THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD

 

 

To start this off with a little better understanding I will give a brief statement about my background.

 

I was born in Marvel Arkansas. My mother was Mable Grantham Varner,. and my dad was Walter Jackson Varner. I was the 8th and the youngest child in our family. Two of my siblings died as infants. My little sister died at two years old and a brother died when he was four years old.  I had two older brothers Bill was 14 years older than me and Bob was 12 years older than me. The brother nearest my age was Jay who was 2 years older than me. We were inseparable.

 

When I was about three years old, my father was in an accident and tore the main artery loose from his heart. He was in bed for over a year. During his time of healing there were nurses round the clock at our home to care for him. The nurse that worked the daytime shift was a great influence in my life. When dad was asleep, she sat between Jay and me and taught us the stories in the Bible. There had to be quiet in the house because dad was so ill. This lady taught us how to pray at mealtime as well as reading from the Bible to us. She placed a desire into our hearts to be saved. Jay was saved first. Even though he was just 5 years old, he loved God very much.

 

Jay decided that we should go to church. My mother let us go down the street to the Christian church. The street, our house and the church was on, was blocked off so no cars would disturb my dad. She felt it would be safe for us to walk to the corner church, and that is where we began our walk with Jesus. It was Jay that led me through the sinner’s prayer when I was saved. It was as if Jay came into this world knowing Jesus.

 

There was a special lady in the church that started Jay and me singing in the choir and soon after she had us singing duets. She and her husband carried us to some churches in that area to sing. I guess we were unusual in the fact that I was 4 and Jay was 6. When Jay was there, I had no fear.

 

The Lord seemed to have His hand guiding our every move. My dad recovered from his illness and when I was 9, dad was transferred to Stephens, Arkansas to work. We found a house next door to the Methodist church.

 

We took up where we left off in the other church. We were singing in the choir and Jay was the president of the MYF. We were inseparable. We played together, worked together, sang together, went to church together. Neither of us went anywhere without the other.

 

The summer before my 12th birthday we had a visiting evangelist at our church. He brought his own singing group with him and the regular choir was dispersed through the church. (Jay and I were sitting at opposite sides of the church) When the altar call was given, we both came forward and rededicated our lives to Jesus. It was a very moving experience for me.

 

Two months later my Jay was gone, killed in an automobile accident one Sunday afternoon. My world had collapsed around me.

If it hit me hard, it hit my parents harder. This made 5 children my parents had lost. My mother had heart failure and went to bed for a year. My dad turned grey overnight it seemed. My two older brothers were married and living away from home.

 

I was withdrawn, not wanting to participate in anything at church. It reminded me too much of him. The Bible was the only thing that seemed to comfort me, and I read it a great deal during this period of healing of my spirit. In fact I read it all the year of Jay’s death when I was 12.

 

After Jay’s death, God did not forget me in my troubles. God came to me in a dream and told me to look in a certain place in the church the next Sunday and Jay would be there. I was almost afraid to look, but when I did he was sitting there smiling at me. I looked away for a moment, and when I looked back he was gone.

 

God had allowed this to happen to me to show me that Jay was alright; Jay was with Him. I never worried again about where he was. I am assured that when I reach heaven, he will be there to greet me.

 

In my hurry to get away from too many memories, I finished high school very young and went on to college in Magnolia, Arkansas. After close to two years in college, on one of my weekends visiting home, I met Nelson and 6 months later we were married.

 

We both loved children and God blessed us with 4. We had three boys and one girl. Our last little boy died in infancy.

 

Nelson, and I, and our little brood moved around a little bit, but each place we lived, we found a little church and attended regularly. For 30 years we did all the routine church things; including being on the board and finance committee, and we both taught Sunday school. We were lukewarm Christians, however.

 

The Word says that our troubles come to make us strong. We had some serious illness in the family, and it drove me to my knees in prayer and a closer daily walk with Jesus. Nelson and I ran to God’s Word (the Bible) for answers to our problems.

 

During this time, I completed studying the Old and New Testament from Genesis to Revelation, by J. Sidlow Baxter called “Explore the Book”. I was reading God’s Word a great deal again and felt very close to Him. It seemed every time I heard the Word read or sung, or if anyone prayed and used the Lord’s name, I could instantly feel His presence. 

 

I had decided many years before to live for the Lord and had a yearning to help others find the inner peace and joy that knowing Him could bring, but this was a fresh new feeling.

 

Nelson and I took a vacation and went to Nova Scotia with two wonderful Christian friends in our motor homes. I related to them this presence I was feeling and told them I was sure God had something for me to do, but I was not quite sure what it was. They agreed that I must wait patiently until He made it clear to me what He had in mind.

 

I knew that I must stay close to God, and I spent every spare moment in studying the Bible. Nelson drove and I read. It finally happened. I cannot say if this was a night vision or just what. I was in a large room somewhere with a large group of women in a circle praying and worshipping God. I raised my hands to praise the Lord and started saying Abba, Abba, Abba over and over again. (Abba means sweet heavenly Father) I saw the right hand of God descending from heaven with the pointing finger outstretched. The finger touched me in the center of my forehead. It seemed as if I was floating around the room way up in the air. It was beyond description. It was the most ecstatic feeling I had ever had.

 

I knew this had to have some special meaning and I could not believe I had been touched by the finger of God. After that, every time I picked up the Bible, there would be a Scripture on the Right Hand of God. Every song I heard seemed to mention it too. We went to the Passion Play in Eureka Springs, Arkansas and even there I heard it several times. Even touching the outside cover of the Bible sent the Spirit flying through my body.

 

The urge to research the Right Hand of God and write down everything I could find about this subject became an obsession. I did not know where to start. I had never written a book. I am not a writer.

 

 I was never a woman’s libber, and felt that if God wanted this subject written about, surely He would get some capable man to do it, not some little old red haired grandmother with all the hang ups that I had on women speaking out.

 

Then it seemed every week I saw a lady minister associated with our church. It was as if God was trying to show me He was fed up with my excuses. He showed me in the Word that at the end of the Gentile age He would pour out His Spirit on all people even the handmaiden. So with the help of the great God we serve, and with the Holy Spirit filling me with every word, I shall attempt to show Jesus Christ as the Spiritual Right Hand of God as I understand it to be in the Scriptures.

