Activating the Power of God Series - No. 1

In a recent post, I pointed out that for the believer in Christ everything we need to navigate life here on earth has been provided in God’s word. One thing I do whenever I read God’s word, is to ask God to reveal treasures in His word to me and to also guide me in activating those treasures in my life. It is my firm belief that the bible is our spiritual compass for navigating the ‘unknown’ territories of life. In Psalm 119:105, the Psalmist said: 

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105 KJV 

A compass, as we know it, is a device used for navigation, which is very helpful for determining geographic direction. Imagine what it would be like, if you were a sailor and find yourself on troubled seas and you do not have a compass. Unless by some divine intervention, you will probably be lost. That is the reason why a compass is a very important device and sailors were expected to understand how it worked for it to be helpful in their navigation. A Christ follower without knowledge of God’s word is as helpless as a lost sailor traveling without a compass. When the Psalmist says God’s word is a lamp to his feet and a light to his path, he is essentially saying: God’s word provides him not only with the direction in which he should go but also the power needed to walk in the way he should go. In this life, we will encounter several situations, for which, being armed with God’s word places you on a trajectory to being an overcomer. 

Today’s post is one of many series I have sensed God directing me to write about for some time now. I have captured these series under the theme, “Activating the Power of God.” As we begin this new series, it is my prayer that God will reveal Himself to you and show you that the power you need to accomplish His purpose for your life is indeed within the bible you hold in your hand. Dear Christian friend, there are hidden treasures in God’s word and it is only by making the study of God’s word a priority that you will be able to comprehend the full extent of the power you have as a child of the Most High God. The word of God clearly points out in the following scriptures that, for lack of knowledge, my people are destroyed. We read below: 

“Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.”(Isa 5:13 KJV)  

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:” (Hos 4:6a KJV)

Beloved, life is war and you cannot afford to go into battle without being armed with the power of God, which is revealed clearly in His word. David could not have defeated Goliath had he not been armed with God’s power (see 1 Samuel 17). In the same vein, Daniel would not have been spared by the ferocious lions had it not been for the power of God which shut the mouth of the lions (see Daniel 6). Similarly, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would have been consumed in the blazing furnace had it not been for the power of God (see Daniel 3). Beloved in Christ, what mountain are you facing that has overwhelmed you? Which battles do you face which require the power of God to move on your behalf? If you want to experience God’s power, as revealed in His word, then join me as we embark on this new series.

The first of this new series, is titled, The Power in the Hand/Arm of God.

No. 1: The Power in the Hand/Arm of God

To set the context, let’s read the following scriptures from Exodus 6:5-6; Genesis 17:7; and Hebrew 13:20-21. We read as below:

 “And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. (6) Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:” Exodus 6:5-6 KJV

It is important to note that as believers in Christ, we have an everlasting covenant with God, which was set in motion when Abram encountered God and his name was changed to Abraham. And since we are also the seed of Abraham the promise is for you and I as well (see Gal 3:29 KJV, "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise"). In Genesis 17:7, God told Abraham: 

“And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.” KJV.

Also in Hebrew 13:20-21, we read:

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, (21) Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” KJV 

This is very important to note, because it is on the basis of this promise that the power in the arm of God can be activated. As followers of Christ, our right to activate God’s power in any situation is premised on the everlasting covenant we have with God through the blood of Jesus.

This exposition is primarily based on the Exodus of the Israelites from the land of bondage. I will encourage you to take time to read the entire book of Exodus, especially, from chapters 13-15, to understand how the power in the arm/hand of God was activated in order to deliver the Israelites from bondage. I will, however, dwell on the following scriptures selected from Exodus 13-15, to illustrate the critical point in this exposition. We read below:  

“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.” Exodus 13:3 KJV

“And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD'S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.” Exodus 13:9 KJV

“And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:” Exodus 13:14 KJV

“And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.” Exodus 13:16 KJV
 “Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.” Exodus 15:6 KJV  

“Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.” Exodus 15:12 KJV 

Have no doubt, because if we have been justified by the blood of the eternal covenant and are living true to God’s calling then we have every right to activate the power in the hand/arm of God in any situation of bondage which requires deliverance. Because you know what, in the hand of God is His power, see Habakkuk 3:4: 

“And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.” KJV 

I don’t know what you are going through right now, but what I know is that the power in the hand of God is mighty to save. Is your family member or loved one wandering away from the Lord? Is there any situation in your life that you don’t even know how to handle? Beloved in Christ, why don’t you come into agreement with God’s word, standing on the everlasting covenant and knowing that you are also a seed of Abraham, and ask Him to save and deliver by His powerful hand. Place whatever situation that has overwhelmed you into His powerful hand and see His power revealed. I have personally experienced the strong move of the power of God in my own life whenever I have asked Him to save by His outstretched right hand, the very hand He used to deliver the Israelites from the land of Bondage. I have tasted and seen that our God is faithful! Why don't you give God the chance to do the same for you too?

Beloved in Christ, know that the arm of God, the hand of God or the right hand of God is able:

(1) to save and deliver

“Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.” Psalm 10:12 KJV 

“That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me.” Psalm 60:5 KJV

“Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.” Psalm 89:13 KJV

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.  (8)  The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.” Psalm 138:7-8 KJV 

(2)  to bless and make great

“Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.” 1Chronicles 29:12 KJV 

“That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.” Psalm 104:28 KJV 

 “Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.” Psalm 145:16 KJV  

 “The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.  (16)  The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.” Psalm 118:15-16 KJV

“And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.” 1Chronicles 4:10 KJV  

“Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.” Isaiah 62:3 KJV

 “And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. Luke 1:66 KJV 

(3)   to show His greatness to foreigners 

“Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name's sake;  (42)  (For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched out arm;) when he shall come and pray toward this house; (43)  Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name.” 1Kings 8:41-43 KJV 

“O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.” Psalm 98:1 KJV 

(4)   to provide security

“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.” Psalm 18:35 KJV

“My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.” John10:29 KJV

“Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.” Ezra 8:31 KJV

“And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;” Isaiah 49:2 KJV 

 (5)   to give you utterance

“Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.” Jeremiah 1:9 KJV 

“Now the hand of the LORD was upon me in the evening, afore he that was escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.” Ezekiel 33:22 KJV 

(6)    to favor you 

“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 7:6 KJV 

“And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.” Nehemiah 2:8 KJV 

“The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” Proverbs 21:1 KJV 

(7)   to draw people to Christ

“And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.” Acts 11:21 KJV 

As you read the above scriptures and pray with them it is my prayer that the power in the mighty Hand of the Most High God will be activated on your behalf and bring forth His glory upon your life and bring you deliverance in whatever situation you are facing.

Stay blest.