Entering into the Work of God

Acts 10:7-8,20 “When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa…[The Holy Spirit said…] Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I [The Holy Spirit] have sent them.”

It is an amazing concept to think that we can enter into the actual work of God. To see God as Sovereign and actively working in His creation daily is awe inspiring in itself. To see His providence for His saints, His protecting and healing hands, His encouraging and strengthening through difficulties and His comforting us when we are downtrodden is grand and wonderful in itself, but to think that we are actually able to be a part of this work is truly amazing. That He would use us as people who are fallen and imperfect to bring about His mighty and wonderful plans is one that will astound and dumbfound us continually.

It is interesting to see in the work of God in speaking to Cornelius and to Paul in order to bring about His great purposes. Cornelius is seen as a man who is devout, who prayed continually, who feared God and served people, however he had not been presented with the truth of Jesus Christ and salvation through Him alone. Peter is also a man who knows God, who serves Him faithfully. Both are found to be in prayer and both are shown the action they ought to take. Cornelius is to send for Peter and Peter is to go to Cornelius. Out of a prayerful obedience they both act in accord with the will of God. One sends, the other accompanies and an entire household of people is saved in the process. We see this chiefly in the way that the Holy Spirit explains to Peter that HE has sent the messengers, even though they were sent by the hand of Cornelius. Cornelius is simply instructed to send, but the Holy Spirit takes the credit for it being part of His working. Through prayer and guidance by the Spirit and faithfulness to the work of God, His purposes and will is accomplished.

We can also see this in the person of Jesus Christ. Although He was God he is also the means by which God has ordained to bring about all of His purposes in salvation, in work to God, in relationship with God, in worship and honor of God as the Living and True God of the world. Christ submitted Himself to the will of God and devotes His time on earth to accomplishing God’s purposes exactly as He is directed. We also see Jesus being devoted to God in prayer and spending quality time speaking with His Father and seeking Him and His direction!

A third example of this is seen in the person of David. Although we do not see always the ways that God used him specifically we do have some insight to what he did and how he accomplished and entered into the will and work of God. In Acts 13 Paul in giving his “word of encouragement” to the people says this about David, “And when He removed him [Saul], he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.(v. 22)’” and then in verse 36 he states “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep…” The language here is interesting, to see that he served the purpose of God. He did the work of God, he was able to fit into the will of God for what God had purposed him to do.

To see that it is God who works in us to will and to do for His good pleasure, but also that in our doing what He desires we are fitting into His sovereign work and will is one that should inspire and drive us to understand more and more what He desires, where He is leading, how He is guiding, and how to better follow Him. Are we devoting ourselves to prayer so that we might better understand what He desires and where He is leading? Are we willing and available to accomplish His purposes and be instruments to be used for His purposes? Can it be said of us that we are serving the purpose of God to our generation? I suppose we can never know until we begin to learn and be lead into what His divine purposes are.