The Lord bestows gifts to mankind according to His sovereignty and wisdom. To some He gives more than to others. Some men have exceptional gifts from God that impact people’s lives incredibly. Only God knows what He has given but it is vital for each of us to find out what our individual gifting is and operate in it, to God’s glory. I cannot operate in another man’s gift, only mine. A man’s gift makes room for him.
Some people worship their gifts, instead of God. They have not yet learnt to operate in their gift correctly. They project their own image and glory, instead of God’s. The Holy Spirit teaches men to handle their gifts in humility, in order to project Christ and not themselves.
What do any of us have that we did not first receive? “Of Him, through Him and to Him are ALL things.” So, if we received it, it is not of ourselves, thus we have nothing to boast about!
The greater the gift, or the more exceptional it is – then God requires much more of that person. “Unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required.” Luke 12:48 He/she will have a more intense working of the Lord in their lives so that the greatness of the gift will reflect and honour God, (not self), as they learn to bear the gift to the glory of God.
We are not all called to the 5 fold ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, (Ephesians 4:11), but those that are must honour God with the gift or they will be dealt with severely by God. These gifts are for “the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,” Ephesians 4:12. Eventually they will phase themselves out of people’s lives as their gifting operates to encourage the saints to depend on the Holy Spirit in maturity.
A good teacher eventually phases himself out.
The 5 fold ministry has the same purpose as parents – to bring up children to maturity.
A gift is never given to elevate man but to glorify God in His kingdom purposes. We have a responsibility in stewardship to learn to handle, operate and bear our gift to God’s glory.
The world’s standard for professionalism is to project the person, but the standard we adhere to, is to project Jesus. “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Jesus said, “Come, learn of Me.” In His relationship with His Father He glorified Him in EVERYTHING He said and did.
The whole purpose of my life is that “Another”, Jesus Christ, lives in me – and He can only live in me at the expense of my “dying”. He comes in as I go out. I am without excuse because Jesus has done all the work at Calvary and made Himself available to come to full stature in me.
The wonder of it all……Christ in me, the hope of glory!
