Reality #7 God Accomplishes His Work
John 3:21
"But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God."
Isaiah 46:10-11
"'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose...I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it."
God Accomplishes His Work
When we experience God's invitation to join Him, we often insist upon seeing some kind of sign. It is as if we are saying, "Lord, prove to me this is You, and then I will obey." When Moses stood before the burning bush and received his invitation to join God, God told him that he would receive a sign that God sent him. God told Moses, "This shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt you shall serve God on this mountain" (Exodus 3:12). In other words: "Moses, you obey Me. I will deliver Israel through you. You will come to know Me as your Deliverer, and you will stand on this mountain and worship Me." God's affirmation that He had sent Moses was going to come after Moses obeyed, not before. This is most frequently the case in Scripture. The affirmation that comes after the obedience. God is love. Trust Him and believe Him. Because you love Him, obey Him. Then you will so fellowship with Him that you will come to know Him intimately. He will work through you to accomplish God-sized assignments that will affirm His presence and work in your life. That affirmation will be a joyous time for you!
What if the "Door" closes?
Suppose you sense the call of God to a task or to a place or to an assignment. You set about to do it and everything goes wrong. Often people will say, "Well, I guess that just was not God's will." God calls you into a relationship with Himself. Be very careful how you interpret circumstances. Many times we jump to a conclusion too quickly. God is moving us in one direction to tell us what He is about to do. We immediately jump to our own conclusion about what He is doing and when He is going to do it because our conclusion sounds so logical. We start following the logic of our own reasoning, but then nothing seems to work out. We have a tendency to leave the relationship and take things into our own hands. DON'T DO THAT!!!!
Most of the time when God calls you or gives a direction, His call is not what He wants you to do for Him. He is telling you what He is about to do where you are. As an example of this, examine the record of the apostle Paul's ministry:
Acts 16:6-10
The Macedonian Call
"And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, 'Come over to Macedonia and help us.' And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them."
Already on the Damascus road, God had told Paul that He was going to reach the Gentiles through him. God, not Paul, was going to reach the Gentiles. Paul started to go in one direction and the Spirit stopped him (Acts 16:6-10). He started to go another direction. Again, the Spirit stopped him. What was the original plan of God? To reach the Gentiles. What was Paul's problem? He was trying to figure out what he ought to do, and the "door" of opportunity closed. Did the door close? No. God was trying to say, "Listen to me, Paul. God and sit in Troas until I tell you where you are supposed to go." In Troas, Paul had the vision to go over to Macedonia and help them. What was happening? God's plan was to turn the gospel to the west toward Greece and Rome. God was at work in Philippi and wanted Paul to join Him in His work there.
When you begin to follow and circumstances seem to close doors of opportunity, go back to the Lord and clarify what God said. Better yet, always try to make sure on the front end of a sense of call exactly what God is saying. He most often is not calling you to a task only, but to a relationship. Through that relationship He is going to do something through your life. If you start off in a direction and everything is stopped, go back and clarify what God has said. Do not deny what God has said, but clarify what God has said. Moses had to do that constantly. He obeyed God and spoke to Pharaoh, and everything went wrong. Moses didn't quit. He went to the Lord to clarify what was happening. God began to give him directions about the plagues He was bringing on Egypt. Pharaoh seemed to be getting more and more difficult to deal with. Moses daily sought God's directions and obeyed them. Later Moses could look back and see God's handiwork in all that took place. God delivered Israel from the Egyptians in such a way that Israel, Egypt, and all the surrounding nations knew that God had done it.
When things seem to go wrong after you take a step of obedience:
1. Clarify what God said and identify what may have been your "additions" to what He said.
2. Keep in place what God has said.
3. Let Him work out the details in His timing.
4. Do all you know to do.
5. Then wait on the Lord until He tells you what to do next.
God's greatest single task is to get His people adjusted to Himself. He needs time to shape us until we are exactly what He wants us to be. Suppose you sense that God is going to do something great because of what He has said in His Word and prayer. You sense He is going to do it because of the way circumstances are working out, and other believers (church) agree. Then six months pass and you still haven't seen anything great. Don't get negative and depressed and discouraged. The God who initiates His work in a relationship with you is the One Himself who guarantees to complete it. Watch to see what God is doing in you and in the people around you to prepare you for what He is going to do. The key is your relationship with God.
Slow Going
Does God seem to be working slowly in your life? Jesus had been with His disciples about three years when He said: "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come" (John 16:12-13).
Jesus had more He needed to teach the disciples, but they were not ready to receive it. Jesus knew, however, that the Holy Spirit would continue to guide these disciples into truth on God's timetable.
You may be saying, "God, hurry up and make me mature."
And God is saying, "I'm moving just as fast in your life as you will allow me. When you are ready for your next lesson, I will bring a new truth into your life." If God does not seem to be giving you a new assingnment, you may want to ask yourself these questions:
1. Am I responding to all God already is leading me to do?
2. Have I obeyed all I already know to be His will?
3. Do I really believe that He loves me and will always do what is best and right?
4. Am I willing to wait patiently on His timing and obey everything I know to do in the meantime?
Grass that is here today and gone tomorrow does not require much time to mature. A big oak tree that lasts for generations requires much more time to grow and mature. God is concerned about your life through eternity. Allow Him to take all the time He needs to shape you for His purposes. Larger assignments will require longer periods of preparation.
Would you be willing for God to take all the time He needs to prepare you for the assignments He may have purposed for your life? If so, spend some time right now in prayer telling Him so.
Next Post: God Accompishes His Work: Through You
In Christ,
David
"But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God."
