THE GOD SUFFICIENCY

Thursday 5 September

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 2 Corinthians 3:5 (NKJV)

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”2 Corinthians 12:9a (NKJV)

Not every word in English has a corresponding word in Hebrew or Greek that matches its exact meaning. We find this when interpreting the word ‘sufficient’ in our text verses. In 2 Corinthians 3:5 for example, the word sufficient is ‘hikanos’ in Greek and it means competent, great, fit, enough, worthy etc.

It takes on a whole new meaning to what we think of, when we hear the word ‘sufficient’. It goes on to say that our ‘sufficiency’ or ‘hikanotes’ being essentially our competence or ability, is from God. This is what happens when the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. We are enabled to be competent or ‘able’ ministers of the New Covenant.

Let’s look at our second scripture in 2 Corinthians 12:9 to see another meaning to the context of the word ‘sufficient’. This time Apostle Paul uses the Greek word ‘arkeo’. Its meanings include: to be possessed of unfailing strength, to be strong, to suffice, to be (strong) enough to defend or ward off. To be satisfied, to be contented.

Did you see that? His grace possesses unfailing strength and it is strong enough to defend or ward off any attack! Grace also carries with it satisfaction and contentment. All these things are consistent with the salvation we have received. No wonder it is made perfect despite any of our perceived or unperceived weaknesses.

Our confidence comes from His competence that is at work in us through the Holy Spirit and our new found identity in Christ. In summary; we are able, competent, great, fit, worthy, having unfailing strength etc. Believe me when I tell you, that you have beyond any shadow of a doubt the God sufficiency.

APPLICATION

Do in-depth study of scripture to gain a full understanding of the interpretation of words and don’t just assume that the English and the Hebrew or Greek have the same meaning.