 

After searching the Scriptures and talking to everyone who would listen, I have come up with the following observations about the Right Hand of God and one observation on the left hand of God.

 

(The first writing of this book was in 1979 Since then my precious husband has gone to be with Jesus, and my son Wayne, and my daughter Debbie went to be with Jesus too) I dedicate this writing to all of them.

 

 

 

FACTS ABOUT THE RIGHT HAND

 

 

The right hand is mentioned 153 times in the Bible according to the Strong’s Concordance.

 

Even in the world around us, a person who is extremely helpful to us is sometimes spoken of as our right hand.

 

When we reach out to greet someone, it is always the right hand that we extend to them.

 

We attend a church that has no regular membership. It is called  non-denominational, because all believers in Jesus Christ are welcome to worship there. When someone comes forward to make a decision to follow Jesus Christ, they give them the right hand of fellowship.

 

When there are two ways to choose, we speak of the right as being the correct way. We even drive our cars on the right side of the road here in the United States.

 

In the Old Testament the right hand blessing from the patriarchs was the spiritual blessing and the left hand blessing was for earthly things.  For instance, Abraham gave Isaac the right hand blessing. Ishmael received the left hand blessing.

 

The Pueblo Indians refer to blessings as being from the Right Hand of God. They also speak of drought, hail and negative things as being from the left hand of God.

They speak of other tribes that are their enemies as coming from the left hand of God as well.

 

This does not mean there is anything wrong with a person being left-handed.

 

The Webster’s dictionary explanation of THE, RIGHT, HAND, OF, GOD surely indicates  that Jesus is all of these things. 

 

THE

 

 

The Webster’s dictionary gives the meaning of “the” as: emphatic or definite.

 

Jesus certainly is emphatic. He said He was “the” way, “the” truth, and “the” life.  He also said no man comes to “the” Father except by Him. He is “the” Word, “the” Light, “the” Bread, “the” Hope, “the” Saviour. And a thousand other “the” explanations of who He is.  That is why it is so important not to change  “the” to “a”.  In fact, He is “the” only begotten Son of the Father.

 

“The” in the Webster’s dictionary is used to refer to a particular person distinguished from all others. Jesus is the only Saviour of the world. Jesus is the only One to ever live free of sin.  He is the only One ever born of a virgin. He is “the” Son of God, not a son of God. Jesus is the only perfect sacrifice for sin capable of cleansing all mankind for all time. He abolished the sin for all who will accept Him as their Saviour.

 

When we look at the word “the” from this standpoint, Certainly Jesus is unique, there is no other. That makes Him “the” Saviour  not “a” Saviour.

 

I John 4:14 “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” Notice “the Father”, because there is only one.  Notice, also, “the” Son in both places there is only one begotten Son of the Father, there also is only one Saviour.

 

There are 123 different names for,  the One you and I call Jesus, In each case He is spoken of as “the” not “a”.

 

 

RIGHT

 

 

Webster’s dictionary has much to say about this word, but space or time will not permit us to go into every meaning.  I have chosen just a few that I feel fit our purpose here.

 

Right means to put in order. Jesus, Creator God, put all of the universe in order when He put the planets in space and told them what their orbit would be. The earth and everything on it was created by Jesus for the use of man here. Even the scheduling of the evening and the morning making up a day was established for our use. It is interesting to me that Jesus prepared the earth and everything mankind might need before He created man. In the five days when He made everything on the earth, each time God said it was very good. The 6th day He made the animals and then He made man. He had everything in order before He made man. To me, the ultimate thing Jesus did for His creation was when He gave His body on the cross in our place to put us in right standing with the Father. He traded us His righteousness for our sin. Our sin died on the body of Jesus on the cross. He has put a plan in order for us to spend eternity with Him in heaven. In the 14th chapter of John it tells us of Him preparing a place for us.

 

Another meaning of right is in accordance with fact. There is no falsehood in Jesus. He is the Truth or fact.

 

The archaic meaning of right is: genuine or real. Most people who are not Christians agree that a man named Jesus lived. Most of them will agree that He was a prophet, a great teacher of truth. If He was a great teacher of truth then He did not lie. He said He was the Son of God. He also said that He and the Father were one. Christians believe that He was not only the greatest Teacher of all time, but that He was God manifest in the body of man. Christians believe He brought in a better way to be saved by grace. The law of the Old Testament did not do away with guilt, but the blood Jesus shed for us abolished sin for the believer in Christ. He healed the sick, raised the dead, opened blind eyes, walked on the water. He spoke to the raging sea and it obeyed His voice.  Truly He was genuine, The Christ The Son Of The Living God.

 

In politics, right means conservative or reactionary. Here too we see Jesus. He was conservative in the way He dressed and the way He lived. His friends were ordinary people, such as fishermen. In fact, His requirements were few. He was also reactionary when He saw wrong. He tried to make things right (sometimes by force) such as when He ran the moneychangers out of the temple.

 

God’s laws, that He gave mankind to live by are perfect or right. How could anyone argue with Loving God first and then loving your fellow man? Every time we try to improve on the things Jesus taught us, we actually ruin them.  There is no way to improve on perfection. I had a wonderful friend that always said: If it works, don’t fix it.

 

The United States was founded on the principles taught in the Bible. Unless we return to those fundamental laws, that God provided, we will fall as did Sodom and Gomorrah.

 

When there is moral rot in a nation its government falls easily. It is explained in Proverbs 28:2 “For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.”

 

It seems to me this country we live in as a whole should heed the message in 2 Chronicles 7:14 “ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

 

The time is far overdue for Christians to stand and be counted and do just as this Scripture above says.


HAND

 

 

The hand is an instrument for making or producing. What a wonderful description of Lord Jesus. Even the earth that we live on was created by Jesus (the Word). Everything and everyone around us was created by the Spoken Word . We read in

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word,  and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John1:2 “The same was in the beginning with God.” John 1:3 “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”  You see, Jesus is the hand that creates.

