# With high hands

Category: Obedience to God’s Will
Key Passage: Ephesians 5:14
Speaker: Oliver Araiza
Date: April 24, 2022

You sinners, purify out your hearts, you double-minded. Thank God.

Listen, because God gives us second chances, we can walk out of the condemnation of those things and get a second chance with God, a third, a fourth, and even more.

God’s word says to the sleepy believer that’s caught up in this world, it’s time to wake up. Ephesians chapter 4:14: “Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

And I’m telling you, my friend, to all of you that are just on the edge—you’ve got one foot in the world and one foot barely in the church. You’re just really, you’re not all the way in. You know that it’s important, but you’re not all the way in. I’m telling you right now, we’re running out of time. Can you look around and see what’s going on in this world? We’re running out of time.

If you’re going to get busy for God, it’s time to do it now. We’re running out of time.

And thank God we can walk out of that because God gives second chances. And then lastly, I’m not going to belabor this, but I want to mention it because of the rapture of the saints. We will fly out of the sin-cursed, hell-bent world with a high hand. Oh, listen, I believe in the rapture. I believe it, and I believe that it’s pre-tribulation. You know, the million-dollar question is this:

We just don’t know how bad it’s going to get before the rapture takes place. I’m telling you, listen, when this so-called pandemic was declared upon our nation and the world, I began to see America say, “Oh, God, deliverance! This is horrible!”

And I’m telling you, we hadn’t done much suffering in America at all. There are hundreds and thousands of people dying every day for their faith. And then all of a sudden the government says you can’t go to church, and 30% of the people that left our church are probably not coming back.

I’m telling you, there’s nothing that has brought in a Laodicean spirit within the church like all this nonsense that we’ve happened. And they’re lying every time they speak about something. There’s nothing but lies. They lie about everything.

All this carbon emission, this global warming carbon emission nonsense. I mean, they want to tell us that they just—I want to just tell you what kind of lies they tell us and how people believe it. They believe it. They tell us that they want to bring carbon emissions down to zero. Do you know what it takes to grow plants? It takes carbon. It takes CO2 to grow plants.

If anybody has ever had a greenhouse, if you want to accelerate your plants to grow, you can create CO2 in your greenhouse, and it will accelerate your tomatoes, your peppers. You’re talking about producing some peppers and tomatoes and cucumbers. You give them the right CO2 amount. You see, we breathe in oxygen and we breathe out carbon dioxide. Plants breathe in carbon dioxide.

We have to have carbon dioxide for the plants to grow, for the trees to grow. And they want to tell us that they want to bring carbon dioxide level down to zero? You better wake up! “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise in Christ, thou give thee light.”

If God saved you, if He redeemed you, live for God, serve God, read the Bible, pray with your family, tithe to your local church, and get busy for God. I’m telling you, we’re about to leave this world with a high hand, amen. I’m leaving this world by way of the rapture or death. I’d like to go by way of the rapture, amen. I don’t have to pay for that ticket. Jesus already paid for that one, amen. I’m telling you, listen, we’re out of here one of these days. Amen. Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep. That means we’re not going to all die. And by the way, the Apostle Paul said we…

So it seems to me that the Apostle Paul was expecting to live through the rapture himself. Was Paul confused? Did Paul think that he was in the midst of the tribulation period? So you cannot put the rapture anywhere within the tribulation period. The tribulation period timeline is so laid out that you could precisely know when the rapture is going to take place. And God says you’re not going to know. It’s going to come at an instant.

The rapture is pre-tribulation. We don’t know how bad it’s going to get before that takes place, but I know one thing, amen: We’re not going to be a part of the Antichrist system. “Behold, I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep. We shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead in Christ shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” Isn’t that going to be a glorious change? Amen. First Thessalonians 2:10:

“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?”

How about 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verse 16? “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” Then we which are alive… Once again, was Paul confused? Was Paul delirious? Did he think that he was in the midst of the tribulation period and was going to expect the rapture there? No, it wasn’t because the rapture is pre-trib.

He says, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together to meet them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Comfort one another with these words. Isn’t that absolutely wonderful?

Because of the rapture of the saints, we will fly out of this sin-cursed world with a high hand. I don’t know if I’m going out double-fisted or fingertips or whatever, amen. But I’m telling you, I am leaving this place and I am going to shout it out, amen! Glory to God, hallelujah!

This world is a symbol—this Egypt is a symbol of the world. It has afflicted God’s people. It’s put them in bondage for all these years. It hates what we stand for.

Amen, but we can live our lives by the high hand principle because we are winners because of Jesus Christ. I didn’t know this, but back in 2002, a group of college people organized what they call the National High Five Day. It really is a true thing, National High Five Day. And for a 24-hour period, they want to give their friends and strangers alike as many high fives as humanly possible. And some people use it as a fundraising event. Amen? You know, like you give $100 for every high five? Oh, well, maybe a dollar. All right. For every high five, they give it to a certain cause. It might be something you want to do for your school there. Amen. Have a high-five fundraiser for the Rutherford County Christian School, but as many high fives as possible in the 24-hour period.

Now, I know that a high five is not in the Bible, but a high hand is. And probably a high five—I’m sorry, I’ve had surgery on my knee, and it gets stiff after all that preaching up there—but about the closest thing we have is that, amen, that’s a high hand. When you give a high five like that, that’s just kind of victory, man. That’s like, you know what I’m talking about? Come on, boys. Let me have a high five, son. Here we go. Come on. That’s victorious. Amen. So maybe every morning, Brother Jack, you need to say, “Good morning, beautiful. Give me a high five.” That’s what he told me. He says every morning, amen.

I mean, we need to look at our kids and start the day out with a high five because we’re winners, amen? Because of Jesus, I walked out of the bondage of sin with a high hand. And then he says, “All right, so you messed up, I’ll give you another chance.” And I think that’s pretty worthy, amen? What are these picking fingers here? I won’t hurt them, amen? High five. Praise the Lord, and one of these days, maybe we’ll get to give Jesus a high five, amen. Lord Jesus, living by the high hand principle because we are winners.

One of the men quoted the verse yesterday, the one about Christ who giveth us the victory. We’re not fighting for victory. You know, this world right here, it’s not our home. We know who is the ruler of this world that we’re living right now. I don’t think that God wants us to just lay over and be wimps about it. I mean, it is by very nature to fight against this stuff. I wake up every day. I just want to fight the wicked system. I got grandkids, kids that I love, and I want them to enjoy free America, and I’m just—I’m a fighter. I mean, it’s just the way I’m just made that way. Fight for freedom for right. One of these days, we’re leaving it all behind.

They want a world without Christ. They want a world without Christians. They’re going to get it, and I guarantee you somewhere down the line, they’re probably going to miss us because we have been the ones that have been fighting for the things that are right and true and godly: for life, for family, for righteousness and holiness, not all this woke nonsense, this critical race theory baloney. