“For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith”
Here’s one from The Message Bible of the same verse says; “I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what He does for us, not by what we are and what we do for Him.” —Romans12:3
I- THE SAME MEASURE OF GRACE:
Grace is a word that Paul loved to use which can be read every epistle that he wrote (with the possible exception of Hebrews), he always begins and ends with this word.
THAYER points out that:
a. "CHARIS contains the idea of kindness which bestows upon
one what he has not deserved."
b. "The NT writers use CHARIS preeminently of that kindness by
which God bestows favors even upon the ill-deserving, and
grants to sinners the pardon of their offenses, and bids
them accept of eternal salvation through Christ." - e.g., Ep 2:5 It is this particular definition of grace that prompts us to think of it most often as "unmerited favor"
It is A SPIRITUAL STATE OR CONDITION IN WHICH ONE ENJOYS GOD'S FAVOR... When one accepts God's grace, they are in a "state of grace"Cf. Ro 5:1-2; 1Pe 5:12
It is AN EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE FOR FAVOR BESTOWED...
1Ti 1:12 where the English word is "thank" ("I thank Jesus Christ...") This is also what is meant when people ask someone to "say grace" before eating. But the grace of God is mentioned as a gift to Paul in the same verse, and that same grace is mentioned as a gift to all believers in verse 6: “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” So, immediately following his discussion of the measure of faith, Paul speaks of the gifts of the Spirit: prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, and showing mercy. “To each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it” (Ephesians 4:7). God deals to everyone his portion. This grace was given at a definite point in the past, which is most naturally taken to have been the moment in which each believer laid hold on Jesus by faith. It is further to be noted that the content of the gift is the grace itself and not the graces which are its product and manifestation in the Christian life.
Each Christian when they received the Lord Jesus Christ received this grace. Paul was talking personally of the grace of God on him of his calling as an Apostle. Actually, it can not be measured for it is unlimited and the measure of God's working for us, not in the impoverishment of our present possessions, but in the exceeding riches of the power that is working in us -- that is to say, that we are to look for the limit of the limitless gift in nothing short of the boundless energy of God Himself. More so, This boundless grace is in each individual case bounded for the time by our own faith... take the case of Abraham, in Genesis 13: 14¶And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 16And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 17Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. 18Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD. Therefore, our measure of grace is how far can you lift your eyes and walk there in.
Ask God that we can appropriate the grace and gift of God that was given to us and that we might use it, utilize it to the fullest measure that we can minister to others.
II- THE SAME MEASURE OF THINKING
Paul in writing to the believers from Rome that they do nothing through selfish ambition or conceit, have lowliness of mind in which they esteem others better than themselves and look out for the interests of others, and not only those of their own. This is the same pattern written by Paul in Philippians 2:5-11 and continues to exhort them to have "this mind" pointing out that this is also the "mind of our Lord Jesus Christ". He exposes the mind of our Lord, bare out his mind and same configuration of thinking for all Christians.
A good illustration I just read tell us to be humble or should I say have the mind of Paul which was also in Christ Jesus?
Illustration: THE CUSHION OF THE SEA
A submarine was being tested and had to remain submerged for many hours. When it returned to the harbor, the captain was asked, “How did the terrible storm last night affect you?” The officer looked at him in surprise and exclaimed, “Storm? We didn’t even know there was one!” The sub had been so far beneath the surface that it had reached the area known to sailors as the cushion of the sea. Although the ocean may be whipped into huge waves by high winds, the waters below are never stirred. The Christian’s mind will be protected against the distracting waves of worry, and pride, if it is resting completely in the good providence of God. There, sheltered by His grace and encouraged by His Holy Spirit, the believer can find the perfect tranquility that only Christ can provide. The “Mind Of Christ" involves... Humility, Obedience, Sacrifice, Great Reward.
Let us all have this same brain wave... A hallmark of all should be growing Christians.
III- THE SAME MEASURE OF FAITH:
Rom 12:3 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 (measuring cup)of faith God has given you.
Matt 9:22 But Jesus turned him about, and when He saw her, He said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy (measure of) faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
Matt 9:29 Then touched He their eyes, saying, According to your (measure of) faith be it unto you.
Matt 15:28Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as (your measure of faith) thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Mark 10:52And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy (measure of) faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
His word is the measuring cup of faith!
Luke 1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it (measured) unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
WE will choose the size of measure(cup) according to our thirst(desires). Our desires make us ready to HEAR(the word)! The more we hear(the word) the greater the cup(of faith)!
If I am very thirsty I will choose a larger cup!
WHAT DO YOU WANT? FIND THE CUP(WORD) AND MEASURE IT OUT!
Lord help us to understand each day our part in all that happens in our lives..
Here’s a good excerpt from one of my favorite men of God; “God delights to increase the faith of His children. We ought, instead of wanting no trials before victory, no exercise for patience, to be willing to take them from God’s hand as a means. I say—and say it deliberately—trials, obstacles, difficulties, and sometimes defeats, are the very food of faith…We should take them out of His hands as evidences of His love and care for us in developing more and more that faith which He is seeking to strengthen in us.”—George Mueller
Finally, as I conclude this sermon, here’s the timeless word from the Lord, the Word Himself Jesus.... Luke 6:38 “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again”
Or more expounded in the Amplified Bible... “38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over [with no space left for more]. For with the standard of measurement you use [when you do good to others], it will be measured to you in return.”(AMP)
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