HAVING THE HAND OF THE LORD WITH US

            The scattered abroad disciples of the early church preached the gospel every where they went. Some preached in Cyprus and Cyrene to the Jews only. Some of those converted went to Antioch and preached the word to the Greeks. “And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.” (Acts11:21). Barnabas was sent by the Jerusalem church to Antioch to establish that congregation in the faith and to further preach the Word to those people. It is significant that the hand of the Lord was with them. How important it is to have the hand of the Lord with us in the Lord’s work. There is no indication of any miracles being performed, but that God’s providence was with them We ask the question, “What can we do to be sure that the hand of the Lord is with us, thus assuring our success in teaching the gospel?”

            1. The hand of the Lord is with those who obey Him.  Jesus said, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (John 14:23). Keeping Christ’s words certainly includes believing, repenting, confessing Christ, and being baptized (Mark 16; 16; Acts 2:38; Matthew 10:32). Keeping Christ’s words also includes the molding of the life after the commands of Christ. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” (Colossians 3:1).

            2. The hand of the Lord is with those who live clean Christian lives. “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2 Timothy 2:19).  This would include: “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (Colossians 3:5-10). The Christian life also has some positives that must be put on such as: Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (Colossians 3:12-15).

            3. The hand of the Lord is with those who have the same attitude toward the Lost as was characteristic of Jesus Christ.  Here are the Characteristics of Jesus Christ toward the lost: A) Seeking and saving the lost (Luke 19:10); B) Compassion on people who were as sheep having no shepherd (Matthew 9:36); C) Praying for those who despitefully used him (Luke 23:34). The early disciples lived in the shadow of Jesus imbuing the same attitudes. Stephen prayed, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge” when they were stoning him (Acts 7:60). Paul’s attitude was  that he was a debtor to the lost, that he was ready to preach the gospel, and that he was not ashamed of the gospel which is God’s power to save (Romans 1:14-16). Christ lived in Paul as he lived by faith in Him (Galatians 2:20).

            4. The hand of the Lord is with those who with purpose of heart cleave to the Lord (Acts 11:23). These people assembled regularly to worship. These people continued to teach the gospel to the Lost. These are the people God first called Christians. God had said that when the gentiles saw his righteousness that God would give them a new name (Isaiah 62:2). That new name is Christian (Acts 11:26). Thereafter all the followers of Christ were called Christians. Faithfulness on the part of Christians begets interest on the part of those who are not Christians. The church of Christ in Antioch was destined to become a great radiating point for the gospel to other lands. Later as they were praying and ministering to the Lord the Holy Spirit said, “Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” (Acts 13:2, 3). This church sponsored Paul in his missionary work thereafter until his arrest in Jerusalem.

            5. The hand of the Lord is with those who hold to the doctrine of Christ. “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 9). If we want God with us we must be with God.
            Let’s obey the gospel, live clean lives, cleave to the Lord, have a great desire that lost souls be saved, and determine we will never leave the true teachings of the Lord. Then the hand of the Lord will be with us.

Clifford Dixon

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