R1274 The Hand of God

I want you to know something Jesus when you gather together, you will receive power often that the Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will be my witnesses everywhere, you will become complete and courageous because of me because I'm going to give you my spirit and by my spirit, you're going to be guided you going to be see you going to be empowered. You gonna rise above the level of your human mediocrity you going to be enabled even in the context of your own fears, your fears of being intimidated your fears of being isolated your fears of inadequacy. The paralysis you feel hot a lot on so this is what I want to say when people say how do I live in my world today.

How do I relate how to operate in a country where prayer was banned everywhere I go.

How do I say anything about Jesus. When I become immediately the source of someone's anger and raw. How do I stand up for my faith. I bought a crisis of faith. Do I believe that God is exactly God says he is and do have all that is necessary to make a difference in my world, for the Lord Jesus Christ.

God has an encouraging word for you and me today to the Bible-based preaching of Dr. Don Wilton in a message on the hand of God. So good to invite you in the next 30 units as we open God's Encouraging Word together see how God is going to use his living word to help adjust our course to give us a sweet court correction or maybe a big course correction to be in line with the will of God. You're listening to The Encouraging Word featuring Dr. Don Wilton well-known author evangelist for seminary professor and for the last 25 years.

My pastor and the pastor of thousands as he opens God's word on a daily basis to teach us to grow again as we study another were available for you to pray with you and our 866-899-WORD number that's 866-899-9673 or online@theencouragingword.org Dr. Don Mahon thanking God for you and for every life, every testimony and I'm thanking God today for the struggles in the bathrooms thanking God today for the things that we go through this. What I want to say to you, I'm going to be speaking today on the hand of God. Before I knew before we open God's word want to set the table. This is what I know God wants me to say to you, want you to think about your own life your own circumstance. Just think about where you all at this moment in time.

Good things, not so good things some really bad things.

Who amongst us today is going through backing field today worshiping the Lord. Quite frankly, you, you really don't know how to cope. Who amongst us today facing an uncertain future. Who amongst us today is lonely. Who amongst us today has lost everything someone today you been diagnosed with cancer. Who are you not know quite a few of you it's not about whether or not I know, or someone else knows any man amongst us here about prostate cancer.

Any person diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Now let's turn the tables and just think about people who just your riding on a cloud right now you be certainly blessed. You know all of a sudden you find yourself in a good place good to be in a good place is not. Maybe you are about to go on a journey. One speak to you about the hands of God. This is the word I want to share with you we going to discover that God has hands and that he places his hand on people, don't you want God to place his hand on you. I do. So what can you do today about where you are today. The greatest thing you can do is to ask God to put his hand on you can do that also.

God to put his hand on, and he will ask Chapter 11 book of acts chapter 11 is going to read a few verses but I think that this is going to help us to understand something that happened here is a background of the church like ours had just begun.

The New Testament church and these people were facing everything from blessings to crossings ministries were exploding, but at the same time they were facing unprecedented persecution.

Anyone here going through divorce. Anyone facing something and if you pick up this passage in verse 19 of Chapter 11.

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenician Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews, but they were some of the men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists. Also preaching the Lord Jesus. Look at verse 21.

If you see and hear nothing today. I'm praying that this verse is going to find a precious special home in your heart. Verse 21 and the hand of the Lord was with them the hand of the Lord was with them in a great number who believe turn to the Lord, and this report came of this to the is of the church in Jerusalem, so they sent Barnabas followed by Barnabas was missed to encourage.

I like that so I'm in a show you in a minute here comes God's hand and here comes encouragement here comes Mr. encouragement, and when he came and sold the grace of God. He was glad he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit faith and a great many people were added to the Lord when God's hand is on you three things will happen. I just want to give this to you. Number one, it means that God is with you means God is with you. When God's hand is on you. It means that God is with you it's it's much like thunder and lightning in the heart of a little child and you know eventually all you have to do with the Tron you know you end up but you not the bottom line is you can get rid of all the crabs in the world you want to do the greatest thing you can do for trial. Just hug put your hand on is what it says to that child. It seems to that child. You know what my grandpa's with me.

My grandmother's with me dance with me moms with me when that bolt of lightning comes in the middle of the night. That's why that little one charges out of that bed gets straight into bed with mom and dad. Ruins the rest of your night sleep. But that little child will sleep so will what does it mean when God's hand is on you someone that God is with you friend. If God is not with you.

You not going to do very well greatest presence in your life is the presence of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus on that plane through the valley on the mountaintop in that hospital room going through that medical exam hearing that diagnosis trying to explain how something happened that was so wonderful that you cannot explain the hand of God. When God's hand is on you.

It also means that God is touching you, doesn't just mean that he's with you. You can be with someone but not touch them. Sometimes you and I can be like ghosts parsing in the night you can be around someone, but never connect with when God touches you, he inches into your life.

