(Audio Book) Lifting Holy Hands In Prayer
George Whitefield exhorts believers to lift holy hands in prayer, joining Christ's eternal intercession with fervent, faith-filled supplication for others.
In this devotional sermon, George Whitefield passionately encourages believers to lift holy hands in prayer, aligning their intercessions with the eternal ministry of Jesus Christ as the great High Priest. He vividly portrays the power and privilege of prayer, urging Christians to pray with faith and earnestness like biblical figures such as Jacob and Abraham. Whitefield highlights the profound blessings that flow from intercessory prayer, both in this life and in the eternal kingdom.
Full Transcript
To provoke you to this great work and labor of love, remember, that it is the never-ceasing employment of the holy and highly exalted Jesus himself, who sits at the right hand of God, to hear all our prayers, and to make continual intercession for us. So that he who is constantly employed in interceding for others, is doing that on earth, which the eternal Son of God is always doing in heaven. Imagine therefore, when you are lifting up holy hands in prayer for one another, that you see the heavens opened, and the Son of God in all his glory, as the great High Priest of your salvation, pleading for you the all-sufficient merit of his sacrifice before the throne of his heavenly Father.
Join then your intercessions with his, and beseech him, that they may, through him, come up as incense, and be received as a sweet-smelling favor, acceptable in the sight of God. This imagination will strengthen your faith, excite a holy earnestness in your prayers, and make you wrestle with God, as Jacob did, when he saw him face to face, and his life was preserved, as Abraham, when he pleaded for Sodom, and as Jesus Christ himself, when he prayed, being in an agony, so much the more earnestly the night before his bitter passion. And now, brethren, what shall I say more, since you are taught of Jesus Christ himself, to abound in love, and in this good work of praying one for another, though ever so mean, though as poor as Lazarus, you will then become benefactors to all mankind, thousands, and twenty times ten thousands, will then be blessed for your sakes.
And after you have employed a few years in this divine exercise here, you will be translated to that happy place, where you have so often wished others might be advanced, and be exalted to sit at the right hand of our all-powerful, all-prevailing Intercessor, in the kingdom of his Heavenly Father hereafter.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Example of Christ's Intercession
- Jesus as the eternal High Priest interceding for us
- Heavenly ministry of Christ at God's right hand
- Our prayers join with Christ's intercession
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II. The Power of Holy Hands Lifted in Prayer
- Imagining the heavens opened and Christ's glory
- Prayers as incense and sweet-smelling favor to God
- Strengthening faith and earnestness in prayer
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III. Biblical Examples of Earnest Prayer
- Jacob wrestling with God for blessing
- Abraham pleading for Sodom
- Jesus praying in agony before His passion
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IV. The Blessings and Rewards of Intercessory Prayer
- Becoming benefactors to many through prayer
- Blessings flowing to thousands on our behalf
- Eternal exaltation with Christ in heaven
Key Quotes
“It is the never-ceasing employment of the holy and highly exalted Jesus himself, who sits at the right hand of God, to hear all our prayers, and to make continual intercession for us.” — George Whitefield
“Join then your intercessions with his, and beseech him, that they may, through him, come up as incense, and be received as a sweet-smelling favor, acceptable in the sight of God.” — George Whitefield
“Though ever so mean, though as poor as Lazarus, you will then become benefactors to all mankind, thousands, and twenty times ten thousands, will then be blessed for your sakes.” — George Whitefield
Application Points
- Approach prayer with the confidence that Christ is interceding on your behalf in heaven.
- Visualize the heavenly reality during prayer to deepen your faith and earnestness.
- Commit to regular intercessory prayer, knowing it blesses many and honors God.