Balancing Human Effort and Divine Intervention in Ministry
Summary
In today's reflection, we explored the delicate balance between human effort and divine intervention in ministry. As our church continues to grow, it's crucial to recognize that while we may implement new strategies or lead successful ministries, the true credit belongs to God. We must avoid the extremes of either taking all the credit or assuming God will work without our diligent effort. The cooperative nature of ministry is beautifully illustrated in the Bible, where both God and man play significant roles. For instance, the Bible is written by humans yet inspired by God, making it the Word of God.
We examined Peter's ministry in Acts 9, where he heals Aeneas and raises Tabitha from the dead. These acts remind us of Jesus' ministry, emphasizing that Jesus is still at work through us. Peter's humility and dependence on God are evident as he acknowledges that it is Jesus who heals and raises the dead. This serves as a reminder that our ministry efforts must be rooted in prayer and reliance on Jesus, for without Him, our efforts are in vain.
In our personal ministries, whether at work, school, or home, we must seek Jesus' guidance and strength. We are called to spend time in His Word to understand His character and values, ensuring our actions align with His will. The early church's radical hospitality and care for the marginalized serve as examples of how we can reflect Christ's love in our communities.
Ultimately, the miracles in Acts led many to faith in Jesus, not because of Peter's greatness, but because they pointed to the truth of the Gospel. The same is true today; our lives and ministries should point others to Jesus, leading them to believe in Him for salvation. Let us trust God to show up in our ministries, pleading with Him to do what only He can do, while we faithfully do our part.
Key Takeaways:
- The Balance of Ministry: Ministry requires a balance between human effort and divine intervention. While we must work diligently, we must also recognize that it is God who brings the increase. Our role is to be faithful stewards of the opportunities He provides, always giving Him the glory. [39:11]
- Dependence on Jesus: Peter's ministry in Acts 9 highlights the importance of dependence on Jesus. He knew that without Jesus' intervention, his efforts would be fruitless. This teaches us to rely on prayer and seek Jesus' presence in all our endeavors. [51:24]
- Understanding Christ's Character: To effectively minister, we must know Christ's character and values. This understanding comes from spending time in His Word and prayer. As we align our lives with His teachings, we become more effective witnesses of His love. [58:34]
- Miracles and Faith: The miracles performed by Peter led many to faith in Jesus, not because of Peter's abilities, but because they pointed to the truth of the Gospel. Our lives should similarly point others to Jesus, leading them to believe in Him for salvation. [06:11]
- The Power of Testimony: The apostles' unwavering testimony of Jesus' resurrection, even unto death, underscores the truth of the Gospel. Their example challenges us to live boldly for Christ, trusting in the power of His resurrection to transform lives. [12:12]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [38:20] - Offering Our Lives
- [39:11] - The Danger of Self-Credit
- [40:28] - The Role of God and Man
- [41:03] - Who Wrote the Bible?
- [41:57] - 100% God, 100% Man
- [42:12] - Peter's Ministry in Acts
- [43:10] - Healing of Aeneas
- [43:32] - Raising of Tabitha
- [45:22] - Saul's Conversion
- [47:00] - Peter's Travels
- [48:20] - Christ's Work in Ministry
- [50:20] - Jesus Still at Work
- [52:03] - The Role of Prayer
- [54:44] - Our Dependence on Christ
- [58:34] - Knowing Christ's Character
- [01:03:54] - Kingdom Results
- [01:06:11] - Purpose of Miracles
- [01:12:12] - The Power of Testimony
- [01:15:16] - Pleading for God's Presence
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Acts 9:32-43
- Colossians 1:29
---
Observation Questions:
1. In Acts 9:32-43, what specific actions did Peter take when he encountered Aeneas and Tabitha? How did he demonstrate his dependence on Jesus in these situations? [51:24]
2. According to Colossians 1:29, how does Paul describe the nature of his ministry work? What does this reveal about the balance between human effort and divine power?
