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John 10:28. Safe In the Hand of God

John 10:28 image for Safe in the Hand of God devotional

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. — John 10:27-29

Think for a moment about your hand. What is it’s purpose? What does it represent? Certainly we use our hands to grasp things and pick them up. We use them to work, get dressed, type, etc. Hands can be used for communication through sign language or just waving them around when we are talking. We can communicate emotions with them, such as a soft caress. We use them to care for others. These hands God gave us, are quite useful for life.

In the Bible, the word “hand” is used in several ways:

  • A physical body part, such as when Noah reached out his hand to bring the dove back into the ark in Genesis 8:9
  • A period of time, such as “the day of the Lord is at hand” (Isaiah 13:6, Joel 1:15, Joel 2:1, and Zephaniah 1:7)
  • The hand of the Lord, such as “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not to short, that it cannot save.” (Isaiah 59:1)

In John 10, Jesus teaches several things about the hand of God to teach us that we saved, safe, and secure in His hand.

What do you think of when you think of a hand? When you think about your Father’s hand, think of his provision, his power, his presence, and his protection.

There is provision in the hand of God

In verse 28, Jesus that He gives. Specifically in this verse, His provision is for eternal life. There is no possible way that we can give ourselves eternal life. Instead, it can only be received as God graciously gives us eternal life as gift. Romans 6:23 says: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

God also supplies our every need out of His own riches. Philippians 4:19 tells us: “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” That doesn’t mean He gives us our every want – but He does give us what we need.

In Matthew 7:11, we find that God’s hand of provision gives us good things: “your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him

In 2 Peter 1:3, we find “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.” These include spiritual gifts and the fruit of the Spirit.

All this is graciously provided from the very hand of Almighty God.

There is power in the hand of God.

Jesus tells us in verse 29, “My Father…is greater than all.” There is no one more powerful than God. The story of Job is a great example. God allowed Satan to test Job and some rather awful things happened to him. He lost all of his children, wealth, crops, health. He basically lost everything except for some nagging friends who were insistent that God was punishing him for some reason and a nagging wife who wanted him to just curse God and die.

Job was a righteous man, and still these things happened to him. But what we learn is that Satan couldn’t do anything to Job that God didn’t first allow to happen. And at the end of Job’s story, we find that God blessed Job even more so than before. So there is nothing on this earth or in the spiritual realm that remove us from the powerful hand of God. In verse 29 Jesus said, “no man is able to pluck you out of my Father’s hand.” The power of God’s hand, means eternal safety and security for those who place their faith and trust in Him.

Being held in the Hand of God means His Presence is always near to us

Jesus wanted us to know that God is always near us. Jeremiah 23:23 says, “Am I a God near at hand…and not a God afar off?” Sometimes it feels like God is way up there in heaven and so far removed from our struggles, but we need to remember that he holds us in the palm of His hand. So we are never far from His presence. In Psalm 139, David asks, “Where can I go that you, God, are not there?” In Hebrews 13:5, we have the promise that God will never leave us or forsake us. What’s more, there’s fullness of joy in the presence of God. Psalm 16:11 tells us, “in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

There is protection in the Hand of God.

In verse 28, Jesus said, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish.” We can’t lose our salvation once we give our lives to Christ. We are eternally protected and secure. Peter tells us our salvation is “reserved in heaven” for us. He also wrote that it is “undefield, it cannot change or decay.” (I Peter 1:4-5.) Paul let us know that once we are adopted into God’s family He will never disown us (Ephesians 1:5). Jesus said in John 6:39 that every one of us who trusts Him for salvation is give to Him by the Father and they he loses none. And here in John 10, Jesus says that He is the giver of eternal life and no one who accepts this gift will perish. We are eternally protected from the condemnation and wages of sin.

As you go about your day today, whenever you notice your own hand, think about the hand of God and remember He gives us His provision, power, presence, and protection. Remember that He holds us in His Hand and no one can remove us from it. Remember that the same hands that created the universe and keeps it perfectly orbiting around the sun keeps you saved, safe and secure in his Son. The result: His sheep “shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” This is the security the sheep enjoy.

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Prayer Warrior

Prayer warriorBased on Ephesians 6:10, spiritual battles are fought in prayer and every spiritual warrior needs to put on the full armor of God. See all the items available in this design at our spreadshirt store by clicking the link.

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Faith can move mountainsBased on Matthew 17:20, Jesus told his disciples that if they had faith like a mustard seed they would be able to move mountains and nothing would be impossible. See all the items available in this design at our spreadshirt store by clicking the link.

See the items available in this design in our teespring store.

