23/08/2026
*Sunday 23rd Aug 2026*
Theme: *THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD*
Text: *1 Samuel 5 vs 1 - 12*
Ministering: *Rev. Akusa D. Gajere*
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
*PREAMBLE:*
🎶🎶I've got joy like a river in my soul...
• Our theme for this year is : Made for Signs and Wonders
• we must live our life this year with this consciousness that we are made for Signs and Wonders.
• God take us individually through a process and procedure until eventually he fullfil his words and plans for our lives
*HIGHLIGHTS:*
• The hand of God is a metaphor that is used widely in the Scripture from Genesis to Revelation
• one may ask: how long, big or wide is the hand of God?
• God's hand ain't exactly like that of humans because God is not human and largely indescribable
• hands communicate ones ability, capacity and capacity
• ones strength lies in their hands
• the hand of God therefore signifies the capacities and capabilities of God.
• in 1 Sam 4 precededing 1 Sam, we read about the bad lifestyle of the biological sons of Prophet Eli. But luckily Samuel lived right before God.
• the lesson here is for those who have foster children to raise them as though they were their biological children offering them same opportunities as their biological children. Who knows, these foster children may be the family savior later in life as was the case with Samuel.
• the ark of God in our reference Scripture represented God.
• because of sin, the people of God was defeated, but the glory of God cannot be defeated.
1. The mighty hand of God can humble any power in life
• This was the case with the philistine Dagon who was defeated— humiliated in a dramatic manner by being decapitated and amputated.
• in Exoduai9 vs 3, Pharaoh was also humiliated by the mighty hand of God.
• Pharaoh eventually realised that there are god but there's a God.
• Exodus 9:3 👉 the hand of the Lord will bring a terrible plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys and camels and on your cattle, sheep and goats.
• King Nebuchadnezzar also had his shares in Daniel 4 vs 37
• Daniel 4:37 👉Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
• King Herod in Acts 12 vs 22 - 23 was eaten by worms while alive because he he did not give glory and the hand of God was against him
• Who can battle against God?
• every Dagon standing against your life, family, the etc, it shall bow and fall because of the mighty hand of God in your life
• The mighty hand of God is able to pull down any power against us
2. The mighty hand of God defend his glory . 1 Sam 5 vs 5 - 7
• 1 Samuel 5 vs 6 - 7 👉 The Lord’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumors.
[7]When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.”
• You cannot burry or hide the glory of God
• A man can defeat you, but cannot defeat your God because no man can withstand the glory of God
• know that while others are carrying their God, you have a God that carries you.
• 🤲🛐 May God carry us, and take us out of defeat. Amen.
• Psalm 46:10 👉 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
• Isaiah 42:8 👉 “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.
• You cannot fight for God, the God we serve can fight for himself
3. The mighty hand of God brings judgement and justice upon persistencw rebellion. 1 Sam 5 vs 6 - 10
• some people are carrying diseases today because they are under the judgement of God and yet refuse to repent.
• What's that sin you have continue to indulge in and refuse to repent? — it might just be an avenue for the enemy to strike you.
• 1 Sam 5 vs 11. There's a place of God in your life. Is it is still there?
4. The mighty hand of God can deliver and bring victory. 1Sam 5 vs 12, 6 vs 1, 13
• The ark of God brought pain and suffering to the Philippines, but when int returns to its place, there was rejoicing and victory.
• 1 Samuel 6:13 👉 Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight.
🤲 *PRAYER SESSION* 🤲
🎶🎵 Sarkin yaƙi ne kai, wa zai ja da kai, Mai girma
🎶🎵Alagbara you are the mighty God.... You are the glorious God
1. Whatever is contending against the power and glory of God in my life, may the mighty hand of God deliver me and grant me victory
2. Anywhere my hands have being tied, the Lord heal me and cause my hands to prosper