You feel him but it also means that God is blessing others through you. So what's that what's the threefold impact of the hands of God. When God's hands are on you. If you look at the dynamic of the Scriptures and God puts his hands on you. That's what I'm praying for you today that God would put his hand on you would you pray that for me. Can we pray that for each other that God would put his hands on us. It means God is with you means that God is touching you, but it also means that God is blessing others through you. God's presence. He's hand in your life literally means that when others come around you because you've got God's hand on you others become blessed. They feel that. Have you ever been around someone you cannot explain the property but you just know that they walking with the Lord you just know that so many people that are no that I love being around because you just know that God's hand is on now look what happened in this passage if if we would all ask ourselves specifically what happened here just to provide a basis by which we can connect into what God is trying to say to us. Look what happened to them in the New Testament. Number one when God's hand was on them.

Number one, many believed that's what verse 21 tells many believed verse 21.

A great number believed turning to the Lord, don't you want that to happen. Many believed number to use. Use spray.

Look at verse 22 Bible sees this report came to the is of others. By the way, the good news about Jesus is worthy of spreading around the world. I want that news to spread. I love it when we go into prisons all across America. Steve leads us and as we will without young people is an amazing thing were going to these into these prisons and its fallen tree which means you cannot anybody to come to quote unquote a religious service.

This is America, he can't mandate you cannot say you must come and listen to our young people sing and to me pretty can't do that tightly. So what we do is we just get on with the business and you know what happens. The new spring such good news to know that God is with us. God's promise never to leave this or Satan. Forgive the eruption will be back with more. Today's message with Dr. Don Wilton here on The Encouraging Word in just a moment that truth that God is with us. Sometimes really supported by the body of Christ. The church not your church or my church. The church you just drove by. If you're driving down the road but the church that it comes together across the globe to pray for each other a part of our joyous responsibilities to be available for prayer 24 hours a day. So right now or at 2 AM in the morning whenever you might be hearing this program. Someone would love to take your call at 86689 to pray with you but to listen and maybe guide you to some resources that will help you grow that number again is 866899673 or if you'd rather, let's connect on our website keyboard to keyboard@theencouragingword.org that's the Encouraging Word.org now back to today's message with Dr. Don Wilton. I mean how many times Stephen we been up there and everything's going on and suddenly there comes another hundred of these men or women who are incarcerated and they walk in and it's like deer in the headlights. They don't know what's going on. I don't know what they're about to get smacked up one side of the face with when it comes to the gospel. They got no idea, but words out. It sprayed something is happening this something going on that I need to know new spring number three help arrived. Verse 22 tells us in the second part that Barnabas immediately was dispatched and it's by no mean accident that Barnabas was the encourager of the group do not believe happens when God's hand is on you. God immediately dispatches the right people and the right circumstances for your very need the very person who needs to be with you will be there. I mean how many times do you and are not found ourselves going to see someone and you walk in then then someone sees I cannot, but you are the exact person I need to see you know what I want to be the exact person. Someone needs to see that's why need the hand of God on me, but I also want you to have the hand of God on you because I need the exact person to come and see me help arrived just by the way, this is got nothing to do with this message. One of the greatest things that you can do is you go through your journey is to just simply accept and admit that you need help gentleman if you are one men look at me guys, it's one of the greatest weaknesses we have is men just admit that you need help if if you are fighting something right now. Stop doing that alone. That's why you not winning, just admit that you need help. You know you can talk about specifics, while the greatest ministries we have at our church. For example, to celebrate recovery if you battling with some addiction.

Now watch me. It's okay to go to admit that you need help. I tell you now I know bunch of people who lead celebrate recovery whose are people who have the hand of God on their menu.

Admit that you need help. You going to receive that hope help arrived. Number four.

Grace showed these are all great things that happen here when the hand of God came on them. Grace showed it's a beautiful picture. Verse 23 when he came and sold the grace of God, by the way, the grace grace of God.

What is grace of God's undeserved unmerited favor one of the things about being in the trough of life is that you will really get to the point at which you recognize that you don't deserve anything grace, God will not come and bless you and put his hand on you because you deserve it he will do it because he's the God of grace because he loves you so many of us deserve what God does for us on think so Grace showed number five gladness resulted. Look at verse 23, the second party was glad that the word gladness by the way is a derivative of the word to be happy, don't you love being glad you want to be happy. I'm not talking about a frivolous, just simplistic smile on your face when you talk about gladness in Christ you talking about a complete completeness, a fulfillment. Are you in a good place right now. Can you genuinely say you're in a good place runner. If not, I want to pray that God's hand would come upon you, look what happened to them. Gladness resulted number six encouragement pulled out that's a fantastic statement that is major in the latter part of verse 23, because he said he exhorted them all to remain faithful. That put the word exhorted, there is the same word to encourage he encouraged them, encouraging you now.

I'm I'm trying to encourage that's a lump on I want to encourage you because God loves you because Jesus died for you because your life can be completely different.

