Henry T. Blackaby - The Man God Uses

AUTHORS

Henry Blackaby is special assistant to the presidents of the following agencies of the Southern Baptist Convention: Life Way Christian Resources, International Mission Board, and North American Mission Board. Henry was a pastor in the Los Angeles area before accepting a call to Faith Baptist Church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Henry wrote What the Spirit Is Saying to the Churches, the story of God's activity among his people at Faith Baptist Church, and Experiencing God, a study that encourages believers to find out where God is working and join him. Henry has written for numerous publications and has led conferences in the United States, Canada, and around the world. Henry and his wife Marilynn have five children: Richard, Thomas, Melvin, Norman, and Carrie. All five children have responded to God's call to church-related ministry or missions.

Although Tom Blackaby was born in California, he spent his formative years in Saskatoon, Sask., Canada. Tom currently serves as a pastor in British Columbia, Canada. He has served churches in combination positions as minister of youth, music, and education in three countries, including two years in Stavanger, Norway. He is married to Kim and has two children, Erin and Matthew. Tom has acted as music editor for Anchor in the Storm by Mike McElroy as well as on the Advisory Board for Songs for Praise and Worship, Word Music, Inc. Tom currently volunteers as Discipleship/Family Ministries Consultant for the Canadian Convention of Southern Baptists. Tom and his family make their home in Vancouver, B.C., Canada.

PREFACE

Men's hearts are feeling a tremendous surge of God's activity today. It is as if God has announced: The world has had my people long enough! I am calling them back to me. I will mold them and shape them for my purposes in my world! Men are responding to this call, and God is transforming men across our nation.

Many men understand this quickening of their souls and know precisely what God is asking of them. They are responding with a resounding, Yes, Lord! Others know God is speaking but are unclear as to how they should respond. Yet others recognize a deep stirring in their lives but do not recognize it is God.

This book is put together with much prayer and heart-searching, that strong, clear help and encouragement may come to those lives God is touching. There is no question in our minds that if thousands of men return to God and God in turn returns to them (Zech. 1:3), great revival will come through them and have worldwide impact.

Be assured of our sincere prayer and intercession as you study this material either personally or in an interactive, accountability group. May God receive the highest glory and honor to his name as we offer this book for his use to draw his people back to himself.

I want to acknowledge my deepest indebtedness to my son, Tom. This study is a combination of our life ministries and experiences with God's people. Tom encouraged me with his incredible ability to write and communicate, from his heart, the central truths of God's good news for men. I am grateful to Tom's wife, Kim, and to my wife, Marilynn, for their constant support. I am grateful to the many men over the years who have sought so earnestly to be God's men in their homes, in churches, and in the marketplace where God has placed them. To Sam House, a good friend and godly man, who patiently tailored our work, we will be forever grateful. Sam's heart is displayed throughout this book as he has clarified and infused his experiences and insight concerning God's word and his activity among men.

May your life be drawn closer to God and may it be forever changed for his glory and his use as you study the Scriptures and truths found in this book.

Henry T. Blackaby

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to The Man God Uses. As you turn these pages, we want you to do more than read a book. We want you to be involved, to work with the Scriptures, and to consider what it means to be a godly man. As you begin this book, consider the following.

1. Pay careful attention to the Scripture shared in these pages. Spend time meditating on and discussing with others what God is revealing to you through each Scripture.
2. Trust the Holy Spirit to be your teacher and guide. Release your mind and heart in ready obedience to all he will teach you.
3. Pray sincerely, basing your prayers on what the Holy Spirit has revealed to you through the Scriptures you read.
4. Keep a spiritual journal of God's activity in your life as well as your response to him. When God speaks, record it. Your memory will not always recall these special moments, but your journal will!
5. Live out your growing relationship and knowledge of God in your daily life. Share this freely with others. Expect God to honor your faithful obedience to him.

To gain even more from this book, read each chapter, then meet with a group of men who are also reading the book to process what you are learning.

THE CHARACTER
OF THE MAN GOD USES

God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise;
God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things.

1 Corinthians 1:2728

G od is known for taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary. Throughout Scripture God used ordinary men to affect his kingdom in extraordinary ways.

One thing, however, set them apart. If we look carefully, we can see something they had in common. Each man God used had a responsive heart ready to hear God and a life that was available to obey God. Each also possessed the integrity to honor God.

Talent and ability are not prerequisites to being used by God. Accomplishments, awards, and recognition will not ensure kingdom usefulness; a broken and contrite heart does (Ps. 51:17). The Lord looks at the condition of a man's heart.

I the LORD search the heart
and examine the mind.

(Jer. 17:10)

Two things are involved in taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary: a man and Almighty God in a covenant relationship. We are the ordinary. The extraordinary comes from God's nature. Whatever God touches becomes special because the Creator has interacted with the creation.

Each party has a role to fulfill in a relationship. But, unlike a human contract which becomes void if one party defaults, God never fails. God is faithful regardless of our faithfulness. However, some conditions must be met before God will use us.