The Gracious Hand of God | January 2022 Monthly Newsletter
Written by Ps. Nicholas Hung | Senior Pastor of Antioch Gospel Church
Firstly, a big welcome to 2022! Whether we’re ready for it or not, it’s a new year, a new day and in many ways, a new season.
I hope that you’ve got big dreams, big plans, high hopes and great expectations for this year ahead and are believing that this year is going to be so much greater than the year we’re leaving behind. Hope is a powerful agent.
I believe that as a spiritual family and as children of God we’re staring down the barrel towards many exciting times of breakthrough, particularly as we continue pursuing God’s heart. But it’s not in our strength – I’ve learned over the years that the greatest breakthroughs and the most exciting moments are only made possible by living our lives under God’s hand of grace and favour.
There’s no greater surety and security than living our lives under the covering of God’s gracious hand. And that’s true for the church, as well as for each of us individually.
I know that when it’s hailing outside, I would much rather be inside, under the shelter of cover, than being pelted by pieces of ice. And that’s a metaphor for what the grace and favour of God will do for you and I. God’s gracious hand brings us to places we could never go in our own strength or ability. His grace and favour unlocks unusual protection, anointing, blessing, opportunity and so much more.
If there’s ever been a time during our lifetime when we are in need of the gracious hand of God surely it is now. Surrounded by the constant threat of war, political instabilities, deceptions, economic insecurities, viral spread and so much more, there’s never been a greater need for the hand of God resting upon us.
Consider the following narrative about Ezra, the spiritual reformer:
“This Ezra was a scribe who was well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given to the people of Israel. He came up to Jerusalem from Babylon, and the king gave him everything he asked for, because the gracious hand of the LORD his God was on him … Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in August of that year. He had arranged to leave Babylon on April 8, the first day of the new year, and he arrived at Jerusalem on August 4, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the LORD and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.”
(Ezra 7:6,8-10 NLT)
Notice the incredible blessings that flowed Ezra’s way simply because the gracious hand of the Lord was upon him.
It was God’s good and gracious hand that unlocked the breakthroughs that opened up the way for Ezra to fulfil his personal mission and calling. God’s gracious hand found a place to move upon Ezra’s ministry because of a few key reasons, made clear in verse 10:
Ezra was fully DETERMINED to do what was right in God’s eyes
Ezra was passionate about DISCOVERING God’s ways. He studied the word of the Lord with the heart of constantly growing and increasing his spiritual knowledge and understanding
Ezra was OBEDIENT to God’s word and continually practised being a doer of the word
Ezra was committed to IMPARTATION. Ezra was committed to teaching, leading and sharing the things that he discovered and experienced in God with others. God releases special grace upon the wise sharing of the word of God, that encourages others
Each of these four things were factors, amongst others, that released God’s gracious hand to go to work in Ezra’s life. God made possible what would have otherwise been impossible simply because Ezra was prepared to position himself in the midst of the flow of what God was doing. God’s grace cannot be earned, but the manifestation of His grace becomes accessible to those who rightly position themselves.
Our heart and prayer for us all as the congregation of Antioch Gospel Church, is that we’ll continue to make holy, righteous, godly steps, in obedience to His words, and that 2022 will truly be a year where the gracious hand of the Lord moves upon and around each and every one of us. There’s so much ahead to look forward to and, like Ezra, we’re believing that together we’ll be able to see it all.
In the words of the Apostle Paul, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.” (1 Corinthians 16:23 NLT)
Blessings,
Pastors Nicholas Hung and Grace Lim