Lifting up holy hands ...... (Full Version)

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Little_1 -> Lifting up holy hands ...... (5/2/2008 5:51:56 PM)

...... Something that is on my mind a lot is the subject of 'lifting up holy hands' to God and I keep thinking about the Exodus 17:10-16 when I think on this subject.

Do you believe that there is any relevance between lifting up holy hands to God as mentioned in 1 Timothy 2:8 - I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting...... and the passage below:

Exodus 17:10-16 - 10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
14 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-LORD-Is-My-Banner;16 for he said, “Because the LORD has sworn: the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”



SonInMe1 -> RE: Lifting up holy hands ...... (5/2/2008 7:10:14 PM)

Its a choice. It can be a very good choice or not.



Ignited-Faith -> RE: Lifting up holy hands ...... (5/2/2008 10:21:51 PM)

Faith and doing Battle go hand in hand. (No pun intended!)
When I read this I remember one day my Husband was very sick.
He had a migraine and was sick to his stomach, sitting on the bathroom floor feeling like he was dying...(even hoping he might.)
Suddenly the thought came to him to lift up his hands and arms and just start Praising the Lord! So he did... And suddenly the pain in his head and stomach lifted! So he took his hands down. He felt sick again.
So he raised his hands and arms and Praised the Lord more and more, and then he was filled with joy and felt better!



Little_1 -> RE: Lifting up holy hands ...... (5/3/2008 4:27:55 AM)

I have printed off scriptures from online re: 'lifting up holy hands' and went through them last night. I have not gone through them all as yet because there are quite a few.

SonInMe1 mentions - it can be a pleasing thing to God or a displeasing act in His sight and from what I can understand - I agree with SonInMe1 also concerning this - see Link to Isaiah 1:15

Also, Ignited-Faith - your post really encouraged me:

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ignited-Faith

Faith and doing Battle go hand in hand. (No pun intended!)
When I read this I remember one day my Husband was very sick.
He had a migraine and was sick to his stomach, sitting on the bathroom floor feeling like he was dying...(even hoping he might.)
Suddenly the thought came to him to lift up his hands and arms and just start Praising the Lord! So he did... And suddenly the pain in his head and stomach lifted! So he took his hands down. He felt sick again.
So he raised his hands and arms and Praised the Lord more and more, and then he was filled with joy and felt better!


I have found that when there is a battle raging in my mind and when I start to praise God - that I have recently begun to lift up my arms outstretched to God. I do this to reafirm my faith in God as well as to praise Him and I find that by doing so I am also strengthened in my spirit. I come from a very 'reserved' Christian background (i.e. church wise) where none of this happens and you would not be comfortable doing this in the presence of such worshippers during church service but I have started doing this in the middle of trials (when I am alone) and I do believe it is something the Holy Spirit has led me to do.

Does anyone else have any thoughts on this subject of lifting up holy hands and what it means? Please post as I would be really interested to learn more. I really believe in my spirit that we have touched on something relevant to today's church which is an important consideration when facing battles (i.e. trials) and more importantly regarding worshipping God.



SonInMe1 -> RE: Lifting up holy hands ...... (5/3/2008 7:52:58 AM)

I was saved in a pentacostal stuyle church. We were encouraged to raise our hands and eventually I did and...it seemed right.

We moved 1500 miles away and now I am in a somewhat quiet, for lack of a better word, baptist church. Some raise their hands but most don't and its not really encouraged to do so. I don't.....

until I came home from being in the hospital and had missed a few weeks of church. I think....it was a close thing, my gangreen gall bladder...and God worked through me to others in the hospital...so I was weak, but incredibly blessed and LED to raise my hands in church.

Now, not saying any way anyone else does it is right or wrong. Whatever it is, it is between you and God.



its_GO_time -> RE: Lifting up holy hands ...... (5/3/2008 8:08:06 AM)

quote:

Do you believe that there is any relevance between lifting up holy hands to God as mentioned in 1 Timothy 2:8 - I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting......

Yes, I believe there is. Having said that, though, I become annoyed in worship services, when there is a mentioning of raising hands, in a song or hymm, and the leader coerces all the congregation to raise up their hands in a spiritual 'Simon Says' game. As another posted:

"Now, not saying any way anyone else does it is right or wrong. Whatever it is, it is between you and God."



Liveloved -> RE: Lifting up holy hands ...... (5/3/2008 9:15:03 AM)

quote:

I have found that when there is a battle raging in my mind and when I start to praise God - that I have recently begun to lift up my arms outstretched to God. I do this to reafirm my faith in God as well as to praise Him and I find that by doing so I am also strengthened in my spirit. I come from a very 'reserved' Christian background (i.e. church wise) where none of this happens and you would not be comfortable doing this in the presence of such worshippers during church service but I have started doing this in the middle of trials (when I am alone) and I do believe it is something the Holy Spirit has led me to do.

Does anyone else have any thoughts on this subject of lifting up holy hands and what it means? Please post as I would be really interested to learn more. I really believe in my spirit that we have touched on something relevant to today's church which is an important consideration when facing battles (i.e. trials) and more importantly regarding worshipping God.


