Rom 12:3-6 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (4) For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: (5) So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.(6) Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;”

Eph 4:7  “But unto every (each) one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.”

Joh 3:34 “For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.”

I awoke this morning with this scripture statement on my mind; “…for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.” I immediately recognized John the Baptist’s proclamation concerning Jesus as an explosive and amazing insight into a scripture study that I had been chewing on for a while. It can be said only of Jesus, the Christ, the One in whom “…dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Col.2:9), that “God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him” (That is, without measure). However, the same cannot be said for you or me. That is, unless you consider yourself to be the fulness of the Godhead manifest in the flesh, then we would need to have a whole different discussion. No, it’s evident that Christ is the head (Eph. 4:15) and we are suitably “…members in particular” (ICor. 12:27) of his body which functions “…according to the effectual working in the measure of every part…” (Eph. 4:16).

Body dynamics demonstrate the wider lesson of the scriptures (ICor. 12:12-27) which show that God, “…dividing to every man severally as he will.” (ICor. 12:11) and “…who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:” (Eph. 1:11), and with the accomplishment of His will being the absolute objective, dispenses gifting and power, functionality and usefulness to his children in His kingdom by allotment and in measure, to whom He will. Concerning the will of God, the sky is NOT the limit, as we are regulated according to his will for us individually.

If God positions you in his body as a little toe, per your diligence you may be a strong and functional little toe or through your neglect you may be a weak and sickly little toe, but you’ll never be a big toe (…or an elbow or an eyeball, etc.), and vice-versa (Rom. 11:29). One’s gifting and measure of functionality and usefulness in the kingdom of God is determined by God and is realized as a result of one’s willingness to fully exploit the measure, that is the “amount” (volume, parameters, etc) of faith, grace and gifting (enablement) that God dispenses to you for the work he has called you to, or otherwise determined for you to do.

In the top-of-the-page scripture references (KJV), originally composed in and translated from that original Greek language, there are two different words that translate into the same phrase in “ye olde 1611 English”. A brief exploration into the original Greek yields the following useful information. In Rom. 12:3 the phrase “every man” is used twice. It’s first use (“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you”) is a translation from the Greek word “Pas”, which means “-all or -every or -the whole, -everybody”. In this segment of the verse, the apostle Paul is clearly addressing everybody in the Roman church, encouraging an honest introspection concerning their personal place in God. However, when Paul says, “according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith”, the phrase (every man) here translates from the Greek word, “hek-as-tos” which means “-each or -every, or -one, or -particularly”. That is, each man individually receiving his portion, the necessary measure of grace to fulfill God’s specific plan for his life. As such, and for study purposes, Romans 12:3 could read as follows, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man his measure of faith.”. In Ephesians 4:7 (top), the term “every” also translates from the word “hek-as-tos”. This indicating that, along with the general function of salvation in Christ, God dispenses grace in a specific measure to each person individually to fulfill their specific role and accomplish his will for their life, not more or less.

It is evident, and the scriptures do teach that every (each) person in the church- the body of Christ, has their God-appointed place and function in the body (ICor. ch.12:1-31, with emphasis on v.’s 11, 18). It also appears that God’s regulating operation whereby he accomplishes this “positioning” and work is his (dispensed measure of) grace through faith. We are certainly aware of these terms with regard to salvation and the larger and broader issues of Christianity. However, in a more specific and intimate manner, we as fully converted Christians, emerge and accomplish for God according to the individual and proportioned measure (amount) of grace and faith dispensed to every (each) one of us according to his will and calling for us individually. Or, as Paul said, “…unto every (each) one of us is given grace according to the measure (amount) of the gift of Christ.” Eph. 4:7.

In his powerful and prominent ministry, the Apostle Paul recognized and repeatedly acknowledged that it was faith in God’s grace (Philip. 3: 4-9), and not any worldly mechanism that enabled his ministry, gifting, and power. Accordingly, Spirit-filled and led ministry does not employ secular/worldly strategies or techniques to empower their ministerial capability.

