Five Things Only God Can Do
In “Experiencing God,” author Dr. Henry Blackaby says over and over that we should “watch to see where God is working and join Him in His work.” How do you know where God is working? What are the characteristics of God at work?
FIVE THINGS ONLY GOD CAN DO!
- Is someone interested in spiritual things?
Only God draws people to Himself. (John 6:44) - Is someone understanding biblical truth?
Only God reveals spiritual truth. (Matt. 16:17; John 14:26; 16:13) - Is someone under conviction of sin?
Only God convicts about sin. (John 16:8-9) - Is someone under conviction of righteousness?
Only God convicts about righteousness. (John 16:8,10) - Is someone under conviction of judgment?
Only God convicts about judgment. (John 16:8,11)
The following illustration from “Experiencing God,” is a practical example of how to apply these truths.
Faith Baptist Church began to sense that God was leading them to an outreach ministry to the college campus. Neither the church nor their Pastor had ever done student work. An adviser from their State Convention suggested they begin with a Bible study in the dorms. For over a year they tried to start a Bible study in the dorms and it did not work.
One Sunday the Pastor pulled their students together and said, “This week I want you to go to the campus and watch and see where God is working and join Him.” They asked him to explain. The Pastor said, “The Bible tells us that no one will seek after God (Rom. 3:10-11) unless the Father draws him (John 6:44). According to these passages, no one is going to seek after God on his own initiative. No one will ask about spiritual matters unless God is at work in his life. When you see someone seeking God or asking about spiritual matters, you are seeing God at work.”
The Pastor continued, “If someone starts asking you spiritual questions, whatever else you have planned, don’t do it. Cancel what you are doing. Go with that individual and look to see what God is doing there.” That week, their students went out to see where God was at work and join Him.
On Wednesday, one of the girls reported, “Oh, Pastor, a girl who has been in classes with me for two years came to me after class today. She said, ‘I think you might be a Christian. I need to talk to you.’ I remembered what you said. I had a class, but I missed it. We went to the cafeteria to talk. She said, ‘Eleven of us girls have been studying the Bible, and none of us are Christians. Do you know somebody who can lead us in a Bible study?’”
As a result of that contact, the church started three Bible study groups in the women’s dorms and two in the men’s dorms. For two years they tried to do something for God and failed. For three days they looked to see where God was working and joined Him. What a difference that made!
What is God doing around that is getting your attention? Will you join Him in His work?
Great post, Les. We often claim that God isn’t doing anything, simply because we limit Him to the methods WE want to use.
It’s also a GREAT application of the idea of being “Christ followers.” Many times we try to LEAD Him to do what we want done rather than FOLLOWING Him in what He is doing.
Thanks!
Kes,
And God’s People Say:
AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN
In His Name
Wayne
Les,
Sorry about my misspelled Les.
Old Age and Bad Fingers.
In His Name
Wayne
Bernard,
I believe the greatest miracle that God ever does is change a human heart. Greater than the parting of the Red Sea, making time stand still for Joshua’s army, etc. God’s miracles are seen in the ordinary things of life.
Wayne,
That’s okay. I’ve been called worse. :)
Brother Les,
Overseas, we call this looking for the “person of peace” (Luke 10), but Blackaby makes it seem more like common sense!
It is so easy for me to convince myself that an idea is from God when what I am really doing is putting words in His mouth. Thanks for the reminder to watch and listen for where He is already at work!
His peace be with you,
From the Middle East
Middle East,
I’ve been trying to understand how one finds a “person of peace.” Thanks for helping me understand that we watch to see where God is working.
This Anglican in the Middle East says Amen!
Have posted the list over at Islam and Christianity.
Salaam wa ni3mat irrab ma3kum.
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