Saturday, July 6, 2013

gifted by design

There are two things that bug me when it comes to people and moving in the gifts that God created them to move in, and Paul does pretty good at calling them out in Romans 12. In verse 3 he says "I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance]," this is the first thing that bothers me those that are prideful and are trying to make a name for themselves or drawing attention to themselves and using anointing as a means of manipulation.  The other is also addressed it is those that have the whole "I'm unworthy" or "it wasn't me it was Jesus, I'm just surprised He's used because I am an awful sinner". To be totally honest there have been times I have had to exercise serious self-control in not slapping them upside the head (in love of course). This attitude so down plays the love and of what Jesus did for us in His crucifixion and ascension. Paul again tells.us "rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him."  He is saying be realistic about the gifts that Abba has given you and how He designed you to function. You need to know, understand and have confidence in your place in the body. When you try to elevate yourself to something your are not it adversely affects the body, when you promote self instead of the body you bring division which harms the body and when you think less if yourself or not confident in where you fit in the body then you bring weakness to the body.  Don't get me wrong part of our journey with Jesus is finding where we fit, and sometimes we need to make several attempts to figure that out.  That is where the 5-fold gifts to the church (Ephesians 4:11-12) come into play, it is their job to help identify, coach and mentor others to be able to move and function in their gifting, so that they can be fully functional in who they were created to be.

Romans 12:2-11 "Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn  everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him. For as in one physical body we have many parts (organs, members) and all of these parts do not have the same function or use, So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another]. Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith; [He whose gift is] practical service, let him give himself to  serving; he who teaches, to his teaching; He who exhorts (encourages), to his exhortation; he who contributes, let him do it in simplicity and liberality; he who gives aid and superintends, with zeal and singleness of mind; he who does acts of mercy, with genuine cheerfulness and joyful eagerness. [Let your] love be sincere (a real thing); hate what is evil [loathe all ungodliness, turn in horror from wickedness], but hold fast to that which is good. Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another. Never lag in zeal and in earnest  endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord."

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