 

The dictionary says that hand symbolizes a promise. In my early life most deals  were sealed between two people with a hand shake. The greatest promise ever made to mankind is the free gift of salvation, if we only believe in Jesus and accept Him as our Saviour. Probably the most memorized Scripture in the Bible is John 3:16 “ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

 

It is explained very clearly all that we have to do in Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

 

Another meaning of hand is (shows power). How much more power can you have than Jesus who can raise you from the dead? Jesus raised the daughter who was 12 years old from the dead. He raised the widow’s son who was being carried  to the grave. He raised  Lazarus from the tomb after he had been dead 4 days. All of this is wonderful, but the greatest promise for all believers of what Jesus will do is found in 1Thessalonians 4:14” For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”                             1 Thessalonians 4:15 “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep” 1 Thessalonians 4:16 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first;”  1 Thessalonians 4:17 “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

OF

 

 

Webster’s dictionary says that “of” means having to do with or akin to. Certainly, we who are believers in Jesus have much to do with Him, for we are part of the family of God and are joint heirs with Jesus. Romans 8:16 “ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” Romans 8:17 “And if children then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Jesus is our near kinsman Redeemer as well.

 

We see a little more added to the explanation in Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Ephesians 2:9 “Not of works , lest any man should boast.”

 

“Of” also means set aside for and from the whole. When we accept Jesus as our Saviour, we are sanctified (set aside for God’s purpose). We are separated from the world and its trappings. God has written our names in the Lamb’s Book of  Life and this world is no longer our home. Our home is in heaven.

 

Another meaning of the word “of” is belonging to. If we are Christians, we belong to Jesus Christ. He bought us with His precious shed blood at Calvary. We read about Him buying us in 1 Corinthians 6:20 “For ye are bought with a price:  Therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

 

Another meaning for the word “of” is dedicated to. To me, dedicated means sold out to Him. He is not only our Saviour, but our Redeemer, our Life and our Resurrection.   It says it so well in Hebrews 9:12 “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”

GOD

 

 

 

“God” in the Webster’s dictionary means one who is supernatural. This describes Jesus who walked on the water, changed the water into wine, raised Lazarus from

the dead, healed blind eyes, and did many more miracles.

 

Another meaning of “God” in the dictionary is: Immortal. We read in Jesus’ own

words about this in Revelation 1:8 “ I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending; saith the Lord , which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

 

He (Jesus) rose from the grave and will come back to judge the world and rule for all of eternity.

 

Another meaning for the word “God” in the dictionary is: having special power over the lives and affairs of people and the course of nature. Jesus did have powers over nature. After Simon Peter had been fishing all night  and could not catch anything, we see the miracle Jesus did in Luke 5:4 “Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a drought.” Luke 5:5 “And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.” Luke 5:6 “And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.” Luke 5:7 “And they beckoned to their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.”  You see, God the Son has power over  everything in the universe. At the name of Jesus everything shall bow.

 

One other very interesting miracle of this nature, is when the tax collector came to collect taxes from Peter and Jesus. Jesus told him to go fishing and the first fish he caught would have the tax money in its mouth. Matthew 17: 27 “Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take and give unto them for me and thee.”

 

He (Jesus) also had power over men. He spoke to thief on the cross, that asked for forgiveness as we read in the following Scripture. Luke 23:43 “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

 

Webster’s dictionary also says the word “God” implies Eternal or Deity. Jesus was here when the earth was formed and He will be here for all of eternity. He called Himself I AM. (Which means the One Who eternally exists in the present tense.)  John 8:58 “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

 

Surely all these names show Jesus as the Right Hand Of God.

 

JESUS AS THE RIGHT HAND

 

 

John 1:1 “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  John 1:2 “The same was in the beginning with God.” John 1:3

“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” We know this Word is Jesus, when we  read John 1: 14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. (and we beheld his glory , the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, ) full of grace and truth.”

 

The Word spoken of here is Jesus. When God spoke in Genesis 1:26 and used the term “us” when He said “let us make man in our image” included the One you and I call Jesus. I believe Father, Word (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit were spoken of as us.

 

We read in Hebrews 12:2  “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

 

Jesus, in all of these Scriptures, has done all of the work for us. Not only did He create the world, but He did our redemptive work on the cross and purchased our salvation with that work. All we can say is –Thank you Jesus.

 

Jesus is above all the angels in heaven and all authorities here on the earth. 1 Peter 3:22 “ Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.”

 

He is the source of all power. When we use the name of Jesus, the devil and his host must flee from us, for they are subject unto His name.

 

His job was finished when He said from the cross: “It is finished”. He is waiting for His return to the earth and His 1000 year reign of peace on the earth to begin.  

 

Hebrews 1:13 “But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?”

 

Everything in our lives that is right is because of Jesus. He is the greatest positive in the universe. Jesus is the source of all Light. We read in Revelation 21:23 “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.”  We read on in 1 John 1:5

 “ This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

 

Satan is the absence of light which is darkness. 1 John 1:6 “ If we say we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 1John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

 

Next to light, the one thing needed most in our lives is truth. Jesus is the Truth.

John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

 

Without the life that Jesus gives us, we are but dust, and to dust we shall return.

Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Jesus purchased eternal life for us with His shed blood at Calvary. Earthly things must pass away for they are temporary. When Jesus  returns and calls us to meet Him in the air, we who are alive will be changed in the twinkling of an eye. We will shed these corruptible bodies and rise to heaven in our spiritual bodies. These heavenly bodies will be free of sin, washed in the blood of the Lamb. We will be clothed in Jesus’ righteousness, and we will be in right standing with Almighty God.

 

Colossians 3:1 “ If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth  on the right hand of God.

 

Our spirit’s home is in heaven with our Redeemer, Jesus. Christians should not love this world for it is not our home. We should be longing for that special day when we will be called to our true home in heaven with Jesus.

 

Jesus is our Shepherd, and we must follow Him. He is the way for His sheep.

Matthew 25:33 “And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” Matthew 25:34 “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:”

 

How true is it then as it says in Ecclesiastes 10:2 “ A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.”

