The Hand of God 3: Reacting to God's Hand - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) June 27, 2023

Last week, we reviewed the positive impact the hand of the Lord can have on an individual or a group. We also considered the hand of the Lord being upon someone, but for their detriment. Today we look at the appropriate ways to react to the hand of God be it in your life or that of someone else. What are you supposed to do? What should you avoid doing? Being aware of the things to do or not do can deeply affect your walk with the Lord.

Given the name and practice of this fellowship, it will come as no surprise that praise is a crucial response to evidence of the hand of God. We must all remember that when we experience the hand of the Lord for good in our lives, it is not because we are so righteous. It is because of His grace and mercy. His loving kindness. Acknowledging Him for this with thanksgiving and worship will open the door to even more of His goodness. Express gratitude, give testimony of what He's done and where possible, share from what He's given to you so others will equally rejoice in Him.

And how we respond to the hand of God doing good things for others is equally important. It is easy to grumble and ask, "What about me?" or accuse God of ignoring or forgetting us. But we must not give room to such reactions because grumbling leads to other ungodly attitudes that cheat us of blessings. While not easy, we should endeavor to guard our hearts against complaining about God, never forgetting that though we don't understand all He does, His ways are perfect (Psalm 18:30).

Indeed we should appreciate God for what He did for others and use their testimony as a pillar of faith to believe in Him to do the same or more for us. Seeing the effect of God's hand on someone else should encourage us to seek Him even more. The word states that He is a rewarder of those who sincerely seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). As God cannot lie, dig in to the One who blesses those who look to Him and wait on Him to place His hand on you and your situation for good.

One instance of how to positively respond to the hand of God in a person's life comes from the story of Joseph. Despite knowing Joseph had been incarcerated, when Pharaoh discovered that he had great wisdom through his relationship with God, Pharaoh authorized Joseph to apply that wisdom for the benefit of his people (Genesis 41:39-40). Pharaoh didn't react with jealousy and anger the way Joseph's brothers did. Emotions that almost led them to murder their own brother though they sold him into slavery instead.

Rahab reacted similarly to Joseph's Pharaoh (Joshua 2). Although she was likely a child when the Lord brought the plagues on Egypt and freed the Israelites from slavery, she knew enough to align with the Israelite spies who came to her city, Jericho, decades later. She'd heard of how their God destroyed Pharaoh and his army, how the Lord turned the Red Sea into a walkable passageway, and how the Israelites had defeated other armies (Joshua 2:10). She understood that the hand of God could do good for some and bad for others. Recognizing the hand of God upon the spies and their people, Rahab aligned with their God's plan to capture her city. The result was that she was able to spare her entire family and others tied to them from certain death.

We can follow these good examples of how to respond to the hand of God by turning to Him and submitting our lives to Him. This is the primary reaction that will have the most impact for an individual and those they care for. In the time of the earliest Christians, many unbelievers got to see the fruits and the gifts of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Several challenged and threatened them. Yet, there were those who, recognizing the hand of God upon this group, joined them in believing in Jesus. God moved in their midst, saving them from famine, attempted murder and other threats. They lived rich lives in the Lord, learning more about Christ and receiving the Holy Spirit who enabled them to replicate the miracles of Jesus and much more.

We too must choose how we will respond to the hand of the Lord. The choice we make can mean life or death. It can mean being the head instead of being the tail, which is led around through life and always at the back. May the Lord help each of us to make the choice that acknowledges and appreciates God's hand be it in our lives or that of others, IJMN Amen.

Friday Praise & Pray (for others) June 23, 2023

Having learned about the blessings that come when God's hand is upon a person for their good, we must also understand that God's hand can rest upon someone with the opposite outcome. Yes, God is king and loving, however, He is also the Righteous Judge. Many don't realize that God can be angry but this aspect of God is described in Psalm 18:7-9 . His anger can cause the entire earth to tremble and the foundations of the mountains to shake. "Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it" (Psalm 18:8). He is not one to be trifled with under any circumstances and when that happens, His hand will rest upon an individual or a group, but not for their good.

