AVAILABLE HANDS

Exodus 17:1–16

'1At the Lord’s command, the whole community of Israel left the wilderness of Sin#17:1 The geographical name Sin is related to Sinai and should not be confused with the English word sin. and moved from place to place. Eventually they camped at Rephidim, but there was no water there for the people to drink. 2So once more the people complained against Moses. “Give us water to drink!” they demanded. “Quiet!” Moses replied. “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the Lord?” 3But tormented by thirst, they continued to argue with Moses. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Are you trying to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?” 4Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What should I do with these people? They are ready to stone me!” 5The Lord said to Moses, “Walk out in front of the people. Take your staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile, and call some of the elders of Israel to join you. 6I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai.#17:6 Hebrew Horeb, another name for Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink.” So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on. 7Moses named the place Massah (which means “test”) and Meribah (which means “arguing”) because the people of Israel argued with Moses and tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord here with us or not?” 8While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them. 9Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.” 10So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. 11As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. 12Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. 13As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle. 14After the victory, the Lord instructed Moses, “Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder, and read it aloud to Joshua: I will erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 15Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means “the Lord is my banner”).

As we have been in this series of Available, God has been asking the saints of this church…

Who’s available?

As we build what God has called us to build… He’s asking…

Who’s available?

And that’s something He dealt with me personally about. He said:

👉 “Kenny, I need you to start asking who’s available… because the only way you’re going to build what I’ve called you to build is if you have willing builders.”

You need people with:

The to build heart

The to build mind

The to build eyes

The to build ears

👉 But more importantly… You need people who are willing to use their hands to build.

Amen.

Now we talked about hearts… We talked about minds… We talked about eyes… We talked about ears…

But I’ve got a question:

👉 Where have your hands been?

Where have your hands been?

Because many people today… don’t want to get their hands dirty.

They’ll use their thumbs… more than their whole hand.

They’ll scroll… before they build.

They’ll type… before they serve.

They’ll comment… before they commit.

Amen.

And there are many people who want the easy way out… But I heard a wise man say:

👉 “Fast won’t last.”

So let me ask you…

👉 Are your hands open… or closed?

Because some of us got fists balled up…

Holding on to:

anger fear control

And God is saying:

👉 “I can’t place anything in a closed hand.”

Because power doesn’t come from holding on…

👉 Power comes when you release.

There is power in surrender.

And there was a man… who stretched His hands…

and when He surrendered…

👉 Power was released.

So let me ask you one more time:

👉 If I followed you this week… what would your hands prove you’re building?

Are you available… or just agreeable?

Because agreeing with God is easy…

👉 But building with God requires your hands.

And here’s the real question:

👉 Are you willing to get your hands dirty for what you’ve been praying for?

🧠✋ THE SCIENCE OF THE HANDS

Now let me show you how intentional God is…

Because your hands are not random.

👉 Your hand has:

27 bones

Over 30 muscles

Thousands of nerves

And your brain gives your hands one of the largest control regions in your body

Why?

Because your hands are designed for execution

🔥 THE PALM REVELATION

The lines in your palms…

were formed before you were born

Before you touched anything Before you built anything

God already designed your hands with structure

And every palm is unique

“God put purpose in your hands before you ever used them.”

Your thumb…

Is what allows you to:

Grip Build Create Without it…

Civilization doesn’t exist

“God designed your hands to partner with purpose.”

Even sweat in your hands…

helps you grip better

“Even your pressure is helping you hold on.”

Now watch this…

📖 Isaiah 49:16 👉 “I have written your name on the palms of My hands”

So not only do your hands have purpose…

👉 YOU are in His hands

POINT 1: LIFTED HANDS RELEASE GOD’S POWER

Victory was not in the sword… 👉 It was in the position of the hands

Subpoints:

When Moses’ hands were lifted → Israel prevailed

When his hands dropped → the enemy prevailed

His strength faded → but community lifted his hands

So let me ask you a question, any boxing fans? What is the number one rule in boxing? Protect yourself at all times. You always keep your hands up. There was time when Floyd Mayweather fought Victor Ortiz some years ago. In the middle of the fight after words where exchanged for a low blow on Mayweather by Ortiz, they shook hands and the ref said fight, Ortiz tried to shake hands again with his hands down. Mayweather took advantage and knocked him out. You can call it what you want but, the reality is, your enemy the devil is looking to catch you slipping with your hands down.

The enemy can send you images to mess with your mind, he can whisper in your ear, he can make you feel like depression, and anxiety will never go away. But what he can’t stand is when you raise your hands.

You want to defeat satan army? Put your hands up..

Exodus 15 (PROPHETIC POWER)

📖 Exodus 15:6 👉 “Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in power…”

📖 Exodus 15:12 👉 “You stretched out Your right hand, and the earth swallowed them.”

POINT 2: HANDS MUST BE SUPPORTED TO SUSTAIN THE BUILD

Subpoints:

Moses couldn’t do it alone

Even leaders get tired

God sends people to hold your hands up

“You don’t just need strong hands… you need supported hands.”