 

Jesus is the spiritual Right Hand of God. Jesus does the work, we just receive the blessings. He does the work when God speaks the Word. In fact, Jesus is the spoken and written Word of God. Jesus’ Right Hand symbolizes power, strength, and good works. Each time God the Father spoke, and Jesus, the Word, made; God said it was good. In other words, Jesus, the Word had the power and strength to do the good works.

 

His last act before the death of His body on the cross was to forgive and save the thief on the cross on His right side next to Him.

 

The One you and I call Jesus was on the mountain with Moses when he received the Ten Commandments.

 

It was the fiery finger of the Right Hand of God that burned the commandments into the tables of stone. This Right Hand is Jesus. Deuteronomy 33:2 “And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.”

 

Jesus on God’s command burned the commandments in the stone, as He has written His laws in all believer’s minds and hearts.

 

We must look to Him for our life eternal.

THE RIGHT HAND AS TEACHER

 

 

Psalms 45:4 “And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.”

 

Jesus (the Right Hand) is our teacher in all things. John 14:12 “Verily, verily. I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

 

Jesus taught us by example. If we are not doing miracles now in Jesus’ name, we are not following our teacher’s instructions taught in the verse above. Continue on with John 14:13 “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do , that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:14 “ If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”  Jesus gave us the right to use His name to perform miracles.

If we follow His instructions, His name will heal those we pray for.

 

We sometimes do not follow through on these instructions because we feel that we do not know how to pray. The disciples had this problem too, and asked Jesus to teach them to pray. Jesus taught them how to pray in  Matthew 6:9 “ After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” Notice, He does not say pray this prayer. He is showing them that they must pray to the Father and give Him honor and  praise at the beginning of their prayer. Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” This verse speaks to the authority of the Father, not just in heaven, but on the earth as well. Matthew 6:11 “ Give us this day our daily bread.” We know that Jesus taught us not to worry about tomorrow. We are not in control of whether we will be alive tomorrow or not. God rained down Manna in the wilderness one day at a time. Notice the next Scripture is conditional.

Matthew 6:12  “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” We must forgive, if we expect to be forgiven. Matthew 6:13 “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen”  It is interesting that Jesus says for the Father to help us stay away from temptation. It is the devil and our flesh that tempts us. We must

not listen to those temptations. The best thing to do is to give the tempter a Scripture against that temptation. Notice in the last of this verse we are to recognize God’s power and glory at the end of the prayer. Amen means so be it.

 

If we would just do what this prayer says, we will have learned our lesson well.

Number one: elevate God to the highest. Number two: Desire His soon coming. Number three: Forgive others so God will forgive us. Number four: Expect no more than just for today. Number five: Help us not to sin. Number six: Praise God in every situation we find ourselves in.

 

The disciples asked Jesus what the greatest commandments were, and He taught them the following in Matthew 22:37 “Jesus said unto them, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

Matthew 22:38 “ This is the first and great commandment.” Matthew 22:39 “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Matthew 22:40

“On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

 

 

When Jesus was tempted of the devil on the mount He fought the devil with the Word of God. He had fasted for forty days and nights, and the devil tempted Him in every type of temptation we face on the earth. With each temptation Jesus said, It is written. He showed us the way to defeat the devil is with the Word of God.

 

These instructions of Jesus (the Right Hand of God) cannot be added to,  they completely cover everything.

 

THE RIGHT HAND AS POWER

 

 

Many people consider power as great wealth or political power.  Jesus did not institute His political power or His great wealth on His visit to the earth to bring salvation to all who would dare to believe. He will, however, set up His powerful government when the He sets up His millennial reign for one thousand years on the earth. He will be supreme Ruler. He will be King of kings and Lord of lords.

 

The following Scriptures show some of His power. Psalm 89:13 “ Thou hast a mighty arm : strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.”  Psalm 91:7 “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand ; but it shall not come nigh thee.”  Psalm 98:1 “ O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvelous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory”

Jesus (the Right Hand) has gotten the victory. He defeated Satan and freed us from our sins at Calvary. He defeated death, when He rose from the grave. In the next Scripture we are looking at the end when the wrath of God is poured out.

Psalm 110:5 “ The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.” We read of that great strength in Revelation 1:16 “ And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.”

 

The number seven in Scripture speaks of spiritual perfection. This Scripture, then, speaks of the spiritually perfected saints, and the twoedged sword is speaking of the Old and New Testament. Jesus is the Word, and who can doubt the strength of His Word.

 

We read again of the strength of the Lord Jesus in Exodus 15:6 “Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: the right hand , O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.”

 

When God, through Moses, told Pharaoh to let His people go so they could go and worship, Pharaoh would not. The Right Hand executed the plagues until they were allowed to leave for their promised land.

 

At the Red Sea, when it appeared the children of Israel were trapped, Moses extended the rod over the sea and the sea opened. The children of God walked over on dry ground. Exodus 15:8 “And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together,  the floods stood upright as a heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.”  Jesus, the Right Hand of God, is the doer part of the Godhead. He opened the Sea.  The Egyptians followed them into the sea and the next verse tells what happened to them. Exodus 15:12 “ Thou stretchedst

out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.”

 

Jesus, the Right Hand of God, will win at Armageddon, and become Supreme Ruler for ever and ever, for He is the greatest Power.

 

 

 

 

 

THE RIGHT HAND AS  JUDGE

 

 

Revelation 5:1 “And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.” Revelation 5:2

“And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?” Revelation 5:3 “ And no man in heaven,

nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.” Revelation 5:4 “ And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.” Revelation 5:5 “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the

Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.”

 

Jesus is the only one worthy to open the book. If our names have been written in the Lamb’s (Jesus’) book of life, we will live in heaven with Him for all of eternity. If our names are not written in His book, we will spend eternity in hell. He is our Judge and is the only Way we can escape the eternal damnation we deserve.

 

Acts 17:30 “And the times of this ignorance God winked at: but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent:” Acts 17:31 “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he shall judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”

 

He (Jesus) paid the price for our salvation with His shed blood at Calvary. The Christian who puts his faith in the shed blood of Jesus is judged not guilty of sin. Jesus paid in full our sin debt on the cross.

