12.04.05 PM Smyrna Assembly of God Pastor Shell Osbon
“The Hand Of God - Part 2”
Ecclesiastes 9:1
Eccl 9:1 Solomon says, “For I considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all, that the righteous & the wise & their works are in the hand of God.”
Intro
Solomon makes a profound statement. He even tells us that he’s taken a lot of time to think about this before he wrote it down. He’s come to the conclusion that the hand of God was an important factor in his life. He goes on to say that “the righteous, the wise & their works are in the hand of God.”
Part 1 Review
1. The Uniting Hand Of God
Hezekiah sends a letter to all of Israel & to Judah inviting them to come to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem to observe the Passover. You’ll remember that the nation of Israel has been divided into the Northern & Southern Kingdoms. Despite this reality, Hezekiah calls for all of Israel to come to Jerusalem for worship.
2 Chron 30:12,13 says, “The hand of God was on Judah to give them singleness of heart to obey the command of the king & the leaders at the word of the Lord. Now many people, a very great assembly, gathered at Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month.”
The uniting hand of God brings people together for worship, service & fellowship who have previously been divided!
2. The Providing Hand Of God
Ps 23:1 says, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”
The providing hand of God guarantees that you will not have anything lacking!
3. The Empowering Hand Of God
Neh 2:17,18 says, “Then I said to them, ‘You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste & its gates are burned with fire. Come & let us build the wall of Jerusalem that we may no longer be a reproach.’ And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me & also the kings words that he had spoken to me. So they said, ‘Let us rise & build.’ Then they set their hands to this good work.”
The empowering hand of God will cause other people to join with you in order to accomplish what He wants done!
4. The Protecting Hand Of God
Is 51:16 (Contemporary English Version) God says, “I have told you what to say & I will keep you safe in the palm of My hand.”
The protecting hand of God is able to keep you safe even when you’re facing your enemies!
Part 2
5. The Correcting Hand Of God
In Prov 3 Solomon is teaching his son about the importance of living according to the ways of God. He tells him that obedience will bring wonderful blessings from God & he also tells him that disobedience will bring great pain in his life.
Prov 3:12 The Living Bible says, “Just as a father punishes a son he delights in, to make him better, so the Lord corrects you.”
The correcting hand of God is not designed to destroy you but to perfect you! He isn’t looking to get even with you over some things you’ve done. He wants you to get over some things that you’ve done!
Heb 12:6-11 Contemporary English Version says, “The Lord corrects the people He loves & disciplines those He calls His own. Be patient when you are being corrected! This is how God treats His children. Don’t all parents correct their children? God corrects all of his children & if He doesn’t correct you then you don’t really belong to Him. Our earthly fathers correct us & we still respect them. Isn’t it even better to be given true life by letting our spiritual Father correct us? Our human fathers correct us for a short time & they do it as they think best. But God corrects us for our own good because He wants us to be holy as He is. It is never fun to be corrected. In fact, at the time it is always painful. But if we learn to obey by being corrected, we will do right & live at peace.”
The protecting hand of God testifies that you are one of His children! In fact, He only corrects you because He loves you!
6. The Remembering Hand Of God
In Is 49 God is telling Israel, once again, just how special they are to Him. He reminds them that He chose them out from among all the peoples of the earth but they don’t feel as special as He is telling them that they are.
Is 49:14-16 says, “Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me & my Lord has forgotten me.’ Can a woman forget her nursing child & not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget but I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you in the palms of My hands. Your walls are continually before Me.”
The remembering hand of God has your picture engraved in it & He will never forget you!
Ps 103:14 says, “God knows what we are made of. He remembers that we are dust.”
God remembers you & knows that you are really just a little dust & a whole lot of water. In other words, you are one big mud pie that God got His hands dirty making!
Ps 125:2 says, “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth & forever.”
There’s absolutely no way that God will ever forget you since He’s surrounding you at every moment of every day!
7. The Keeping Hand Of God
In John 10 Jesus refers to Himself as the “Shepherd” & He refers to His followers as “sheep.” He goes on to talk about the fact that He protects the sheep by laying down His life when the wolf comes. He explains that the thief comes to kill, steal & to destroy but He reminds them that He has come to give them an abundant life.
John 10:27-29 Jesus says, “My sheep hear My voice, I know them & they follow Me. I give them eternal life & they will never perish neither will anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all & no one is able to snatch them out of My hand.”
The keeping hand of God is able to protect you from every one that would try to remove you from His hand!
2 Thess 3:3 says, “The Lord is faithful who will establish you & keep you from evil.”
The keeping hand of God keeps you from all kinds of evil!
Jude 24,25 says, “Unto Him who is able to keep you from falling & present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory & majesty, dominion & power both now & forever. Amen.”
The keeping hand of God will preserve you for all eternity!
Ps 20:1 Contemporary English Version says, “I pray that the Lord will listen when you are in trouble & that the God of Jacob will keep you safe.”
The keeping hand of God keeps you safe when you’re facing trouble!
8. The Directing Hand Of God
Is 48:17 says, “I am the Lord your God the One who wants to direct you in the way you should go.”
Whether we want to admit it or not, most of us aren’t capable of directing our lives in the way that we should go! That’s where the hand of God comes in!
Ps 37:23,24 The Living Bible says, “The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take. If they fall it isn’t fatal for the Lord holds them with His hand.”
Ex 13:17,18 Contemporary English Version says, “After the king had finally let the people go, the Lord did not lead them through Philistine territory, though that was the shortest way. God said, ‘If they are attacked, they may decide to return to Egypt.’ So He led them around through the desert and toward the Red Sea.”
God may not always take you the shortest route but He will always take you the best route!
Conclusion
1. The Uniting Hand Of God - brings us together!
2. The Providing Hand Of God - meets our needs!
3. The Empowering Hand Of God - enables you to do what He calls you to do!
4. The Protecting Hand Of God - keeps you safe at all times!
5. The Correcting Hand Of God - makes you better!
6. The Remembering Hand Of God - keeps your face before Him at all times!
7. The Keeping Hand Of God - preserves you forever!
8. The Directing Hand Of God - keeps you on the right path!
