Sermon Central
-
Where Is God Working?
Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on May 21, 2023 (message contributor)
Pastor Henry Blackaby, of Faith Baptist Church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada began to sense God leading them to an outreach ministry on the college campus. He had never done student work. Their church had never done student work. Their denominational student ministries department recommended that they begin with a Bible study in the dorms. For almost 2 years they tried to start a Bible study in the dorms, and it did not work. One Sunday Pastor Blackaby pulled the students together and said, “This week I want you to go to the campus and watch to see where God is working and join him.” They asked him to explain. God had impressed upon his heart these two scriptures:
Romans 3:10-11 As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one. 11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God.
John 6:44 For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me...
He went on to explain, “According to these passages, no one is going to seek God on his own initiative. No one will ask after spiritual matters unless God is at work in their life. When you see someone seeking God or asking about spiritual matters, you are seeing God at work. That is something only God does in a life.”
He told his students, “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 on the campus and to join him.
On Wednesday one of the girls reported, “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, ‘11 of us girls in the dorm 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, they started three Bible study groups in the women’s dorms and two in the men’s dorm. For almost 2 years they tried to do something for God and failed. For three days they went looking to see where God was working and joined him. What a difference that made! Over the following years, many students trusted Christ as saviour and Lord. Many of those surrendered to full-time ministry and are now serving as pastors and missionaries all over the world.
Henry T Blackaby and Claude V King. (Experiencing God: How to Live the Full Adventure of Knowing and Doing the Will of God.) Broadman and Holman Publishers: Atlanta. 1994. Page 69-71.
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
A Little Boy Was Leading His Sister Up A ... PRO
Contributed by David Elvery on Nov 14, 2004
A little boy was leading his sister up a mountain path and the way was not too easy. "Why this isn't a path at all," the little girl complained. "Its all rocky and bumpy." Her little brother kept on up the mountain, ...read more
-
Most Of Us Are Familiar With This Song – It's The ...
Contributed by Robert Marsh on Mar 22, 2005
Most of us are familiar with this song – it’s the theme from the television show Friends. But have you ever caught the lyrics to the song? They read, in part: So no one told you life was gonna be this way Your job’s a joke, you’re broke, your love life’s D.O.A. It’s like you’re always stuck ...read more
-
Legend Has It That When The Famous Frontiersman ... PRO
Contributed by Bud Brown on Oct 14, 2004
Legend has it that when the famous frontiersman Davy Crockett was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1827, a newspaper reporter asked him if he’d ever been lost. Crockett had grown up in the woods and wilderness of middle and western Tennessee and was often gone out on hunting trips ...read more
-
The Other Day, Hunter My 6 Year Old Shocked Me As ...
Contributed by David Schaal on Sep 10, 2003
The other day, Hunter my 6 year old shocked me as I came in the door. He said Dad, did the trash man come yet? I said, “I think so,” he said,” Good, I will go get the trash can and bring it in.” I thought, “ I am such a great leader, I have taught my son the responsibilities of taking care of and ...read more
-
Do You Know That You Already Have The Gift Of A ...
Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Sep 30, 2005
Do you know that you already have the gift of a consuming passion for hungering and thirsting? You activate it when you surrender your life to the Spirit’s working. Billy Graham was asked, “What is the most important ...read more
Related Sermons
-
Discipleship - Fully Devoted Followers Of Jesus Christ
Contributed by Dr. Jonathan Vorce on Sep 6, 2017
We are commanded by God to "make" disciples. This message can aid in the developing of fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
-
What Jesus Touches, He Changes. Series
Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 24, 2016
His name had been Saul, but that - along with his entire life - was changed when he met Jesus. What changed him and what can we learn from his experience?
-
What Do You Have? Series
Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 14, 2018
Peter said to the lame man "such as I have give I thee". What did he have to offer that made the difference that day, and what do WE have that can make the difference today?
-
Anointed With Fresh Oil
Contributed by John Gaston on Nov 3, 2016
I don't like things that are stale. They taste sour, limp, bitter, etc. Many Christians are stale! They got the Spirit years ago, but none lately. God wants us to have a FRESH experience of the Spirit. He promises us FRESH OIL!
-
Seize The Day, Twenty-Four Seven
Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Aug 12, 2015
We are Christ followers. We are not, Christ fans. Fans sit on the sidelines followers get into are active on the field of play. It is time to get off the sideline. It is time to Seize the Day, Twenty-four Seven! Updated August 2018.