 

2 Peter 2:9 “ The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:”

 

Christians need not fear judgment day as other sinners do, for our sins have been forgiven forever. We have taken on the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

 

Revelation chapter 2 is all in red meaning that it is a quote from Jesus. Revelation 2:1 “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;”

 

Stars here indicate angels or ministering spirits. Jesus is holding these ministering spirits of the churches in His Right Hand. The golden Candlesticks are showing the Light of Jesus in these churches. When Jesus is in these churches with His great Light, He has not left that church. The gold is symbolic of God.

 

In this Scripture, He (Jesus) has completed His promise of His Right Hand . He is holding the spiritually complete angels of the spiritually complete godly churches in His Right Hand.

 

 

Romans 2:16 “ In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”  We, Christians, have been set free for we are judged not guilty of any sin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE RIGHT HAND AS SAVIOUR

 

 

The Right Hand of God who is Jesus Christ saves us from sin, sickness and death.

He saved us from sin with His shed blood on the cross. He saved us from sickness by the stripes on His back. He saved us from death when He rose from the grave.

 

Job 40:14 “ Then will I confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.”  Psalm 109:30 “ I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; I will praise him among the multitude.”  Psalm109:31 “For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.”

 

Jesus is the Right Hand that saves us from a terrible fate eternally. He also provides us with added strength to live for Him here. When we become Christians, His laws are written on the fleshly parts of our hearts. We feel terribly guilty if we commit a sin because our hearts condemn us of that sin. Some call it our conscience. We must immediately ask for forgiveness to feel free again. Only when we confess our sin to Him and receive forgiveness for them can we have peace of mind and heart.

 

Psalm 138:7 “ Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.” Psalm 138:8 “The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy O LORD, endureth forever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.”

 

Jesus came from His home in heaven and willingly endured the cross for us. We should each of us been on that cross. He was our substitute. He could have called ten thousand angels to come and defeat His enemies, and remove Him from the cross. He, of His own free will, chose to suffer in our place. He did not even need the angels. He could have come down from the cross at any time He chose. He stayed there for us, so that we might be cleared of our sin debt. His power and greatness shine through in this act in Hebrews 1:3 “ Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”

 

Thank you Jesus for dying for me. Thank you for giving me new life in you.

 

THE RIGHT HAND AS HEALER

 

 

Isaiah 53:5 “ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

 

This is a prophetic Scripture speaking of Jesus, who accepted the punishment we deserve and made it possible for our healing with only one requirement, that we have faith in Him.

 

When Jesus prayed for the sick and they were healed, His closing statement to them was; you faith has made you whole. If we do not believe in faith healing then we cannot be healed. If someone gives you a gift, you can not have it until you open up your hand and receive it.

 

A very great part of Jesus’ ministry was healing. He healed sick bodies, sick minds and best of all, homesick souls.

 

Man was created to worship a higher power. We have a great big hole in our hearts and we are sick of soul and spirit until we accept Jesus as our Saviour and LORD.

 

Sometimes when Jesus heals us, He tells us to do something to show we believe we believe in healing. For example: the man with the withered hand had to reach out with his hand to show that he had the faith his hand was healed. Luke 6:6

“And it came to pass on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and

taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.” We see what Jesus did in Luke 6 :10 “And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man,

Stretch forth thy hand . And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.”

 

If we will heed the lesson in 2nd Chronicles, Jesus will heal us and our nation.

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people , which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Even in New Jerusalem that comes down to us from God, we read there is a healing for the nations.  Revelation 22:2 “In the midst of the street of it,  and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bear twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

THE RIGHT HAND AS INTERCESSOR OR HIGH PRIEST

 

 

Romans 8:34 “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died , yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God , who also maketh intercession for us.”

 

The Bible says that God is already aware of our needs, even before we ask for them in prayer. Our Intercessor (Jesus, the Right Hand ) has already asked God for us. If God is concerned when a sparrow falls, He is much more concerned about our problems. Mankind was made in the image of God.

 

Hebrews 8:1 “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such a high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;” Hebrews 8:2 “A minister for the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.”

 

Satan is not satisfied that he is going to a burning hell, he wants us to go there with him. The old saying, evil loves company covers this.  Satan is constantly on

watch for the sins we commit and is accusing us to the Father. We have a High Priest, Jesus, who is reminding God that we are not guilty of that sin. He paid for our sins with His shed blood at Calvary.

 

Jesus, the Right Hand of God, caused the temple veil to be torn from the top to the bottom, when His body died on the Cross giving us access to the Father. Our access is through Jesus, our only High Priest.

 

1 John 2:1 “ My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father,  Jesus Christ the righteous:”

1 John 2:2 “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

THE RIGHT HAND AS ETERNAL SACRIFICE

 

 

Hebrews 10:12 “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sin for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;” Hebrews 10:13 “From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.”

 

When the Israelites were given the Ten Commandments, they were also given instructions on how to atone for their sins before God. No one except Jesus Christ has ever been able to live up to every letter of the law. They would sacrifice sheep and goats to cover their particular sin, with the blood from this offering. They had to repeat this offering every year. The blood of an animal could not do away with sin. That blood only covered the sin for one year.

 

Hebrews 10:4 “ For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”

 

Mortal man cannot keep every dot and tittle of the law. The Bible says if you have committed one sin you are guilty of all.

 

As one man Adam brought sin into the world, the One God manifest in the flesh man,  defeated sin once for all time when He became the perfect sacrifice for all sin for all time. 

 

Hebrews 10:10 ”By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

 

He shed His blood as our sacrifice. Hebrews 9:22 “And almost all things are by the law purged with the blood; and without shedding of blood there is no remission.”

 

The Right Hand of God, namely Jesus Christ, became our sacrifice to give us new life in Him.

THE RIGHT HAND AS PROVIDER

 

 

Psalm 78:54 “And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.”

 

Many ancient people considered mountains as holy places. Mt. Sinai and Mt Zion were especially revered by the Israelites as the places where God revealed Himself to them. A symbolic meaning of mountains can be speaking of  great strength, or it can speak of obstacles we have to overcome.

 

Jesus Christ, the Right Hand of God, has already purchased our holy place for us in heaven with Him. He has enabled us to have the strength to combat the obstacles (or mountains of problems). In fact, He cares about all our needs, even our material needs.

 

The promise for taking care of our need is in Matthew 6:33 “ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:34 “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

 

Another Scripture on this is found in Psalm 80:15 “And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted , and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself.”

 

We, Christians, are the wild branch that Jesus Himself grafted in. When a branch is grafted on a tree, sometimes that area will be even stronger than the rest of the limb. Jesus (the Right Hand here mentioned) has made a good graft. He has made us strong in Him.

 

He has provided all our needs (not our greed) in Him.


THE RIGHT HAND AS HELPER

 

 

Isaiah 41:13 “ For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand , saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”

 

In recent years we have heard stories of people surviving terrible trials in prison camps. Nearly every one of these people give credit to God for seeing them through. Many were not strong Christians when they were captured,  but drew on something they had heard about when they were children. Many of these people remembered something they heard in Sunday school. Some made lifetime commitments to their LORD.

 

Most people of our day (especially in the United States) are pampered with material things. These same people are hollow within until they come to know Jesus and He fills them with an inner peace in this confused world.

 

I feel that more than ever before, we need Jesus (the Right Hand of God) to help us. This computer age is trying to take our personal identity away and make us a number. This is a dangerous thing. We read just how this will be in Revelation 13:16 “ And he causeth all, both small and great , rich and poor, free and bond,  to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:” Revelation 13:17 “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of  his name.” Read on and you will see the number of his name is 666.

 

Today it is difficult to get a driver’s license, enter a hospital, or do most anything without your social security number. Banks are required to get that number if you open a savings account with them. If you withdraw  $10,000 of your own cash from your account the bank has to fill out papers on you and send the information to Washington.

 

God does not like for us to be numbered, or to look for our security outside of Him. When king David numbered the people without God’s permission, he was punished severely. We must carefully consider what is right and wrong now.

Test every decision by what Jesus would do in that circumstance. Jesus (the Right Hand of God) will help us regardless of the consequences.

 

We can take hope in the following Scripture. Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:

for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” Hebrews 13:6 ‘ So that we might boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

 

We must not give our right hand to the devil, it belongs to Jesus our LORD.

 

1 John 4:2 “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:” 1 John 4:3 “ And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

THE RIGHT HAND AS PROMISE

 

 

When Jesus walked here on the earth with His disciples, they were able to do many miracles in His name. He taught them how to pray and He taught them how to minister and get people saved. He even gave them the power to heal the sick.

Their power to do these things came from His power working through them. If they ran into a problem, they could run back to Him and get further instructions and renewed strength when they needed it.

 

In the 14th chapter of Matthew we read where the disciples were out on the sea of Galilee in a boat, and a gusty wind came up. They were startled when they saw a figure coming toward them walking on the water. Peter said, Lord if it is you , bid me come to you. He did and Peter started walking on the water. Peter became frightened when the waves were stirred up with high winds and began to doubt. He began to sink and cried out to Jesus to help him. Jesus reached out with His hand and lifted Peter out of the water and into the boat. He scolded Peter for having so little faith.

 

This story reminds us of ourselves. We start out believing and trusting, but when problems come our faith is not strong enough  to go on, and we begin to doubt.  

At these times we need Jesus to reach out with His Right Hand and lift us out of our bad circumstances, and He will. He promised us He would never leave us nor forsake us.

 

Jesus promises us He would send us the Holy Spirit to comfort us and be our Teacher and Guide in John 14:16 “ And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;” John 14:17 “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

 

Jesus gives us a promise of power from on high, ( The Holy Ghost) that would lift us with the strength we need to face this world.. Acts 2:33 “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.”

 

When we have received our promise (the Holy Ghost) we are equipped with a super power to witness and make correct decisions.


THE RIGHT HAND AS LOVE

 

 

We should read all of Psalm chapter 17 to get the full impact of His love for us. I will give just one Scripture here. Psalm 17:7 “Shew thy marvelous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.”

 

We know in part what love is all about. Our love for our children is probably as close as we as humans can get to God’s kind of love. Our love is but a shadow of the extent of God’s love. The greatest love ever was while we were yet in sin, God sent His Son to die on the cross for us. Sin for the Christian was abolished by Jesus’ blood. Sin and Satan were defeated for us on the cross.

 

Jesus, willingly, endured the cross for us as we read in John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

 

God’s kind of love is from the word agape which means He loves us in spite of what we have done and who we are. Our kind of love has conditions. I love you because of something in your life that benefits me in some way.

 

The only way we can show God that we truly love Jesus is to follow in His footsteps and do what Jesus would do if He were still on the earth.

 

Godly love is described in 1 John 4:7 “ Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”

1 John 4:8 “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE RIGHT HAND AS ETERNAL

 

 

Revelation 1:17 “And when I saw him , I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and last.”

 

Jesus (the Right Hand of God ) is eternal. It is difficult for us to comprehend something or someone who had no beginning and has no ending, for every aspect of our life is governed by time as we know it on the earth. Six days of work and

one day of rest. Twenty four hours in a day, eight hours of work, eight hours to sleep and eight hours for rest and relaxation.

 

We sometimes try to avoid the one day of rest,  thinking we can get by without it, but sooner or later it will catch up with us. We might have to take several days

off to make up for the Sabbaths we did not rest so we can get our health back.

 

Time is only important to man. God is so not programmed  by time that one day with Him can be as a thousand years. 2 Peter 3:8 “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing , that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years,  and a thousand years as one day.”

 

God’s time table is important to Him only when it pertains to man. I believe we are nearing the time when we have completed our six one thousand year days of work on this earth since Adam and Eve, and will enter in to our one one thousand year day of Sabbath. This day of Sabbath is also called the millennial reign of Jesus Christ on the earth. When Jesus Christ (the Right Hand of God) returns to the earth for the millennial reign, He will  not be one minute early or one minute late. The time for this to happen was set from the beginning of time by God Himself.

