Ezra 8:22
The sermon emphasizes the goodness and faithfulness of God's hand in our lives, and how He supplies our needs and delivers us from the enemy.
Chuck Smith emphasizes the significance of seeking God, asserting that those who earnestly seek Him will experience His good hand upon their lives. He highlights that true strength comes from relying on God, who provides for our needs and delivers us from our enemies. Smith encourages believers to reflect on what they are truly seeking and reassures them of God's faithfulness in their journeys, even through challenges. The sermon underscores the importance of recognizing God's presence and provision in every aspect of life.
Text
"THE GOOD HAND OF OUR GOD"
I. "THE HAND OF OUR GOD IS UPON ALL THEM FOR GOOD WHO SEEK HIM."
A. Seeking God is the only requirement.
1. Surprising how few people really seek God.
2. Seek security, pleasure, happiness.
3. Jesus said "seek and ye shall find."
B. Jere. "In the day you seek Me with all of your heart in that day will I be found of
you."
C. Just who are what are you seeking first today?
II. 7:28 "I WAS STRENGTHENED AS THE HAND OF THE LORD WAS UPON ME."
A. Someone said, "Jesus is just a crutch."
1. Of course He is! I lean on Him every day.
a. He holds me up.
b. He has never let me down.
2. I have never yet met a man who didn't have a crutch.
a. Some lean on the bottle
b. Others lean on their family or friends.
c. Drugs have become a popular method of coping
B. What dimension you are adding when you look to God for strength.
III. 8:18 "BY THE GOOD HAND OF OUR GOD UPON US THEY BROUGHT US A MAN OF UNDERSTANDING."
A. Our needs are supplied by God's hand.
1. "My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory, by
Christ Jesus."
B. What do you need today?
IV. 8:31 DELIVERED US FROM THE ENEMY.
A. How beautiful is the delivering hand of God.
1. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers them out
of them all.
2. Many are the afflictions of the wicked.
B. How often David cried for deliverance.
1. From enemies.
2. From distress.
V. 7:9 IN THE FIRST DAY OF THE FIFTH MONTH HE CAME TO JERUSALEM ACCORDING TO THE GOOD HAND OF
HIS GOD UPON HIM.
A. The journey was long 5 months.
1. Many hazards.
B. They arrived safe at their destination.
Sermon Outline
- The Hand of Our God points: - Seeking God is the only requirement - God's hand is upon all who seek Him - Jere. 29:13 - In the day you seek Me with all of your heart in that day will I be found of you
- Strength in the Lord points: - Jesus is a crutch - What dimension are you adding when you look to God for strength
- Our Needs are Supplied points: - God's hand supplies our needs - Philippians 4:19 - My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus
- Delivered from the Enemy points: - The delivering hand of God is beautiful - Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers them out of them all
- Arrival in Jerusalem points: - The journey was long 5 months - They arrived safe at their destination
Key Quotes
“Seek security, pleasure, happiness.” — Chuck Smith
“Jesus said 'seek and ye shall find.'” — Chuck Smith
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers them out of them all.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- We should seek God with all of our heart, and He will be found by us.
- We should look to God for strength, and He will supply our needs.
- We should trust in God's delivering hand, and He will deliver us from the enemy.