The Hand of God

TEXT:  Job 27:11

INTRODUCTION:

A.      HAND OF GOD FOUND MANY TIMES - "anthropomorphism" ( John 4:24 ).

B.      HIS HAND IS HIS ACTIVITY AND POWER( 1 Pet. 5:6 ).

C.      WE NEED TO SEE GOD'S HAND.

I.      THE HAND OF CREATION.

A.      Gen. 1:1;  Psa. 8:3f.;  19:1f.;  Heb. 1:10;  Acts 7:50.

B.      Rom. 1:20.  GOD'S CREATION LEAVES MAN WITHOUT EXCUSE.

C.      MAN, THE UNIQUE CREATION OF GOD.

          1.       Man's unique nature (rational, moral, accountable, sensitive, religious).

          2.       Created for man( Gen. 1:26-31;  Psa. 8 ).

          3.       Why such a big house?

II.     THE HAND OF SALVATION( Isa 59:1 ).

A.      GOD'S POWER TO SAVE SINFUL MAN PROCLAIMED.

          1.       Man, the creation, sinned( Gen. 3:1-6;  Rom. 5:12 ).

          2.       God in His mercy desires our salvation( 1 Tim. 2:3-4;  2 Pet. 3:9 ).

          3.       God in His power made provision for salvation( Gen. 3:15;  Rom. 1:16 ).

B.      GOD'S HAND OF ENTREATY SHOW HIS DESIRE( Rom. 10:21 ).

          1.       God did the reconciling( 2 Cor. 5:18-21 ).

          2.       He took the first step( 1 John 4:9-10 ).

          3.       While we were enemies( Rom. 5:8-10 ).

          4.       Jesus bears his invitation( Matt. 11:28-30;  Rev. 3:20 ).

C.      GOD IS ABLE TO SAVE( Heb. 7:25 ).

          1.       He heard David( Psa. 139: any verse;  Psa. 40:2 ).

          2.       He heard Jonah( Jonah 2 ).

          3.       He will hear those who hear him( Isa. 59:1-2 ).

III.    THE HAND OF PROVIDENCE.

A.      "HIS UNSEEN HAND IS IN ALL."

B.      IT IS THE HAND OF BLESSING.

          1.       Man blessed from the beginning( Gen. 1:28; James 1:17; Matt. 6:25f; 7:7 ).

          2.       Abundance( Mal. 3:10;  Acts 17:28 ).

C.      THE HAND OF DIRECTION.

          1.       God's hand has always led His people( Hos. 11:3;  Psa. 23:1ff. ).

          2.       Paul recognized God's hand of direction( 1 Thess. 3:11 ).

          3.       John 8:12.  God leads through Jesus and his word, not miraculously

          4.       He grants wisdom in application( James 1:5 ).

          5.       He doesn't find parking places or prospects.  He doesn't kill so we can become

                   preachers. 

          6.       Nor by a direct operation of the Spirit( Titus 2:11-12;  2 Tim. 3:16-17 ).

          7.       Why doesn't God direct all men providentially to himself( Acts 10:34 ).

D.      THE HAND OF PROTECTION.

          1.       God has always protected his children( Psa. 37:25; Dan. 3:17; John 10:29 ).

          2.       He has an investment( Rom. 8:31ff ).

          3.       Psa. 46;  90:1-2.

E.      THE HAND OF FELLOWSHIP( 1 John 1:3-4 ).

F.      THE HAND OF CORRECTION( Heb. 12:6-13 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      GOD'S HAND IS ALSO A HAND OF JUDGMENT( Heb. 10:31 ).

B.      BUT HIS HAND CAN SAVE YOU IN JUDGMENT( Isa. 59:1 ).