STRETCH OUT YOUR HANDS - PART 1

WEDNESDAY 07 FEBRUARY 2024

I'm introducing a new topic, namely, stretch out your hands. This is part of the declarations made by Peter and John when they raised their voices together in prayer to God. They asked the Lord to enable them to speak His word with great boldness, and to stretch out His hand to heal and perform signs and wonders in the name of Jesus.

Reference: Acts 4:30 New International Version (NIV)

"Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

As an introductory article, I want to remind us of how Peter who made the solemn request for boldness that the Spirit gives and for the healing power of God to manifest through him, was the same man who cowered in fear and denied the Lord Jesus, when he was meant to identify with Him as one of His disciples. Later on, through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, he refused to be restrained from speaking boldly about Jesus, with his preaching companions.

As Peter engaged the Lord, with John, to take note of the intimidations from the chief priests, the elders, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees, which they intended to bring into play, in order to silence them, he prayed for unusual courageous confidence required to go ahead and proclaim the Gospel truth. With the boldness of the Spirit, Peter blamed the Jewish sect in their very presence, without any atom of cowardice. He actually pointed his fingers in the face of the Jewish officials, blaming them for the death of Jesus, although he added that they did what God's plan and purpose determined beforehand.

One thing is certain about our unusual boldness in Christ, and let me expound it, starting in this manner: Adam, while in the garden of Eden, had an unquestionable dominion over all creatures because God granted man such privilege, right from the beginning. Moreover, all of mankind inherited Adamic sinful nature when Adam fell and was driven away from the Garden, with his wife, Eve.

But today, we have the salvation in Christ Jesus, because He has settled the matter of our reconciliation with God through His perfect atoning sacrifice, which was what Pontius Pilate, Herod, and the Jews helped Him to fulfil by crucifying Him on the cross. Now Jesus has been highly exalted in glory, which implies that He is the Lord of all, not just the Lord of all living, but the Lord of all creation, with the exception of our Supreme Father in heaven who put all things under Christ. To that effect, He raised all who have come to believe in Him - to a superior dominion, far greater than that of the first Adam. Got it?

Now, beloved, when you are called out of darkness into God's marvellous light, it means that you've been positioned into a state of undaunting boldness, unspeakable joy, incontestable dominion, and all dimensions of prosperity, in order to show forth the praises of the Lord by proclaiming the Gospel truth, and by stretching out our hands of faith to heal and to perform signs and wonders in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Yes God stretches out His hand to heal and to perform all manner of miracle - through our hands, as we soak ourselves in the power of His Spirit. However, how important is our obligations to God who has made us His chosen people, and has showered us with His abundant grace and great mercy, in relation to carrying out His good works in our world? We shall find out in the successive parts of this topic. Stay tuned for part 2. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Proverbs 4:20-22; Malachi 4:2; Luke 6:19; James 5:14.

Exuberant Declaration:

I am a chosen generation; a royal priesthood; a peculiar people distinct from the world, and a new creation, functioning in God's marvellous light, in order to showcase His glory, perfections, excellence, healing power, and miraculous wonders in my world. Hallelujah!