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GOD, OUR SUFFICIENCY AND QUALIFICATION

Writer's picture: Olufunmilayo AdekusibeOlufunmilayo Adekusibe

 

Today’s Reading:

2Corinthians 3:4-11 (5-6)

“4Such is the confidence and steadfast reliance and absolute trust that we have through Christ toward God. 5Not that we are sufficiently qualified in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency and qualifications come from God. 6 He has qualified us [making us sufficient] as ministers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not of the letter [of a written code] but of the Spirit; for the letter [of the Law] kills [by revealing sin and demanding obedience], but the Spirit gives life [Jer. 31:31]. 7Now if the ministry of death, engraved in letters on stones [the covenant of the Law which led to death because of sin], came with such glory and splendour that the Israelites were not able to look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, [a brilliance] that was fading, [Ex. 34:29-35]

8how will the ministry of the Spirit [the new covenant which allows us to be Spirit-filled] fail to be even more glorious and splendid? 9For if the ministry that brings condemnation [the old covenant, the Law] has glory, how much more does glory overflow in the ministry that brings righteousness [the new covenant which declares believers free of guilt and sets them apart for God’s special purpose]! 10Indeed, what had glory [the Law], in this case no longer has glory because of the glory that surpasses it [the gospel]. 11For if that [Law] which fades away comes with glory, how much more must that [gospel] which remains and is permanent abide in glory and splendour! (Amplified)

 

Usually, emissaries or ambassadors take their letters of recommendation to their place of assignment in order to establish their identity and credentials. Earlier in the chapter, Paul is saying that the converted Corinthians were the letters establishing his worth and creditability. In that their conversion and transformation were supernatural works of the Holy Spirit which also confirms that Paul was a genuine minister of Christ. Whereas the old covenant was inscribed on tablets of stone (Ex.24:12); the New Covenant is written by the Holy Spirit on human hearts (v.3; Ezek. 11:19). As weak vessels, we are not capable alone, to bear the enormous responsibility of containing the ‘aroma of Christ’ in this world (v. 3; 2Corin. 2:16). Sadly, our human resources are not adequate. It is Christ himself who equips believers with divine resources and ability to sufficiently function as ministers of the gospel, the New Covenant. For the doctrine of the death of Christ is the substance of the gospel. It is therefore short-sightedness for anyone to rely on his or her own ability to do anything rather than divine authority and divine power.


Many of us today place high value on self-sufficiency. None of us is self-sufficient enough, our only sufficiency is in God, when we place our trust and hope in Christ. God alone gives the unction to function as ministers to the world (v.5). It is the Holy Spirit that gives life, the law kills, in that it reveal sin which demands our obedience. We are not able to fulfil the law, but we can do all things through Christ who quickens, stirs us up and strengthens us (Phil. 4:13). Even on our own, we cannot seek to have a relationship with God, except we go through Jesus Christ and by the help of the Holy Spirit, we will not be accepted. When Jesus talked about His personal relationship with the Father, He was persecuted by the then religious leaders because Satan hates man that God loves and created in His image to have a personal relationship with God, and is not happy about the power with which God surrounds a believer’s life.


Jesus Christ said that “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (Jn. 14:6). So, know for sure that it is futile seeking for salvation or for God outside of Jesus Christ. And it is a grievous sin to seek help from things created by God to do the ministry of His Son, Jesus Christ.


The question and the way out now is: Have you surrendered your life to the lordship of our Lord Jesus Christ? Do so before it is too late.

OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE


Prayer:

  1. Thank you, Lord, for being our sufficiency, our strength and power to do all things, in Jesus name.

  2. Father, let every rebellion flee from my heart, in Jesus name.

  3. I command every spiritual contamination in my life to receive cleansing by the covenant blood of Jesus.

  4. O God arise and uproot anything You did not plant in Your church. Let your fire of revival fall upon the community of faith, in Jesus name.

  5. Father, let Your kingdom come, let Your rule O Christ begin. Break with your iron rod, all forms of wickedness and tyrannies of sin from our nations, in Jesus name.

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