Lifting Holy Hands

Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument. 1 Timothy 2:8

The apostle Paul was specifically  addressing men in the Ephesian church in this scripture. The church was under attack from without and there were heretics within. 

When we face opposition we want to fight yet Paul was particularly encouraging the Christian men to live differently, to show Christ.

What people see when we are in conflict is important. It takes an act of humility to submit to prayer with the lifting of hands and to worship God rather than abuse mankind.

There is always conflict and some of it is very public. What will hungry heart see? What do you unsaved family and friends see? Grace or greed? Greatness or grotesqueness? Humility or hatred? 

Jesus taught in Mark 7:20-23 what comes out of a person-that defiles him. For from within, out of people's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries,  greed, evil actions, deceit, promiscuity, stinginess, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. All this evil comes from within and defile a person.

Now it the verse above it is interesting to see, grouped together the vile and the not so vile. Stinginess is grouped with all they we would consider foul.

I can be stingy towards God in my time with Him, my prayer life, my giving to Him.  I can be stingy with those around me by being selfish. I can be stingy to those who oppress me. I can be stingy to those in need.

So back to my original text. Lifting holy hands without argument and anger, in other words pure worship, no flesh here. Prayer cannot be tainted with flesh. If we pray as led by the spirit, there is no flesh, He is pure and His desire is for goodness and mercy. Amen!