Empowered by the Master's Hands: A Call to Thrive

Devotional

Day 1: Drawing Near to God Leads to Transformation

In this season, setting time apart to draw closer to God is essential. As we intentionally seek Him, He promises to draw near to us, creating a space for transformation and growth. This closeness with God is not just about survival but thriving in every aspect of life. Walking with Jesus allows us to experience His transformative power, leading to a fruitful life. As we celebrate milestones like 60 years of Shiloh, we are reminded that God desires fruitfulness in our lives, which comes from a deep, personal relationship with Him. [00:00]

James 4:8 (ESV): "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

Reflection: What specific time can you set aside this week to intentionally draw closer to God, and how can you ensure this becomes a regular practice in your life?

Day 2: The Ascension's Call to Witness

The ascension of Jesus is a powerful reminder of our mission as His followers. After His resurrection, Jesus spent 40 days with His disciples, preparing them for their mission. He emphasized that everything written in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms was about Him. Jesus commissioned His disciples, and us, to be witnesses, sharing the story of what God has done in our lives. This call to action is not just historical but a present-day mandate to go into the world with the message of the Gospel. [01:09:19]

Acts 1:8-9 (ESV): "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the story of what God has done for you, and how can you share this with them this week?

Day 3: Our Hands as Instruments of God's Work

When our hands are in the Master's hands, they become instruments for God's work on earth. Just as Jesus' hands create, heal, provide, and save, our hands are called to do the work of Jesus. We are reminded that the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. God desires to use our hands to reap the harvest, bring about His miracles, and fulfill His mission. By focusing on what we have and placing it in His hands, we allow for multiplication and transformation. [01:13:54]

Matthew 9:37-38 (ESV): "Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'"

Reflection: What talents or resources do you have that you can place in God's hands for His work, and how can you start using them today?

Day 4: Jesus' Sacrifice and Our Victory

The pierced hands of Jesus remind us of His ultimate sacrifice and victory over sin and death. His scars tell a story of triumph, assuring us that we are not defeated, no matter the storms we face. We know the end of the story, and we are victorious in Christ. This victory empowers us to live out our purpose, to do good works, and to share the love and power of Jesus with the world. [01:47:03]

Isaiah 53:5 (ESV): "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to claim the victory of Jesus, and how can His triumph over sin and death change your perspective today?

Day 5: Living with Purpose in the Master's Hands

We are created with a purpose, to do good works, and to share the love and power of Jesus with the world. As we stand in the Master's hands, we are empowered to live out our purpose, to thrive, and to be a light in the darkness. This empowerment comes from knowing that we are not alone, and that God is with us, guiding us to fulfill His mission on earth. [01:49:32]

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

Reflection: What specific good work has God prepared for you to walk in this week, and how can you take a step towards fulfilling it today?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound impact of being in the Master's hands, emphasizing the transformative power of Jesus in our lives. We began by acknowledging the importance of setting time apart to draw closer to God, as He promises to draw near to us. This season, we are called to thrive, not just survive, in every area of our lives. As we celebrate 60 years of Shiloh, we are reminded that God desires fruitfulness in our lives, which comes from walking closely with Jesus.

We delved into the significance of Jesus' ascension, a pivotal moment that often goes under-discussed. Jesus, after His resurrection, spent 40 days with His disciples, preparing them for their mission. He reminded them that everything written in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms was about Him. He commissioned them to be witnesses, to go and share the story of what God has done in their lives. This call to action is not just for the disciples but for us today. We are filled with the Holy Spirit to be witnesses, to bear fruit, and to share the transformative power of Jesus with the world.

We also reflected on the power of our hands when they are in the Master's hands. Just as Jesus' hands create, heal, provide, and save, our hands are called to do the work of Jesus on earth. We are reminded that the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. God desires to use our hands to reap the harvest, to bring about His miracles, and to fulfill His mission. We are encouraged to focus on what we have, not on what we lack, and to place what we have in the Master's hands for multiplication and transformation.

Finally, we were reminded of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, whose hands were pierced for our sins. His scars tell a story of triumph and victory, assuring us that we are not defeated, no matter the storms we face. We know how the story ends, and we are victorious in Christ. As we stand in the Master's hands, we are empowered to live out our purpose, to do good works, and to share the love and power of Jesus with the world.

