THINGS MOST MINISTERS MUST OVERCOME
OUTLINE taken from II Corinthians 2 & 3
by Ken Sumrall

(Message preached June 13 for our CFN Family Conference and printed by request--available on CD for love offering)

I. OVERCOME FEELINGS OF INADEQUACY.
2 Cor 3:4-6a “Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant..”

II. OVERCOME LEGALISM
2 Cor 3:6 “He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant — not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” Jesus obeyed His Father and so should we obey Jesus. But Holiness is a matter of heart, not legalistic rules to place over people we serve and father.

III. OVERCOME GUILE
John 1:47 “Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” (craft, deceit, guile, subtilty). 2 Cor 2:17 17 “Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.” 2 Cor 4:2 “We have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” Ps 32:2 “Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.” If we truly desire a move of God, we must get rid of religious guile.

IV. OVERCOME THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING HEART.
2 Cor 4:1 “Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.” 2 Cor 4:16 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” 1 Cor 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Don’t quit. Endure hardness and keep on however people treat you.

V. OVERCOME BLINDNESS TO OUR OWN FAULTS.
Every minister needs someone (his wife and close friends?) who can lovingly be honest with him about his faults which negate his effectiveness. Many of us have a veil over our eyes and cannot see our own weak spots. 2 Cor 3:18- “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever- increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” Eli was a good priest, but blind to the sins of his sons. David was a good King, but a poor father.