Thursday, September 13, 2018

Sunday August 26, 2018

Speaker: Ben Sheppard
Message Title: Finger of God
Scriptures: Matt; Luke, Roman, Daniel, Ps; Jeremiah... etc.

Finger of God (Etsba Elohimאֶצְבַּע אֱלֹהִים)

                                                   

When I look at Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars that You have established; what are human beings that You are mindful of them, mortals that You care for them?”  (Psalm 8:3–4)

“If I forget you, Jerusalem, may My right hand forget its skill.”  (Psalm 137:5)

“Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar — the Lord of hosts (YHVH Sabbaoth) is His name.

“If this fixed order were ever to cease from My presence, says the Lord, then also the offspring of Israel would cease to be a nation before Me forever.”  (Jeremiah 31:35–36)

When the magicians saw that the gnats were on the people and animals everywhere, “they said to Pharaoh, “this is the finger of God.”  But Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not listen.”  (Exodus 8:19)

Moses tells us about that encounter in Deuteronomy 9:9-11 and Exodus 31:18; he said, “When I went up on the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that the Lord had made with you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water. 
“The Lord gave me two stone tablets written by the finger of God.” 
“On them were all the commandments the Lord proclaimed to you on the mountain out of the fire, on the day of the assembly.” 

“At the end of the forty days and forty nights, the Lord gave me the two stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant.”

Suddenly the fingers of a man’s hand emerged and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, and the king saw the back of the hand that did the writing

“Then the king’s face grew pale and his thoughts alarmed him, and his hip joints went slack and his knees began knocking together.”  (Daniel 5:5–6)

Imagine lifting God’s holy vessels made of silver and gold to worship pagan gods created of silver and gold, “which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose power is your very breath, and to whom belong all your ways, you have not honored,” said Daniel to the king.  (Daniel 5:23)

In John 8:10-11 we read, Jesus bent down and with His finger wrote on the ground.  We don't know what He wrote, yet those who looked on may have seen words that convicted them.

So, when Jesus stood up and said, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her,” each one walked away.
 “Woman, where are they?  Has no one condemned you?”  Jesus asked.
She said, “No one, sir.”
Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.  Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.” 
The Finger of God that brought judgment to Belshazzar also brought mercy to a daughter of Zion. 
"I want all here to think about the severity and the kindness of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in His kindness."  (Romans 11:22)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Messiah Yeshua from the dead.”  (1 Peter 1:3)

“You say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul.  Now if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your exorcists cast them out?
“But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.”  (Luke 11:18–20)

It is interesting to me however, that the same incident is recorded by Matthew saying the Spirit of God instead of the Finger of God.  
“If it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”  (Matthew 12:28)

And do you remember the story of God speaking through the mouth of a donkey?  (Numbers 22:21–39)  Yes, God’s voice came out of the mouth of an animal!
Or the dozens of stories in the Bible when God’s voice from heaven spoke to people?  (Daniel 4:31)

“And a voice came out of the heavens: ‘You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.’”  (Mark 1:11)

So, when Jesus proclaimed that He cast out demons in the Spirit of God (Matthew) or in (Luke) the Finger of God, He was declaring that the Power of God had now arrived on earth operating through Him, the Promised Messiah!
What is so exciting for me and I hope for each of you today, is that when we commit our lives fully to the Lord (Holy Spirit) - while being open and willing vessels for His Service — we see God manifest through us with this same Spirit! 

“Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.”  (John 14:12)

I hope and I pray, that each of you, will join me today as “open and willing vessels” to proclaim the Good News and Atonement of Jesus Christ and step out in faith to speak the Spirit of Holiness (Holy Spirit) into the life others; ie, family, friends and even strangers.
This takes us surrendering our will to the Holy Spirit within, and allowing Him to reach out and speak and touch through us.

 Music Worship Leaders:
JW & Sharon Peck
Songs:


 

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