God Needs You

Occasionally I hear believers say, “God doesn't need us…we need Him.” Of course, I agree with the latter part of that statement but have to take issue with the first part.

Throughout the Bible, God used man to help accomplish His plans and purposes. What if Noah had refused to build the ark? Except for animals that live in the sea, all of creation would have perished in the flood. 

What if Moses didn’t go before Pharaoh and told him to let his people go? The Israelites might have stayed in captivity longer until God raised up someone else to be the deliverer. In fact, Moses killing an Egyptian in Exodus 2:12 and then going into exile delayed Israel’s time of deliverance. Instead of 400 years as originally prophesied in Genesis 15:13, Egypt’s affliction upon Israel lasted 430 years.

Look at this passage in Ezekiel 22…

30 “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. 
31 Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord God.

God desired not to bring judgment upon Jerusalem but did so because there was no intercessor willing to mediate between Him and man. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah might have been spared had Abraham continued interceding instead of stopping at ten righteous men (Genesis 18:22).

When Jesus gave the Great Commission, He delegated authority to us…the church. Through dreams and visions, some individuals have received the truth about Jesus like what happened to Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus Road. Nevertheless, the gospel will not be preached throughout the whole world without man’s cooperation. Romans 10:14 says, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”

Some events such as the Second Coming will come to pass regardless of our individual actions. Until then, the Lord is calling people to enlist in His army to be His hands and feet as well as His mouthpiece. Will you answer the call?

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” - Matthew 22:14

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Toking the Ghost Revisited

Image
Back in February 2007, a fellow missionary I was traveling with started talking about “smoking the weed from heaven.”   He would pretend to have a joint of marijuana between his fingers and have “smoke breaks with Jesus.”   He also encouraged other believers to take “hits.”   I was a bit uncomfortable with this idea but didn't contest it. Then in October of that year, I heard John Crowder preach on “toking the Ghost” at a church in my hometown of Fargo, North Dakota.   I was inspired to make a video with John to share with my missionary friend.   During the filming, I experienced much laughter. I decided to make the video public figuring other people might enjoy it also. Two weeks later at a church in Minnesota, I heard Benjamin Dunn share testimonies of people getting healed from “toking the Ghost.”   This was just before he and John Crowder started ministering together.   I believed this was God confirming His word in the mouth of two or three witnesses.  
Read more

The Gospel Soul Winning Script

Image
During my early days with evangelism, I developed an approach called the Survey Technique . By asking short direct questions, you can maintain control of the conversation and find out quickly what a person’s spiritual beliefs are. Although the Survey Technique has helped me lead thousands to the Lord, I’m still open to utilizing new methods in reaching people with the gospel. Rodney Howard-Browne 's ministry uses a tool called the Gospel Soul-Winning Script , which originated during their Good News New York campaign in 1999. I became familiar with it a few years later during evangelism outreaches with Rodney’s church in Tampa, Florida. At first, I resisted using the script. I found it restrictive and thought sinners wouldn’t be receptive to me reading the whole thing to them. Then while taking part in a 2009 outreach with Rodney’s ministry in Washington, D.C., my team leader asked me to “stick with the script.” Wanting to maintain unity, I complied with his request. Initially it fe
Read more

A Tribute to Al Best

Image
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. This tribute is for one who went home to be with the Lord last Sunday. Al Best oversaw Light in Anoka Church in a northern suburb of Minneapolis. Originally from Florida, Al first gave his life to the Lord at 17 but then backslid. Meanwhile, he served 21 years in the Navy and worked various jobs. That included selling Rainbow vacuum cleaners. I would eventually get to know his sales manager. Eric Gonyon became an associate pastor at Rodney Howard-Browne ’s church (I usually attend services there when in Tampa).  A few years after recommitting his life to the Lord, Al became a pastor. In 2007, the Lord directed him to head north to Minnesota, where his wife Jean is from. First, they ministered in the small town of Dassel. What started as a youth mission transitioned into regular services for all ages. Then in 2016, Al and Jean moved to Anoka to take on a church originally called New Day Fellowship. To counter the city’s motto as the “Halloween Ca
Read more