God's Outstretched Arm

In the early days of the Church, the believers prayed: “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy Word, by stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus” (Acts 4:29-30). They asked the Lord to stretch forth His hand to heal and perform miracles. Evidently, this was the prayer of a baby church.

They had not matured in the things of God, and we can see this from God’s response. The Bible says, “When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the Word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31). God did not part the heavens and stretch out His hand to perform the miracles they were asking for. Rather, He filled them with the Holy Ghost. Then, the Bible says, “By the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people” (Acts 5:12).

This makes us know that as believers, we’re God’s outstretched arm. You are the temple of the Holy Spirit; His dwelling place and living headquarters. God moves through your hands. This is why you must always be sensitive to the needs and problems of those around you. You are God’s outstretched arm of Salvation, hope and healing to a hurting world. You’re the solution the world is looking for. Arise and make God proud by being a vessel unto honour.