S) "8 Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension."
1 Timothy 2:8 (NASB)
O) The concept of lifting hands in prayer is an old one. One of the earliest examples we see, is when the Israelites were in the wilderness, and there was a battle raging, and Moses had his hands lifted. As long as they were raised in praise to the LORD, they were winning the battle. But, King David made what was, perhaps, the most notable case for lifting hands for prayer. He said that his hands raised were like the evening sacrifice (see Psalm 141:2). When I read the verse above, from Paul, I was immediately reminded of David's words. Then, thinking of how God required sacrifices that were worthy of Him, that they had to be pure and holy sacrifices, without blemish or mar, then I related that concept back to the verse above. Paul told the men to lift up holy hands in prayer, like an evening sacrifice according to David. To make that a holy, acceptable thing, those hands need to be without wrath or dissension. That is the command. It's not simply to raise hands, but to raise innocent hands. We are to raise hands in prayer that are a good, acceptable, holy offering.
A) When I worship God, I want Him to be pleased with my offering. Certainly, I have been guilty in my life. I have had figurative blood on my hands. But, the amazing thing about the gospel, is that Christ washes away my blood-guilt, with His perfect blood. The only two examples Paul gave here, were wrath and dissension. While I have been guilty of both, at times, those are certainly not the only things my hands have done wrong. But, as I continue to find mercy in Christ, that very redemption draws me into worship all over again. My desire is to worship God more. I want to worship more often, more fervently, more truthfully, more spiritually. As I desire that, then I also have a desire to keep my hands clean for that worship. I want to present a good, acceptable offering of worship. We often talk about a negative spiral, but this is a positive cycle. My worship leads me to desire sanctification, which leads me to more worship, and so on.
P) Father, thank You for cleansing my hands. Thank You for accepting my offering, my prayers. Let me lift my hands in holy worship and prayer. Please continue to sanctify my life, my heart, and my hands. Let me be used as an instrument of peace and unity, never wrath or dissension. Please forgive me, for misusing my hands, for misusing the blessings You have given me. Thank You for Your love, mercy, grace, and hope. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
A) When I worship God, I want Him to be pleased with my offering. Certainly, I have been guilty in my life. I have had figurative blood on my hands. But, the amazing thing about the gospel, is that Christ washes away my blood-guilt, with His perfect blood. The only two examples Paul gave here, were wrath and dissension. While I have been guilty of both, at times, those are certainly not the only things my hands have done wrong. But, as I continue to find mercy in Christ, that very redemption draws me into worship all over again. My desire is to worship God more. I want to worship more often, more fervently, more truthfully, more spiritually. As I desire that, then I also have a desire to keep my hands clean for that worship. I want to present a good, acceptable offering of worship. We often talk about a negative spiral, but this is a positive cycle. My worship leads me to desire sanctification, which leads me to more worship, and so on.
P) Father, thank You for cleansing my hands. Thank You for accepting my offering, my prayers. Let me lift my hands in holy worship and prayer. Please continue to sanctify my life, my heart, and my hands. Let me be used as an instrument of peace and unity, never wrath or dissension. Please forgive me, for misusing my hands, for misusing the blessings You have given me. Thank You for Your love, mercy, grace, and hope. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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