Message, The Hand of Our God

Transcription

1 Message, The Hand of Our God Ezra 8:22b. The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. KJV NOTE: THERE ARE TWO SIDES OF THE SAME HAND OF GOD. INTRODUCTION: Ezra 7:6 The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him. NIV He got everything he asked for because the Hand of God was on Him. Ezra 7:9 He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. NIV He began a journey and arrived quick because the Hand of God was on Him. Ezra 7:28 Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage NIV He got empowered with courage because the Hand of God was on Him. Ezra 8:18 Because the gracious hand of our God was on us, they brought us NIV Workers were brought in because the Hand of God was on Him. Ezra 8:22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, "The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him." NIV Ezra 8:31 On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way. NIV They were protected from enemies because the Hand of God was on Him. 1

2 GENERAL NOTES: The hand of God is referenced 186 times in the Bible. Hands in general are symbols of power and strength. The hand of God is the instrument of power. So the hand of the Lord being upon or with any one denotes divine favor. The hand of the Lord upon or against someone denotes punishment. I. THE HAND GOD IN SCRIPTURE THE HAND OF GOD CAN BE RAISED IN AN OATH Ezek 20:5 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the Lord your God; 6 In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:kjv THE HAND OF GOD IN THE OT FOR PROPHETIC EXPERIENCES 1 Kings 18:46 And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. KJV 2 Kings 3:15 But now bring me someone who plays the harp. While that person was playing the harp, the Lord s powerful hand came on Elisha. NIrV Ezek 8:1b as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell there upon me. 2 Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber. 3 And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy. KJV 2

3 THE HAND OF GOD IN THE OT FOR JUDGMENT OR PUNISHMENT 1 Sam 5:9 And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the Lord was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great.kjv 1 Sam 12:15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was against your fathers. KJV Ezek 13:9 And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: KJV THE FINGER OF GOD IS SYNONYMOUS WITH THE HAND OF GOD Ex 8:18 But when the magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, they could not. And the gnats were on men and animals. 19 The magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart was hard and he would not listen, just as the Lord had said. NIV Ex 31:18 When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God. NIV TWO SIDES OF THE SAME HAND OF GOD. Ezra 8:22b. The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. KJV II. The Hand of God in the NT FOR GOOD Luke 1:66 And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. KJV Acts 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. KJV FOR JUDGMENT AND DISCIPLINE Acts 13:11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. KJV 1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: KJV 3

4 III. The Hands of Jesus Represent the Hands of God. Jesus healed with the laying on of His Hands. Mark 8:25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. NIV JESUS LAID HIS HANDS UPON THE CHILDREN AND BLESSED THEM. Mark 10:16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. KJV JESUS RAISED HIS HANDS TO BLESS HIS DISCIPLES AS HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN. Luke 24:50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. KJV JESUS CAST OUT DEMONS WITH THE FINGER OF GOD. Luke 11:20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. KJV IN THE DAYS OF HIS FLESH, JESUS. BLESSED WITH UPLIFTED HANDS. BLESSED WITH LAID ON HANDS. CAST OUT DEMONS WITH THE FINGER OF GOD. (HOLY SPIRIT) HEALED THE SICK BY LAYING ON HANDS. JESUS STILL LAYS HIS HANDS ON PEOPLE HE LOVES AND IMPARTS COURAGE. Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: KJV 4

5 Conclusion: The Hand of Our God Part II. The Hand of Our God. Our Hands Represent the Hands of God The impartation of the Holy Spirit was connected with the laying on of hands. "Laying on of hands" in blessing. Lifting up Hands for blessing. Laying on hands for Healing. Laying on hands for impartation of spiritual gifts. Mark 16:18 they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Laying on hands for the ordination of church officials (1 Tim 5:22). Laying on Hands for Special assignments. Calling on the Hand of God for Judgment. (Paul) Calling on the Hand of God for protection. Calling on the Hand of God for travel. Calling on the Hand of God for Courage. Calling on the Hand of God for favor. 5