INTRODUCTION

1. The New Covenant from the Divine perspective

a) It was promised by God Jeremiah 31

b) It was confirmed by the Lord Jesus Matthew 26:28

c) The Holy Spirit is wonderfully involved

2. The New Covenant from the human perspective

a) We are servants of God in the New Covenant

b) We do not need to be:

i) Priests

ii) Prophets

iii) Apostles

c) We are instrumental as servants of God

 

IN THE OLD COVENANT

1. The priests and the Levites

a) They were chosen by God

b) No one could consider taking over their roles

2. The prophets of God

a) They were specially raised up by God

b) They were often not from the priestly line

c) They were appointed and anointed by God

3. Being ministers of God

This was very challenging. Many servants failed in their duties.

 

OUR SUFFICIENCY IS FROM GOD

4 And we have such trust through Christ toward God.

5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,

6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant,

not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:4-6

1. Remembering what Paul had written earlier 2 Corinthians 3:1-3

a) Paul wrote about being instruments of God

b) That they were writing on the hearts of believers

2. The main work is done by the Spirit of God

a) His power is of utmost importance

b) His skill in writing on hearts is beyond compare

3. Sufficiency to serve the Lord effectively

a) The servant of God must be empowered

b) He must know how to be instrumental

c) He needs to be filled with the Holy Spirit

4. This sufficiency

a) It comes from God

b) It is God who will empower the servant

 

HOW DOES GOD MAKE A SERVANT SUFFICENT FOR MINISTRY?

1. The Lord Jesus understood this process

2. The Lord’s program is called “Discipleship”

3. The Lord would have to do quite a bit of work in the lives of the Disciples

 

VITAL LESSONS TAUGHT

1. The Call of the Lord Jesus

a) To Follow the Lord Jesus Christ Matthew 4:19a

b) To become fishers of men Matthew 4:19b

c) To be with Him Mark 3:14

d) To give them power for ministry Matthew 10:1

2. The part of the Disciples

26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother,

wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—

29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,

30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?

31 Or what king, going to make war against another king,

does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.

33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:26-33

a) Bearing the cross

b) Following the Lord

c) Sometimes at great personal cost

d) Laying strong foundations

e) Forsaking all to follow the Lord Jesus

 

CONCLUSION

1. Assurance of our sufficiency

a) It is provided by the Lord

b) We have the promise of power to be sufficient servants of God

2. Abiding in the Lord is key

a) Abiding in the Lord Jesus Christ John 15:4

b) Abiding in His word John 4:7

c) Abiding in His love John 4:9

3. Our part

a) To follow the Lord

b) To find faith

c) To be filled with the Holy Spirit