3. How did the miracles performed by Peter in Acts 9 lead to a response from the people in Lydda and Joppa? What was the outcome of these miracles? [44:46]
4. What similarities can be observed between Peter's actions in Acts 9 and the ministry of Jesus as described in the Gospels? [49:25]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the cooperative nature of ministry, as seen in Peter's actions and Paul's writings, challenge the idea that ministry success is solely due to human effort? [41:57]
2. In what ways does Peter's humility and acknowledgment of Jesus' power in Acts 9 serve as a model for modern-day ministry leaders? [56:05]
3. How can understanding Christ's character and values, as emphasized in the sermon, influence the way believers approach their personal ministries? [58:34]
4. What role does prayer play in ensuring that ministry efforts are aligned with God's will, according to the sermon? How can this be applied in personal ministry contexts? [54:27]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you took credit for a success in your ministry or personal life. How can you shift your perspective to give God the glory in future situations? [39:29]
2. Consider your current ministry or personal influence. How can you incorporate more prayer and reliance on Jesus into your daily activities to ensure His presence and power are at work? [54:44]
3. Identify one area in your life where you struggle to balance human effort and divine intervention. What steps can you take to better align your actions with God's will? [40:28]
4. How can you spend more intentional time in God's Word to better understand Christ's character and values? What specific changes can you make to your daily routine to facilitate this? [58:34]
5. Think of a person or group in your community who is marginalized or in need. What practical steps can you take to reflect Christ's love and hospitality towards them this week? [01:01:27]
6. How can you ensure that your ministry efforts point others to Jesus rather than yourself? What specific actions can you take to make this a reality in your interactions with others? [01:05:07]
7. Reflect on the power of testimony as discussed in the sermon. How can you share your personal testimony of faith in a way that encourages others to believe in Jesus? [01:12:12]
Devotional
Day 1: The Cooperative Nature of Ministry
In ministry, there is a delicate balance between human effort and divine intervention. While we are called to work diligently and implement strategies, it is ultimately God who brings the increase. Our role is to be faithful stewards of the opportunities He provides, always giving Him the glory. This balance is beautifully illustrated in the Bible, where both God and man play significant roles. For instance, the Bible is written by humans yet inspired by God, making it the Word of God. As we engage in ministry, we must avoid the extremes of taking all the credit or assuming God will work without our diligent effort. [39:11]
1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (ESV): "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth."
Reflection: In what areas of your life or ministry have you been taking too much credit or relying too heavily on your own efforts? How can you begin to acknowledge God's role and give Him the glory today?
Day 2: Dependence on Jesus in Ministry
Peter's ministry in Acts 9 highlights the importance of dependence on Jesus. In his acts of healing Aeneas and raising Tabitha from the dead, Peter demonstrates humility and reliance on God, acknowledging that it is Jesus who performs these miracles. This serves as a reminder that our ministry efforts must be rooted in prayer and reliance on Jesus, for without Him, our efforts are in vain. We are called to seek Jesus' guidance and strength in our personal ministries, whether at work, school, or home. [51:24]
John 15:5 (ESV): "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take to increase your dependence on Jesus in your daily activities and ministry efforts? How can you incorporate more prayer and reliance on Him?
Day 3: Knowing Christ's Character
To effectively minister, we must know Christ's character and values. This understanding comes from spending time in His Word and prayer. As we align our lives with His teachings, we become more effective witnesses of His love. The early church's radical hospitality and care for the marginalized serve as examples of how we can reflect Christ's love in our communities. By understanding Christ's character, we ensure our actions align with His will. [58:34]
Colossians 3:16 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
Reflection: How can you intentionally spend more time in God's Word this week to better understand Christ's character? What changes might you need to make in your schedule to prioritize this?
Day 4: Miracles Pointing to the Gospel
The miracles performed by Peter led many to faith in Jesus, not because of Peter's abilities, but because they pointed to the truth of the Gospel. Our lives should similarly point others to Jesus, leading them to believe in Him for salvation. The purpose of miracles is to reveal the truth of the Gospel and bring people to faith in Jesus. As we live out our faith, we should aim to point others to Jesus through our actions and testimonies. [06:11]
Acts 4:29-30 (ESV): "And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
Reflection: How can your actions and words today point others to the truth of the Gospel? What specific opportunities do you have to share your testimony or demonstrate Christ's love?
