Title: Praying Hands
Contents
Text: Exodus 17:8-16
As we begin our talk, we will take time to do some nonsense quizzes.
①Which kind of eyes are the most beautiful?
The answer is 'eyes looking at Jesus'. I pay money for having pretty double eyelids, but I can't go crazy about it.
②Which eye is the brightest?
The answer is 'Young-an'. Even if the visual acuity becomes 1.5 and 2.0, it does not reach the spirit eye.
③Which hand is the prettiest? The answer is 'praying hands'. It is said that men must be strong with large hands and women must be thin and thin to be beautiful. But there is no hand more beautiful and precious than praying hands.
1 Timothy 2:8 says, “Men, lift up your holy hands and pray.”
The praying hands are holy and have many powers.
What works can praying hands represent?
1. Praying hands also win wars.
Exodus 17:11 says, “When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; when he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.”
In the text, war with Amelak was fought at Rephidim. Joshua led the Israelites out to fight Amalek with the sword, and Moses went up to the top of the mountain and raised his hands to pray. At this time, there is a scene where Aaron and Hur support the praying arms of Moses and defeat Amalek and win the victory song. Historically, Amalek was Esau's grandson, and Esau was Jacob's older brother, so it was like a big house for the Israelites. However, the warlike Amalekites resembling Esau, living in southern Palestine, have been a stumbling block to the Israelites. When the Israelites, who had left Egypt, were weary of their life in the wilderness, instead of helping them, they slaughtered the children and the elderly who were behind them, causing God's wrath.
The victorious God of ‘Jehovah Nissi’ works through praying hands.
2. Praying hands can also defeat the devil.
When the demon-possessed child came, the disciples could not cast out the demon and were having difficulties. The Lord rebukes demons and casts them out.
“He said, ‘This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer’ (Mark 9:29).
Not only in world wars but also in spiritual warfare, the praying hands have a strong working power. When Jesus prayed with the cup of the cross in front of him in the Garden of Gethsemane, he woke up the tired and sleeping disciples and said, “Watch and pray that you may not fall into temptation, for the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). For those who watch and pray, temptations will pass away and demons will be driven out.
3. Praying hands cause miracles.
“Then Peter was put in prison, and the church prayed earnestly to God for him” (Acts 12:5). Peter, who was witnessing the gospel and making history wherever he went, was imprisoned in Jerusalem. An angel awakens Peter from his sleep the night before Herod is about to arrest Peter and bring him out of prison. When did this amazing event happen? It happened when the whole church prayed for Peter.
After Jesus' fasting prayer for 40 days in Matthew 4, an angel appears in the scene where “the devil left Jesus, and angels came and ministered to him” (Matthew 4:11). Also, in Acts 10, we can see an angel appearing and giving instructions to the centurion Cornelius who is praying.
Then where is the best place to pray such a precious prayer?
Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple is found in 1 Kings 9:22-53. Here we see the importance of prayer toward the temple.
1. Pray in the temple.
“May your eyes be on this temple day and night, and hear the prayers of your servant toward this place, where you said before, My name shall be there” (1 Kings 8:29).
Saints should pray in the temple where God's name is, where he said, 'My name will be there'.
2. Pray toward the temple.
“Hear your supplications when your servants and your people Israel pray toward this place; hear from heaven your dwelling place, and hear and forgive” (1 Kings 8:30). will be A typical example is Daniel. Even after being taken into captivity, Daniel had the window open three times a day and prayed toward Jerusalem, and with God's help, he was victorious. We also have problems that we constantly encounter. ①The problem of sin (1 Kings 8:34) ② The economic problem (1 Kings 8:35) ③ The disease (1 Kings 8:37) ④ The war (1 Kings 8:44) I believe in line.
Dear members of Shepherd Church,
In this way, praying hands have a strong working power. In particular, the church, which is a temple