## Trusting the Hands of God

## John 10:24-30

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This text is such a blessing to those who have trusted Christ as Savior. It is one of the many verses that assure us that once we have placed our faith and trust in the finished work of Christ, we never have to worry about losing our salvation! We are safe in the hands of our Savior and covered there by the very hand of God. Note these terms: "My sheep"; "eternal life"; "shall never perish"; and "greater than all".

How fitting that this should be our eternal disposition. It all began with a touch from God. He created this world and all of us. He also touched us in the new creation. Since the moment of salvation He has guided and protected all who have placed their faith in Him. Because of this, we can leave our problems in God's hands. Allstate is known for one thing…they are the good hands people. But it is infinitely better to be safe in 'God's hands' than to trust in their 'good hands'.

You might be thinking, 'easier said than done, preacher'. Yes, as it is with most things, it is always easier to talk about what we need to do than it is to actually do it! But when we find ourselves facing obstacles, we are driven by a need to do something! My point is this…there is nothing more effective … nothing more important … than to be in the hands of God. What kind of place are God's hands?

I. God's Hands are a Place of Majesty and Power!

A. To say that God has hands is to say He can act with power.

1) In Habakkuk 3:4 - rays flash from His hands.

2) In Isaiah 45:12 - His hands spread out the heavens.

3) In Exodus 7:5 - His hands shattered the enemy.

B. With that same power, God can meet our needs and take care of us, no matter what!

C. When we think there is no answer, when we think there is no hope, God's hands will take care of us.

1. Dr. and Mrs. Clinton Hale had a number of children, but one was different.

2. David Hale was born with downs syndrome.

3. The doctors told her to leave him at the hospital…place him in an institution and let him die...they said he wouldn't live more than a year or two.

4. They offered them no hope whatsoever!

5. They chose to trust in the hands of God.

6. Some thirty years later. David is still around and doing quite well.

(Psa 118:8) "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."

D. Do we believe God's hands are more powerful than any of our problems?

E. If we don't, we are foolish…Paul assures us that we will have all our needs met by the hand of God.

(Phil 4:19) "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

II. God's Hands are a Place of Loving Intervention.

A. God's hands have a power He wants to use.

1. Deliverance is the common theme throughout the Psalms.

(Psa 18:16-17) "He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. {17} He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me."

2. He rescued Israel from bondage.

(Exo 13:3) "And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten."

3. He wants to rescue us from the sin that keeps us bound.

4. God's hands are never limited by circumstances.

(Isa 59:1) "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:"

B. God's hands are tender.

1. Hand of Lord upon someone denotes favor.

2. It was on Ezra before a hostile king.

(Ezra 7:6) "This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him."

(Ezra 7:28b) "…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."

3. God wants to do good to us, not evil.

C. His hands take the initiative.

1. God stretches his hands out toward us.

2. He not only can rescue, he wants to.

a. We must not dictate how, or when, he does it.

b. God makes the first move.

c. Even when we are not looking for help.

D. Our children can never go beyond the reach of a loving God.

1. We can trust our loved ones' safety to a caring God.

2. What if they don't want to be held onto?

3. Like a good parent, God still doesn't let go.

III. God's Hands Are A Place Of Discipline.

A. You don't want God's hand to be "against" you.

(Acts 13:11) "And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand."

(Heb 10:31) "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

1. Troubles can be an indication of God's hand on us.

2. He is shaping us, like a potter shapes clay.

B. Ultimately, God disciplines us to save us.

1. Even Christians need his rebuke at times.

2. But not all trouble is discipline from God.

3. Bad things do happen to good people.

4. But God censors trouble. He puts limits on it.

5. Everything ultimately happens for our good.

IV. God's hands are a place of fulfillment.

A. We often do not experience fulfillment.

1. We fail to actually place our lives and our situations into His hands.

2. When we leave something in God's hands, we have to take ours off.

3. We trust God to do what is best.

B. Acknowledging God is not shrugging off responsibility.

1. It is acknowledging our helplessness and dependence on God.

2. Whatever we commit to God's hands are in safekeeping.

3. He will not fail us…He will not let us down!

There is no better place for us to be than in the hands of God. What is troubling you this evening? Place it in God's hands. What do you hold precious and dear? Place it in God's hands. What about your goals and aspirations? Place them in God's hands…He will not fail us.