 

The signs of the time are right, but no man knows the hour or day. Only the Father God knows that.

 

Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith.

 

Mark 14:62 “ And  Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”

 

Watch and be ready for through Jesus, we have eternal life, too.

He has purchased it for us on the cross at Calvary.

THE RIGHT HAND AS RULER

 

 

Psalm 118:16 “ The right hand of the LORD is exalted :the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.”

 

Jesus is the Right Hand spoken of that is exalted above all other names , and He does valiantly in all things. Philippians 2:10 “ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;” Philippians 2:11 “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Jesus’ battle has already been fought and won, and He has ascended into heaven.

 

Matthew 22:44 “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?”

 

Jesus has already been named Lord of lords and King of kings. He is waiting in heaven for His return to the earth with this exalted name.

 

Luke 22:69 “Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.”

 

His power is above all others for He has the power of the Father. We read on how this power is in heaven and earth. 1 Peter 3:22 “ Who is gone into heaven , and is on the right hand of God;  angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.”

 

Jesus is shown in the Scriptures above as the ruler of  not only our affairs in heaven, but on earth as well. Even the angels in heaven have to obey His every command, and all the powers on earth too. The devil and his hosts have no power except what they are allowed to have by God.

 

Jesus, the Right Hand of God,. has the keys to the bottomless pit . He will throw the devil and his helpers in the pit on judgment day. They will spend eternity in the lake of fire.

 

All the believers in Jesus Christ will spend that same eternity with our Lord in Paradise.  Revelation 2:7 “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”

 

Jesus, the Right Hand of God, will be exalted ruler for all time to come for He is eternal life.

THE RIGHT HAND AS SHEPHERD

 

 

My husband’s favorite Scripture in all of the Bible was the 23rd Psalm. This is speaking of Jesus as our great Shepherd. Psalm 23:1 “ The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:2 “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” Psalm 23:3 “He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:4 “ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:5 “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

 

This Scripture above is surely the most accurate description of Jesus found in the whole Bible. A good Shepherd, such as Jesus, will see to the needs of His sheep.

He will keep them fed and watered and arrange for a comfortable place for them to lie down. He will comfort them when they are hurt. He will search them out individually when they are lost and bring them back to safety in the fold. Sheep who are cared for by the good Shepherd have no fear of wolves or other enemies.

The Shepherd sees to their safety.  Why do we fret? Our Shepherd will caringly

nudge us back when we start to stray. He is not willing that even one of His sheep

would be lost.

 

When the day comes to separate the believers from the non-believers (or the sheep from the goats) our great Shepherd (who is the Right Hand of God) will not deny us, for we are His sheep.

 

Matthew 25:31 “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.”

Matthew 25:32 “And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.”

Matthew 25:33 “And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” Matthew 25:34 “ Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

 

The great Shepherd will bring all of us, who are Christians, into our beautiful resting place for all eternity. Our faith in Jesus will bring us safely into His pasture provided for us by our Shepherd (the Right Hand of God).


THE RIGHT HAND AS RIGHTEOUSNESS

 

 

Psalm 48:10 “ According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.” Another Scripture saying almost the same thing is in Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not ; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

 

Our righteousness was but filthy rags. We took on the righteousness of Jesus Christ  when we accepted Him as our Saviour. He traded us His righteousness for our sins. When God looks down from heaven, He does not see our sins. Our sins are abolished and we are covered in the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God. He sees the blood sacrifice that His only begotten Son shed for us.

 

We need not look back at our sins of yesterday for the Word of God says He has placed them as far as the East is from the West and you can’t get there from here.

He has drowned them in the sea of forgetfulness.

 

Jesus’ one sacrifice of His body on the cross is sufficient to take away our sins for all of eternity. He did this for all who would dare to believe in Him. Christianity is available to whosoever will. My favorite Scriptures on this is in Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

 

What do we have to do to receive His righteousness? We find the answer in

1 John 1:7 “ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

1 John 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:9 “ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”

 

THE RIGHT HAND AS PLEASURE

 

 

Perhaps we need to look into this word “pleasure”. What is pleasure for one is not necessarily pleasure for another. There is a negative statement about pleasures in the last days in 2 Timothy 3:4 “Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;” Anything we put ahead of God is wrong.

 

There are pleasures in this life that are good. I could name a few of them, such as when you meet the person you will spend the rest of your life with. Another pleasure is when your firstborn child arrives and then each child you bring into the world is a pleasure to you. When I think of this, I think of the Scripture that speaks of a man being happy when his quiver is full. Large families make us happy and that is pleasure. The greatest pleasure in life, however, is when we accept Jesus as our Saviour. When we become  Christians, our eternal life is secure in Him. I could name a thousand other pleasant things, but we have established there can be wholesome pleasure in this life as well as in the life to come.

 

Psalm 16:11 “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”

 

We sing a little song at our church that I love. It says. This is the day the LORD has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.

 

How could we be sad when we read over and over in the Bible of the wonderful promises God has made to us if we only believe in Jesus. Pleasure is the opposite of sadness.

 

One of the Scriptures I like to use at funerals to comfort the bereaved is found in John chapter 14. The first word in it says it is in our power not to worry.

John 14:1 “ Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”

John 14:2 “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:3 “ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

 

Wherever Jesus is, will be heaven to me. It is my pleasure to serve Him here on this earth. It will be an even greater pleasure to be near Him in heaven.

 

We worry and fret about problems here on this earth, and yet they are so temporary. We must focus on the promises of God through Jesus Christ and feel pleasure in knowing of our security in Him.


EPHRAIM’S RIGHT HAND TOUCH

 

 

In the Old Testament the best blessing the patriarch could give a descendent was the spiritual blessing of the right hand. It was the blessing of heavenly things through the Spirit of God.

 

When I was researching the Scriptures on the right hand and the blessings it brought to those who were touched, I ran into a man named Ephraim who received the right hand blessing. I knew in my heart it had to be a good blessing,

because it was from the right hand. I read some negative things about him too, however.

 

The name Ephraim means double fruit. (I guess if we had a fruit tree and it yielded twice the fruit expected, that would be a special blessing).