Isaiah 46:10-11
"'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose...I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it."
God Accomplishes His Work
When we experience God's invitation to join Him, we often insist upon seeing some kind of sign. It is as if we are saying, "Lord, prove to me this is You, and then I will obey." When Moses stood before the burning bush and received his invitation to join God, God told him that he would receive a sign that God sent him. God told Moses, "This shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt you shall serve God on this mountain" (Exodus 3:12). In other words: "Moses, you obey Me. I will deliver Israel through you. You will come to know Me as your Deliverer, and you will stand on this mountain and worship Me." God's affirmation that He had sent Moses was going to come after Moses obeyed, not before. This is most frequently the case in Scripture. The affirmation that comes after the obedience. God is love. Trust Him and believe Him. Because you love Him, obey Him. Then you will so fellowship with Him that you will come to know Him intimately. He will work through you to accomplish God-sized assignments that will affirm His presence and work in your life. That affirmation will be a joyous time for you!
What if the "Door" closes?
Suppose you sense the call of God to a task or to a place or to an assignment. You set about to do it and everything goes wrong. Often people will say, "Well, I guess that just was not God's will." God calls you into a relationship with Himself. Be very careful how you interpret circumstances. Many times we jump to a conclusion too quickly. God is moving us in one direction to tell us what He is about to do. We immediately jump to our own conclusion about what He is doing and when He is going to do it because our conclusion sounds so logical. We start following the logic of our own reasoning, but then nothing seems to work out. We have a tendency to leave the relationship and take things into our own hands. DON'T DO THAT!!!!
Most of the time when God calls you or gives a direction, His call is not what He wants you to do for Him. He is telling you what He is about to do where you are. As an example of this, examine the record of the apostle Paul's ministry:
Acts 16:6-10
The Macedonian Call
"And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, 'Come over to Macedonia and help us.' And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them."
Already on the Damascus road, God had told Paul that He was going to reach the Gentiles through him. God, not Paul, was going to reach the Gentiles. Paul started to go in one direction and the Spirit stopped him (Acts 16:6-10). He started to go another direction. Again, the Spirit stopped him. What was the original plan of God? To reach the Gentiles. What was Paul's problem? He was trying to figure out what he ought to do, and the "door" of opportunity closed. Did the door close? No. God was trying to say, "Listen to me, Paul. God and sit in Troas until I tell you where you are supposed to go." In Troas, Paul had the vision to go over to Macedonia and help them. What was happening? God's plan was to turn the gospel to the west toward Greece and Rome. God was at work in Philippi and wanted Paul to join Him in His work there.
When you begin to follow and circumstances seem to close doors of opportunity, go back to the Lord and clarify what God said. Better yet, always try to make sure on the front end of a sense of call exactly what God is saying. He most often is not calling you to a task only, but to a relationship. Through that relationship He is going to do something through your life. If you start off in a direction and everything is stopped, go back and clarify what God has said. Do not deny what God has said, but clarify what God has said. Moses had to do that constantly. He obeyed God and spoke to Pharaoh, and everything went wrong. Moses didn't quit. He went to the Lord to clarify what was happening. God began to give him directions about the plagues He was bringing on Egypt. Pharaoh seemed to be getting more and more difficult to deal with. Moses daily sought God's directions and obeyed them. Later Moses could look back and see God's handiwork in all that took place. God delivered Israel from the Egyptians in such a way that Israel, Egypt, and all the surrounding nations knew that God had done it.
When things seem to go wrong after you take a step of obedience:
1. Clarify what God said and identify what may have been your "additions" to what He said.
2. Keep in place what God has said.
3. Let Him work out the details in His timing.
4. Do all you know to do.
5. Then wait on the Lord until He tells you what to do next.
God's greatest single task is to get His people adjusted to Himself. He needs time to shape us until we are exactly what He wants us to be. Suppose you sense that God is going to do something great because of what He has said in His Word and prayer. You sense He is going to do it because of the way circumstances are working out, and other believers (church) agree. Then six months pass and you still haven't seen anything great. Don't get negative and depressed and discouraged. The God who initiates His work in a relationship with you is the One Himself who guarantees to complete it. Watch to see what God is doing in you and in the people around you to prepare you for what He is going to do. The key is your relationship with God.
Slow Going
Does God seem to be working slowly in your life? Jesus had been with His disciples about three years when He said: "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come" (John 16:12-13).
Jesus had more He needed to teach the disciples, but they were not ready to receive it. Jesus knew, however, that the Holy Spirit would continue to guide these disciples into truth on God's timetable.
You may be saying, "God, hurry up and make me mature."
And God is saying, "I'm moving just as fast in your life as you will allow me. When you are ready for your next lesson, I will bring a new truth into your life." If God does not seem to be giving you a new assingnment, you may want to ask yourself these questions:
1. Am I responding to all God already is leading me to do?
2. Have I obeyed all I already know to be His will?
3. Do I really believe that He loves me and will always do what is best and right?
4. Am I willing to wait patiently on His timing and obey everything I know to do in the meantime?
Grass that is here today and gone tomorrow does not require much time to mature. A big oak tree that lasts for generations requires much more time to grow and mature. God is concerned about your life through eternity. Allow Him to take all the time He needs to shape you for His purposes. Larger assignments will require longer periods of preparation.
Would you be willing for God to take all the time He needs to prepare you for the assignments He may have purposed for your life? If so, spend some time right now in prayer telling Him so.
Next Post: God Accompishes His Work: Through You
In Christ,
David
posted by Mark 1:17 at 9:43 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home