The Atmosphere Of Lifting Of Hands (4 of 6)
Series: Atmosphere
Frank Damazio
Introduction: Believers should use their hands in prayer as naturally as they use their tongue. The tongue verbalizes and articulates a person's thoughts, and raised hands give those thoughts and words additional impetus. Hands stretched toward God release the whole person to express a greater degree of sincerity and intensity. Charles Wesley caught the heart-meaning of the lifting up of the hands when he wrote: "Father, I stretch my hands to Thee, No other help I know; If thou withdraw thyself from me, Ah! Whither shall I go?" When circumstances get desperate, human emotion generates serious prayer. When things have reached a breaking point, no one needs to be told the appropriate posture for prayer! Inward longings become passionate desires that lead easily to energetic expressions like outstretched hands. Charles Spurgeon comments: "Uplifted hands have ever been a form of devout posture, and are intended to signify a reaching upward towards God, a readiness, an eagerness to receive the blessing sought after. We stretch out empty hands, for we are beggars; we lift them up, for we seek heavenly supplies; we lift them towards the mercy seat of Jesus, for there our expectation dwells."
I. THE WORSHIPPING CHURCH ATMOSPHERE
A. SETTING ATMOSPHERE IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY
1. We are carriers of a specific atmosphere.
2. We are capable of setting or changing atmosphere.
3. We are responsible for the atmosphere of our church.
B. WORSHIP SETS ATMOSPHERE
1. Worship creates an atmosphere where God "moves in" with His presence and power, drawing people to be touched, healed, forgiven, and saved.
Nehemiah 8:6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
1 Timothy 2:8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, l ...
Series: Atmosphere
Frank Damazio
Introduction: Believers should use their hands in prayer as naturally as they use their tongue. The tongue verbalizes and articulates a person's thoughts, and raised hands give those thoughts and words additional impetus. Hands stretched toward God release the whole person to express a greater degree of sincerity and intensity. Charles Wesley caught the heart-meaning of the lifting up of the hands when he wrote: "Father, I stretch my hands to Thee, No other help I know; If thou withdraw thyself from me, Ah! Whither shall I go?" When circumstances get desperate, human emotion generates serious prayer. When things have reached a breaking point, no one needs to be told the appropriate posture for prayer! Inward longings become passionate desires that lead easily to energetic expressions like outstretched hands. Charles Spurgeon comments: "Uplifted hands have ever been a form of devout posture, and are intended to signify a reaching upward towards God, a readiness, an eagerness to receive the blessing sought after. We stretch out empty hands, for we are beggars; we lift them up, for we seek heavenly supplies; we lift them towards the mercy seat of Jesus, for there our expectation dwells."
I. THE WORSHIPPING CHURCH ATMOSPHERE
A. SETTING ATMOSPHERE IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY
1. We are carriers of a specific atmosphere.
2. We are capable of setting or changing atmosphere.
3. We are responsible for the atmosphere of our church.
B. WORSHIP SETS ATMOSPHERE
1. Worship creates an atmosphere where God "moves in" with His presence and power, drawing people to be touched, healed, forgiven, and saved.
Nehemiah 8:6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
1 Timothy 2:8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, l ...
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