These things that I'm told, not believing in him. Hearing that great report being being given the right help when you need the grace of God.

Gladness and happiness sending encouragement in your life and the final one you have blessings abounded. I love the lost verse that are ready to verse 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit faith and a great many people were added to the family of the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessings abounded blessings abounded.

It all has to do with the hand of God. So here's the question we've talked about Dr. Billy Graham trying to explain someone like you and I can't explain each other greatest explanation you can give is the hand of God we talking about all this opportunity to serve the Lord around the world. The goings in the comings of a people actively engaged, can we ask God to put his hand upon us were talking about our individual lives we talking about the struggles that we have, we talking about the joys that we experience. We told about the obstacles that we face the mountains that we have to climb the hand of the Lord was on. I'm going on askew with the you are hearing the Savior. Are you hearing him would you bow your heads with me for just a moment just value heads with me for just a moment I want to pray for you. You'd say to me today. Pasta I just want God's hand to be upon me, would you allow me to pray for you as we pray for each other this morning. You are asking God in a spiritual moment to put his hand on you, Lord, in this beauty, this beauty this incredible beautiful place where your holiness permeates our lives.

Beauty of your presence. I pray for all of us today. I hold out my hands mere human hands in the name of the Lord just like they did in the New Testament. Lord I pray that you put your hands upon a people today on us as a church on every mission for Christ this summer on every journey. I pray for people today Lord who need your hand physically, medically, financially person want to price so much for somebody today who really finds them soon in a really not good place that your hand would come down through the heavens that you would hold this person in the palm of your hand touching them with your grace be with us, touch us. Use us to be a blessing to put your hand on our nation Lord put your hand on our troops put your hand on our leaders hand on parents, grandparents this week.

Pray in Jesus the Lord stirs your heart once you give us a call 866899 word is our phone number love to speak with you.

Pray with you connect with resources, 866-899-9673 or me this online ad The Encouraging Word.org now more from Dr. Todd God has spoken to you hesitantly and you're ready to give your heart to Jesus. I'd love to help you right now. Would you pray this prayer with me and accept Jesus into your heart and life. Dear God, I know that on the center. I know that Jesus loves me and died for me on the cross right now, I repent of my sin and I confess my sin to the Lord Jesus Christ come into my heart and save me today and forgive me for my sin. In Jesus name I pray, amen. If you pray that pray we'd love to get alongside of you and celebrate with you and send you some literature and help you as you begin to grow and I want you to know that I love you very very much.

And by the way, don't leave, don't go away. What ever you do is I'll be right back that the Lord spoken to you.

You've heard not just wonderful pastor South African pro but you've heard the voice of God stirring you to a decision that is pray with you to that decision. Let us put resources in your hand that will help you grow as it is a new believer, or perhaps as a rededicated believer someone who realizes God's arms are open wide, ready to receive you.

Let's talk at 866899 word that's our phone number, 24 hours a day connection to what I was happy to talk her listener pray that 866-899-9673 Arbutus online ad The Encouraging Word.org a great place discover more also about what it is to be an encourager.

Hello my friends I want to speak to you personally today from my heart to yours. I don't think there is ever a better more important time for us to respond to our world by standing up for righteousness. Now with this in mind I would like to invite you to become an encourager ministry partner. You see, together we can impact lives, both now and for all time and all eternity. The Encouraging Word is you and listener supported ministry and to know that you are standing with me financially, enables me to move forward with confidence to do the work God has called me to do so, please call the number on your screen and just simply say I want to become an encourager.

Thank you so much for helping me greetings you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ brother Don I'm a prisoner here in North Carolina and I've been listening to your preaching on the radio broadcasts each morning for quite some time. I really wanted to write you to let you know what a blessing you've been to me. Hearing you freeze the word of God and how you love the Lord Jesus Christ has just truly touched my heart more than I could ever express. I'm 42 years old and I was brought up in church have always had a deep love for Jesus Christ our Savior. Young age got on the wrong path that calls me such heartache and sorrow.

I've been through pancreatic cancer and a lot of health issues but the Lord has blessed me to live and to be healed. I know in my heart. Please call me for a purpose to serve him and I will be getting released in just a few more years in my dream is to get into the ministry for Jesus Christ and deliver him. The rest of my life when I hear you preach and teach it just touches my heart so deeply. And I want to be able to meet you in person one day and I look forward to hearing you on the radio each and every day that number again is 866-899-WORD 866899673 or visit online@theencouragingword.org. Thank you for your prayers and your messages throughout the world. I have always enjoyed your words and how you break it down and explain it so I know exactly what you say. I was brought up as a child, going to church and was saved and baptized at a church in North Carolina have never faithfully given monetize on a regular basis right about that. I got an answer I got your letter The Encouraging Word I feel like you help me to know that I was helping to spread the word of God in Jesus Christ throughout the world. Thank you for this opportunity. God bless you and your