Our Sufficiency – Part Two
Our Sufficiency – Part Two
(Continued from Our Sufficiency – Part One)
“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant…”
2 Corinthians 3:5
Unity of the Spirit
Unity of The Spirit is the secret and the source of HIS power in our midst.
As D.L. Moody declared:
“I have never known the Spirit of God to work
where the Lord’s people were divided.
D.L. Moody
“The Spirit of God doesn’t work where there is division,
and what we want today is the spirit of unity amongst God’s children,
so that the Lord may work.”
D.L. Moody
The true and effective ministers of the New Covenant are those who have died to themselves. By the power of the Cross of Christ, they no longer seek “their” church, “their” people, or to magnify “their” ministry. All is done for His Glory. The “I” has been crucified and the purpose of all ministry is to bring about the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all things.
The corruption of the gospel today is that we have made pastors a ruling class in the church. We have elevated a man to a position over a distinct entity where the people choose one minister over another. In the early Church, the united ministry flowed from house to house so that the people of God would be exposed to the full variety and function of each, so that they might develop into the fullness of Christ.
If Paul called the people of God carnal who were starting to identify with specific apostolic ministers, what would that same Spirit of God that was moving in him have to say today? I hear people talk about “our pastor”, “our prophet”, or “our church” with sorrow. The only Church with which His Spirit is concerned is HIS CHURCH. His Church is not a building or an earthly organization. His Church is HIS BODY and those who walk and live in His Spirit desire and pour out their lives to see His unity revealed through a people with pure motives. Jesus prayed for this unity; those who serve Him seek to see His prayer accomplished in the earth. Those who serve themselves seek the growth of their own ministry, fellowship, or church to the neglect of others.
“He that speaketh of himself
seeketh his own glory…”
John 7:18
May we be struck with the estimation of the true Spirit of Christ concerning HIS MINISTERS:
“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos,
but ministers by whom ye believed,
even as the Lord gave to every man?…”
1 Corinthians 3:5
To think of His servants as anything in themselves is the error of our day. Paul cries out to the people in the verse highlighted at the beginning “But our sufficiency is from God”. Paul’s ability to minister was not of his own inherent ability, nor was Peter’s, or Apollos’! Their individual ministrations were born of God, each differing from the other to bring the Church to the “unity of the faith”.
“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers, to equip the saints for the(ir) work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith…”
Ephesians 4:11-13
Many will pass over this Word, but those who have ears to hear and eyes to see will understand that the five-fold ministry is given to bring His people to the “unity of the faith”; not to a brand or a faction, nor to divide and bring the people of God unto themselves!
May God move afresh in our hearts to see that ministry is but God’s means to HIS END, not for our glory but HIS. Any minister that draws people to himself is factious. That is the very definition of heresy in the New Testament Greek. May we all take heed to avoid such evil propensities.
(Continued in Part Three – The Divine Purpose)
This article is best read as one document but for the hope of maximum retention, it is broken down into shorter segments. It is my earnest desire that His people would cease from the exaltation of ministry and the choosing one over another and begin to touch the vibrancy and purpose for which ministry has been given. (Please read Part One in this series first).
Ministry is given to usher in the wonder of a living Body of Christ where EVERY member functions in the gifts of His Spirit motivated by the love of Him fusing us, without division. In contrast, Paul declares, “We speak the same thing” because we live and walk in the same Spirit by which we are baptized into ONE Body (1 Corinthians 12:13)!
“For we being many are one bread, and one body:
for we are all partakers of that one bread.”
1 Corinthians 10:17
“Unto HIM be glory in the church”
Ephesians 3:21
“The only way it is possible to have one mind is to have the mind of God derived from the unity of the Spirit of God, a unity which comes only when believers find the will of God and give themselves unselfishly and unstintingly to its fulfillment.”