We are told in Hebrews 10:31 tells us that "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." In such a situation, the hand of God is against the person. A prime example of this can be found in the experience of Paul and Barnabas in Cyprus where they were spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, a sorcerer named Elymas did not like what they were doing and wanted to prevent a specific person from learning the good news. Paul's words to the sorcerer are contained in Acts 13:11 - Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.” His evil aspirations failed and God's plan came to pass because others came to believe in Jesus and the Lord. Elymas illustrates that those who stand against the purpose of God will experience His mighty hand working against them.

The people of Ashdod equally experienced the hand of God against them. They failed to respect God and His presence, putting Him on the same level as their false god and felt the heavy hand of God against them. They were enemies of the Israelites who served false gods. At one point they captured the Ark of God in battle. Feeling triumphant, they brought the presence of God into their land and set it down in the place where they kept the idol of their god Dagon. The next morning, Dagon's idol was on the floor before the Ark of the Lord. The day after, the idol was again on the ground and this time, parts of it were crushed. God's hand didn't stop destroying them, however.

After plaguing them with rats (which bring disease), we are told in 1 Samuel 5:6 - The LORD’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumors. Even though the leaders of Ashdod removed the Ark from Dagon's altar, we are told God continued to punish them in 1 Samuel 5:9 - But after they had moved it, the Lord’s hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors. Realizing they had no other defense against the hand of God, the people of Ashdod sent the Ark back to the people of Israel.

The hand of God can rest on a person or group for their good or their folly. In the event that the latter is the case, keep in mind that there is a good reason. For God is The Upright One. He doesn't hand out punishment unless it is very well deserved. This is why the angels proclaimed about Him in Revelation 19:2 that "His judgments are true and just."

May the hand of the Lord be upon us for His good and to His glory. May we enjoy the blessings and not the curses that come from God's justified wrath IJMN, Amen.

The Hand of God - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) June 20, 2023

The Hand of God can be a terrific or a terrifying thing depending on the circumstances. If God is upset, his hand can dish out the cup of wrath we recently discussed. If He is pleased, on the other hand, His hand can usher great blessings.

God's hand can give people supernatural strength as was the case for Elijah. 1 Kings 18:46 - Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah [giving him supernatural strength]. He girded up his loins and outran Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel [nearly twenty miles] (AMP). While modern athletes cover long distances with great speed, remember they train for years. Elijah was a prophet who trained in praying, fasting, and sharing God's word with others, not marathons.

Yet, God helped him outrun a chariot.

The Hand of the Lord can bring favor and elevation. 1 Peter 5:6 - Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Nehemiah experienced this. He humbled himself before the Lord in fasting, interceded for his people and sought God's face for help restoring Jerusalem. God answered his prayer and he went from being a servant, to becoming the governor of Jerusalem. He shared his testimony on the effect of the Lord's hand to encourage others in Nehemiah 2:18 - I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

The Hand of the Lord can also bring His manifest presence and power to a place meaning people receive deliverance, healing, blessings and more. Acts 11:21 - The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. The first Christians regularly experienced God's hand in their midst and it led to evidence of His might which convinced others to believe that Jesus died and rose again for their benefit. And so, their numbers grew from a small minority to a faith held by many more today. And in this day and age, the Body of Christ continues to witness the presence of God and its impact in transforming people and situations.

These examples from scripture show the impact of God's hand on a person or a group. Keep in mind one additional effect. Psalm 37:23-24 - If you do what the LORD wants, he will make certain each step you take is sure. The LORD will hold your hand, and if you stumble, you still won't fall (CEV). God will uphold the righteous so they will not fall under the weight of the challenges they face. They will always come out victorious.

May the hand if the Lord rest upon you for your good and His glory, IJMN, Amen.

Today, I hope you'll join us at 12 Noon EST for Praise & Pray (for others) when we'll honor the Lord with our thanksgiving, intercede for others then meditate (think deeply) on the day's message. God bless you.