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
That is the difference between Christianity and all the Oriental cults and religions. All cult religions try to wake up what you already have, and Christianity says, "What you have is not enough— you will need the enduement which is sent from above!" That is the difference. The others say, "Stir up the thing that is in you," and they expect this to be enough.
By way of illustration, if there were four or five lions coming at you, you would never think of saying to a little French poodle, "Wake up the lion in you." That would not work—it would not be enough. They would chew the little fellow up and swallow him, haircut and all, because a French poodle just isn't sufficient for a pack of lions. Some power outside of himself would have to make him bigger and stronger than the lion if he were to conquer.
That is exactly what the Holy Spirit says He does for the Christian believer, but the cult religions still say, "Concentrate and free your mind and release the creative powers that lie within you."
"Lord, in our self-reliance we're all too often guilty of digging deep for that inner self-sufficiency. Our New Age culture fosters that error. Teach us how futile; show us Your power. Amen."
Replies
I will active my lion in me go forward and too keep going in God. Because is time to get to work and be happy in doing what we need to do in ministry.
Ne'eman I will not relie on me it will be God that dose it because i know his power Ne'eman
This is a mind-set we must shift into. We are nothing without God. It's the Holy Spirit that speaks through us from the Father interceded by the Son. Love this,,,
The name by which God revealed Himself to Abraham was "El Shaddai" The word El in Hebrew is God it literally means strength. The name Shaddai comes from a root word shad which is the word for breast. Hence the idea of nourisher. El Shaddai is translated God Almighty, but a more literal translation would be God All Sufficient.
My insufficiency should never be used as an excuse for indolence. I can't just lie back and say, Okay God, you do it all. I must step out in faith to do it, knowing that I can't do it by myself, but trusting in His all sufficiency to make up for my insufficiency knowing that His strength will be made perfect in my weakness, believing that I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.
By Chuck Smith