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Holy Hands |
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Please Stumble this Outline! Holy Hands Isa 30:9-11 - For it is a
rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of Jehovah; that
say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak
unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits, get you out of the way, turn aside out of the
path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. I.
Introduction A.
Trends / Gimmics 1.
Traditional and Contemporary Services
– Difference? a.
Only the Music? b.
Hand Raising and many other
distinctions have arisen. 2.
Many think these things will make
worship more meaningful and spiritual. B.
Where and when do we see
this today? 1.
Predominantly in Pentacostal Christian
Churches, increasingly within the church. a.
Why?
Pentacostals/Charismatics/Evangelicals emphasize the personal experience in
worship. b.
This in part comes from a
misunderstanding about the role of the Holy Spirit. 2.
In many cases, raising of hands is
accompanied by: a.
The swaying in unison b.
Clapping c.
Dancing d.
Contemporary Instrumental Religious
Music 3.
The increase in emotionalism did not
seem to arrive until the 18 and 1900’s. a.
The bulk of activities we have
mentioned did not begin until the mid/late 1900’s. b.
Instruments as a whole came about in
the 600’s. c.
In large, the whole charismatic
movement did not take hold until the 1960’s. 4.
What we see being practiced
today is not first century Christianity. C.
Questions which come up
when we talk about raising hands. 1.
Doesn’t the Old Testament talk
about raising hands? 2.
Doesn’t I Timothy command us to raise holy hands
in worship? 3.
Isn’t raising hands an opinion
issue? 4.
Is it wrong to be emotional when we
worship? II.
Tackling the
Questions A.
Doesn’t the Old
Testament talk about raising hands? 1.
Lifting of hands is mentioned at
least 14 different times in the O.T. in conjunction with Prayer. a.
Is. 1:15, Lam 2:19, 3:41, I
Kings 8:22, 54 2.
There are 7 specific prayer postures
mentioned within all of scripture. a.
Head bowed, kneeling, arms upraised,
eyes uplifted, prostrate, standing, and unspecified. b.
Arms upraised is included in the
unspecified, standing, and kneeling postures. 3.
From our past study of covenant
authority we know: a.
Christian authority for details of
worship is from the New Covenant in Christ. b.
O.T. was merely provided as an ex. of
the blessings and curses of God for our hope. ·
Rom. 15:4, I Cor. 10:11 4.
Remember, what we see in
the Old Testament, is not the church. B.
Doesn’t I Timothy
command us to raise holy hands in worship?
a.
This is why “without wrath and disputing”
follows the statement.
a.
The term men here in the Greek means
males, not mankind, not women. ·
Nowhere is there a similar verse for
women. ·
Thus, any situation involving prayer,
women must keep hands down. b.
Men must always pray with hands up.
C.
Isn’t raising hands
an opinion issue? 1.
God has spoken about how He wants to
be worshipped. a.
God has said pray. - I Thess. 5:17 – This gives us general
authority for the practice. b.
God did not specify a prayer posture.
– There is no specific authority so we rely on general. c.
If you pray with your hands raised to
God, that is not inherently sinful. d.
Yes, that is in the realm of
judgement or opinion. e.
All actions are authority driven, you
either have no choice or a choice by authority. 2.
Though we have authority to raise our
hands in prayer there is authority to consider in worship. a.
Though a choice in Prayer, There is no biblical precedent for
singing and lifting hands. ·
When God specified sing, he did not
say sing and dance, sway, or wave. ·
The most frequent usage of lifting
hands today is during songs of praise to God. ·
Again, such a practice did not arise
until the last 2 centuries. ·
I condemn this wholeheartedly! b.
Though a choice in Prayer, There is no authority for the waving
of hands in singing or prayer. ·
There is no command, example, or N/I
in regard to these practices. ·
Historically, when the Jews would
lift hands, they did so as if receiving from God. -
Their palms were turned up. - Ex. If you reach out as if to receive, do you wave your hands around? c.
Though a choice in Prayer, One must consider their motive when
praying and lifting up hands. ·
Does this person always lift up their
hand when they pray? ·
Do they only do so when they are in
the assembly? ·
Do they not do it when they are alone
in their room, unseen? ·
Mat
6:5 -
And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to stand and pray in
the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I
say unto you, They have received their reward. ·
Mat
6:16 -
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure
their faces, that they may be seen of men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have
received their reward. ·
If lifting hands in prayer is done to
be seen, it has no authority. ·
If done because others do it,
Remember Micah… - Authority
is not determined by Majority. D. Is it wrong to be emotional when we worship?
a.
