Sunday Sermon
27th May 2007
Nehemiah 2: 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me.
Hands do things.
The hand of God is seen through what He does.
Favour with the king. Nehemiah 2: 8. Also Ezra 8: 31 God's hand is seen through His protection.
Acts 4: 30. Stretch out your hand to heal and preform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.
Exodus 15:6. Your right hand, O Lord, was majestic in power. Your right hand , O Lord, shattered the enemy. (note - trouble can also be a sign of God's hand.)
How do we come under God's gracious hand?
1. Coming Under \ Submission.
Both Nehemiah and Ezra had aligned themselves with God's purposes.
Consciously to come under the shelter and shadow of His presence. Ps 91. We are to dwell there.
2. The gracious hand of God is on everyone who lookes to Him. Ezra 8: 22.
This speaks of dependency.
We have to look to God for provision. Not self reliant but relying on God.
I can manage fine myself.
3. Ezra came under God's word - devoted to it's study and observance. Ezra 7: 8 - 10.
It takes time to allow God to speak to us through His word. What is God saying to you?
Going over a word from God again and again - pondering, drinking it in, letting it become part of you. (myself and Ps 91.)
4. God's hand is gracious.
We cannot earn His favour and love. It is there to be recieved through Jesus. Our only contribution is to receive by faith what Jesus has done for us.
The law demands righteousness - Do, Do. Do. Through grace it is all done.
5. My God.
He is the God of the universe but He is also my God. Personal relationship.
6. His hand needs to be upon me. Connection must be made. (Isaiah 61, Luke 1: 35.)
A touch brings affirmation, security, direction and sometimes discipline.
It takes time to connect to a person - especially if they are distracted or not interested.
Often we are the distracted one. It takes time to tune into God's voice, to be still.
Another Counsellor.
John 14: 16. Here Jesus was teaching His disciples that He would no longer be the "contact person" of the Trinity. The "contact person" is now the Holy Spirit. He is God with us.
The hand of God with us and upon us is the Holy Spirit. He lives with you and will be in you -
John 14: 17. The hand that does the Isaiah 61 and Luke 1: 37 stuff!
John 16: 13 - 15. We can ask Him to speak, guide us, convict us and lead us into the truth.
He brings revelation, affirmation, security, direction and discipline.
He increases our access to the Father. Eph 2: 18. He increases our love for Jesus.
We need to seek the leading and prompting of the Holy Spirit daily.
How the Trinity work together.
The Father plans everything. The Son pays for everything. The Holy Spirit is the power through everything planned and paid for comes to us.
Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father, (James 1: 17) through the Son, (Romans 8: 32) and is experienced through the Spirit. (Eph 3: 16).
| 