The greater the gift, or the more exceptional it is – the Lord’s expectation is much more of that person. “Unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required” (Luke 12:48). Why? Such a person will have a more intense working of the Lord in their lives, as Paul alluded to in 1 Corinthians 15: 9-10 (TPT)- Yes, I am the most insignificant of all the apostles, unworthy even to be called an apostle, because I hunted down believers and persecuted God’s church. But God’s amazing grace has made me who I am!  And his grace to me was not fruitless. In fact, I worked harder than all the rest,  yet not in my own strength but God’s, for his empowering grace is poured out upon me.

As different as the entrusted grace is, so is the diversity of the giftings. 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 labour and 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). They are neither for extorting nor enslaving the body of Christ!

Used well, 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 and experience the same replicated in them (2 Timothy 2:2)

And the [instructions] which you have heard from me along with many witnesses, transmit and entrust [as a deposit] to reliable and faithful men who will be competent and qualified to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2 (AMPC)

And all that you’ve learned from me, confirmed by the integrity of my life, deposit into faithful leaders who are competent to teach the congregations the same revelation. 2 Timothy 2:2 (TPT)

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 true disciple’s life is that “Another”, Jesus Christ, lives in him—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.

For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. My old identity has been co-crucified with Christ and no longer lives. And now the essence of this new life is no longer mine, for the Anointed One lives his life through me—we live in union as one!  My new life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God who loves me so much that he gave himself for me, dispensing his life into mine! Galatians 2:19,20 (TPT)-

For I through the Law [under the operation of the curse of the Law] have [in Christ’s death for me] myself died to the Law and all the Law’s demands upon me, so that I may [henceforth] live to and for God. I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:19,20 (AMPC)-

So dearly beloved, are you serving God acceptably? Selah.