same Spirit in a many membered Body. Verse 11, “The Spirit divides (the gifts) severally as He will.”
Let me delight in each member’s gift that is bringing forth fruit for the Kingdom, but let me not err in trying to make everyone move in my gifting!
Jesus came to serve and not to be served. He encouraged us to “wash one another’s feet,” John 13:4 – 17, in a powerful demonstration of humility. So many want to use God’s gifts for personal gain, recognition and self glory. This truth stands that GOD WILL NOT GIVE HIS GLORY TO ANOTHER, as many ship-wrecked lives testify after taking the credit to themselves. Jesus made Himself “of no reputation,” and He is the Son of God! All the glory He receives of men is safe in His hands because He re-directs it to the Father.
So….let us humbly walk in what God has called each of us to and trust Him to take care of the rest – just a link in a divine chain – not desiring to be seen of men, but to be functioning in line with God’s purposes. Our reward is to feel the warmth of His smile, the touch of His presence in our lives, for indeed!….we have this treasure, (Jesus), in our earthen vessels. Priceless!
