Lifting up Holy Hands, Without Wrath and Doubting

The Holy Spirit's desire is made clear in the Apostle Paul's message to Timothy: "that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting" (1 Timothy 2:8). Lifting up holy hands is an expression of the determination made by a believer to humbly serve God according to His will, for the sake of His kingdom.

In 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12, Paul along with Silvanus, and Timothy said to the believers, "you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory." Furthermore, in Colossians 1:9-14, Paul and Timothy said they "do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins."

The Apostle Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy exemplified holy conduct, which is fitting for everyone who is part of the kingdom of our Lord and Savior. Their message to the church shows they openly honored the Lord among God's people. They said, "You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe" (1 Thessalonians 2:10). Additionally, they were commending evangelical believers who "became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 2:14).

Those who belong to the kingdom of God are led by the Holy Spirit. It is necessary that "as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy."" (1 Peter 1:15-16). Christians are to engage themselves in the spreading of the gospel, by faith in the promise of salvation for all who will believe. God's desire is for everyone to be delivered from the power of darkness and be conveyed into the kingdom of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

With this in mind, we must properly respond to the Holy Spirit's desire, which is for us to "pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). Wherever there is wrath and doubting, the Holy Spirit is grieved while the work of the kingdom of God is hindered by Satan.

The Apostle Paul said to believers, "do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:30-32). We are also reminded to "receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things" (Romans 14:1).

God's people are to seek that which is for the growth of the church, in all things serving one another humbly, in reverence for God. We are to pray for God's abundant provision of grace which is made available to those who serve faithfully in His kingdom. This grace is given, that we would edify the church, "be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble""(1 Peter 5:5).

It is therefore necessary for Christians to lift up holy hands in prayer, coming "boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (James 1:6-8).

Wrath and doubting have no place in the kingdom of our Lord. He has given us His grace, mercy and peace in abundance.