Embracing God's Hands: Healing, Hope, and Praise

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound truth of what it means when God has His hands on us. We began by acknowledging our own brokenness and the incredible grace that God extends to us despite our faults. This grace allows us to approach His throne with confidence, knowing that His mercy is ever-present in our times of need. We delved into Acts chapter 3, where Peter and John encounter a lame man at the temple gate. This narrative serves as a powerful illustration of God's presence, power, and guidance in our lives.

In our Western culture, many equate a blessed life with material wealth and success. However, true blessing is not contingent on worldly possessions or status. When God has His hands on us, His presence, power, and guidance are with us, regardless of our circumstances. This is a comforting truth for believers, reminding us that we are blessed through our relationship with Jesus Christ, not through external achievements.

The story of the lame man highlights the human condition of brokenness and the need for divine intervention. Just as Peter and John discerned the man's need and offered him healing in the name of Jesus, we too are called to recognize the brokenness around us and provide God's cure. This involves not only speaking words of hope but also extending a helping hand to those in need.

Furthermore, when God works in our lives, our response should be one of visible and vocal praise. The healed man leaped and praised God, demonstrating the power of gratitude and worship. As believers, we are called to celebrate God's blessings and share His love with others, becoming instruments of His righteousness in the world.

Key Takeaways:

- God's Presence, Power, and Guidance: When God has His hands on us, His presence, power, and guidance are always with us. This truth transcends worldly definitions of success and reminds us that our true blessing lies in our relationship with Jesus Christ. [37:08]

- Recognizing Human Brokenness: The story of the lame man at the temple gate illustrates the brokenness of the human condition. We are called to discern this brokenness in others and offer God's healing and hope through our actions and words. [49:17]

- Providing God's Cure: Like Peter and John, we are called to provide God's cure to those in need. This involves not only speaking words of hope but also taking practical steps to help others, demonstrating the love of Christ in tangible ways. [58:18]

- Celebrating God's Blessings: Our response to God's work in our lives should be one of visible and vocal praise. Just as the healed man leaped and praised God, we too should celebrate His blessings and share His love with others. [01:13:47]

- Being Instruments of Righteousness: As believers, we are called to be instruments of righteousness, extending God's love and grace to those around us. This involves recognizing the value of every person and being willing to step out of our comfort zones to make a difference. [01:05:29]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[32:52] - Opening Prayer
[34:11] - Scripture Reading: Acts 3
[35:31] - When God Has His Hands on You
[37:08] - God's Presence, Power, and Guidance
[41:33] - The Birth of the Church
[45:24] - Discerning the Human Condition
[49:17] - Recognizing Brokenness
[50:35] - Overcoming Prejudices
[54:03] - Ministering with Compassion
[58:18] - Providing God's Cure
[01:00:19] - The Power of Jesus' Name
[01:05:29] - Communicating Across Generations
[01:13:47] - Celebrating God's Blessings
[01:16:27] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Acts 3:1-10

Observation Questions:
1. What was the condition of the man Peter and John encountered at the temple gate, and how did they respond to his need? [34:51]
2. How does the sermon describe the cultural understanding of a "blessed life" in Western society, and how does it contrast with the biblical perspective? [37:08]
3. What actions did Peter take after speaking to the lame man, and what was the result of these actions? [01:01:12]
4. How did the healed man respond after receiving healing, and what does this illustrate about gratitude and worship? [01:13:47]

Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's presence, power, and guidance are evident in the lives of believers, even when they lack worldly success? [37:08]
2. How does the story of the lame man at the temple gate serve as a metaphor for the human condition and our need for divine intervention? [47:55]
3. What does the sermon imply about the role of believers in recognizing and addressing the brokenness in others? How can this be practically applied in our daily lives? [49:17]
4. How does the sermon encourage believers to respond to God's work in their lives, and what might this look like in a modern context? [01:13:47]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God's presence, power, or guidance in your life despite challenging circumstances. How did this experience shape your understanding of being "blessed"? [37:08]
2. Identify a person or situation in your life where you see brokenness. What practical steps can you take to offer hope and healing, similar to Peter and John's actions? [49:17]
3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of visible and vocal praise. How can you incorporate more gratitude and worship into your daily routine, especially in public settings? [01:13:47]
4. Consider the cultural pressures to equate success with material wealth. How can you shift your focus to find contentment and blessing in your relationship with Jesus Christ? [37:08]
5. Think of a recent situation where you had the opportunity to help someone in need. How did you respond, and what might you do differently in the future to be an instrument of God's love and grace? [58:18]
6. The sermon discusses overcoming personal prejudices to recognize the human condition. What biases might you need to address in your own life to better serve others? [50:35]
7. How can you actively participate in your community or church to extend God's love and grace, becoming an instrument of righteousness as described in the sermon? [01:05:29]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Presence Transcends Worldly Success
When God has His hands on us, His presence, power, and guidance are always with us. This truth transcends worldly definitions of success and reminds us that our true blessing lies in our relationship with Jesus Christ. In a world that often equates success with material wealth and status, it is crucial to remember that God's blessings are not contingent on these external factors. Instead, His presence in our lives provides a deeper sense of fulfillment and purpose that surpasses any worldly achievement.
As believers, we are called to find our identity and worth in our relationship with Jesus, rather than in the fleeting measures of success that society often promotes. This understanding brings comfort and assurance, knowing that regardless of our circumstances, we are blessed through our connection with Christ. [37:08]

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you been measuring your success by worldly standards? How can you shift your focus to find fulfillment in your relationship with Jesus today?


Day 2: Recognizing and Addressing Human Brokenness
The story of the lame man at the temple gate illustrates the brokenness of the human condition. We are called to discern this brokenness in others and offer God's healing and hope through our actions and words. This narrative serves as a reminder that everyone around us carries their own burdens and struggles, often hidden beneath the surface.
As followers of Christ, we are encouraged to look beyond appearances and recognize the deeper needs of those we encounter. By doing so, we can become conduits of God's love and grace, offering support and encouragement to those who are hurting. This involves being attentive to the Holy Spirit's guidance and being willing to step out of our comfort zones to make a difference in the lives of others. [49:17]

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life might be experiencing hidden brokenness? How can you offer them God's healing and hope through your words and actions today?


Day 3: Providing God's Cure Through Action
Like Peter and John, we are called to provide God's cure to those in need. This involves not only speaking words of hope but also taking practical steps to help others, demonstrating the love of Christ in tangible ways. The encounter with the lame man at the temple gate shows us that faith is not just about words but also about action.
As believers, we are encouraged to actively seek opportunities to serve and support those around us. This might involve offering a listening ear, providing practical assistance, or simply being present for someone in need. By doing so, we reflect the love of Christ and become instruments of His healing and restoration in the world. [58:18]

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to demonstrate God's love to someone in need? How can you be an active participant in providing God's cure to those around you?


Day 4: Celebrating God's Blessings with Praise
Our response to God's work in our lives should be one of visible and vocal praise. Just as the healed man leaped and praised God, we too should celebrate His blessings and share His love with others. This act of gratitude and worship not only honors God but also serves as a testimony to those around us.
As believers, we are called to cultivate a heart of thankfulness, recognizing the many ways God is at work in our lives. By doing so, we can inspire others to seek a deeper relationship with Him and become witnesses of His goodness and grace. [01:13:47]

"Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name." (Hebrews 13:15, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally celebrate God's blessings in your life today? In what ways can your praise serve as a testimony to those around you?


Day 5: Being Instruments of Righteousness
As believers, we are called to be instruments of righteousness, extending God's love and grace to those around us. This involves recognizing the value of every person and being willing to step out of our comfort zones to make a difference. The story of the lame man reminds us that God often uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.
By being open to His leading, we can become vessels of His love and grace, impacting the lives of those we encounter. This requires a willingness to see others through God's eyes and to respond with compassion and kindness, even when it is inconvenient or uncomfortable. [01:05:29]

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life might need to experience God's love and grace through you today? How can you step out of your comfort zone to be an instrument of righteousness in their life?

