My friend, there is a good reason that we are called the
body of Christ.
And yet if some people had their way they would
amputate different parts of the body because they don't
understand them or because they don't feel comfortable
around them.
My friend, that is a formula for disaster in the church.
And so you can see what the problem is right away.
But now what's the solution?
Well, for the solution I'd like to go to Philippians Chapter 1.
Here Paul is talking to his ministry partners.
These are actually people that had been supporting him financially.
And in verse 5 he expresses his gratitude for their
partnership in the work of the gospel and then he goes
on to say this in verse 7.
He says, You are all partakers of my grace.
Isn't this amazing?
Did you realize that you can actually tap into the grace
that is on somebody else's life by linking up with them?
By partnering up with Paul the Ephesians became partakers of Paul's gift.
And by partnering with Paul's gift the Ephesians became partakers of Paul's grace.
Now let me go back to my example of that pastor that's
burning out.
Rather than trying to provide a hundred percent of what
the church needs even though he has only twenty percent of the gift and grace what should
he do.
He should stop trying to do it all himself.
And he should link up with others that are gifted in the
areas he is not.
And when he partners with their gift watch what
happens.
He also becomes a partaker in their grace and the
whole church grows up and benefits as a result of it.
Now this principle is so simple but it is very, very
profound and I'm amazed at how often it is overlooked
in the body of Christ.
And Ephesians 4:7 embodies it perfectly.
It says, unto every one of us is given grace according to
the measure of the gift of Christ.
The principle is this, the grace comes with the gift.
Now although this verse is said in the context of the
five fold ministry gifts I want you to understand that this
is not just applicable to those that are called into five
fold ministry.
Because it says there that the grace was given to
every one of us.
To every one of us according to the measure of the gift.
So whenever God calls you to do something, I don't
care if he calls you to be a plumber.
I don't care if he calls you to be a fireman.
He will always supply the perfect measure of grace
that you need to be able to operate in your gifting.
All the mothers said, amen.
(Women) Amen.
(DK) If God has called you to be a mother, how many
of you know you need grace for that job?
If God has called you to be a teacher you need grace
for that job.
And he will supply the grace that is needed for your
gift but here is the other side.
Whenever you try to operate outside of your gift you
will find it very difficult and maybe even impossible
because there will be no grace for it.
Let me give you an example of this.
And I want to take this principle directly from scripture.
How many of you know that there is actually a gift of
singleness in scripture?
You know there is a gift to be able to live a celibate life.
Paul was one that had this gift.
In fact in 1 Corinthians 7 he said remaining single was
a good thing and he went so far to say, I wish that all
men were like I myself am.
But then he said each has his own special gift from
God, this of one kind and that of another.
So Paul had the calling and the grace to remain single and he went so far as to say that he
wished.
everyone were like he was.
But you know I can tell you for sure that it's not God's
will that everyone be single.
And aren't you glad it's not.
Otherwise the church would have died out in the first
century.
You see Paul had the wisdom to recognize between his preference and what was God's will.
And Paul understood that his ability to lead a happy
and full life without a spouse was a special gift from
God and he understood that without that gift there
would be not grace.
And this is why after having said that he wished
everyone were single as he was he went on to say this.
Do not forbid to marry.
He warned against those who would forbid marriage in
1 Timothy 4:3.
Now I'm going to say something that may be a little bit
controversial but you know we have seen recently in the
Catholic Church how some of these Priests have gotten
into big, big trouble.
And some people might be wondering what's going on
and it's no surprise to me.
These guys have been forbidden to marry.
Remember Paul said don't forbid marriage.
They have been forbidden to marry even though they
obviously have neither the gift nor the grace for it.
Paul's singleness was a gift and with the gift God had
given him the grace.
Without the grace Paul would not have seen his
singleness as a gift but as a burden.
So there is also another interesting side note here.
Because Paul was given the gift and the grace to lead
a celibate life he said, I wish that all men were like I
myself am.
Have you ever noticed that when the gift and the grace
is on a person's life to do something it seems to natural
and so obvious to them that they try to push it on
everybody else around them?
They think everybody should be doing what they are
doing.
And if they are not doing what they are doing they think
they are not saved.
So I think there are two principles to learn from this.
Here is the first one.
Don't make the mistake of trying to force everybody
around you to do what God has called you to do, and
don't look down on them for doing something other than
what you think is so important.
Recognize that just like Paul said, each has his own
special gift from God, this of one kind and that of
another.
And here is the second principle.
If you think that everyone should be doing one particular
thing, chances are, that's what God is calling you to do.
So while you are seeking God's will for your life what do
you think everybody around you should be doing?
Well that's probably a good indication that God's put
that in your heart.
If you think everybody should be an evangelist, you are
probably called to be an evangelist.
If you think everybody should be a political activist or
humanitarian that's probably what God is calling you to
do.
When God's gift and grace are resting on a person's
life for a certain task that person is able to do with
joy what would seem impossible to others.