James 5:13, Heb. 2:12 b.
Just remember: ·
I Cor. 14:40 - But
let all things be done decently and in order. ·
No
bursts of song during the sermon.
a.
Emotion of love ·
1 Pet. 4:8 - above
all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of
sins: b.
Emotion of hope ·
Heb
10:23
- let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that
promised: c.
Emotion of joy ·
Phil. 4:4 - Rejoice
in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice. d.
Emotion of sorrow ·
2 Cor. 7:10 - For
godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, a
repentance which bringeth no regret: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. e.
Emotion
of Hate ·
Rom
12:9
- Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. f.
Emotion of fear ·
Matt. 10:28 - And
be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather
fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
a.
Emotions from scripture have a
purpose. b.
Emotions for emotions sake are
worthless. ·
Pro
3:5-6
- Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding: In all
thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths. ·
Mar
7:20-23
- And he said, That which proceedeth out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, evil
thoughts proceed, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, covetings, wickednesses,
deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, railing, pride, foolishness: all these evil things
proceed from within, and defile the man.
a.
He won’t encourage any
unauthorized activity for the sake of emotion. b.
He will desire things to be decent
and in order. c.
This excludes any hand raising,
swaying, and the like. III.
What is the purpose of our worship? A.
The Purpose lies within
the definition. 1.
To Kiss toward (Like a dog licking
his masters hand) 2.
To Reverence 3.
To Adore 4.
Prostrate Oneself – To cast
oneself down face first on the ground in humility. B.
When we worship God is the
Audience 1.
John 4:24 2.
In our humbleness, we glorify God by
following His Word in our actions. 3.
Questions: a. In the middle of a
meeting, would you raise your hands and sway to honor your boss? b. At a wedding as the bride
comes up the aisle, should you raise your hands and sway? c. At a funeral, by the
casket, you dance, clap, and wave your holy hands. 4.
Would such actions be considered humble adoration? a.
Shall we sway in unison while waving
our hands during the Lord’s supper? b.
God is not pleased with what he has
not authorized. IV.
When You Don’t have the Right to
Raise your Hands. A.
When you Do not Edify
(Build up). 1.
Rom
14:18-19 - For he that herein serveth Christ is well-pleasing to God, and approved of
men. So then let us follow after things which
make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another. 2.
1Co
10:23
- All things are lawful; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful; but not
all things edify. Let no man seek his own, but each
his neighbor's good. 3.
Paul speaks in
the realm of freedom within the law of Christ. a.
Raising your
hands in prayer, is within your right. ·
If it is going
to lead to controversy within a congregation, it’s best not to do so. B.
When you become a
stumbling block 1.
1Co
5:6-8
- Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, even as ye are unleavened. For our
passover also hath been sacrificed, even Christ:
wherefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice
and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 2.
1Co
10:32
- Give no occasions of stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God: 3.
Many
Christians today are being influenced by the charismatic faith. a.
We
do not want to engage in actions that will confuse the lines for them. b.
The
World in its wisdom is already pulling at them, we do not want to add to that. C.
When you are just chasing
a feeling 1.
Gal
5:13
- For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use
not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to
another. 2.
Pro
14:12
- There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of
death. 3.
When
engaging in any activity that you think will be pleasing to God ask yourself: a.
Why am I doing what I am doing? What is its purpose?
b.
Does it have authority? Can I back it up with scripture? 4. Many of those who engage in the swaying and raising
of hands in singing are chasing feelings. a. It feels good. b. It makes me happy. c. It is exciting and fun. 5.
These are fleshly desires and the practice is unauthorized. D.
When you create Disorder
in the assembly – I Cor. 14 1.
Ex. Pray during sermon – fine
quietly. 2.
Ex. Pray during sermon – raising
hands. a.
Distraction, disorderly. V.
Summary A.
There is no authorization
in scripture for lifting/waving of hands or swaying when singing to God. B.
There is an authorized
choice for raising hands when praying, Do it or
Not. 1.
The Old Testament does not give us
that authorization. 2.
The New Testament does not authorize
things which: a.
Do not Edify b.
Create a stumbling block c.
Have feelings as their end goal. d.
Create Disorder in the Assembly. C.
When we worship, we do so
with a humble Spirit and according to the Truth. D.
Emotions in Worship are
Expected. God’s Word Produces emotions! 1.
Emotions must produce proper fruit to
Glorify God. E.
Most Youth and Church
Gatherings today, follow practices in regard to Hand Raising that are unauthorized.
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