Title: LIFTING UP HOLY HANDS IN PRAYER
1 LIFTING UPHOLY HANDS IN PRAYER
2- Is the Practice of Lifting Up Holy Hands In
Prayer Merely a Pentecostal Phenomenon?
3Examining the Context of 1 Timothy 28.
- The subject of prayer is introduced
- 1 Timothy 21-2 (NASB) First of all, then, I
urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and
thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2
for kings and all who are in authority, in order
that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all
godliness and dignity.
4Why Christians should pray
for all people
- 1 Timothy 23-7 (NASB) 3 This is good and
acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4
who desires all men to be saved and to come to
the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one
God, and one mediator also between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a
ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper
time. 7 And for this
I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am
telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher
of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
5Examining the Context of 1 Timothy 28.
- The subject of prayer is reintroduced
- 1 Tim 28 (NASB) Therefore I want the men in
every place to pray, lifting up holy hands,
without wrath and dissension.
6Examining the Meaning of 1 Timothy 28.
- An instruction for men.
- Men (1 Tim. 28), from Greek word aner -
specific to men only. - Since all Christians must pray
(1 Thes. 517), this must refer to
mens role to lead public
prayer.
7- Christian men have the responsibility to lead
prayer in the public worship assembly
(1 Tim. 28).
81 Timothy 212 (NASB)
- But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise
authority over a man, but to remain quiet.
cf. 1 Cor.
1434
9- Women are not inferior to men (Gal. 328), but
have a different role than men in the divine
order of God (1 Cor. 112-3).
10Examining the Meaning of 1 Timothy 28.
- It is the will (or desire / want) of God
(expressed through Paul) for all men to pray
This must be obeyed! - 1 Timothy 28 (KJV) I will therefore that men
pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without
wrath and doubting.
11Examining the Meaning of 1 Timothy 28.
- The men in every place are to pray. (1 Tim.
28 cf. 1 Cor. 12) - Leading prayer in the public worship assembly
without anger dissension (discord/ quarreling). - Wherever prayer is done (e.g., Jerusalem, the
temple), the right attitude of holiness must be
evident (John 423-24).
12Examining the Meaning of 1 Timothy 28.
- Lifting up holy hands -- The posture in prayer
in which ones attitude is expressed, in part, by
the hands. - 1 Kings 822 Then Solomon stood before the altar
of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly
of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.
- Ezra 95 But at the evening offering I arose
from my humiliation, even with my garment and my
robe torn, and I fell on my knees and stretched
out my hands to the LORD my God
13Examining the Meaning of 1 Timothy 28.
- Holy hands
- Holiness in heart action
- Holy (hosios) Undefiled by sin, free from
wickedness, religiously observing every moral
obligation, pure holy, pious (Thayer). - Prayer with holy hands specifically involves
without wrath (i.e., anger, indignation,
vengeance, violent emotion) or dissension (i.e.,
discord or quarreling).
14Without Wrath Dissension
- Those who lead prayer must not pray angry words
against a brother nor with ill will in his heart
toward others (e.g., Mat. 522-24, 44
614-15). - All praying should be holy (set apart) from wrath
and doubting and all sinful thoughts, attitudes,
and motives.
15What Spiritual Value May Lifting Up Holy Hands
In Prayer Have?
- It is an outward expression of our praising or
blessing God. - Psalm 1342 Lift up your hands to the sanctuary,
And bless the LORD. - Psalm 634 So I will bless Thee as long as I
live I will lift up my hands in Thy name.
16What Spiritual Value May Lifting Up Holy Hands
In Prayer Have?
- It is an expression of our approval of God and
reverence toward Him. - Neh 85-7 (NASB) 5 And Ezra opened the book in
the sight of all the people for he was standing
above all the people and when he opened it, all
the people stood up. 6 Then Ezra blessed the LORD
the great God. And all the people answered,
"Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands then
they bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their
faces to the ground.
17What Spiritual Value May Lifting Up Holy Hands
In Prayer Have?
- It is an outward expression of our desire that
our prayers would be accepted or received by God. - Ps 1412 May my prayer be counted as incense
before Thee The lifting up of my hands as the
evening offering. - Compare to Rev. 58 1 Peter 25 Hebrews
1315-16.