 

 

Proceeds from all sells in the Teespring Storefront and Spreadshirt Store go to the advancement of this ministry. Thank you for helping us grow.

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We have a new product line of Christian apparel and gifts available in our Teespring Store and our new Spreadshop Store. You’ll find tee shirts, hoodies, tanks, socks, leggings, tote bags, mugs, iphone cases and more. All proceeds go to the advancement of Wellspring Christian Ministries. Thank you for helping us grow!

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1 Samuel 2:2

1 Samuel 2:2A beautiful floral design from 1 Samuel 2:2 proclaiming that there is no one Holy like our Lord. Design is available in ladies’ tee, long-sleeve tee, sweatshirt, hoodie, draw string bag, duffel bag, pillow, coffee mug, travel mug, water bottle, and iPhone case, at our spreadshirt store. Order today by clicking the link.

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Proceeds from all sells in the Teespring Storefront and Spreadshirt Store go to the advancement of this ministry. Thank you for helping us grow.

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We have a new product line of Christian apparel and gifts available in our Teespring Store and our new Spreadshop Store. You’ll find tee shirts, hoodies, tanks, socks, leggings, tote bags, mugs, iphone cases and more. All proceeds go to the advancement of Wellspring Christian Ministries. Thank you for helping us grow!

Click here to view the Teespring store. 

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2 Chronicles 20:6. God, Are You Not God?

Jun 06 2 Chronicles 20 6

Jehoshaphat was one of the “good” kings of Judah that followed God and not the false gods. It’s always easier to be God-honoring when life is great. It is in the times of overwhelming distress that a person’s true character is tested. In 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat passed the test and led the nation of Judah through a difficult situation so that God was honored and glorified.

This chapter begins by telling us that the people of Moab and Ammon were marching towards Judah with the intent of battle. By the time this information reached him the army was as close as En Gedi, about 50 miles from Jerusalem on the west shore of the Dead Sea. Following God doesn’t always mean that life is easy and we will not face difficulties. For King Jehoshaphat, this problem wasn’t just his problem, but it would also be a problem for all his people. When we face difficult times, it often has a ripple effect on those around us. We all face times in life where Jehoshaphat’s prayer in 2 Chronicles 20:6 could be our prayer. The problem is so big or we are so desperate that we fall on our knees and cry out “Oh God! Are you not God in heaven? Do you not rule over the entire world? In your hands, is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand you?” Can you think of a time in the past where you have been in this place? Or maybe you are there now. Jehoshaphat will teach us 7 steps when we find ourselves desperate for God intervene in our behalf.

Sometimes, we are so desperate that we fall on our knees and cry out “Oh God! Are you not God in heaven? Do you not rule over the entire world? In your hands, is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand you?”  — click to tweet

The first thing Jehoshaphat did was seek the Lord. Often, when we find ourselves in an impossible or overwhelming situation, we begin looking for answers on our own power- but not by seeking the Lord. We problem solve rather than problem surrender. We fret and worry to point of raising our blood pressure, getting ulcers, and losing sleep and when all else fails then we begin seeking God. If you have been joining us in reading the Bible through in a year, then you have seen that time and time again when one of Isreal or Judah’s kings made treaties with other nations or tried to solve a problem on their own, God did not honor them and they would fail. But Jehoshaphat knew where his help would come from. As soon as he heard of the impending attack, we find in 2 Chronicles 20:3 that “Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord. How much different would our insurmountable problems be if we started of setting ourselves to seek the Lord.

Often, when we find ourselves in an impossible or overwhelming situation, we begin looking for answers on our own power- but not by seeking the Lord. We problem solve rather than problem surrender. — click to tweet

The next thing King Jehoshaphat did was to proclaim a fast throughout all Judah. Fasting is a means of humbling oneself before God. Often times in the Old Testament, fasting was done corporately (or as a nation) rather than individually. It is an act of total reliance on God as we desperately poor out our heart and situation to Him as we willingly surrender even our most basic daily  needs before God.

Jehoshaphat gather all the people of Judah together to participate in the fast and to seek the face of God together. He didn’t just call the nation to fast and pray, he led the nation to fast and pray. In doing so, the nation turned their eyes away from the problem at hand and looked to God to provide the solution. Typically, a fast means fasting from food. However, there are many things we can fast from. Some people have medical issues that prevent them from going without food. They might choose instead to fast from only certain types of food or they might fast from social media or television or something else that might be distracting them from hearing what God has to say to them. The point of fasting is to do without something that would allow you to focus more intently on God. And if there is ever a time when a nation needs to intentionally focus on God, it’s when there’s an army 50 miles away from knocking on your front door!

