Day 1: Lifted hands release God's power in battle.
When the Israelites went into battle, the leader's posture of worship correlated with the nation's victory; lifting hands became both a surrender and a strategic invitation for God to move on their behalf, and when Moses’ arms grew tired the people refused to let him stop, steadying his hands so the battle would not be lost — a picture that when believers keep their hands lifted to God, they hand the fight over to the One whose power wins the war. [01:03:11]
Exodus 17:8-13 (NASB) 8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out, fight with Amalek; tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” 10 Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 It came about when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed, and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands were heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other; and his hands were steady until the sunset. 13 So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
Reflection: What battle in your life are you still holding onto instead of lifting to God, and who in your community can you ask today to stand beside you and help keep your hands lifted in prayer while you trust God to fight?
Day 2: Thirst for God leads to expressive gratitude.
When a soul truly thirsts for God in the dry and weary places, worship becomes the natural overflow — not performance but response; the experience of God's lovingkindness stirs lips to praise and hands to rise, because encountering His goodness compels someone to bless Him as long as they live and to lift up hands in His name. [51:50]
Psalm 63:1-4 (NASB) A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. 1 O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You. 4 So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
Reflection: Identify one dry place in your heart this week where you can intentionally pursue God (a short prayer time, Scripture reading, or quiet worship), and tonight, after that time, raise your hands and speak one specific sentence of gratitude aloud to the Lord.
Day 3: Come to Jesus to worship, not receive.
The Magi modeled a posture that flips entitlement: they followed a star not to take but to give; coming to Jesus was about worship and offering, not demanding benefits — so this Christmas season the posture to practice is, “I have something for Him,” bringing time, praise, generosity and devotion rather than treating God as a gumball machine to get what one wants. [38:37]
Matthew 2:1-2 (NASB) 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we observed His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
Reflection: This week, pick one thing you usually expect God to “do for you” (an answered need, comfort, favor) and instead prepare a simple act of giving — a note of thanks to someone, a gift to a neighbor, or an hour of service — that expresses worship and brings something to Jesus first today.
Day 4: Pray with holy, lifted hands without division.
Prayer with lifted, holy hands is a commanded spiritual posture that should be free of anger and dissension; lifting hands isn’t about showmanship but about unified, humble devotion that focuses attention on God, and when believers pray this way together it removes personal agendas and invites God’s presence to move among them. [54:11]
1 Timothy 2:8 (NASB) 8 Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.
Reflection: Right now, examine any anger, bitterness, or division in a relationship — name one step you can take today to remove that barrier (a phone call, an apology, a prayer), then intentionally lift your hands and pray for unity in that relationship before the day ends.
Day 5: Lifted hands are an offering of worship.
Raised hands are described as an offering like incense or the evening sacrifice — a vulnerable, generous act of giving back time, energy, and attention to God; when hands go up in honest surrender the worshiper places everything before the Lord, trusting that God sees, meets, and responds to that offering. [59:57]
Psalm 141:1-2 (NASB) A Psalm of David. 1 O LORD, I call upon You; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to You! 2 Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.
Reflection: Today, set aside three uninterrupted minutes where you physically lift your hands and offer a simple prayer of surrender (name a habit, a fear, or a hope) to the Lord, then write down what you offered and one concrete next step to live out that surrender this week.
Sermon Summary
Today we stepped into the Christmas season with a single aim: let us adore Him. Matthew tells us that the child’s name is Emmanuel—God with us. That changes how we approach worship and prayer; we’re not trying to talk God into showing up. He’s already here. So we opened the altar as a place of strength, not to convince heaven, but to meet the God who never walked away, whether we came in celebrating or exhausted. We looked at the Magi who came not to get something from Jesus, but to bring something to Him. That’s the posture I’m calling us to this Christmas—coming to give, not just to receive.
We talked about lifted hands: biblical, yes, but also deeply logical. We’re expressive with touchdowns and milestones; why would we grow quiet before the Savior? Still, worship isn’t about drawing attention to ourselves; it’s about giving God our head’s attention and our heart’s affection. Psalm 63 paints the picture—dry seasons don’t mute praise; they refine it. Lifted hands can be dependence, like a child saying “hold you,” and they can be an offering, the most vulnerable posture of surrender. In Exodus 17, Israel prevailed as long as Moses’ hands were raised—victory came through worship, not just warfare. And when his arms got tired, friends held them up. That’s the kind of community we’re building: relationships that won’t let you stop worshiping when life gets heavy.
So let’s approach Christmas differently. Not “God, what do you have for me?” but “God, here’s what I have for You.” Let’s bring lifted hands, open hearts, and generous lives. Let’s fill the room with individual worship that becomes a corporate fire. And for those ready to begin with Jesus today, this is the moment of surrender—new life doesn’t wait for a calendar flip. Emmanuel is here. Let us adore Him.
Key Takeaways
1. Emmanuel: God with us now God’s presence isn’t a reward for strong days or withheld on hard ones. Emmanuel means He is already here, walking with us through anger, grief, confusion, and joy. That truth invites a response—worship, surrender, and trust—not performance. You’re not trying to summon Him; you’re learning to receive Him. [20:54]
2. Come to give, not get The Magi didn’t arrive asking, “What can He do for me?” They came to bring worship, not to negotiate outcomes. Entitlement grows when we imagine God exists for us; gratitude grows when we remember we exist for Him. This Christmas, bring your worship as a gift, not a transaction. [41:57]
3. Lifted hands: surrender and victory Raised hands are both an offering and a strategy. In Exodus 17, Israel prevailed while Moses’ hands were up—worship aligned them with God’s action. Surrender doesn’t excuse passivity; it places our effort under His authority. Victory often comes through the humility to worship while we fight. [59:57]
4. Worship is response, not preference We don’t praise because we like a song; we praise because we know His character. When we remember His lovingkindness, our lips follow with gratitude, even in dry seasons. Worship reorders our loves and dethrones our preferences. It’s attention and affection set rightly on God. [54:11]
5. Community holds up weary hands Moses’ strength failed, but his worship didn’t—because friends refused to let his arms fall. Real spiritual friendship doesn’t coddle resignation; it sustains devotion. Seek relationships that steady your posture toward God when your strength is gone. We win battles together. [65:38]
Bible reading (NASB) - Matthew 2:1–2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
Observation questions (3–4)
Read Matthew 2:1–2. What do the Magi’s words and actions show about their purpose in coming to Jesus? What stands out about their posture?
The preacher contrasted two postures for coming to Jesus: coming to “get” versus coming to “give.” How does that contrast show up in ordinary church attendance or holiday habits? (See the sermon point: “come to give, not get.” [41:57])
In the Exodus 17 story the sermon used, Israel prevailed while Moses’ hands were raised and lost when his hands dropped. What concrete detail in that story links worship to victory? (See the sermon reference to Moses’ raised hands and Israel’s victory. [59:57])
Psalm 63 was quoted about thirsting for God in a dry land. What does the Psalm say the worshipper experiences even in a dry season? (See the sermon use of Psalm 63 as a model for praise in hard times. [51:50])
Interpretation questions (3–4)
If a believer treats God like He exists primarily to serve the believer, how does that theology change the believer’s prayers and expectations? How should that theology be corrected in practice? (Sermon challenge: “we are here for Him, not He for us.” [41:57])
The sermon presented raised hands as both surrender and a strategic act in spiritual struggle (Moses’ hands). What does it mean for worship to be a strategy? How might that reshape what a believer chooses to do when facing a hard situation? ([59:57])
The preacher argued that real spiritual friends “hold up your hands” when you’re weary. What practical church structures or practices would help create that kind of friendship rather than permitting isolation or defeat? ([01:05:38])
Psalm 63 shows praise coming from a thirsty soul. What is the difference between praising because of warm feelings and praising because of remembered truth about God? How does that difference affect authenticity in a believer’s worship life? ([51:50])
Application questions (5–7)
The pastor invited the church to “come to give, not get” this Christmas. ([41:57]) Name one thing you will intentionally give to Jesus this season (time, a gift of service, a generous act, attention in worship). When will you do it and how will you make it happen?
Raised hands were taught as both surrender and a weapon of dependency on God. ([59:57]) In a current struggle (job stress, a relationship, health, fear), what specific “lifted hands” action will you take this week (a set time of worship, a spoken surrender prayer, a worship song playlist)? Schedule it now.
The sermon said friends should refuse to let your hands drop. ([01:05:38]) Who are two people you will invite into the role of “holding up your hands”? How will you ask them (call, text, meet), and what would you ask them to do concretely?
Worship was defined as “what gets my head’s attention and my heart’s affection.” ([51:50]) Identify one recurring worry or distraction that steals your attention from God. What truth about God will you replace it with, and how will you remind yourself each day (phone note, alarm, Scripture card)?
The altar was described as a “place of strength” to meet God, not to persuade God to show up. ([23:20]) If you haven’t visited an altar or set-apart place to meet God recently, plan when you will go in the next seven days and what you will bring (a list of needs, a song, a simple surrender).
The sermon encouraged corporate worship as a way to “attract” God’s presence when many individuals worship together. ([01:07:15]) What concrete step will you take to be present and engaged in corporate worship over the next month (arrive early, sit in the same spot, sing aloud, turn off phone)? Pick one measurable change.
For those who are not yet following Jesus, the message offered a moment to surrender and start new life. ([01:09:39]) If this applies to you or someone in your group, what first step will be taken in the next 48 hours (speak with a leader, pray the prayer aloud with someone, join a Gospel conversation)? Name who will help and when it will happen.
