The principles and
teaching of God’s word often stand in stark contrast to those of the world. In
the natural we are taught to be ‘self-sufficient’. We treasure the ability to
need no-one else, and be as much as possible ‘independent’ and self-reliant. While
there may be some benefit in these views and to some degree they are necessary
in our personal survival, often the concept of self-sufficiency, is taken too
far, and once mingled with the pride and arrogance of our human nature, it is
applied in the wrong ways. What was intended as a demonstration of personal
ability, then becomes a weapon for self-destruction and the cause of antipathy
of others. As Christians we do treasure the ability to grow personally and be
strong as individuals, recognising the necessity to carry our personal load and
not to become too burdensome to others. Along with that conviction however, is
another dimension in understanding sufficiency. Biblical sufficiency, clearly
is well beyond ourselves and while it involves us, it is not from or by us!
Paul expresses this wisdom in his writings. It all starts by recognising that
in reality we can do nothing of ourselves; in other words that the actual ‘power’
to think, speak and act, comes from God. Once we have settled the question of power,
ability or capacity and its Divine source, it becomes easier to see that what
we do, or how we function is not really ‘our own’, but ultimately the result of
His creation, His opus in us! Now let’s be clear that God doesn’t do the
thinking and acting FOR us, which is why we can so easily abuse the power and ability
He has granted, and use it for the wrong reasons. Most in fact, use their
God-given capacities against the very God that empowered them, by sinning and
defying His commandments and directives! So while we are clearly responsible
for our own thoughts and actions, and will be judged for them, yet as believers
we find no trouble or disparity, in acknowledging that the ‘sufficiency’
(power, ability, skill) of anything we think, say and do comes from the Lord. To
Him therefore we give glory and honour for these divine endowments. When
applied from natural, every-day existence, to the spiritual element of life,
this truth becomes even more relevant and tangible. Without a special ability
given by God to His ministers and workers, nothing of any spiritual value or
consequence could ever be accomplished. This power and special capacity is the anointing
of God’s Holy Spirit! Without God’s anointing a sermon is merely a collection
of human thoughts, with no power to reach the soul; a minister is just doing a
job; a church is just a club; and worship is just singing! Without the
anointing we could never hope to reach a soul for Christ, understand or teach a
single spiritual truth or remain faithful in our walk with God. Truly with the
apostle we can say that we are not sufficient of ourselves, and cannot look to
our own ability for any of these things, but that our sufficiency is of God!
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
No comments:
Post a Comment