Some of us don’t want help because we have a fear of losing people during the building process. So we rather do it our selves and avoid disappointment from people. We say we are protecting our hearts and while there is nothing wrong with that, just because someone doesn’t want to see the goal all the way through doesn’t mean their hands aren’t good enough for that season. You have got to get comfortable with people coming in for a moment. Yall don’t even know or talk to 98% of the people you graduated high school with. Don’t miss out on someone’s supported season in your life.

POINT 3: GOD’S HANDS HOLD YOUR IDENTITY & YOUR RESTORATION

Isaiah 49:1–2 “Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away.”

Isaiah 49:24–25 “Can the prey be taken from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be rescued? For thus says the Lord: “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken, and the prey of the tyrant be rescued, for I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children.”

Identity

“I have written your name on the palms of My hands”

👉 Restoration

“Can plunder be taken from the warrior?”

God says: YES

Define Plunder (you already built this 🔥)

👉 What was stolen:

Peace

Joy

Purpose

Time

Identity

Can I be honest and testify saints? The Lord delivered what was stolen from me. What the enemy thought would kill my drive for life, God used to fuel me for purpose. About 20 years ago I was in a previous marriage. (Alana Story) Stolen 2008 Into Hezekiah born 15 years later 2023

POINT 4: YOUR HANDS WILL BUILD WHAT YOUR MIND, EYES, EARS, AND HEART ALIGN WITH

📖 John 12 (FULL SERIES CONNECTION)

Bring ALL ELEMENTS TOGETHER:

John 12:27 (troubled but surrendered) Heart

John 12:28 (heard the Father) Ears

John 12:40 (blindness vs revelation) Eyes

→ Crown of thorns (curse on thinking) Mind

“Before Jesus’ hands were nailed… His heart, ears, eyes, and mind were already surrendered.”

“Your hands will never be available… if your inner life isn’t aligned

POINT 5: SURRENDERED HANDS RELEASE GOD’S GREATEST POWER

📖 THE CROSS (JOHN 12 → CRUCIFIXION)

🔥 Subpoints:

Jesus’ hands healed → then were nailed Jesus’ hands served → then were surrendered Jesus’ hands built → then became the sacrifice Tie It Up

“The same hands that worked miracles… were the hands that were pierced.” “They nailed His hands down… so we could lift ours up.”

👉 “Surrender is not weakness… it is where power is released.”

I want you to take a look at the image of Moses raising his hands - Then the image of Jesus on the cross...

Moses needed help when his hands got tired… What about Jesus when His hands were stretched on the cross?

🏛️ HISTORICAL REALITY OF CRUCIFIXION

🔍 What actually happened:

Crucifixion was designed to be slow, painful, and exhausting

The weight of the body pulled down on the arms

Breathing required pushing up on nailed feet and arms

Over time… the person would become too weak to lift themselves

👉 Death often came by exhaustion + suffocation

🔥 KEY TRUTH:

👉 Jesus DID get physically tired

Beaten (39 lashes)

Blood loss

Carried the cross

Dehydrated

Nailed and suspended

“Moses needed people to hold his hands up… Jesus chose to keep His hands stretched out.”

“If He stayed on the cross for you… can your hands stay committed for Him?”

Bonus Point: WHEN HANDS ARE LIFTED — GOD BECOMES YOUR BANNER

📖 Exodus 17:14–16

🔥 JEHOVAH-NISSI REVELATION

👉 “The Lord is My Banner”

Meaning:

Banner = flag of victory

It is lifted high for ALL to see

“Moses didn’t say ‘I won’… He said ‘THE LORD is my banner.’”

“Because if God can trust your hands… He can build through your life.”

👉 Transition from the cross moment:

“We’ve talked about hands being lifted… we’ve talked about hands being nailed… but now I need to talk about hands that need to REACH.”

🔥 THE WOMAN WITH THE ISSUE OF BLOOD (MARK 5:25–34)

There was a woman…

12 years bleeding

12 years suffering

12 years trying everything

👉 And NOTHING worked

🔥 BUILD THIS TENSION:

She could’ve said:

“I’ll try tomorrow…”

“I’ll go next time…”

“Maybe later…”

“You can’t hold on to your issue… and reach for your healing at the same time.”

🔥 CALL IT OUT:

Some people are holding:

Pain

Pride

Control

Fear

Offense

Old identity

“And you’re wondering why nothing is changing… because your hands are full of things God told you to release.”

🔥 THE “GET TO IT LATER” MINDSET

👉 Build this:

We say:

“I’ll pray later”

“I’ll serve later”

“I’ll forgive later”

“I’ll surrender later”

“Because closed hands keep you stuck… but open hands position you to receive the wonders of God in your life.”

“This reminded me of when Kristian was first born…”

He had low platelet counts

Which meant:

👉 If he got cut… 👉 He wouldn’t stop bleeding

Because the body didn’t have enough platelets to:

👉 Rush to the wound 👉 Clot the blood 👉 Stop the bleeding

Now watch this…

When your body is healthy:

You get a cut

Immediately… 👉 cells rush to the wound

They don’t hesitate They don’t debate They don’t say, “I don’t like that part of the body”

👉 They respond “The body doesn’t ask questions… it responds to the wound.”

“And that’s the problem with the church today…”

We have people:

Wounded

Bleeding

Hurting

Broken

Hebrews 10:25 “Do not forsake the assembling…