18Hebrews 1315-16 (NASB)
- 15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up
a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit
of lips that give thanks to His name. 16 And do
not neglect doing good and sharing for with such
sacrifices God is pleased.
19What Spiritual Value May Lifting Up Holy Hands
In Prayer Have?
- It is an outward expression of our acknowledgment
of our dependency
on Him and the serious attitude we bring in the
requests we make of God.
20Lamentations 219 (NASB)
- "Arise, cry aloud in the night at the beginning
of the night watches Pour out your heart like
water before the presence of the Lord Lift up
your hands to Him for the life of your little
ones who are faint because of hunger at the head
of every street."
21What Spiritual Value May Lifting Up Holy Hands
In Prayer Have?
- It is an outward expression of our hearts devoted
to God A symbol of elevated hearts toward God.
22Lamentations 341 (NASB)
- We lift up our heart and hands toward God in
heaven
23What Spiritual Value May Lifting Up Holy Hands
In Prayer Have?
- It may possibly aid us in keeping the right
attitude of holiness as we pray (1 Tim. 28)
which is critical to praying prayers that are
acceptable to God (1 Pet. 312).
24Lifting Up the Hands Is Only One of the Methods
of Expression in Praying Unto God.
- Prostration Falling upon the knees, then
gradually inclining the body, until the forehead
touches the ground (an expression of reverence
and humility before a superior).
25Examples of Prostration
- Gen 173 And Abram fell on his face, and God
talked with him - Matt 2639 And He Jesus went a little beyond
them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying,
"My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass
from Me yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt." - In showing respect to a superior
(e.g., 1 Sam. 2523 2 Kings
437).
26- Kneeling A very common posture to show respect
in worship in Old and New Testament times.
271 Kings 854 (NASB)
- And it came about that when Solomon had finished
praying this entire prayer and supplication to
the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the
LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands
spread toward heaven.
28Luke 2241 (NASB)
- And He Jesus withdrew from them about a
stone's throw, and He knelt down and began to
pray,
29- Sitting is a possible form of kneeling e.g., 2
Sam. 718) yet not a common
posture found in the Scriptures.
30- Standing Erect or with a slightly bowed head.
The most common posture in prayer (in the
Scriptures) to show respect or pay homage to God.
31Genesis 1822 (NASB)
- Then the men turned away from there and went
toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing
before the LORD.
32Luke 1811, 13 (NASB)
- 11 "The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to
himself, 'God, I thank Thee that I am not like
other people swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or
even like this tax-gatherer 13 "But the
tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was
even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but
was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful
to me, the sinner!
33- Kiss of Adoration The practice of kissing hands
toward object of adoration (i.e., of great
affection) or kissing the object itself.
34Psalms 212 (NKJV)
- Kiss the Son, (do homage NASB) lest He be
angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath
is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those
who put their trust in Him.
351 Samuel 101 (NASB)
- Then Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it on
his head, kissed him (i.e., paid homage - ML) and
said, "Has not the LORD anointed you a ruler over
His inheritance?
361 Kings 1918 (NASB)
- "Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees
that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that
has not kissed him."
37- Lifting Up Holy Hands The
posture in prayer in which ones attitude is
expressed by the hands (e.g. 1 Kings 822 Ezra
95).
38- What method a person chooses may depend on what
is personally necessary and on his or her
circumstances - There is no single method that God requires we
must follow every time!
39- Whatever Posture In Prayer We Choose, Let Us Be
Sure to Obey the Lords Command to Pray As We
Should!
40- Christians are commanded to pray continually (1
Thes. 517 Col. 42).
41- We should not ever neglect our duty to pray to
God (James 417 210).
42- We should always pray according to Gods will (in
harmony with the Word of God) (1 John 514).
43- Whatever posture or method of expression in
prayer that a person chooses should always be
done in sincerity and truth (John 423-24).
44- Christian men should step up to the duty of
leading prayer in all holiness (1 Tim. 28).
45- No Matter What Posture We Use
In Prayer,
Let Us Be Certain to Always Offer Prayers
That Are Acceptable to
God!