However, what is less observed is that Paul’s calling and ministry, as determined by the measure (amount) of God’s grace, was unique to him as yours will be to you. Admittedly, Paul’s ministry was/is highly visible and powerful, as he said, “Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” Col. 1:29. However, Paul experienced and spoke of limitations to his ministerial reach during his earthly years (IICor. 10: 13-16), his seed (The Bible books Romans-Hebrews) then blossoming after his death. This pattern being originally demonstrated by no less than the Jewish Jesus himself, sent but to “…the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matt. 15:24) in his earthly years, but then with his own blood atoning (Heb. 9), he demonstrates he is the Savior of all mankind through his death, burial, resurrection and ascension.

It is through a direct relationship with God, as we engage spirituality developing disciplines that we grow in faith (Jude 20) and in grace (IIPet. 3:18). Among the challenges to a lifestyle of discipleship is the temptation and preoccupation with temporal worldly concerns (Matt. 6:19-34, *ICor. 7:32-35, IITim. 2:3), potentially yielding indifference towards the things of God.

In what may be considered *one of the most unpopular sections of scripture (in a licentious culture), the apostle Paul begins with a caution, “But I would have you without carefulness…” (that is, free from concern/worry), then at the end he explains why, “…that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.”, as Jesus said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;…” Matt 6:33. Negligence in the engagement of Christian disciplines and the things of God can preempt necessary spiritual growth and the development of powerful faith, leaving grace and gifting unutilized.

At the opposite end of the spectrum and equally as pernicious, is the self-deluding falsity of excessive zeal, or hyper-zeal. Certainly “…it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing…,” Gal. 4:18, but hyper-zeal is an excessive willful exertion of the flesh capable of overriding the gentle nature and leading of the Holy Ghost. The apostle Paul cited a misguided zeal as the culprit that characterized his persecuting of Jesus and the Church (Philip. 3:6, Gal. 1:13-14, Acts 9:1-5). As a nation, Israel retained a zeal of God but remained unsaved (Rom. 10: 1-3). Jesus said “…Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” Matt. 16:23, to his #1 apostle as hasty Peter, in what appears to be his zealous self-will, implied that his earthly plans were a better way forward. Proportioned correctly zeal is useful, but ultimately it is a fleshly disposition and not a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).

Just as an unchecked indifference can forestall the work of God by diminishing one’s spiritual pursuit, so an unrestrained hyper-zeal, the less common of the two for sure, errantly extending or misdirecting one beyond the scope of their grace and faith, calling and gifts (beyond one’s measure), can also be detrimental.

Finding the Salvation of God in Christ after being hopelessly lost, coming into The Light from the darkness – to Truth from error and having been thrust from one extreme (depravity of sin) to the other (righteousness of God), it is possible to be consumed by an acute awareness of, #1. the greatness of God, #2. the greatness of what he has done for you, #3. the greatness of the need to reach others. Not everybody comes to God in such a dramatic fashion, but for those who do, caution! The zeal, or rather, the toxic and self-deluding hyper-zeal that can be produced can be misunderstood to be a godly virtue creating an artificial cloak of righteousness. Again, Zeal is not a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), as such it is produced by the natural man; it is ultimately a fruit of the flesh (You can be zealous about worldly or ungodly things as well as godly things). Inflamed with the explosive truth of God, hyper-zeal can then lodge in your flesh, your natural man and it can create havoc in pushing you outside the scope of your measure of grace, gifts, and your proportion faith.

As previously referenced,”…it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing…” Gal. 4:18. (notice how the phrase “zealously affected” implies a temperance), but errant hyper-zeal can give life, albeit a religious flavored life, to what is otherwise supposed to be a dead man (Col. 3:3, Rom. 6: 2-8).

From the highest to the lowest, God has “… dealt (“merizo”- apportioned) to every man the measure (“metron”- a limited portion) of faith.” Rom. 12: 3., and in doing so He has “…set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. ICor. 12:18. Certainly, God is very well aware of frailty of the human condition and that it doesn’t require a hardcore sinner to, at times lag behind, or at other times get out ahead of God. There is a very good reason why “…the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” Rom. 11:29. If God were short on patience, we’d all be in the trash pile.

*ICorinthians 7: 32-35

GS