Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 306

November 2;      2 Corinthians 3:5;       152/260(III);        ‘Competent by God’

2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.     NIV

Paul in this epistle (letter) is commending the Corinthian church.  He loves them and is honored that he has been able to impart the Word into their spirit.  Paul tells the church that they are like a letter that is written by them right in his spirit.  He then quickly, so no one thinks that he is boasting, gives all of the glory to the Lord.  Paul’s competence to help the congregation of Corinth is from the Lord.  Once Paul became born again, he did away with all of his religious learning and taught what he taught about Jesus, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  If we remember his past, Paul was an incredible scholar of the Law.  He was taught by the greatest Jewish theologians.  Once he made Jesus the Lord of His life, Paul abandoned his great learning and used his born again spirit and sharp mind to teach the church what the Holy Spirit taught him.  Paul did not grieve over his persecution of the church, knowing that he did what he did in ignorance.  What Paul did do, was with unequaled determination, take the message given him by the Holy Spirit and share it with everyone he could wherever he went.  So much of our doctrine today was given to Paul to give to us.  Paul understood the potential for pride, so he made it a point to always give the glory for what he knew and what he taught to the Lord.  Because of Paul’s revelation and determination, the devil did all he could to hinder Paul.  The Lord’s grace saw Paul through. Humility and revelation what a pair.