Emphasizing God's Work in Personal Testimonies and Stories
Emphasizing God's work in personal testimonies and stories involves recognizing and attributing divine action in one's life experiences. The biblical figure Daniel, for instance, found it "pleasing... to recount the signs and wonders that the Most High God worked for me" [1]. This perspective highlights God as the primary agent behind significant events, whether miraculous or providential.
Jesus himself pointed to the works given to him by the Father as testimony to his divine commission, stating, "The very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me" [2]. These works were not merely miracles but demonstrations of divine power and grace [11]. Similarly, the miracles performed by Jesus were understood as "the works of God," manifesting His glory [5]. John Gill notes that Christ is an example of good works, and that good works are "wrought by God in us" [6].
The concept of "God's work" is also reflected in biblical names like Jaasiel, Elpaal, and Asiel, all of which mean "God's work" [3, 4, 8]. This suggests an ancient understanding of divine involvement in human lives and endeavors.
Testimonies often focus on how God's work is evident in various circumstances. Afflictions, for example, can be seen as promoting God's glory, exhibiting His power and faithfulness, and teaching individuals His will [7]. The psalmist reflects on remembering "the works of the Lord," including His acts of creation, providence, and particularly His care for His people, as a means to strengthen faith and remove doubts [9]. The "testimonies" of God, referring to the Scriptures, are described as "wonderful" due to their divine origin, the events they recount, and their impact on believers [10, 12]. These testimonies reveal "admirable discoveries of God, and Christ, and another world; admirable proofs of divine love and grace" [12].
Sources
- Daniel “Daniel 4:2 (LEB) — It is pleasing to me to recount the signs and wonders that the Most High God worked for me.”
- John “But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John, for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me. -- John 5:36”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Jaasiel — God's work”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Elpaal — God's work”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Miracles — Power of God necessary to -- Joh 3:2. Described as Marvellous things. -- Ps 78:12. Marvellous works. -- Isa 29:14; Ps 105:5. Signs and wonders. -- Jer 32:21; Joh 4:48; 2Co 12:12. Manifest The glory of God. -- Joh 11:4. The glory of Christ. -- Joh 2:11; 11:4. The works of God. -- Joh 9:3. Were evidences of a divine commission -- Ex 4:1-5; Mr 16:20. The Messiah was expected to perform -- Mt 11:2,3; Joh 7:31. Jesus was proved to be the Messiah by -- Mt 11:4-6; Lu 7:20-22; Joh 5:36; Ac 2:22. Jesus was followed on account of -- Mt 4:23-25; 14:35,36; Joh 6:2,26;”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Works, Good — Christ, an example of -- Joh 10:32; Ac 10:38. Called Good fruits. -- Jas 3:17. Fruits meet for repentance. -- Mt 3:8. Fruits of righteousness. -- Php 1:11. Works and labours of love. -- Heb 6:10. Are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God -- Php 1:11. They alone, who abide in Christ can perform -- Joh 15:4,5. Wrought by God in us -- Isa 26:12; Php 2:13. The Scripture designed to lead us to -- 2Ti 3:16,17; Jas 1:25. To be performed in Christ's name -- Col 3:17. Heavenly wisdom is full of -- Jas 3:17. Justification unattainable by -- Ro 3:20; Ga 2”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflictions Made Beneficial — In promoting the glory of God -- Joh 9:1-3; 11:3,4; 21:18,19. In exhibiting the power and faithfulness of God -- Ps 34:19,20; 2Co 4:8-11. In teaching us the will of God -- Ps 119:71; Isa 26:9; Mic 6:9. In turning us to God -- De 4:30,31; Ne 1:8,9; Ps 78:34; Isa 10:20,21; Ho 2:6,7. In keeping us from again departing from God -- Job 34:31,32; Isa 10:20; Eze 14:10,11. In leading us to seek God in prayer -- Jdj 4:3; Jer 31:18; La 2:17-19; Ho 5:14,15; Jon 2:1. In convincing us of sin -- Job 36:8,9; Ps 119:67; Lu 15:16-18. In leading us to con”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Asiel — the work of God”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 77:11: I will remember the works of the Lord,.... His works of creation and providence, his government of the world, and particularly his regard for his own people, and his preservation of them, especially the people of Israel, whom he had not cast off, nor would and so might serve to strengthen his faith, that he would not cast him off for ever: and in like manner, what God has done for his people in a way of grace, in their redemption by Christ, and in a work of grace upon their souls, may be improved to the removing of doubts and fears, and unbelief, and for the strength”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:125: PE.--The Seventeenth Part. PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful,.... The Scriptures, which testify of God, his mind and will, are wonderful both with respect to the author of them, the things contained in them, and the use and advantage of them. They give an account of the wonderful works of creation; of their author and matter; of the manner, order, and time of their being wrought: they relate many wonderful events of Providence, both in a way of mercy and judgment; they declare several surprising miracles, wrought by Moses and others, and exhibit many marvellous t”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 5:36: I have greater witness--rather, "The witness which I have is greater." the works . . . bear witness of me--not simply as miracles nor even as a miracle of mercy, but these miracles, as He did them, with a will and a power, a majesty and a grace manifestly His own.”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:129: See here how David was affected towards the word of God. 1. He admired it, as most excellent in itself: Thy testimonies are wonderful. The word of God gives us admirable discoveries of God, and Christ, and another world; admirable proofs of divine love and grace. The majesty of the style, the purity of the matter, the harmony of the parts, are all wonderful. Its effects upon the consciences of men, both for conviction and comfort, are wonderful; and it is a sign that we are not acquainted with God's testimonies, or do not understand them, if we do not admire th”