Come to Worship: Part 1 - "Lift Your Hands" with Craig Groeschel - LifeChurch.tv

Lift Up Holy Hands

Scripture References

Primary text

• Psalm 63
• 1 Timothy 2:8

Other references

• Matthew 2:2
• Ephesians 2:8-9
• Psalm 141:1-2
• Exodus 17
• James 4:8

Overview

As the Christmas series “Come to Worship” begins, we are reminded that followers of Jesus are created to glorify Him, not use Him. Today’s focus is one posture of worship—lifting our hands. From David’s desperate Psalm to Paul’s directive that men “lift up holy hands,” Scripture shows that raised hands express longing, offering, surrender, and victory. God longs for wholehearted worship every day, not just on weekends, and He responds when His children reach toward Him.

Main Points

We exist to worship, not to use God

• Culture often treats God like a genie or “cosmic Coke machine”: do the formula, get the blessing.
• Biblical reality: God does not exist for us; we exist for Him—created to glorify, honor, and make Him known.

Longing for God in dry places — Psalm 63

• David, alone in the wilderness, voices thirst, longing, and desperation.
• Even in hardship, he declares God’s love “better than life.”
• Response: “In Your name I will lift up my hands.”
  Lifting hands is a natural/supernatural overflow of experiencing grace.

A personal story of first-time lifted hands

• Story: Craig, newly saved in college, read Ephesians 2:8-9, realized salvation is grace, crawled out a window, knelt on a softball field, and instinctively raised his hands—never having seen it modeled.

God asks men to lead in visible worship — 1 Timothy 2:8

• Paul specifically tells men to pray “lifting up holy hands.”
• Possible reasons: pride makes it harder; God wants fathers to set the tone for families.
• Challenge: men, do not let wives or children out-worship you; lead by example.

Why lift our hands?

1. God loves it

   • Like a loving father melts when a toddler reaches up, our heavenly Father delights in our upraised hands.
   • James 4:8: Draw near to God and He draws near to us.

2. It is an offering of praise

   • Psalm 141:1-2: David presents upraised hands as an evening sacrifice.
   • Hands become a tangible “gift” we bring to God.

3. It declares battle and invites God’s help

   • Exodus 17: As long as Moses’ hands were raised, Israel prevailed; when they dropped, they faltered.
   • Illustration: Aaron and Hur physically held Moses’ arms up—picture of believers supporting one another in worship and warfare.
   • Raised hands say, “The battle is Yours; I trust You.”

4. It signals both surrender and victory

   • In human culture raised hands mean “I give up” or “We win.”
   • In God’s presence, surrender to Him and victory from Him happen simultaneously.

Corporate worship strengthens private worship

• Gathering matters because we help hold each other’s arms up.
• The church sang a new original song, modeling voices and hands united in adoration.

Key Truths

• True worship flows from understanding God’s grace, not manipulating God for blessings.
• Desperate seasons can birth the purest praise.
• God enjoys and responds to physical expressions that mirror sincere hearts.
• Men are called to lead their households and the church in visible, humble worship.
• Raising hands embodies both an offering to God and dependence on God for victory.

Response

• Acknowledge where you treat God like a dispenser and repent.
• Practice lifting your hands privately and corporately as a sincere offering of praise.
• Men: take initiative—model wholehearted worship before family and church.
• When facing battles, raise your hands and voice in faith, inviting God’s power.
• Support brothers and sisters whose “arms” are tired; pray and stand with them.

Closing

Craig invited every listener—whether long-time believer or first-time guest—to experiment with lifting hands in worship, assuring that God delights in that reach. He challenged men to lead the way and the entire church to become daily worshippers, not weekend attenders.

“In the very moment you surrender to Him, you find victory in Him.”

Prayer

The congregation prayed first for deeper daily worship, then many prayed a surrender prayer of salvation, lifting both hands in simultaneous victory and surrender to Jesus.