Influencers Weekly Devotional...Heal Our Land

Lifting Up Holy Hands by

Rocky Fleming

"In every place of worship I want men to pray with Holy hands lifted to God free from anger and controversy." 1 Timothy 2:8

Have you ever had a rebuke deep within your soul that was unmistakably the Lord who was doing it? I did. It happened only this morning. It relates to the scripture above about being free from anger and controversy as a condition for being able to lift up holy hands to the Lord. We need to understand that faith can move mountains, and prayer can move God’s heart. But, there can also be conditions in our life that can “dirty” our holy hands and hinder our prayers, such as anger and controversy, especially if it is within a church family. The result of this is that little will be done by God to correct our problems until we get right with each other. Unless we do work together and reconcile our divisions, everyone loses no matter who is at fault. Therefore, it is wise to “let go” of our petty differences for the greater good of the Church, for ourselves, and the people around us who we could influence. The stakes are high, and a sacrifice of pride might be required, but the benefit will be greater. If we will understand that the greater need in our land is that God’s Church in America is able to lift holy hands to Him that are clasped together, then we can see mountains moved for our Nation. How do we do this? We’ve been talking a lot about unity, concerning Christians across America. There is a great need for God’s Church in America to unite and become one in purpose and heart so that our prayers will be heard, and our land can be healed. People often ask me how only one person or one group of people, or a small or even a large church can make a difference in a Country so broad, so diverse, and in such great need. I tell them it starts with the holy hands of the individual that are lifted up, and it then expands to the congregation who lifts their holy hands. Along the way, a unity of spirit and agreement with what needs to be requested emerges. Then we see God move. God loves His children to be in agreement and ask His help, and He delights in answering those prayers. But, we hinder the whole process if anger and controversy exists in us as individuals, or groups. This morning from God’s gentle rebuke, I came to realize that my hands were unclean, and they needed to be washed with repentance so that I could make them holy and lift them upto God. I’m confessing this to you for we all need to realize that it is easy to slip into something that needs to be cleaned up before we approach the Lord in our prayers, or else our prayers will be hindered. Before I go to my knees at the Friday Noon prayer for our Nation we have requested, I realized something first needed to be done by me. I needed to repent. Perhaps it will be the same with you. I will share with you what the Lord rebuked me with, but first some background: I’m sure you have sensed the burden I feel for the Church in America if you have read my last few devotionals. These devotionals have been dedicated to calling out to Christians across America to gather and pray together for our Nation on this Friday at noon. This Friday will be the culmination of our efforts, as Christians gather in churches, schools, offices and homes to pray “in spirit” with other believers. I see this prayer time as a concert of prayer, where we might not be in the same room or building to physically pray together, but we can agree to pray at the same time, and with the same plea, asking God to heal our land. This is what I mean by using the words, “pray in spirit.” In my devotionals, I have pointed to the great need in our Country and the Church. I see that this time in history could be a defining moment for our Country, and the Church in America. Sometimes I feel that time is running out, and if the Church doesn’t rise up for a time such as this, we will miss a great opportunity for our Country, and as well, for the Church herself. Maybe my concern causes me to offer criticism of the direction I see the Church in America taking, and it might come off as negative? If this is the case, I sincerely regret the impression. But never doubt that whenever or whatever I say about the Church, I do so with deep love and respect for her, and with her best interest in my heart. Even so, I have to be on guard, and never forget whom I am speaking of. You see, the Church in America is not just my family in Christ, but most of all she is the Bride of Christ. The Lord is very protective of His bride, and it doesn’t set well with Him to hear her criticized. He alone has the freedom and the responsibility to chastise, rebuke and reproof His bride for her own good. We should never forget that Jesus gave His life for His bride, and it is His responsibility to lead her. He has a vested interest in her. He, as we often say, has skin in the game, and only He has the right to rebuke her … not me … or others. This morning I received a gentle rebuke from the Lord concerning this subject. It wasn’t hard to take, for I believe God knows my heart. He knows my concerns for the Church in America for He inspired them. You see, I believe Christ has the same concerns for His Church that I have, and others like me have. If you too will listen, you will hear other voices across America calling for the Church to return to Him. Therefore, I believe what I have pointed out are legitimate concerns, and they need to be addressed. However, the rebuke I get from God is that I lost His perspective with how to view the Church, and instead replaced it with my own. For instance, when I see the Church in America floundering with its purpose and love for Christ, I have sometimes become critical and even angry with this passivity. However, this is not the way Jesus sees His Church, and He doesn’t rebuke His bride in an angry, critical way, as I would tend to do. Instead, He loves her and gently guides her to see what we are missing by not being the Church He inspired us to be. Here's the problem: What we see today in our land is a country that has lost its moral compass, likely because the Church has lost her compass as well. Jesus would have his bride return to this compass, and it will be good for our Nation if she does. Even so, He must guide the return of the Church, and any major contribution we can make toward this end will be to clean our hands, and lift them up to our King to ask His help. Did I say that it doesn’t set well with Jesus when someone is critical and angry with His bride? I got the message. I mentioned other voices are calling out across America. Billy Graham recently took out a full-length ad in the Wall Street Journal asking Christians in America to vote based on biblical principles. The fact he has initiated a nation-wide campaign, urging Christians throughout the Country to vote based on these distinct values would tell you how Christians can make a positive difference immediately in our land. Dr. Graham is 93 years old and still calling out to America to come to the Lord. God bless him for it. Hopefully, millions of Christians will heed his call. But, I wonder how many people who confess to being a Christian even know what biblical values are? This is why it is essential that the Church in America embraces our sacred responsibility to strengthen our relationship with each other for the long haul, and to teach and practice those biblical values that Dr. Graham speaks of. Will it make a difference in our land? You can count on it! On Friday, November 2nd, we can take a step as a Nation within a Nation to lift holy hands and beseech the Lord on behalf of our Country. Let's do this, and make it a priority by setting this time aside. But, let's also pray for Christ's bride at the same time, and ask God to lead us close to Him. I'll be praying for you Friday.