Head and Heart....our Competency is of God, not ourselves. 2 Corinthians

 (12th Sunday after Trinity .  Got me!  This one is for us all. Theology is not just for the brain)

12th S. after Trinity---older reading  2 Corinthians 3:4

God has made us sufficient and competent to do His work. " Our sufficiency is of God", the Apostle says. "

"Years ago, Harry Emerson Fosdick, then at the height of his influence as minister of the Riverside Church, New York City, was making a tour of Palestine and other countries of the Near and Middle East. He was invited to give an address at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, where the student body comprised citizens of many countries and representatives from sixteen different religions. What could one say that would be relevant or of interest to so mixed and varied a group? This is how Fosdick began: "I do not ask anyone here to change his religion; but I do ask all of you to face up to this question: What is your religion doing to your character?"

This was a call to consider one of the great issues of human belief: religion and life, Christianity and character, word and spirit. Emerson once said, "What you are speaks so loudly I cannot hear a word you say." Jesus' discourse in this whole sixth chapter of the Gospel of John had two foci - spirit and life. "The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." By this he meant that those who appropriated his spirit, i.e., fed upon him as the bread of life, would find, thereby, a fulfillment and satisfaction no other means could give.

The traditions of the world of his time, of course, had a different emphasis...." sermons@sermons.com

I have to confess that the work seems hopeful and hopeless together.  But our sufficiency is of God, not our own efforts.  The gk word is competency/ability fitness.

Reading the confession of the Westminster Divines can make us feel rather out there in understanding, but God is able to help us in His work.  

As Christians we are equipped to do God's work because we have His Spirit. Our confidence and competency comes from Christ . I Timothy 1:15 says it this way ," And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me....and the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love..." We do not rely on ourselves but our " sufficiency is of God " 2 Cor. 3:4 It may not happen in our time or in our plan.

We remember Joseph in Genesis 41 a good lesson...sold into slavery by his brothers he undergoes more trial in the house of Potiphar. He is put into jail falsely accused by his wife. " But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy....and the LORD made it to prosper." ch. 39 He sits in prison for two years until he is called to help Pharaoh with his dream. What was the secret of Joseph' success? Pharaoh asks, " Can we find such a one this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?" ch. 41:38

The key to our leaders is that they must have the Spirit of God. " The trust or confidence that Paul felt in this commendation of his ministry supplied by the Holy Spirit was totally different from the self-confidence of the natural man. It was based neither upon a consciousness of his own innate ability,  nor upon the good reputation he might have acquired with his fellow men, but was solely due to the activity of the risen Christ. Through Christ alone he possessed it; and he knew in consequence that it would stand the scrutiny of God Himself." 2 Corinthians, Tasker

It is true we get bogged down in our own efforts and in our plans. If we are to be servants ( " God has made us competent servants of the new covenant") , we must allow ourselves to have His eyes and ears on what is happening in our world , nation, and our town. Being a servant goes against our natural nature. That is why the Spirit must lead us to His still waters of obedience and love. In the qualities of a presbyter in I Timothy we are told that patience is a part of that list. I Timothy 3:3. Patient with God, ourselves and others in our servanthood under Christ ." Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous"

Discouragement and monotony in doing God's work are possible because we are human. The glass may be half empty. Then as I mentioned last week,fill it! All of God's saints in the old and new testaments went thru difficulties and trials. Just read Hebrews 11. But the difference is they knew as the apostle mentions in this letter that despite the trials, thorns , yes even a messenger of Satan ( 2 Cor 12:9) this: , " I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me.' And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.' "

Lastly as servants of the new covenant we are not only sufficient and capable because God is our competency and sufficiency we go thru this world of tribulation and testing but on the way to GLORY! " For if the ministration of condemnation be glory , much more the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious." Joseph was elevated to the next in line right after Pharaoh even though he had some very hard times to have gone through in his life. He would even be reunited with his family, forgive them and see his father again too.

We dear Christian friends are on the same path. We go through trials but like Joseph if God is with us , we can overcome the trials through the power of Christ and the Holy Spirit. We will enter the promised land one day because of our faithfulness to Christ , and reign with Him as kings and priests. Should we not endure such sufffering and lowliness now that we may enter into our final glory? WE must take the things we have here and invest them in eternal spiritual things , because these are the things that last, not the things we can never take with us.

We are all leaders in some fashion . But what kind of leaders are we? Servants, fellow sufferers with Christ and competent to share the good news of the eternal kingdom with all those who need it now. Let nothing get in the way of that.

Conclusion---What is your religion and my religion doing to our character? We may present to others someone that we do not know....our true religion should be of one mind.  We are who we profess, or are we someone else?  Our sufficiency , or competency is of God.  Thank Him for that!