Our Sufficiency Is Of God

Our Sufficiency Is Of God

Pastor Ken Crow

2 Corinthians 3:5-6 (King James Version)

5Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

6Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

1. The Word of God tells us in 2 Timothy 2:15.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Having read that we know that Paul was stressing that we must be know the Word of God.

Our personal Bible study is absolutely essential to the ministry.

Jesus himself studied and taught in the temple in Jerusalem.

We must know what Jesus taught in order to relate the gospel to others .

I have found personally that it is much easier to follow an organized study plan than it is to just randomly pick up the Bible and start reading.

There are many daily study plans available or you can create one yourself.

Either find one or create one with a work book that includes questions on what you have just studied. Try to avoid study plans with doctrinal commentary . The idea here is to study the Word of God in it’s pureness not someone’s opinion on what they believe it is saying. As you study ask God to give you a deep sense of his presence . Find a nice quiet place where you will not be interrupted . Turn off the cell phone and allow yourself to enter into the pages of what you are reading. Remember it is the Spirit that gives life. That same Holy Spirit will give life to each scripture and the Spirit will transport that into our hearts. If one follows that in their personal study it will bring about a looking forward to their study time. .

Psalm 119:45-46 (King James Version)

45And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.

46I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.

Psalm 119:26-27 (King James Version)

26I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.

27Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.

2. Before preaching or teaching seek that personal encounter with God.

Isaiah 6:1-8 (King James Version)

Isaiah 6

1In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

2Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

4And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

5Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

6Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:

7And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

8Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

In both the Old Testament we find that most if not all of God’s chosen speakers had something in common. That very personal encounter with God.

In the New Testament we find that those chosen to proclaim the message of Jesus Christ had very personal encounters with him. The disciples and apostles enjoyed and benefited from the teaching of Jesus live and in person. After the day of Pentecost they benefited from the encounters in the person of the Holy Spirit.

Just as important as our study and preparation in preaching is that encounter with the Holy Spirit . It is amazing what God will do in these times of isolation with him.

It is in times like these that Jesus Christ reveals things to us. Before we speak we truly need to have a spiritual revelation from the Holy Trinity.

Revelation 1:9-11 (King James Version)

9I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.