Key Takeaways

1. Drawing Near to God: In this season, we are encouraged to set time apart to draw closer to God, as He promises to draw near to us. This closeness leads to a thriving, fruitful life, as we walk with Jesus and experience His transformative power. [00:00]
2. The Ascension's Significance: Jesus' ascension is a powerful moment that reminds us of our mission. He commissioned His disciples, and us, to be witnesses, to share the story of what God has done in our lives, and to go into the world with the message of the Gospel. [69:19]
3. The Power of Our Hands: When our hands are in the Master's hands, they become instruments for God's work on earth. We are called to use our hands to reap the harvest, to bring about miracles, and to fulfill God's mission, focusing on what we have and placing it in His hands for multiplication. [73:54]
4. Jesus' Sacrifice and Victory: Jesus' pierced hands remind us of His ultimate sacrifice and victory over sin and death. His scars tell a story of triumph, assuring us that we are not defeated, no matter the storms we face. We know the end of the story, and we are victorious in Christ. [107:03]
5. Living with Purpose: We are created with a purpose, to do good works, and to share the love and power of Jesus with the world. As we stand in the Master's hands, we are empowered to live out our purpose, to thrive, and to be a light in the darkness. [01:49:32]
** [109:32]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:00] - Stories of Transformation
[04:30] - Introduction to the Series: Following the Master
[07:00] - The Call to Thrive
[10:00] - The Significance of Jesus' Ascension
[15:00] - The Commission to Be Witnesses
[20:00] - The Power of Our Hands in the Master's Hands
[25:00] - The Harvest is Plentiful
[30:00] - Jesus' Hands Create and Heal
[35:00] - Jesus' Hands Provide and Save
[40:00] - The Ultimate Sacrifice: Jesus' Pierced Hands
[45:00] - Living with Purpose and Victory
[50:00] - Conclusion and Call to Action

Sermon Clips

come on let's give jesus praise how many of you love hearing stories of transformation that's what happens when you give yourself time with the lord just set some time apart tell your neighbors set some time apart and your life will never be the same there's something about jesus bible promises us if we draw close to him he will draw close to us so i want to encourage you in this season draw close to the lord [00:49:07] (31 seconds)

Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms. Then he opened their minds so they could understand scriptures. This is why we get together on Sundays. This is why we have pathways. This is why we have life groups. So that we understand, so that together we could dig into God's word and understand his word. [00:54:33] (27 seconds)

Think about the power in your hands hands are incredible our hands can do amazing things some of you today are wearing things your hands made a heart surgery can use their hands to repair a damaged heart an artist can take a blank canvas and create a masterpiece hands can build homes hands can defend nations hands can come and care for the hurting hands can end wars and hands can start wars hands can play music that stirs the soul and lead us into the presence of the Lord [01:11:39] (42 seconds)

And today, even as your hand has five fingers, I'm gonna give you five points regarding the hands of Jesus. First, Jesus' hands create. Somebody say they create. The Bible tells us in John 1, 3, through him all things were made. Without him, nothing was made that has been made. It's important to note that Jesus' hands are the hands of a creator. They ford the heavens. They form the earth. They form humanity itself. His hands shaped you with purpose and care. [01:12:55] (36 seconds)

I love what the psalmist wrote in Psalms 139, 13, and 14. For you created my innermost beings. You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. And I'm here to tell some people, if nobody ever told you that, if somebody told you that you were an accident, that you were a side thing, that you shouldn't have happened, well, I'm here to tell you that is a lie of the enemy because you were fearfully and wonderfully made on purpose, with a purpose in Jesus' name. [01:13:37] (35 seconds)

And when he does, he won't just meet the need. He will exceed the need. Because we serve a God who provides. We serve a God who multiplies. We serve a God who is more than enough. If you believe that, can you just shout praise to Jesus today? See, God's hands create. God's hands heal. God's hands provide. And God's hands save. [01:37:56] (28 seconds)

And lastly, Jesus' hands were pierced. Jesus, not merely, is not a God who just offers lip service. He doesn't just say, I love you. He shows us a great love. The cross isn't just a symbol. It's a statement. It's a statement that shouts to you today. I love you. It's one thing. to obey someone because they inspire you, because they command you to. It's a whole other thing to obey somebody because you know they love you. [01:42:06] (41 seconds)

All of us here have fallen short of the glory of God, and the Bible says the wages of sin is death, but his gift is eternal life. This gift wasn't free. It cost Jesus everything. He went to a cool cross. He was beaten. They drove nails through his hands, through his feet. They hung him on the cross and mocked him, and from that cross he declared, it is finished. [01:42:57] (34 seconds)

Scars say, I went through something but it didn't take me out. Scars don't mean you didn't, stars don't mean you didn't survive. Scars say that you overcame. And one day I believe when we go to heaven, there'll be no more pain. There'll be no more sickness. There'll be no more weeping. But I believe we will still see scars. Not our scars. Not our wounds. But we'll see his scars. Because his hands paid the price for you. [01:46:38] (35 seconds)

Even though I may face struggles, my God is victorious. I do not have to be afraid. No matter what life looks like, I don't have to panic. I know the end of the story, and Jesus is Lord of all. Come on, today, right where you're at, stand up and let's give God all the praise. Because the master's hands tell it all. They bear the scars of victory. His hands were pierced, and he overcame death, hell, and the grave for you and I. [01:49:04] (39 seconds)

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