The Hand Of God - Part 2 Series

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.”