Reality #1 - God Is Always At Work Around You Series

A. This morning we are beginning a series called “40 Days Of Spiritual Reality”

1. Every so often some one will say to me, “I just don’t see how God has any relevance to me.

a. I believe in God. But it just doesn’t mean much to me on a day to day basis.”

a. I like to think it is because they are lost and just don’t know the truth.

b. But the truth is many Christians act and think the same way.

c. While many wouldn’t dream of making that statement, they actively live it every day.

d. Everyday they go about their daily activities as if God has no place or interest in it.

e. As a result they lead lives of mediocrity rather than the abundant life Jesus promised.

2. Why do so many Christians do that?

a. One reason is they can’t see God’s active involvement in their world.

b. And even if they could see it they don’t understand what it means to them.

3. For the next 7 weeks we are going to be look at how to experience God in our lives.

a. I’m not just talking about an answer to prayer or a tingle feeling that runs down your spine.

b. I’m talking about an encounter with the living God that leaves us mind boggled.

c. One where when you look back you say, “Only God could have done that!”

4. Each week we’ll look at 1 of 7 basic spiritual truths on how to experience God in our lives.

5. Today I want to talk about the first truth!

B. Take a look at our passage in John 5:17, 19-20 (NIV) “Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working….I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.”

1. The first truth is - God is always at work around you.

a. Before we look at what this truth means to us I want to make sure You really believe it.

b. Because if you can’t get this one down then the next 6 truths will be lost to you.

2. Webster defines history as a branch of knowledge that records and explains past events.

a. But for Christians history is much more.

i. “History is the activity of God in accomplishing His mighty purposes.” - Henry Blackaby

ii. All through time God has been actively working out His plan in the world.

b. God has given our nation a rich, spiritual history as He has worked in it.

i. Many try to deny God’s influence on America but it continues to influence us today.

ii. The declaration of independence and our constitution were written by Christians.

iii. Rev. John Witherspoon, a Presbyterian minister signed the Declaration of Independence

iv. Much of our government structure has a biblical basis for its design.

v. My County, ‘Tis of Thee was written by a Baptist minister, Samuel Francis Smith.

vi. The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by a Baptist minister, Francis Bellamy.

vii. The words “In God We Trust” are traced to the efforts of Rev. W.R. Watkinson.

c. I believe our nation was a mighty move by God to bring freedom & equality into the world.

d. In 1776 God was at work through His children.

3. Jesus himself said in v. 17, “My Father is always working!” Then he adds “To this very day.”

a. By the way! Jesus didn’t speak those words to His disciples. He said them to the Pharisees.

c. In verse 18 it mentions that they hated Him even more because He called God his father.

d. I don’t know about you, but criticism & scorn makes me wonder if I did the right thing.

e. But not Jesus. He could even see God working right there in that situation.

4. The NLT translates John 5:17 “My Father never stops working…”

a. Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

b. If you believe that Jesus is God, then God must be the same as He was in Jesus’ day.

c. You can believe God hasn’t stopped working & that He is working around you right now!

5. Does that settle it for those of you who are thinking, “I can’t see Him working around me.”

6. So what do you and I have to do to be ready when Gods shows us what He is doing around us?

a. This morning we’re looking at the answer to the question, “How can I see God at work?”