Move People Through God AloneSample

God is not intimidated by hard, unbelieving, unwilling, or cold hearts

To move people through God by prayer alone includes matters such as asking God for financial provision for our personal needs, wisdom to work with difficult individuals or make tough decisions, the ability to manage division and friction within a congregation, and for greater fruit in our ministry. We can speak with God about the lack of conviction of sin, minimal spiritual growth, and few conversions; about opposition to our work; attacks from people and demons; the absence of the powerful working of the Holy Spirit; the lack of basic resources needed to do the job; the help required when the burdens we carry are too heavy and we feel discouraged; and the wisdom needed when there is confusion and uncertainty about the way forward, especially when we feel that our preaching is powerless and our efforts seem futile.

Upon reflection, it is clear that every problem or challenge involves people, and people can be moved through God. The actions of people influence circumstances and our own lives. When funds are low, it is people who must be moved to support the work. To accomplish the work, we need people—and those people can only be moved by God. It is people who must be filled with the Holy Spirit to work effectively—and only God can do that.

God is not intimidated by hard, unbelieving, unwilling, or cold hearts—or by backslidden believers who refuse to surrender. He does what He wills, how He wills, and when He wills. Prayer is a powerful weapon, regardless of how great and intimidating the battle may seem or what stronghold or false argument may rise against the will or knowledge of God. Prayer is an unfailing weapon when it is used. But the emphasis is on those words: when it is used.

On one occasion, Jonathan Goforth, a missionary with China Inland Mission, approached Hudson Taylor and spoke to him about the difficulties of working in the province of Henan and the numerous obstacles he faced. Hudson Taylor replied, "If you want to take Henan, you will have to take it on your knees." Goforth returned, did exactly that, and experienced extraordinary breakthroughs. Today, Henan is one of the provinces with the largest percentage of Christians.