Quotes

In our Western culture, many people believe that having a blessed life involves having good health, material wealth, few problems, positive experiences, and successful outcomes in life. Unfortunately, many professing believers in the Christian world don't believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who have often been heavily influenced by our Western culture, have often capitulated to this perspective of life. [00:36:29]

But church, when you read the Bible, and you look at God and how he has dealt with his faith heroes, when God has his hands upon his children, there are a couple of things that happens. There are a couple of things that happens. God's presence is always with them. God's power is always with them. And God's guidance. It's always with them. [00:37:35]

Some of us can testify when you didn't, when you were trying to rob Peter to pay Paul, somehow. God gave you something so you could rob Peter to pay Paul. In the midst of it, you may not been able to get what you want and where you want and how you want, but God still provided, God still healed, God still woke you up in your right mind, and on today, you ought to have a reflective moment to know that if God can do that when I was down, just think about what God can do when I am up, because the only reason that I am up. [00:38:48]

All of us are born unable to walk to please God because we all was born in sin and shaped in iniquity. He is also poor. All of us as sinners are bankrupt before God, unable to pay for our debt towards sin. That's why God had to send his son Jesus Christ to pay on your behalf and my behalf. [00:47:26]

He was a beggar and many sinners have been begging, searching for satisfaction and a lot of us have searched it in alcohol. A lot of us have searched it in relationship. A lot of us have searched it in trying to pursue a degree or all these things of the world and you can have all of that stuff and still be empty because life is not about stuff. It begins with a relationship. With Jesus Christ. [00:48:07]

We all have a dim view of the world that is subjugated to our own preferences and prejudices. Did you hear what I said? Church, have you have you ever? Ever driven. Down the road and stopped at the light. And you see somebody on your left, on your right? And they they got a bucket, but they got a sign. Or a cup. [00:48:56]

Instead of recognizing that God is giving you and I an opportunity to identify the brokenness of humanity and as instruments of righteousness we should be able to be instruments in God's hands to meet a need so that it brings glory unto him and it bless somebody else as believers when God's hands is upon you we should be able to discern the condition of brokenness that many of our community members suffer from it's not just the outward thing it's something that is deep within their heart they need hope and the only hope for the world is the church. [00:50:35]

Peter tells this man look at us the bible says that he fixed his gaze upon them and to give them His full attention. And Peter says, I don't have any money. Which is strange because considering he was coming to worship, but church, this is not an ordinary worship experience. This was a divine appointment to meet the real need of a man who had allowed his physical condition and the circumstances of his life to manipulate others so that he can have what he wanted. [00:58:18]

The orthopraxy, or the practical application of this narrative, really should hit home for us. Why do you say that, pastor? Because the Bible says that Peter didn't just speak to the man for him to walk in the name of Jesus. But the Bible also says that Peter took the intentional initiative to raise him up by the hand. [01:01:12]

Some of y 'all still ain't got it. I said Peter didn't just speak a word to him. Be blessed. No, no. The Bible says that Peter said, be blessed but let me help you to be blessed by helping you and church that's what you and I need to do we need to speak into the broken lives of people but we also need to practically give them a helping hand because a helping hand helped them raise up and the bible says that immediately when Peter grabbed his hand and he helped him up his ankles and his feet were strengthened yeah y 'all missed that uh uh uh some of us want miracles to be done but we don't want to participate in the miracle God wants when he got his hands on you he not only wants you to pray for a miracle but he wants you to participate in bringing forth a miracle in somebody else's life and you can do that when you decide to be a helping hand unto them church is not about what you don't have to help someone it's about what you do have and on a practical level we have the gospel of Jesus Christ we have this love redemption of Jesus Christ who can save who can deliver the selfishness and sin and unforgiveness and pain that is often driven in people's hearts. [01:01:59]

And so, Father, if we can be your extension, your hands, your feet, to help transform lives and restore hope, that hope is to be able, Father God, to minister in such a way that we be a ministry of presence, something that we've seen biblically with Job's friends initially. All they had to do was just be there. [01:46:22]

And God, they need more mentors than what we have people. Amen. And so, Father, I'm praying that you would raise up not only churches, but business leaders within our community that will see the need and meet that need because, God, they want to invest into the community of our young people. Thank you for community and schools and all of what they do. [01:47:31]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?