A0405_The Hand of the Lord
Date: 19th October 2008 (Sunday AM) Ref: A0405
Place: Kambah P.S.
Title: The Hand of the Lord
Text: & Acts 11:21
Illust: News article from yesterday: The parents of a paralysed 23-year-old rugby player who is believed to be the youngest Briton to take his life at an assisted suicide clinic today defended his decision. His parents commented "His death was an extremely sad loss for his family, friends and all those that care for him, but no doubt a welcome relief from the 'prison' he felt his body had become and the day-to-day fear and loathing of his living existence, as a result of which he took his own life.” - one of the typical comments from readers:: - I am waiting for religious fundamentalists go on and on about how life is 'sacred'. We get to choose if or when we want children, we get to choose what to do with our adult lives. Why should we not be allowed to choose to die with dignity when living is more like existence, or just never ending pain. He knew what he wanted, it wasn't a snap decision, but an informed choice. He was an adult. No one chose this for him, nor did any one do this to him. My head goes out to his parents for the heartache this entire situation has caused, and at least hope knowing the suffering is over and he is at peace brings them some relief. Another said now waiting for the religious nuttcases to condemn him. – I don’t know about you but I read these articles and immediately think oh no he is not resting in peace, the suffering has only just begun. – But how would we be viewed expressing that – Hateful / nutcase etc. The message would be rejected out of hand – How can we have impact in this world that is so anti God? – We need the hand of the Lord
I. The Task
A. The Lost
i. We simply must this AM get the revelation, a deep understanding, burning fire in our hearts that men & women all around us have an eternal destiny, whether they want to acknowledge it or not.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, (NKJV)
ii. To stand before the judgment bar of a Holy & Just God, their creator. Judgment, the great white throne judgment of the dead. ~ & Rev 20:11-12 – After this to be sentenced to their eternal destiny: - & Rev 20:15
iii. Those who have not been written in the Lambs Book of Life. They have not accepted Christ as their saviour and Lord.
Family, friends, work colleagues, people that we witness to at outreach, visitors to church.
Lost!
B. The Great Commission
i. This should arrest you, grip you, even torment you. - What are we to do about the lost. Those that we love, that we know, destined for eternity in torment, separated from God.
Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. (NKJV)
Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (NKJV)
ii. We are called to preach the Gospel, to have an impact in the place we are in, your area of influence. This city, the nations of the world – To bear fruit.
iii. Problem is that many times we see these as nothing more than theological terms. They provide no compelling imperative to reach the lost. We know in our heads that we are to do this but don’t. – Need to see the plight of the lost, understand the destiny of the lost.
II. Essential Ingredient
A. God’s Hand
i. So how can we do what we are called to do? – People who are so closed to things of God, mostly just not interested, polite but dismissive, others downright hostile. How are we going to have any impact to see there names written in the Lambs Book of Life?
ii. First thing we have to understand is that you & I don’t save anyone. It is out of our power & influence. Our responsibility is to preach, to proclaim to tell.
iii. But it is God who saves. What is needed to see the lost saved is that the hand of the Lord would be with us: & Text
B. The Holy Spirit
i. We need the supernatural power of God. ~ Read the book of Acts, the beginning of the church – spreading into a hostile religious climate, a pagan culture – A record of the demonstration of supernatural power.
Acts 4:33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. (NKJV)
Acts 5:12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. (NKJV)
ii. From Pentecost onwards – The power of the Holy Spirit at work in supernatural power – Healing, miracles, signs & wonders, revelation, power. – The Result:
Acts 5:14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, (NKJV)
Acts 2:43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. ~ 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 3:16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. ~ 4:4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
At Canberra Centre – display on mental health – “Normal is a setting on a washing machine”
iii. The demonstration of the supernatural was the norm in the early church. ~ Book of Acts, a record of supernatural power with the result being that many are saved & added to the Kingdom. – If this was what they needed then should we need the supernatural any less?
& Text
“The hand of the Lord”; your hand is what you use to do work, e.g. I stretch out my hand to help you. – speaking of the actions / work / assistance of the Lord as they were faithful to the call – The supernatural.
III. Exhortation to Contend
A. Earnestly
i. This morning if we are going to have impact & see precious souls saved, their names written in the Lambs Book of Life – Added to the Kingdom – we are going to need the Hand of the Lord to be helping us.
ii. We need to see the Supernatural, Healings / Signs / The Gifts of the Spirit: - Not automatic. – Something you & I needs to contend for.
1 Corinthians 14:1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. (NKJV)
This word desire;
“desire” - 2206 ζηλεύω, ζηλόω [zeloo /dzay·lo·o/] 1 to burn with zeal. 1a to be heated or to boil with envy, hatred, anger. 1a1 in a good sense, to be zealous in the pursuit of good. 1b to desire earnestly, pursue. 1b1 to desire one earnestly, to strive after, busy one’s self about him. 1b2 to exert one’s self for one
Passionate desire, exertion, effort, focus.
iii. Do you burn with zeal for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, are you passionate about seeing the supernatural at work in your life, in church? – We need the Holy Spirit to be moving in Supernatural power if we are to see precious people saved. So we need His hand, His power, We must have His hand with us.
Will you desire the spiritual gifts? – Not an option you must
Acts 4:29-31 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (NKJV)
B. All of Life
i. Let’s get practical; - Are you in the prayer room before service? - Time before the service to cry out to God for the service. – What do you pray for before the service? – Are you earnestly contending for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, the supernatural to be released in the service.
Visitors supernaturally drawn in – Not just drawn, convicted of sin & converted
Healing / Deliverance
Maybe God wants to use you – Prophecy / Tongues / Interpretation
Do you desire?
ii. Why too do we think that this should be something that only occurs within these 4 walls. – The record of the early church was of the power of God moving in their daily lives. – Walking down the road, in the marketplace, in peoples homes.
Jude 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. (NKJV)
iii. We desperately need the hand of the Lord to be with us in our church services but also in our daily lives; - supernatural working of God as we talk to our families, friends, work colleagues, while we are on outreach, at the shops – You & I must contend earnestly for this.
iv. & Text