THE SELF-SUFFICIENT MAN 3
“And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].” 2 Corinthians 9:8 AMPC
The word of God in the aforementioned scripture communicates to us God’s desire for our lives - a life of self-sufficiency. A level where you completely require no aid or support. A man who is self-sufficient is one who has all grace, every favour and earthly blessing in abundance. He doesn’t need to boast in man because all things belong to him (1 Corinthians 3:21). To elaborate further, when we talk about the Self-Sufficient man we are referring to heirs of God, Joint Heirs with Christ who have come to office. They understand that by virtue of the New Birth they are the true decedents of Abraham, possessors of the world. They understand that Christianity is not a religion nor is it a life of breaking curses and consistent deliverance (Colossians 1:13) and breakthrough sessions but true Christianity is a calling unto glory, complete oneness and union (1 Corinthians 6:17) with the Father, Christ in you and you in Christ (Colossians 1:27).
There is a fundamental truth of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. As you gain greater understanding of the gospel, you will discover that God has given to us all things that pertain unto life and Godliness to live in this world. All we need to do is to acknowledge what belongs to us by responding to the word of God through our words and actions. Look at the tenses in 2 Peter 1:2-3, “For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue).” this is not a promise nor is it a prophesy but a statement of fact, a present hour reality. God has GIVEN us ALL things already and today he is sitting on his throne.
No wonder, the Apostle Paul, by the Spirit, said, "...all things are yours" (1 Corinthians 3:21). This is because all things are yours in Christ thus It’s already late to be poor. In fact, it’s clear from the epistles that a New Creation cannot be poor but can go without (2 Corinthians 8:9). I always tell God’s people that a Christian is not the poor trying to be rich, he is the rich discovering how rich he is. Your experience will never change the word of God (2 Corinthians 5:7). Don’t observe lying vanities, never entertain a mirage. Remember, the absence of money doesn’t make you poor. You have already obtained an inheritance (Ephesians 1:11). Let God be true and every man a liar, whose report will you believe. How on earth can a joint heir with Christ be poor. Paul explains the reason there are discrepancies between the word and the new creation. In Galatians 4:1, 3 he says as long as an heir (New Creation) is underage he is not different from a slave and if he is serious about enjoying his inheritance growth should be a priority. No growth, no inheritance. You can only grow by the WORD, not the laying on of hands nor an exhortation (1 Peter 2:2). Prophesy is a beautiful gift from the Holy Spirit that every Christian should excel (1 Corinthians 14:1) in but it is for comfort and exhortation and not for helping you grow (1 Corinthians 14:4).
The day you come to terms with the fact that all things are yours, it will change your thinking and prayer life. You will stop asking God for things. You will understand that you are one with the provider and therefore one in providing for others, one in meeting people’s needs. Meaning you are the answer and solution that people are expecting from God.
The bible says faith is the assurance, confirmation, the evidence of unseen realities: the proof of the existence of those things which are unseen to the optical eyes. Faith calls real what is not revealed to the senses. So although I cannot touch or see it I will speak and conduct myself as though it is there (Hebrews 11:1 AMP). By this principle therefore, we don’t receive by faith because faith doesn’t try to receive but faith claims it is done already and then you need to behave like it’s done. Faith doesn't try to make things happen, it says it has happened already. It's like a birth certificate, which doesn't claim that a baby is yet to come. If a couple shows you a birth certificate, you don't need to see the baby because you will be convinced that they indeed have a baby. That is faith! Faith is the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality.
If all things are yours like (1 Corinthians 3:21) suggests, how then do you mix it with faith? You talk and walk like someone who has all things. You are no longer fighting poverty, praying for financial breakthrough etc. Your approach to giving changes, you don’t give to be blessed but give because you are blessed. The figures in the bank account are not the evidence that you are rich. FAITH IS THE EVIDENCE! Hallelujah!
CONFESSION
Father I thank you for my inseparable union with Christ. By my faith filled words I take possession, enjoy and live in the reality of Gods word for my life. In Christ all things are mine, in Him I’ve obtained an inheritance and I’m Self Sufficient in Christ’s Sufficiency. Hallelujah!
Further Study
2 Corinthians 9:8 AMPC
1 Corinthians 3:21
Colossians 1:13
Hebrews 11:1
1 Peter 2:2