 

My searching extended to over one hundred Scriptures on Ephraim and then into two words associated with him: multitude and redeemed.

 

This person seems to be quite a controversy among believers. The following is what I found in the Bible on this man, and the conclusions I made after studying these Scriptures.

 

Joseph (the coat of many colors Joseph) brought his two sons by an Egyptian woman to be blessed by his father Israel. He had the oldest son (Manasseh) facing Israel’s right hand to receive the favored son’s blessing. The Scripture says that Israel wittingly or on purpose crossed his hand (making the sign of the cross) and laid his right hand on Ephraim’s head. Joseph told him that he was putting his right hand on the wrong young man, but Israel would not change his hands. I will let you read the event from the next Scriptures and see what you make of it.

 

Genesis 48:13 “ And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near unto him.” Genesis 48:14 “ And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger , and his left hand on Manasseh’s  head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.”

Genesis 48:15  “And he blessed Joseph, and said,God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk , the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, “  Genesis 48:16 “The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads

And let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” Genesis 48:17

“And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head”  Genesis 48:18 “And Joseph said unto his father, Not so my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.”  Genesis 48:19 “And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.”

 

I believe these Scriptures here indicate that God blessed Manasseh’s descendents through the Jewish people and the descendents of Ephraim through the Gentiles.

All are saved through faith in the Messiah, Jesus (the cross).

 

The Jewish people were few in number and could not have been spoken of as a multitude of nations. Gentiles were from many nations. Let me put in a few Scriptures from Galatians here to clear this up. Galatians 3:26 “ For ye are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:27 “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”  Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”  Galatians 3:29 “and if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

 

The word “multitude” in Scripture means a vast number. Genesis 32:12 “And thou saidist, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea,  which cannot be numbered for multitude.”

 

In the 7th chapter of Revelation, when the twelve tribes of Israel were sealed, there is no mention of the tribe of Ephraim even though he got the special blessing. Manasseh, who had the lesser blessing is mentioned.  I believe Ephraim’s descendents spiritually are mentioned beginning in verse 9 of this chapter.

Revelation 7:9 “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in heir hands;”

If we read on in chapter 7, we will find that this multitude is speaking of Christians who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb.

 

Christians who have been saved by belief in Jesus are spiritually the descendents of Abraham who was saved because he believed (had faith). We read a little before this that if we are Christ’s we are Abraham’s seed. We also read in Genesis 48:16 That Ephraim and Manasseh took on the name of Abraham and Isaac.

 

In this we see the spiritual blessing and the name of Abraham given to Ephraim.

 

 

Multitude in the Webster’s dictionary means a large number of persons or things especially when gathered together or considered as a unit,. (we might say the common everyday people, or crowd).  Multitude in the Scriptures is connected with the large number of Christian believers  and is also spoken of the great number of spiritual descendents of Abraham. Could this be speaking of Ephraim’s descendents as well?

 

I believe this right hand blessing that Ephraim received was from the LORD Himself through Israel. He would make his descendents a multitude of nations.

 

Ephraim sinned and God was angry with him. Hosea 4:17 “ Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone” Another Scripture is in Hosea 5:5 “And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity: Judah shall also fall with them.”

 

We notice in the Scripture above that Judah, Israel and Ephraim are spoken of separately. We will look at another Scripture in Hosea 7:8 “ Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.” There are two more negative Scriptures I will give here and then see what happens. Hosea 9:3

“They shall not dwell in the LORD’S land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.”  Hosea 9:16 “Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, thou they bring forth , yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb.”  In this Scripture, we must remember that their root is Jewish.

 

Hosea 9:17 “ My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.”

 

It appears from this that they were scattered to many nations.

 

Hosea 11:3 “ I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms, but they knew not that I healed them”  It is interesting to think of what Jesus said pertaining to this Scripture. He said He came not to heal the well, but those that were sick.

 

Ephraim had hit bottom, the same as we, Christians, hit bottom,  before we look up and receive help from Jesus.  It seems as though God is through with Ephraim. Lets continue and see if the grace of God is big enough to forgive Ephraim and restore the original preferential right hand blessing to him.  Hosea 11:8 “ How

shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah ? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. “  Hosea 11:9 “ I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God , and not man;  the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.”

 

In the Scripture above we see that God can forgive anyone He wants to, anytime He wants to. He does not have to explain to us why, for He is God.

 

There is quite a bit of controversy about when God will forgive Ephraim. I believe it has already happened. Zechariah 9:9 “ Rejoice greatly, O daughter of

Zion ;  shout O daughter of Jerusalem :behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just and having salvation: lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” This was Jesus first trip to the earth as Jesus. When He returns He will be KING of kings and LORD of lords,. not riding on an ass.

 

We again see a separation of Joseph, Judah and Ephraim in the next verses. Zechariah 10:6 “And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD

their God, and will hear them.” Zechariah 10:7 “ And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad ; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD.”

 

It seems to me these are saved people in the last verse. We will see in this next verse that they are the redeemed. Zechariah 10:8 “ I will hiss for them , and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.”

 

In the following verse it appears these are people from all over the world. Zechariah 10:9 “ And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again.”

 

In the next verse it seems they are sending missionaries to win others.

Zechariah 10:12 “And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD.”

 

A prophetic Scripture in Isaiah indicates a separation to me also. Isaiah 49:6 “And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.”

 

We see Ephraim’s repentance in Hosea 14:8 “Ephraim shall say, What have I to do anymore with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.”

 

They have repented as we had to do when we came to Jesus Christ. When Jesus walked the earth there were only two types of people. There were Jews and Gentiles.

 

I think the next Scripture clearly shows that Ephraim was not connected spiritually to the Jews. They were believers in the LORD Jesus Christ.

John 11:54 “ Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.”

 

Ephraim’s descendents like all of us were saved by grace. (Not of works so any man could boast).

 

All Gentiles were idol worshippers until Jesus came on the scene. All who look to Jesus for help are saved by simple faith in Him.

 

From all of this, I have come to the conclusion, that it matters not whether we be Jew or Gentile. We are all saved by a touch from the Right Hand of God who is Jesus Christ our Lord.