Are you peeking in my windows??? Yes, I do this and I believe there is power in this because it is an act of surrender to the Lord. When your arms are up, you are more vulnerable. But in this physical way, you are saying "It's about You, Lord! My eyes are looking to You and what You are going to do!"

I was raised in the 'high' church (there was no arm raising in that crowd). And now attend a church where I am the only one with raised arms. But it's OK. It's about worship and lifting up the Lord. It's not about me or others.

I do it in the shower, in the family room, in the kitchen, and all over our home. Do you know Nicole Nordmann's song, Glory, which is on the Selah, Bless the Broken Road CD? That is one song that I can't sing with my arms anywhere but in the air.

I'm interested to hear what others say as well. Thanks, Little_1![:)]



Szaftoo -> RE: Lifting up holy hands ...... (5/3/2008 9:52:17 AM)

I was brought up in a church where lifting hands was done so it seems very natural to me. Sometimes it's in total surrender to the Lord, sometimes it's like when I was a little girl and raised my arms to my dad. I don't know who else is doing it because I'm not looking.
Ps. 63:4 says "Thus I will bless You while I live, I will lift up my hands in Your name.



Little_1 -> RE: Lifting up holy hands ...... (5/3/2008 10:22:48 AM)

This has encouraged me today. There is not a lot on the Internet when you do a search on the subject unfortunately and I don't think I have ever heard a sermon on the subject but posts #6 and #7 is what I mean, i.e.

quote:

Yes, I do this and I believe there is power in this because it is an act of surrender to the Lord. When your arms are up, you are more vulnerable. But in this physical way, you are saying "It's about You, Lord! My eyes are looking to You and what You are going to do!" -- Livedloved


quote:

......it seems very natural to me. Sometimes it's in total surrender to the Lord, sometimes it's like when I was a little girl and raised my arms to my dad...... Ps. 63:4 says "Thus I will bless You while I live, I will lift up my hands in Your name. -- Szaftoo



Ignited-Faith -> RE: Lifting up holy hands ...... (5/3/2008 2:43:41 PM)

"Hear my cry for mercy
as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
toward your Most Holy Place."
Psalm 28:2

I am looking up some verses about lifting up hands to the Lord...
It reminded me of something...
Years ago when I was getting a hair-cut, and someone was talking about a funeral for a little girl. The day before she died, she talked about Jesus and wondering about heaven.
(I don't think her family was even Christian.) Then she went outside and started jumping on the trampoline and reaching high up, over and over again! Her brother asked what was she doing? She said something like; "I'm trying to jump higher so I can touch Jesus!"
The next day she was in a car accident with her Mom and the little girl died.



Liveloved -> RE: Lifting up holy hands ...... (5/3/2008 3:30:29 PM)

I want to share my story re: lifting my hands in worship. As I already shared, I was not raised in this tradition, nor does it fit 'my' nature. So I knew it was going to be a work of God if I was going to lift my hands in worship.

So that was my prayer. Not that I wanted to do it. But that IF IT WAS THE LORD'S DESIRE, then it would just naturally happen.

Some time passed and my arms remained down, at my side. Then a singing group came to our church. They were sharing in an evening program. I was sitting behind one of our church families and one of the women's brothers was in town. He was directly in front of me. It was as he raised his arms in worship that the Holy Spirit came over me so powerfully, releasing my arms to be raised in worship as well. It was just an incredible experience. It was not my doing but His.

My arms went up that evening and I've never gone back (to the arms glued to my self conscious sides stance I'd been trained in). The Holy Spirit freed me in this too. Yes, Christ died to set us free and this was one of the freedoms HE had to bring me into.

Praise the Lord! \o/\o/\o/ (that's how I type my Father, Son, Holy Ghost worship with arms raised [:)])



Little_1 -> RE: Lifting up holy hands ...... (5/3/2008 5:57:23 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ignited-Faith

"Hear my cry for mercy
as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
toward your Most Holy Place."
Psalm 28:2

I am looking up some verses about lifting up hands to the Lord...
It reminded me of something...
Years ago when I was getting a hair-cut, and someone was talking about a funeral for a little girl. The day before she died, she talked about Jesus and wondering about heaven.
(I don't think her family was even Christian.) Then she went outside and started jumping on the trampoline and reaching high up, over and over again! Her brother asked what was she doing? She said something like; "I'm trying to jump higher so I can touch Jesus!"
The next day she was in a car accident with her Mom and the little girl died.


Ignited-Faith - although this story is tinged with human sadness - it is also one of the most beautiful I have read. It is almost as if the Lord had given her a desire in her heart to touch Jesus and then literally 'gave her the desire of her heart'.

This also reminds me a little of another true similar story: http://forums.crosswalk.com/fb.aspx?m=3258786



Ignited-Faith -> RE: Lifting up holy hands ...... (5/3/2008 6:32:31 PM)

Little1,
I looked up the link and read your story!
Wow! That is so amazing!
You never know what God will do next,
or who He will touch!
I know you are going through some major trials in life,
Little1. The Lord is your firm foundation! (I know you
already know that, it just blesses others like me to
see you continue to stand firm in your faith!)
I now lift up my hands and arms to Heaven,
and Thank and Praise the Lord for all that He is doing
in your life concerning your situation at hand. (No pun intended (again!)
it just seems like the word hand keeps coming up...)
'The battle is the Lord's but the Victory is ours!'
(This line is on a tape my little Grandson listens to!)
Now this makes me think of our Lord, and how much He loves us,
and how He lifted His Hands and arms on the cross for us...
That's ultimate Sacrifice!
Praise the Lord!!!