Jehoshaphat then called on God. With all the people gathered, the King stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord before the court and called on God. In verses 5-9, we find his public prayer. The prayer may sound like he is doubting who God is and what He can do for them. He start the prayer off saying, “O Lord God of our father, are You not God in heaven and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?” He is not doubting God, but recalling who God is and recognizing that God is their only hope. His prayer continues with a reminder of how God had delivered them in the past and he pleads with God for deliverance now. As a result, God’s heart is moved for His people and he causes one of the priests to prophesy with a message for the people.

As God sent the message through Jahaziel, the priest, Jehoshaphat and the people listened to the Word of God. God’s message to the people was “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of the great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you.”  They didn’t stand around debating if the message Jahaziel delivered was actually from God. They didn’t scoff at the message and keep trying to problem solve. They didn’t say, “But God! How can we not fight them? Have you seen the size of that army out there?” Jehoshaphat asked for a solution and God gave one. Jehoshaphat listed.

Once he had his answer, Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground and worshiped God. Not only did God assure them they had no reason to fear, but God was going to fight the battle for them. The only thing Jehoshaphat and his people had to do was to – be still. The priests also stood up  to praise God with voices loud and high. With only one message from God, fear and distress turned to worship and praise.

The next day, they rose early in the morning. They were not dreading or fearful. They didn’t procrastinate. They got up early and went to the wilderness just as God instructed them to do. Jehoshaphat and the people obeyed the Word of the Lord. As they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and encouraged His people, reminding them of what God had said to them. Listen to his words to the people as they marched out. “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” He then appointed people to sing praises to God and those who would praise the beauty of God’s holiness.

What was the result? They saw the Lord fight the battle for them. Verse 22 tells us that as the people began singing and praising God, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon and Moab, bringing about their complete defeat. As that nation of Judah approached the site, they looked toward the multitude and all they saw were dead bodies. Not one person escaped. All the nation of Judah had to do was move in to take the spoil that included an abundance of valuables, precious jewelry, more than they could carry and it took three days to gather it.

Battles are much less intimidating when God is fighting for us. It’s human nature to try to solve our problems ourselves, but God stands ready to fight for us, just as He did the people of Judah. We need only surrender our problems to Him, by seeking Him and calling out to Him for Help. We also need to be sure to praise Him when he sends the answer and to be willing to be obedient, no matter how strange the answer may seem. In one way, a strange answer is better than something more inline with our expectations. When the answer is strange, such as “be still, the Lord will fight for you,” it means that God will receive all the honor and glory and none will come to us. So when the next overwhelming, impossible, insurmountable problem comes your way – start by seeking God first. Don’t even try to solve it on your own. Even if you were to accomplish it, you’d miss out on the spectacular way that God will show up.

 When the next overwhelming, impossible, insurmountable problem comes your way – start by seeking God first. Don’t even try to solve it on your own. Even if you were to accomplish it, you’d miss out on the spectacular way that God will show up. –click to tweet

 

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Cover_m God, Love and Marshmallow Wars: This book contains 365 daily challenges for couples to strengthen their relationships to each other and with God. Couples will complete activities such as Scripture memory, conversation starters, relationship builders, learning about Biblical marriage, romance builders, personal reflections, and date ideas. Click here to purchase your copy. (This link will open a new widow and take you to Westbow Press’ bookstore.) It is also available at Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Nobel

 

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Julia is CEO of Wellspring Christian Ministries, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people and couples develop a passionate relationship with God. A public speaker, conference trainer, event planner, and blog writer, Julia is a two-time graduate from Grand Canyon University with a bachelor in Psychology and a masters in Professional Counseling. Saved as a child and raised in church and in a Christian home and private Christian School as a Pastor’s kid, Julia has taught Sunday school, led music, played the piano, served as Children’s Director, and engaged her gifts in many other areas of church life. Previously employed with the Florida Baptist Convention, Julia organized events and led conferences for church ministry assistants.

Julia enjoys sharing her journey as a growing Christian with others looking for a deeper connection with God. Through Bible study and her own life experiences, God has given Julia a passion to help couples understand God’s design for marriage while they learn to place God first in their marriage, cultivate meaningful relationships, build intimacy, and address the tougher issues that come in every marriage so that they can experience a marriage that honors and glorifies God. Julia also loves mentoring, teaching, and working with women to help them learn to live as Godly women.

With her history and experience growing up in both small and large churches, Julia enjoys bringing top level quality events to churches of all sizes. Her father largely pastored small churches and therefore she understands that these vital parts of the believing community need to be good stewards of the resources God provides them with. This knowledge inspires her passion for being available with a fresh perspective for those who want to provide their congregations with meaningful spiritual growth opportunities.

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