– John F. Walvoord
Our Sufficiency Series:
Part Three – The Divine Purpose,
Other Related Posts:
Brian Troxel
Praise God! I woke up with this on my heart and an urgency to write, then I read your blog. We as followers of Christ need to be reminded that we are all members of the Body Of Christ. Our strength is our unity and faith. It is not about me, myself, or I. But ALL about Him! Your blog inspired me and I quoted some of your words because I felt they were inspired by God. Blessings to you…
Unto Him be the Glory – it is power of His Holy Spirit filling our hearts with this one passion that we touch that same wonder moving and joining us whereby we become ONE (John 17:21) “That they may be one IN US” Hasten the day Lord.
Blessings to you!
BT
The “I” has been crucified and the purpose of all ministry is to bring about the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all things. “Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Thank You, Jesus!
Blessings today!
Yes – the true life arises out of our death to self… painful as it is… the apprehension of His Life is the greatest reward… how we need one another to grow into Him in all things.
Blessings!
BT
I agree Brian! I believe also that denominations actually divide us instead of the body being in unity. When you read the Bible you soon realize any Church known as a denomination is from a Church of man. Because once a denomination is introduced, doctrines are created to support their position. Man has definitely twisted the scriptures to suit their own desires.
And something else many don’t realize, man calls it a religion but in the Bible all throughout the Old Testament and even in the New, it was known as , The Way. Which was learning God’s Ways and turning from sin. Remember, Jesus said, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life and the Apostle Paul states he believes as the father in, The Way, known as a sect. I’m going to be writing a post about this because there are numerous scriptures supporting this.
But EXCELLENT post and I would like to reblog on my blog if it good with it. God bless you and thank you for sharing…Robin
“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” The truth of God stands clear.
“He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked…” May His Word continually press us into the greater walk, the greater dependency upon Him who is able to do all things.
“And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…” Ephesians 3:10-20
If we are of the faith of Abraham then we seek a City that is made without hands, we cannot abide in the works of men’s ambitions. In His house everyone speaks of His Glory. To those in whom HE lives church is not somewhere we go it is who we are.
The New Wine Skin is arising that will be of such purity that it will be worthy of the New Wine. Hearts knitted together in the fervent love of Him and the pretense of Ananias and Sapphira will no longer be allowed in His presence. He will not pour the New Wine into the old religious wine skins… nor will He patch it up!
Appreciate the comments and the communication of the common hope of those whose hearts are fixed on Him.
BT
Amen!
🙂
“…He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease…”
John 3:29-30
I’ve had the same thought about the unity of the church, and the myriad of churches or denominations that say the same thing, that there is a division, yet the doctrines remain the same.
I wrote a series of posts last year called “Mud In Your Eyes”, dealing with John chapter 9, in which the Spirit revealed to me that our eyes (understanding) are filled with the Word of God through man’s understanding.
The spit of Jesus mixed with the dust to make mud for the blind man’s eyes spoke to me that so many of us are or have been blind until we wash at the pool of Siloam (Sent), which is the Holy Spirit.
I actually thought your next two posts were ready, I guess I’ll wait for those to publish 🙂
Bless you, brother.
“May God move afresh in our hearts to see that ministry is but God’s means to HIS END, not for our glory but HIS.” Amen.
It’s 12: 00AM Barbados time and I’m just enjoying this delicious divine bread and wine. Our Father’s BLESSINGS continue to rest and remain upon you and those there with you. I’m honored to be joined to you all in spirit and in truth and look forward to our mutual enjoyment and edification in the Lord. Just earlier this week I was journalling and in His usual way of working with me as one who loves singing and songwriting and music in general, The Father brought these lyrics from an old 70’s R&B song to mind… “I used to say… I and me… now it’s us… Now its we.” There is certainly only us and we in the oneness we’ve been bought/redeemed and born again into in Christ. Blessings. 🙂
So enjoyed this comment… and look forward to the WE. God’s ultimate call “members one of another”.
Blessings to you and your loved ones
BT