What is the Blessing Side of the Hand of God? 1 Kings 18:46
Proverbs 21:1 declares that the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord—a statement that reaches far beyond righteous rulers to include every leader on earth. Scripture speaks often of God’s hand, His arm, and His finger, but here the emphasis is on His hand—personal, deliberate, and powerful. In this Light on Life teaching, we examine the blessing sideof the hand of God, tracing how it brings supernatural strength, divine enablement, prophetic clarity, and spiritual momentum. From Elijah’s marathon run to the role of music and prophecy in ushering God’s presence, this episode reveals how believers can live under the hand of God—not in judgment, but in blessing.
This Week: Understanding the blessing side of the hand of God and how it empowers believers for strength, prophecy, and spiritual momentum.
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Accept the Challenge
Each week's podcast contains a call to action. The Word of God will not produce in your life unless you put into operation.This week's call is:
Learn to walk in the blessing connected to the hand of God. Access His hand for strength and upbuilding via anointed music and the Spirit of prophecy.
Join the Conversation
Each week's podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony. Testimony is vital to a believer's life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11).This week's question is:
What experience have you had with the hand of God? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
About Emery
Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 40 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. Both he and his wife Sharon of 35 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is both the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.
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Podcast Notes:
The Hand of God Brings the Blessing of Physical Strength
1 Kings 18:46 (NKJV) — 46 Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
The hand of God came upon Elijah toward the end of the day.
The end of the day is significant.
Why, because it magnifies what the hand of the Lord accomplished.
First Kings eighteen is the famous chapter where Elijah confronts the 850 prophets of Baal.
The First 'Time Marker' in 1 Kings 18
If you read the story, there are several time markers in the story.
Here's the first.
1 Kings 18:25–27 (NKJV) — 25 Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many, and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.” 26 So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made. 27 And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.”
The Second 'Time Marker' in 1 Kings 18
Now, let's look at the second time marker.
1 Kings 18:28–29 (NKJV) — 28 So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. 29 And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.
The evening sacrifice on the Jewish timepiece was 3 p.m.
So, here's the second time marker.
Between 12 noon and 3 p.m., Elijah builds an altar.
1 Kings 18:30–35 (NKJV) 30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. 31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.” 32 Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, “Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.” 34 Then he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time; and he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time. 35 So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.
The 'Hard Work' Side of Miracles
Who built the altar? Elijah did.
Who took twelve stones? Elijah did.
These are twelve stones, not twelve pebbles.
Who built the altar out of those stones? Elijah did.
Who dug the trench? Elijah did.
Who put the wood on the altar? The Bible says Elijah did.
Who cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the altar? Elijah did.
Are you sure you want to be in the ministry?
Everybody remembers the prayer Elijah but no one took note of the work it took to get ready to pray.
The one thing he didn't do was fill the waterpots with water three times.
But, he did fill the trench with water.
You have to haul the water.
There is no faucet or water hose.
You have to haul it.
All of this work occurs between 12 and 3 PM on a hot day in Israel.
Then Elijah prays, and then they take the 850 prophets of Baal and slaughter them.
How long did that take? A couple of hours, maybe you think?
Speaking Faith Before Praying In Faith
Then after the prophets are slaughtered, Elijah says these words to the king.
1 Kings 18:41–45 (NKJV) — 41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, 43 and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.” 44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ” 45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.
Notice Elijah declared the rain before he ever prayed for the rain.
You understand that it hadn't rained in three years at this point.
Elijah spoke in faith before he ever prayed in faith.
Jesus Spoke in Faith
This concept is right in your New Testament.
Mark 11:23–24 (NKJV) — 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Do you see the order?
Whoever speaks to the mountain, then comes whatever you ask for in prayer.
Elijah spoke in faith and then prayed for the rain.
The point is, this is all the same day.
It must be getting late in the day.
He told his servant to go and look seven times.
After all of this, Elijah tells Ahab to go to Jezreel.
And after he tells Ahab this, then the hand of God comes upon him.
And he runs before Ahab to Jezreel.
Ahab goes by chariot.
Elijah goes on foot.
The distance he ran? - twenty-five miles.
That's one mile short of a marathon after he dug trenches after he lifted boulders after he builds an altar after he hauls water after he cuts-up the sacrifices after he defeats the 850 prophets after he had a time of prayer.
The Hand of God Upon Elijah
After he had expended all of his strength, then the hand of God came upon Elijah.
The New Living Translation has it right.
1 Kings 18:46 (NLT) — 46 Then the LORD gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel.
Remember this; physical strength is rooted in the spirit of man, not the muscles of a man.
Physical strength has spiritual roots.
The Hand of God Upon Samson
Judges 14:5–6 (NKJV) — 5 So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Now to his surprise, a young lion came roaring against him. 6 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.
The words 'came mightily upon' means to rush upon in the Hebrew.
It means the Spirit of God came upon Samson in a hurry.
You can see that the Spirit of God coming on a man and the hand of God coming on a man is the same thing.
So then, what about this statement made by Winston Churchill?
He said, “The world is run by tired men.”
All of which means that world leaders are not tapping into their spirits.
Because if they were, they know the reality of Isaiah forty.
Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV) 31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
The Blessing of Music in Bringing the Hand of God
2 Kings 3:15 (NKJV) — 15 But now bring me a musician.” Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.
It connects to prophetic ministry.
Elisha understood this.
It brings the anointing.
It causes the hand of God to fall.
Music and Prophecy
1 Samuel 10:5 (NKJV) — 5 After that you shall come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is. And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying.
Notice again the connection between music and prophesy.
Music helps me.
It will help you.
If you are having some trouble sensing Him or hearing from Him, play anointed music.
1 Chronicles 25:1 (NKJV) — 1 Moreover David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals. And the number of the skilled men performing their service was:
Do you see it, prophesy with harps, prophesy with stringed instruments, prophecy with cymbals?
Thank God for musicians who bring in the Presence of God because of their consecrated life.
When you're dry, listen to anointed music.
When you're agitated, listen to anointed music.
It will change the atmosphere.
When you need to be built up, listen to anointed music.
It's connected to prophesy.
Prophesy and Other Tongues
1 Corinthians 14:1–4 (ESV) — 1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.
Paul says you should 'especially' earnestly desire prophesy.
The Greek word 'especially' means to a higher degree.
The Greek word 'desire' is a second word you should look at.
This word defines out as to be zealous or to be or become marked by active interest, passion, and enthusiasm for something, often a cause or faith.
It means to have a be positively and intensely interested in something, strive, desire, exert oneself earnestly, or be dedicated. [1. William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 427.]
Believers are to be intensely interested and zealous to operate in the gift of prophecy, and that desire should be to a higher degree than the other gifts.
Why?
Because prophecy has to do with building up, encouraging, and consolation.
Let's define some more terms.
Upbuilding
The word 'upbuilding' means to make nearer to fullness or completion; it is conceived of as constructing something further.
It means to build, to erect or construct.
Prophecy builds you up.
Prophecy brings you to fullness or completion.
Encouragement
Encouragement means the act of emboldening another in belief or course of action, encouragement, exhortation [2. William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 766.]
Real prophecy, inspired by the Spirit of God, emboldens you.
It gives you courage.
Prophecy inspires you.
Prophecy invigorates, reassures, rouse, stimulates, stirs, strengthens, vitalizes, animates, gives you fire, cheers, heartens, inflames, and gives you nerve.
Consolation
The word consolation is made up of pará (“toward”) and mythéomai (“to speak”).
It has the basic sense “to speak to someone in a friendly way.”
If you are speaking to someone about what ought to be done, it develops the sense “to admonish,”
If you are speaking to someone about what has already been done, then the sense means “to console.”[3. Gerhard Kittel, Gerhard Friedrich, and Geoffrey William Bromiley, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1985), 784.]
So, music is a powerful tool in that it causes the hand of the Lord to come upon people so that prophecy comes forth which builds and constructs and brings people to completion by stirring, strengthening and revitalizing through the method of speaking to someone in a friendly way all the while admonishing or consoling them.
That's a long sentence, but that's the power of the hand of the Lord in music in a nutshell.
It's not just any old music.
It's not just every Christian artist.
Music, which comes from a personal encounter, is what causes His Presence to manifest.
Everyone is different in this regard because God is such a God of diversity.
What to Look for When Selecting Music
Some look to be entertained by music.
Music is a tool to bring down the hand of God.
Use it as a tool.
Use it with intention.
Everything about your life should be intentional.
Life is too short to waste, not getting somewhere.
Your life is just a smokey cloud in the wind.
So, make it count.
So, what do you look for?
Look for the Hand of God
Look for the sense of the anointing, not just the words.
The words may be right, they may be doctrinally correct, but it's more than being correct when it comes to music.
A person can say all the right words and not believe one word of what they are singing.
That affects Presence.
They may give voice to the Word of the Living God but not be SOLD OUT to the Word of the Living God.
That also affects Presence.
A person can be out for stardom, instead of ministry.
So, motives affect Presence.
There's no Presence if you're trying to glorify yourself.
God knows your heart's intent.
What about the leadership of the Spirit?
What if a person just decided they were going to put out an album instead of being led by the Spirit to put out an album?
Works of the flesh affect Presence even though the words are right.
Presence is a sign, a signal that things are trending right.
Scripture Walk: The Hand of God
Here are some other verses showing the blessing which comes from the 'hand of God'.
2 Chronicles 30:12 (NKJV) — 12 Also the hand of God was on Judah to give them singleness of heart to obey the command of the king and the leaders, at the word of the LORD.
Ezra 7:6 (NKJV) — 6 this Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
Ezra 7:28 (NKJV) — 28 and has extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. So I was encouraged, as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me; and I gathered leading men of Israel to go up with me.
Acts 11:21 (NKJV) — 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
1 Peter 5:6 (NKJV) — 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
When you sense His Presence, humbling yourself, is the right thing to do.
If you missed it in some way, its good to get that right when you're under the hand of God.
So, you can readily see from all these verses that positive or negative, blessing or judgment, when the hand of the Lord is manifest, it's all about business.
Serious business.
🎧 Suggested Episode
If today’s teaching on the blessing side of the hand of God encouraged you, check out “How to Terrorize the Terrorist,” — it builds on the theme of spiritual authority and confidence in God’s power to overcome opposition.
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