SonInMe1 -> RE: Lifting up holy hands ...... (5/3/2008 7:08:10 PM)

Another aspect of this is...I see hands being raised when we sing...but seldom if ever when the pastor is speaking.

It makes me wonder if the beat of the music is making us raise our hands ( when I usta go to concerts before I was saved we would often do this ) or the Holy Spirit.

Raising of hands shouldn't be an emotional response to stimuli. It should be in worship.



ta_mosquito -> RE: Lifting up holy hands ...... (5/3/2008 9:57:18 PM)

I wonder how many people consider listening to the pastor's sermon to be worship. Most people (in general) consider worship to be the singing portion. That's false, of course.

I wonder how many people lift up their hands during prayer, too. (And not the prayer that comes within or right after the singing time.) [;)]



Little_1 -> RE: Lifting up holy hands ...... (5/4/2008 4:01:20 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SonInMe1

Another aspect of this is...I see hands being raised when we sing...but seldom if ever when the pastor is speaking.

It makes me wonder if the beat of the music is making us raise our hands ( when I usta go to concerts before I was saved we would often do this ) or the Holy Spirit.

Raising of hands shouldn't be an emotional response to stimuli. It should be in worship.


From the texts I have studied this weekend, I would agree. If hands are being raised 'to the beat of music' - then this does not sit right so to speak! Thankfully you recognise this is perhaps not right likewise. If someone raised a hand during the sermon - surely this would be to 'agree and praise God' regarding something which was spoken in the sermon and there are far more reasons to do this than to raise them to the 'beat of music'.

I have also found myself raising my arms/hands towards God because I agree strongly with something I have heard whilst at home listening to certain preachers on TV and want to praise God and reiterate my agreement regarding a truth, etc which has been spoken (I suppose this is like saying 'AMEN' in a way but with your body in this action and not just your mouth). If I did this in the church I go along to - I'd be considered 'strange' and I would possibly be a distraction because I would stand out in the crowd by doing this. It is sad because so many people (including Christians) will go along to football/baseball/rugby games and raise their hands when their 'football/baseball/rugby hero's' score! Same with F1 motor car driving and the list could go on......



Little_1 -> RE: Lifting up holy hands ...... (5/4/2008 4:23:32 AM)

Link to first part of testimony, i.e. "Nothing Halts God's Plans!"

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ignited-Faith

Little1,
I looked up the link and read your story!
Wow! That is so amazing!
You never know what God will do next,
or who He will touch! ......


Second part of testimony, i.e. "God's ways are not our ways; and neither are His thoughts our thoughts!" (Cont/d...)

There is even more to this situation because what I failed to mention was that I really wrestled with God regarding the teaching material I believed He was wanted me to use at the club at that particular time. I use Child Evangelism Fellowship materials because they are so Bible based and thorough. I was going to use a Character study, e.g. Joseph (I can't remember exactly which Biblical character now because this happened over 10 years ago). I do however remember struggling with God regarding what to teach during this particular time.

I believed the Lord wanted me to use a series called 'Tanglewood'. This series covers major doctrinal teachings such as sin, repentance, salvation, heaven, etc. The lesson itself is about a child who accepts Christ as Saviour, dies and goes to heaven; it also includes a more thorough lesson regarding heaven towards the end re: what heaven will be like; also what happens to his friends as a result of his witness.

I really struggled with the fact that I believed God wanted me to teach 5 - 12 year olds' about someone their age dying! I thought the storyline was a bit 'morbid' (although the teaching material deals with it very sensitively). I was concerned that the children would go home and speak about the child in the story dying and that the parents would be in an uproar for teaching them something upsetting. Also, I did not want the children to be obssessed with dying either. To put it in a nutshell - I really did not want to use this teaching material but the Lord kept bringing it back to my heart and I knew He wanted me to go ahead and use it. I have to admit that it was with much reluctance that I obeyed God's prompting.

The week before our 'K' died, we covered the part in the lesson where the boy died and went to heaven! We cancelled club a week later due to the car accident and the following Wednesday, the funeral took place. Club went ahead at the end of that week and although I cannot say 'as per usual' - you understand what I mean. We were covering the part in the lesson which explains all about heaven. I was no longer reluctant to teach this lesson by this time. The children and I gained much comfort from this part of the lesson because we knew that was where 'K' was now.

This was a mighty lesson to myself because God was in total control throughout the whole time. He knew what these children needed (including little 'K'). God really does know best and we should listen to His Holy Spirit promptings at all times. His thoughts are not our thoughts - His thoughts are much higher.

To God be the glory - Hallelujah, Hallelujah. This still amazes me and brings a tear to my eyes when I remember what God did. He is an amazing God. \o/\o/\o/



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