Notes for the group leader - Start by reading Matthew 2:1–2 aloud. Keep the discussion focused on honest, practical next steps. Encourage people to name specific dates/times and accountability partners for their application answers.
Sermon Clips
``I don't know about you but that gives me so much hope in my life that no matter who I am, no matter what I've been through, no matter what I do in my life, God is with us. We're not coming to the altar today to pray to a God that we might be able to convince to show up. He's already here today. We're not worshiping today hoping that maybe God likes what we're doing and he's going to show. He's already in your life today. He's already God with us, Jesus, Emmanuel, right where you are. He loves you right where you are but too much to leave you there and he walks with us in the journey.
[00:20:19]
(38 seconds)
#GodWithUs
What if it was about bringing and not getting? Here’s a truth, the theological truth in our lives and sometimes we can miss this really basic truth of God: God is not here for us, we are here for him. When we get that truth mixed up, hey God, you’re here for me, here’s where our prayers go: God, I need you to do, hey God, I need you to make this happen, hey God, this needs to take place, hey God. And what happens is entitlement creeps in because I think the Savior of the universe is here for me.
[00:41:10]
(33 seconds)
#GodFirstNotMe
You can't really, watch this, I don't believe that you can really fully experience the love of God in your life and not worship him. Let me ask it this way, how can I experience the goodness of God in a full way and not show gratitude in my life for that? Because here's what worship is, it's our response. Worship is response, it's a response to who he is and what he's done. And when I understand who he is and I remember what he's done, worship is a natural response to go, God, just thank you.
[00:54:53]
(33 seconds)
#WorshipIsResponse
Whenever I lift up my hands, whenever I'm worshiping God, can I tell you what it is? It's me offering back to God energy and time and everything that he's put in my body to go, hey God, I'm here, man, you're number one, I love you. Watch this, the most vulnerable position you'll have in your life is this, you're open to all types of attacks at that point, at that moment, physically, spiritually and everything, but here's the beauty, you're not the one fighting the battles.
[00:59:45]
(28 seconds)
#HandsUpTrustGod
When my hands are up, he's fighting the battles, not me. Man, I get to worship him, I get to spend time with the one that loves me. I think one of the greatest examples of this, illustrative stories if you will, is in Exodus chapter 17, it's a real story but it illustrates something powerful. In Exodus chapter 17, Moses is talking to Joshua and he looks at Joshua and they're about to fight the Amalekites and Moses tells Joshua, he says, hey, go choose for yourself good men, go choose some good men and go fight Amalek.
[01:00:14]
(34 seconds)
#WorshipWinsBattles
The leader of the nation, the longer he worshiped, the more the nation prevailed. Why? Hey God, it's not on me right now, it's all on you. God, I'm giving you all the attention. Hey dad, will you show up and fight this battle? You called us to it, bring us through it. Hey God, do what you can only do. Hey God, I'll do what only I can do, that's lifting my hands, that's worshiping you, that's giving you the praise. Hey God, I'm going to do that, now you do what only you can do, you fight the battle.
[01:01:44]
(26 seconds)
#DoYourPartGodDoesHis
Many of us don't build relationships that are deep enough that somebody will look at you and go, hey, life's kind of heavy on you right now, why don't you sit down for a minute, yeah, that's good, I'm tired man, no, no, I didn't say sit and wallow, I said sit down because I'm gonna hold your hands up, I'm not gonna let you stop worshiping, I'm not gonna let you step down, I'm not gonna let you stop being generous, I'm not gonna let you stop serving, I'm not gonna let you stop inviting and praying and believing and having faith and trusting God.
[01:05:46]
(29 seconds)
#HoldEachOtherUp
Some of us need some relationships that'll actually hold our hands up instead of pushing them down and wallow in self-pity and just looking at us and going, you know what, you got a point, you don't have to like them, you don't have to like that, it's okay, God understands your heart. They need to look at you and go, no, hold your hands up because God's better than your circumstance and God's better than your feelings and God's better than your thing, we're gonna worship together.
[01:06:22]
(22 seconds)
#LiftEachOtherInFaith
See, there's victory, traditionally lifted hands mean victory or surrender, and as believers we get to worship in both. We get to worship and we get to celebrate victory through surrender. It's an amazing thing, when I surrender my life to Jesus, it ain't on me anymore, it's on him. I'll do what only I can do and I'll watch him do what only he can do. I'm not in charge of that part, he is, are you with me today?
[01:06:45]
(37 seconds)
#VictoryThroughSurrender
What would happen at this Christmas, we don't attract God with decor and with lights and like do all that, it's great, but we're not trying to attract God with that, we're attracting God with worship, with a worshipful heart. I love what Matthew 18:20 says, it says where two or three are gathered, there he will be also. I just, I like to think of it like this, if my individual worship attracts God, imagine what would happen whenever we fill the rooms and we all individually worship together.
[01:07:23]
(38 seconds)
#WorshipTogether
