Why do we lift our hands in worship? Why does that seem to be such a big deal? In my own life, there was a time when I was embarrassed to be near people who were lifting their hands in worship, whether in a church setting or Christian concert setting, yet I had no qualms about lifting my hands when my favorite sports team scored. After I was born again, that all changed and I have a song that is a personal declaration of why I unashamedly lift my hands in worship and surrender to the Lord God Almighty.

This song is called “We Will Worship the Lamb of Glory” and it was born on September 29, 1988! That’s 35 years ago! And it is still being sung around the world to this day! Amazing! Back in those days - the late 1980s - I was just coming into a deeper walk with the Lord than I ever imagined possible on this earth. Songs were flowing out of me left and right and I was more than ready to receive what God had for me. In fact, do you want to know my job description in those days? Simply to sit before the Lord each day and ask Him if He had any new songs for the body of Christ! Can you believe that? I was blessed to be able to have such freedom…and I still enjoy that same freedom today…and I am so grateful to the Lord for giving me such freedom.

One day while In my “praise closet” (which was the studio and piano my church - Western Hills Church in OKC - had provided), I often became overwhelmed by the goodness of God’s presence in my life. As I focused on worshiping Jesus one day, I was drawn to lift my hands to Him in surrender. At that time, I felt the Lord ask me, “Would you worship Me in this way if you knew others were watching?” I said, “Yes, Lord.” He then said, “What if they question what you’re doing?” I hadn’t really thought of that. After some thought, the answer came - take ANY opportunity the Holy Spirit brings you to share the truth of Jesus Christ. As we love Jesus, many such opportunities will come. The reason is simple – you can’t come into His presence without being changed. When Jesus does the changing, we begin to look and act a little more like Him. And like Jesus, our very lives will draw hurting people to us…at least they should (my opinion).

As I thought about the reasons people lift their hands in everyday life, my mind quickly went to thoughts of what I would experience at the end of my work day when I came home. I knew that as soon as I walked through the door, little hands would be reaching out for me saying with glee, “Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!” each wanting me to pick them up and hold them or wanting to play or wrestle. It dawned on me in that realization that when I reach out to Abba Father in worship by extending my hands, I am virtually saying the very same thing. “Daddy! Abba! Hold me!” It is a simple act of submission to God’s love.

Of course other examples came to mind of why people lift their hands in ordinary daily life. Though this may not seem ordinary on one level, you’ll understand my point. What is the international sign of surrender? Is it not the lifting of hands? When I first came to changing faith in Jesus Christ on November 7, 1981, my natural response to giving every part of my existence to God was to lift my hands in surrender! And to think I was worried about what others thought of me to the point that I came close to shutting down. With one simple physical act, my soul was forever transformed.

The lifting of hands can signify blessing or thanksgiving or greetings. In fact, one of the words for giving thanks in the Psalms is a word meaning to throw out the hands in front of one’s self in praise and thanksgiving. When we welcome people into our homes, what do we do? We extend the hands in hugs of welcome. We can express both blessing and welcome, both gratitude and honor when we extend our hands before the Lord.

Let me ask you a question. What is your first response when your favorite team scores the winning points in a closely contested sporting event? We naturally lift our hands, fists clenched in triumph when we win. We find it almost unheard of to not do so…yet we fear what others might think of us if we lift our hands in joy over the victory Jesus gave to us when He rose again. That sporting event is not eternal…but the work of the cross IS!

One last example I’d like to give you is what I consider to be the greatest example of all as to why I lift my hands in worship - both public worship and private worship. What did Jesus do for us when He was nailed to the cross, bearing the weight of our sin upon His shoulders? Did He not lift His hands in sacrifice for us? Let us do no less for Him.

You do not have to lift your hands at all. No one will judge you. It does not make you better or worse than anyone else. You do not have to do a thing to earn the love of God. You don’t have to lift a hand. It’s a free gift after all…but I can guarantee this. Your sacrifice of praise will set you free from what people think like nothing else. Jesus lifted His hands in surrender for you. Would you not consider doing the same for Him?

In [1Timothy 2:8 NASB], the Apostle Paul writes, 8 “Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.”

The lifting of hands can signify a setting apart - a holiness - a declaration of our righteous standing before the Lord. He has set us apart for Himself and He has set Himself apart for us. We are His children and we need to reach out to Him with our entire being because He is our Father.

Jesus put it like this in Mark 12:30 in the NASB: 30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’

We are to love Him with our entire being. With our heart. With our soul. With our mind. With our body. We love Him because He first loved us and, remember, He first lifted His hands for us…and we do not have one single nail to contend with.

Dennis Jernigan

To hear The Dennis Jernigan Podcast version of this teaching and to hear the song referred to, got to https://www.patreon.com/posts/we-will-worship-90189812

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