Sermon Central
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Why Should We ‘raise Holy Hands In Prayer’? Series
Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 17, 2015 (message contributor)
Summary: What do we do with Paul's instructions for us to "raise holy hands in prayer"? Why would he ask us to do that?
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO WHAT? Paul commands us to lift holy hands in prayer.
- 1 Timothy 2:8.
WHY DO THAT? We can use our body’s position to focus our heart’s direction.
SOME "HOLY HANDS" EXAMPLES:
1. Hands lifted skyward is an expression of surrender.
2. Hands cupped before you is an expression of receiving.
3. Hands raised palms up is an expression of handing over.
OTHER "BODY" EXAMPLES:
1. Kneeling.
- 1 Kings 8:54; 2 Chronicles 6:13; Ezra 9:5; Psalm 95:6; Daniel 6:10; Luke 22:41; Acts 9:40; Acts 20:36; Acts 21:5.
- Humility.
2. Bowing on your face.
- Genesis 24:26, 52; Exodus 4:31; Exodus 12:27; Exodus 34:8; Numbers 20:6; Joshua 5:14; 1 Kings 18:42; 2 Chronicles 7:3; 2 Chronicles 20:18; Psalm 95:6; Matthew 26:39; Ephesians 3:14.
- Desperation.
3. Laying on of hands.
- Mark 6:13; 1 Timothy 4:14; Hebrews 6:2; James 5:13-15.
- Sharing of power.
A FINAL QUESTION: Why are we so comfortable blatantly disobeying this command?
- This is a clear verse about lifting holy hands and yet so many of us (especially us Baptists) simply ignore it.
- There are passages that are difficult to understand and so we aren’t sure what to do with them. There are other passages that are difficult to incorporate into our lives because they demand a spiritual maturity. Then there are passages like this one that are simple, clear, and that anyone can obey, but we simply ignore.
- Let’s try doing what Paul commands here by doing in our private prayer time. It doesn’t have to be every time we pray, but regularly. And let’s see what happens.
