“Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:30).

After Peter and John were released from questioning by the Sanhedrin, they went back to “their own people” and gathered in prayer to God. They asked God for boldness as they spread His Word and, as it says above, to stretch out His hand as they acted in the name of Jesus.  They were not asking for the supernatural Hand of God to suddenly appear and do signs and wonders. They were asking for the Hand of God to be stretched out on them as they prayed and acted in the Name of Jesus. They were asking for the Holy Spirit to empower them as they did the work of God among the people. How about us? If we’re saved, we have that power of the Holy Spirit in us which could give us the authority to “stretch out our hand” with God’s power that is in us. Notice I said “could”. We have to believe, have the faith and trust in God’s promises to accomplish the task. “Lord, increase our faith, help our unbelief and help us to trust in You.”I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)

There was a man with a shriveled hand in the synagogue that Jesus healed. But He told him: “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.” (Matthew 12:13). The man had to do what Jesus asked him. Then there was the woman with the issue of blood in Luke 8. The healing power of Jesus was there but she had to “reach out” by faith and believing to access that power. “She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped” (Luke 8:44). She believed and acted. So, why don’t we begin the process of believing, increasing our faith and trusting God’s promises to do great things for Him and for those around us? It might not happen instantaneously. God usually wants to build us up, take us from Glory to Glory and train us to do His work. So, let’s begin…stretch UP your hand to say, “Here I am God, I volunteer.”