THE HAND OF THE LORD---1 Kings 18:44

Background---In I Kings 17:1, Ahab was king of Israel during this time. Elijah told the king that there would be NO RAIN, NO DEW, NO WATER according to his own word.

I Kings 18:1—Tells us that it had been THREE YEARS since any form of water had fallen or risen.  There was a SORE FAMINE in Samaria. DROUGHT Causes Famine. Famine brings sickness and death.  There was a contest to see who’s God was God. Challenge made, and Fire fell when Elijah Prayed.  When God’s hand showed up in the clouds, the Rain began to fall.

 

THE HAND OF THE LORD CAN BE SEEN IN…

  • Creation—Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
  • Transfiguration--Matthew 17:7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.---Jesus touched Peter, James and John
  • Salvation--- Psalms 18:35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

 

I.          THE HAND OF THE LORD IS MANIFESTED IN JUDGEMENT (Ex. 9:3)

MURRAIN—Hebrew word deber, "destruction," a "great mortality", the fifth plague that fell upon the Egyptians. It was some distemper that resulted in the sudden death of the cattle. It was confined to the Egyptians’ cattle that were in the field (Ex 9:6).

 

A-Naomi said to her daughters in law in Moab---Ruth 1:13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.

 

B-Philistines had Attacked God’s People---1 Samuel 7:13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

 

            C-Belshazzar at the Party--Daniel 5:5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's

hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 6 Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. (Weighed in the Balances and Found Wanting)

 

II. THE HAND OF THE LORD IS MERCIFUL FOR THE JOURNEY

 

A-David Chose Pestilence, which came as immediate infliction from God. (God’s Mercy) The only true repentance is in hearty submission to God, and unreserved commitment of all your interests to him. 2 Samuel 24:14 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies [are] great: and let me not fall into the hand of man. (1Chronicles 21:13 is exactly the same)

 

B-Ezra Was Strengthened by the Merciful Hand of the Lord--Ezra 7:28 And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God [was] upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

 

C-The Woman Caught in the Act of Adultery Found Mercy---John 8:6  This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11  She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

 

 III.      THE HAND OF THE LORD MEASURED IN JUSTIFICATION

 

A-Down But Not Out Because of Justification---Psalms 37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth [him with] his hand.

 

B-Kept in the Hand of God By His Power Because He Justified us (Just If I’d Never Sinned)—John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

 

IV. THE HAND OF GOD ON ONE’S LIFE WILL BRING MANY TO JESUS

 

A-God Has the Power To Save---Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

 

B-The Men of Cyprus and Cyrene had the Hand of the Lord on their Lives--Acts 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

 

V. THE HAND OF GOD  WILL PUT JOY IN HEAVEN FOREVER AND EVER

 

No Mores in Heaven Because of God’s Hand

A-NO MORE SEA--Revelation 21:1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea

B-NO MORE TEARS--Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

C-NO MORE DEATH

D-NO MORE SORROW

E-NO MORE CRYING

F-NO MORE PAIN

G-NO MORE NIGHT Revelation 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.