Kingdom's Keys Fellowship
Where God's Kingdom Meets Man's Heart.
Pentecost 14 Humility and Spiritual Gifts
Pentecost 14 Humility and Spiritual Gifts
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you (Ro.12:3).”
Let’s look at this passage closely because it sets the atmosphere in which the gifts are most effectively administered.
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you”--- Paul is speaking from the heart here and his written experience in his letters reveals the depth of the one quality he personally learned from the Lord about grace---humility. Four things stand out. First, it was God’s grace that humbled him and saved him through faith (Eph.2:8). Second, grace humbled him to realize he was a sinner, submit totally to Jesus as Lord who forgives and then to keep in step with the leading of the Spirit (Gal.5:25). Third, grace humbled him physically by knocking him off his horse and blinding him (Acts 9:3-9). Fourth, Paul was humbled to dependency on others who brought him to humbly experience healing through Ananias in the Damascus fellowship and healed (Acts 9:17-19).
From that point on humility enabled Paul to know that though he was gifted as a missionary, pastor and teacher who performed signs and wonders (Ro.15:19), his personal attitude had to be evaluated daily with “sober judgment in accordance with the measure of faith God has given.” This means that each person is given a different measure of faith to build on in the Body. That measure of faith is given to each individual to build upon in the midst of gifted brothers and sisters who we allow in humility to minister to us in the building.
The measure is small at first because we have a lifetime where the sinful nature is at war within us. But, as we repent and stand forgiven under the Cross we grow as the Spirit matures us in the context of the gifts of others in the Body. But it is not a complete faith. It is a growing faith to restore a growing heart that demands constant humility in the context of the Body. The proper use of the gifts we are given depends on the interdependence we are willing to submit to. No one is perfect and the gifts are God’s way of perfecting us.
No one is exempt. No matter how long a person has been a believer, or what level of leadership he has held in the Body or how successful his ministry is, humility has to be the prevalent state of the heart. Paul knew this and passed it on. He openly considered and confessed to being the worst of sinners (1Tim.1:15-16). The single failing that Paul exhibited before his conversion and the spirit from which he needed deliverance, was his prideful arrogance. He saw himself as God’s tool of vengeance. After all he was right; he had the credentials as a Pharisee, a Hebrew of Hebrews, he knew what had to be done to correct this heretical Jesus sect--- make them conform and if they won’t---get rid of them.
Here Paul warns us to be aware of our tendency to let our pride dictate how we act in the Body. When anyone says “the Lord told me to---“ do this or that is he seeking out confirmation from gifted people in the Body? What can happen in regard to gifts is that exercising a gift and sensing God really working in the heart through it can lead to being overzealous and/or superior. “And since God told me, everyone should be in agreement.” That is Paul’s warning, which is exactly why he wrote 1Cor.13 saying that gifts are meaningless unless practiced in love which is the humbling nature of God. Just because I am a leader or have a certain gift or a certain ministry it doesn’t demand agreement or participation. What it demands is humility, seeking the counsel from those in the larger Body and all done in the context of humbling prayer.
Why all this about humility? Then we know we are being obedient. As Paul says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Ro.12:3).” In other words humility enables all of us to experience not my will or your will but God’s will. It is humility before God in the presence of others that transforms us. That’s His will.
More on the gifts…stay tuned.
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you (Ro.12:3).”
Let’s look at this passage closely because it sets the atmosphere in which the gifts are most effectively administered.
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you”--- Paul is speaking from the heart here and his written experience in his letters reveals the depth of the one quality he personally learned from the Lord about grace---humility. Four things stand out. First, it was God’s grace that humbled him and saved him through faith (Eph.2:8). Second, grace humbled him to realize he was a sinner, submit totally to Jesus as Lord who forgives and then to keep in step with the leading of the Spirit (Gal.5:25). Third, grace humbled him physically by knocking him off his horse and blinding him (Acts 9:3-9). Fourth, Paul was humbled to dependency on others who brought him to humbly experience healing through Ananias in the Damascus fellowship and healed (Acts 9:17-19).
From that point on humility enabled Paul to know that though he was gifted as a missionary, pastor and teacher who performed signs and wonders (Ro.15:19), his personal attitude had to be evaluated daily with “sober judgment in accordance with the measure of faith God has given.” This means that each person is given a different measure of faith to build on in the Body. That measure of faith is given to each individual to build upon in the midst of gifted brothers and sisters who we allow in humility to minister to us in the building.
The measure is small at first because we have a lifetime where the sinful nature is at war within us. But, as we repent and stand forgiven under the Cross we grow as the Spirit matures us in the context of the gifts of others in the Body. But it is not a complete faith. It is a growing faith to restore a growing heart that demands constant humility in the context of the Body. The proper use of the gifts we are given depends on the interdependence we are willing to submit to. No one is perfect and the gifts are God’s way of perfecting us.
No one is exempt. No matter how long a person has been a believer, or what level of leadership he has held in the Body or how successful his ministry is, humility has to be the prevalent state of the heart. Paul knew this and passed it on. He openly considered and confessed to being the worst of sinners (1Tim.1:15-16). The single failing that Paul exhibited before his conversion and the spirit from which he needed deliverance, was his prideful arrogance. He saw himself as God’s tool of vengeance. After all he was right; he had the credentials as a Pharisee, a Hebrew of Hebrews, he knew what had to be done to correct this heretical Jesus sect--- make them conform and if they won’t---get rid of them.
Here Paul warns us to be aware of our tendency to let our pride dictate how we act in the Body. When anyone says “the Lord told me to---“ do this or that is he seeking out confirmation from gifted people in the Body? What can happen in regard to gifts is that exercising a gift and sensing God really working in the heart through it can lead to being overzealous and/or superior. “And since God told me, everyone should be in agreement.” That is Paul’s warning, which is exactly why he wrote 1Cor.13 saying that gifts are meaningless unless practiced in love which is the humbling nature of God. Just because I am a leader or have a certain gift or a certain ministry it doesn’t demand agreement or participation. What it demands is humility, seeking the counsel from those in the larger Body and all done in the context of humbling prayer.
Why all this about humility? Then we know we are being obedient. As Paul says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Ro.12:3).” In other words humility enables all of us to experience not my will or your will but God’s will. It is humility before God in the presence of others that transforms us. That’s His will.
More on the gifts…stay tuned.
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