During the first days of my salvation , there were a lot of new things to consider. To be or not to be slain in the spirit, Prophesying , speaking in tongues , the laying on of hands, shouting Amen - praise GOD -or-Hallelujah - in the assembly , and of course the raising of hands to the LORD. Each of these deserve to be studied and all in due time. For now lets look at the raising of hands to our LORD. Although while in the assembly we see such things, and even compelled to emulate, and indeed emotionally we understand, yet let us search the SCRIPTURE. Psalm 63.4 “I will praise you as long as I live and in your name I will lift up my hands.” The answer to why would be;  Because your love is better than life.

Ps 63.3 . It seems natural enough during worship which answers the next question where, 
“Lift up your hand in the sanctuary and praise the LORD” Ps 134.2 But that’s not the end of it for our GOD says “I want men every where to lift up holy hands in prayer”

1Tim2.8 What could all this mean, what does up lifted hands testify to? Lets start with - we have a covenant with the LORD our GOD and HE has said 

“I have engraved you on palms of my hands”   Isaiah 49.16

and HE says to “Place me like a seal over your heart like a seal on your arm ”
S S 8.6 .

And as we are sealed with the HOLY SPIRIT until the day of redemption
Eph 4.30 and it is like a seal on our palm, and I just know when my Father makes a pledge its as he says
“I lift up my hands to heaven and declare as surely as I live for ever
“ If for no other reason but to follow the best possible example .
And what can we hope to accomplish; we can look to Lamentations

Lam 2.9  Arise, cry out in the night , as the watches of the night begin
pour out your heart like water in the presence of the LORD.
Lift up your hands to Him for the lives of your children
who faint from hunger at the head of every street “ Lam 3.40 “ Let us examine our ways and test them and let us return to the LORD.
.41 Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to GOD in heaven and say;
.42We have sinned and rebelled…  Every day the levites would sacrifice one lamb in the morning and one lamb in the evening, but in the days of captivity the Hebrew people were not allowed to do this. For seventy years Daniel would pray four times a daily. As once mentioned … as was his custom during the time of the evening sacrifice … so how awesome it was when David said in his psalm 141.2 “May my prayer be set before you like incense , may the lifting up of my hands , be like the evening sacrifice. The child in us cries out…Jesus, upon entering the home of Simon and Andrew saw that Simon’s mother in law was in bed with a fever           MK1.31  “So he went to her , took her hand and helped her up the fever left her …There was a boy from childhood possessed by a demon the one throws people into fires and tries to drowned them. Jesus said “You deaf and mute spirit I command you, come out of him and never enter him again , the spirit convulsed him violently and came out . the boy looked so much like a corpse many said “he’s dead” but Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet and he stood up.” James 4.10 Humble your selves before the LORD and he will lift you up.
 
 OH LORD HEAR MY CRY FOR MERCY
 AS I CALL TO YOU FOR HELP
SAVE YOUR PEOPLE AND BLESS YOUR INHERATENCE
BE THEIR SHEPHERD AND CARRY THEM FOR EVER


  THE PRINCIPAL OR LAW OF FIRST MENTION:
There is a radio teacher that I enjoy listening to and love, Chuck Misler knows the bible and loves GOD. I first heard Chuck say “in the word of GOD, when a word or concept is first mentioned our FATHER in heaven places great importance on it” {loosely quoted}. In the law of first mention, concerning the lifting of holy hands to the lord, there are four people involved. The first a great prophet of GOD needs no introduction, Moses. Two others were assistants only, Joshua however will be introduced. Although there is an entire book of the bible with his name, little is known or studied about prior to this. Less than a year following EXODUS, Joshua, being one of the twelve spies that entered the Promised Land, was obviously of military age, a commander of men, so we know he witnessed Moses return to Egypt, and in Ex 4.29 we read , Moses and Arron brought together all of the elders , so we know Joshua saw first hand the staff change to a snake and back again, that he saw all waters of Egypt turn to blood even in the wooden buckets and stone jars, all the waters except that of the Hebrew. Remember now that the plagues effected only the Egyptians and not the Hebrews. Remember also that Joshua witnessed them all first hand. The plagues of Frogs, Gnats, Flies, Death of livestock, Boils, Hail, Locusts, the plague of DARKNESS, and the death of the FIRST BORN, The CROSSING OF THE RED SEA on dry land, the closing of that sea and drowning of the enemy. The bitter water made sweet, MANNA in the morning , QWAIL at night, WATER from the ROCK . The bronze snake lifted up to heal all those who looked to him . When we consider all that Joshua saw we can understand the faith and love for our CREATOR that he has. JOSHUA was up the mountain with MOSES for the first carving of the tablets. This love that JOSHUA has for GOD is the reason, as Moses’ aid, when Moses left the tent of meeting Joshua son of Nun would not leave the tent.

Lets now read from the WORD Ex 17.8-13 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua “ Choose some of your men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of GOD in my hands.” So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses Arron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses HELD UP HIS HANDS the Israelites were winning, but when ever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning . When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it . Arron and Hur held his hands up one on one side one on the other- so that his hand stayed steady till sunset . So Joshua overcame the enemy with the sword. Then the LORD said to Moses “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and MAKE SURE JOSHUA HEARS IT, … Do you want the LORD GOD to bless you ? Make, for sure, your hands holy and lift them towards heaven!
 
OH LORD HEAR MY CRY FOR MERCY
AS I CRY TO YOU FOR HELP
AS I LIFT UP MY HANDS TOWARD YOUR MOST HOLY PLACE
SAVE YOUR PEOPLE AND BLESS YOUR INHERITANCE
BE THEIR SHEPHERD AND CARRY THEM FOR EVER
 
My Spirit grows faint within me

My heart within me is dismayed
I remember the days of long ago , I meditate on all your ways
and consider what your hands have done
 
 
I spread out my hands to you
my soul thirsts for YOU
like a parched land

From your heart

                 With your mouth say;

Jesus, I realize I’m a sinner, And I know I cannot overcome

 With out you. I believe you died On the cross in my place.

 I believe you were raised To live again, that I might  Live in

 you. LORD JESUS I turn my back to sin  &  face  You.

I repent of my sin and ask you LORD JESUS come into

 my heart To rule & reign in my life, Lord enable me to read

 your Word and know it is truth.

                THANK YOU - JESUS 

Rev. Bradley SaintJohn

Seeds ov Hope Ministries