Day 5: The Power of Testimony
The apostles' unwavering testimony of Jesus' resurrection, even unto death, underscores the truth of the Gospel. Their example challenges us to live boldly for Christ, trusting in the power of His resurrection to transform lives. The power of testimony lies in its ability to reveal the truth of the Gospel and inspire faith in others. As we share our testimonies, we participate in the work of the Kingdom, pointing others to Jesus and His transformative power. [12:12]
Revelation 12:11 (ESV): "And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death."
Reflection: What is one aspect of your testimony that you can share with someone this week? How can you prepare yourself to share it boldly and authentically?
Quotes
There's a danger and sometimes thinking that we have more to do with that than we actually do right we like to take credit for things when things are going well and and and attribute it maybe to a a new ministry model or something that we're doing uh that might be uh increasing uh attendance perhaps. [00:39:34]
One of the things that's uh I think helpful for us to understand is uh let me just ask you you know who wrote the Bible who wrote the Bible was it God or was it man was it God or was it man it was written 100% by God it was written down 100% by man and yet we rightly call it the word of God. [00:41:51]
Peter said to him, anas Jesus Christ heals you rise and make your bed and immediately he rose and all the residents of laa and Sharon saw him and they turned to the Lord now there was in japa a disciple named Tabitha which translated means Dorcas she was full of good works and acts of Charity. [00:43:08]
Peter put them all outside and knelt down, prayed and turning to the body he said Tabitha, arise she opened her eyes and when she saw Peter she sat up and he gave her his hand and raised her up then calling the Saints and widows he presented her alive and it became known throughout all japa many believed in the Lord. [00:44:18]
Notice how Peter uh tells anas in verse 43 or 34 sorry Jesus Christ heals you so we can't say in any direct sense that that Peter healed anybody here it was a tool used by God Peter didn't heal anybody Jesus Christ see this Jesus is still at work in Acts even though he's not bodily present on this Earth. [00:50:25]
Peter kneels down and prayed this is a posture of dependence he knows that only Jesus has all Power Authority and dominion over the entire created order including dorcas's body Peter that's that's above his pay grade Peter has no business commanding uh a dead a dead body to to rise again that's that's Jesus's domain. [00:51:24]
How often are we guilty of doing Ministry without any thought of what we need Jesus for how often I'm afraid it happens more often than not what is the role of Prayer in our various Ministries now I I'm not when I say Ministry I don't want you to automatically think oh well I don't lead a Ministry. [00:52:55]
We all have Ministry right because you're alive and if you're a follower of Jesus you have Ministry you have influence with people at school at work uh in your home right we all have Ministry we we have people that uh God has burdened our hearts for that they would come to know him as his savior. [00:53:32]
We need Jesus to show up it must be his strength his direction that we need most and this is what he did in both these narratives with Peter unless Jesus showed up anas would still be bedridden unless Jesus showed up Dorcas would would eventually be transferred from that bed in the upper room and put in a tomb. [00:55:07]
Peter knew the character of Christ he knew the kinds of things that Jesus would do the kinds of things that Jesus would approve of he had spent so much time with Jesus he had a clear understanding of of the commission that he received from Christ remember acts 18 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. [00:57:34]
Simply put you will never know the character and the values of Christ more clearly than in his word when I was growing up there was this trend lots of people would wear these bracelets four letters on them wwjd anyone ever have a wwjd bracelet couple of you all right wwjd it stood for what would Jesus do. [00:58:34]
Notice that in each case the healing or the Miracle LED many people to putting their faith in Jesus for salvation this is what the language strongly implies here Luke doesn't tell us that everyone was amazed by Peter they turned to the Lord they believed in the Lord so what is it is it about miracles that that that brings about these results. [01:06:11]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Jan 27, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?