Principles to Remember in Doing the Work of God.

John 5:19–20 (NLT)

19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.

20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished.

INTRODUCTION:

I. ADMIT THAT YOU ARE POWERLESS TO DO GOD'S WORK ON YOUR OWN. (John 5: 19).

John 5:19 (NLT)

19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.

A. It is impossible to do God's work in the flesh.

1. Nothing good comes from the flesh. (Romans 7: 18 ).

Romans 7:18 (NLT)

18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.

2. The foes that oppose us are not fleshly beings. (Ephesians 6: 12 ).

Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)

12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

3. Sowing fleshly seeds reaps corruption. (Galatians 6:8).

Galatians 6:8 (NLT)

8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

4. God's work can only be done by God's Spirit. (Zechariah 4:6 ).

Zechariah 4:6 (NLT)

6 Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

· In Acts 2, the church prayed for 10 days, Peter preached for 10 minutes, and 3000 people were saved. Now we pray for 10 minutes, preach for five days, and three people get saved. We can't do God's work in the flesh!

B. When we admit we can't do God's work in the flesh, we begin to rely upon God.

1. David understood this. ( 1 Samuel 17: 47.)

1 Samuel 17:47 (NLT)

47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”

2. Jehoshaphat was told this. ( 2 Chronicles 20: 15 ).

2 Chronicles 20:15 (NLT)

15 He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

3. The early church knew this. (Acts 4: 28 -30 ).

Acts 4:28–30 (NLT)

28 But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will.

29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word.

30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

II. ALWAYS SEEK TO GET IN ON WHAT GOD IS ALREADY DOING. (John 5:19).

John 5:19 (NLT)

19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.

A. God is already at work.

1. He is at work saving souls. (Luke 19: 10 ).

Luke 19:10 (NLT)

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

2. He is at work building up his church. (Ephesians 4: 11-12 ).

Ephesians 4:11–12 (NLT)

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.

12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

3. He is at work accomplishing his will and purpose.

B. Get in on what God is doing.

1. Jesus did what he saw the Father doing. (John 5:19)

John 5:19 (NLT)

19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.

2. We need to do likewise. (John 20: 21 ).

John 20:21 (NLT)

21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”

III. ALLOWING GOD TO DO HIS WORK THROUGH YOU WILL PRODUCE AMAZING RESULTS. (John 5:20).

John 5:20 (NLT)

For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished.

A. Examples:

1. Peter allowed the Holy Spirit to work through him at Pentecost. (Acts 2: 4; Acts 2:14-47 ).

Acts 2:4 (NLT)

4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

Acts 2:14–47 (NLT)

14 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this.

15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that.

16 No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:

17 ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.

18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike— and they will prophesy.

19 And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below— blood and fire and clouds of smoke.

20 The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.

21 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.

23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.

24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.

25 King David said this about him: ‘I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

26 No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope.

27 For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.

28 You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’

29 “Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us.

30 But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne.

31 David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave.

32 “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this.

33 Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today.

34 For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand

35 until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.” ’

36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”

37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”

40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.

44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.

45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.

46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—

47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

a) The church grew by 3000 people.

b) The Church was united.

c) The church grew spiritually.

2. Steven allowed the Holy Spirit to use him. (Acts 6: 8-10.; Acts 7: 51-56 ).

Acts 6:8–10 (NLT)

8 Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people.

9 But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with him. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia.

10 None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.

Acts 7:51–56 (NLT)

51 “You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you!

52 Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered.

53 You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.”

54 The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage.

55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

56 And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”

a) He had irresistible wisdom and power to bear witness. Of God's will.

b) He was able to remain steadfast and unshakable in the midst of his enemies.

B. Essentials:

1. Be open and listening. For God to reveal his activity. To you. (John 5: 17, 20).

John 5:17 (NLT)

17 But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.”

John 5:20 (NLT)

20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished.

a) Like Noah. (Genesis 6: 13-18)

2. Be ready to adjust yourself to God's agenda. (Luke 14: 33.; Isaiah 55: 9)

Luke 14:33 (NLT)

33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.

Isaiah 55:9 (NLT)

9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

3. Yield yourself to God as a channel through which he can move.(Romans 12:1-2)

Romans 12:1–2 (NLT)

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

4. Step out in faith and let the miraculous happen. (Psalm 126: 6 ).

Psalm 126:6 (NLT)

6 They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.

(Matthew 21:21-22)

Matthew 21:21–22 (NLT)

21 Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen.

22 You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”

CONCLUSION: