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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: KEEP LOOKING FOR GOD’S HAND

There is much in the Bible about the hand of God. He formed man from the earth with his hands. His hand will protect, bless and provide for his people. There is an anointing he gives with the touch of his hand. But on the other hand, there is punishment for disobedience.

We often talk about the love that was in those nail scared hands. He holds us upright with his hand and helps us to walk. Like a parent would a toddler. There is healing in his hands. There is also rath for those that will not heed his word.

Look at Egypt, they received punishment for their disregard of God’s words. Pharoah looked at Moses as an annoying cousin. He was not going to heed his word. Pharoah didn’t realize that Moses’ identity had changed and he was now a prophet of the real God. Moses told Pharoah that God said to let his people go. Pharoah refused, his pride and arrogance would not allow him to bend. While God was sending plagues with one hand in Egypt, his other hand, was a hand of protection over his people in Goshen. 

 I was inspired by a recent conversion with one of my prayer partners. She was talking about the story of Elijah, and how he kept sending his servant to look for a sign of rain. This was a sign of Elijah’s faith. He didn’t give up.

This occurred right after the showdown on the top of Mount Carmel between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. The one where God answered by fire. There had been a drought in the land, and everything was dying.

I KGS 18:41-43 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, 43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. 44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not. 45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. 46 And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Then my friend said something that was encouraging to me, and I wanted to share it. She said, “That is what we have to do when we pray is keep looking for a sign that his hand is moving.” This is how we show faith. We have to be expectant of the answer. What if Elijah gave up after six prayers? What if at the third time he said within himself, well I’ll pray again but it probably won’t do anything? No each time he sent his servant out to look, he was expecting to see the answer.

God had just proved himself to the people that He was God, when He answered by fire. Then Elijah prayed for rain, he was expecting to see clouds. His servant finally came back and told him he saw a small cloud rise out of the sea like a man’s hand.

When we pray, we need to be looking for evidence that God is moving. If we don’t see it yet, keep going to look and see. Because one day we will see that cloud like a man’s hand rising up to bring our victory.

ISAIAH 59:1-4 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. 4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

Isaiah was telling the people of Israel. God’s hand is not short. Then he went on to say that he is not deaf. But because of their sin there was a separation. Many today are the same way. But they expect God to give them the desires of their hearts.

Some live their lives how they choose then expect God to bless them. They have one foot in the world and one foot in trying to follow God. The only thing about trying to walk that way is it will always cause you to fall. Only when we surrender to God and walk in His way will he give us the desires of our heart.

Psalm 37:3-5 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Sometimes, God is telling us to wait when we pray. Other times we need to check ourselves to make sure we do not have any sin in our lives. Pray and put them under the blood then make the request. Sometimes we have to be determined in faith and expect the answer.  If we don’t see the cloud. Pray and go look again.

Because Israel followed after Baal, God allowed the drought. Once the miracle on top of Mt. Carmel happened, and they had made right their sin, God opened the heavens and let it rain when the prophet prayed.

It wasn’t just a little rain; it was an abundance of rain. God knew the land was dry and all the crops were drying up. The people needed water for everyday living. So, he sent them an abundance of rain.

We too can have an abundance of whatever we are praying for, if we look to God with expectation.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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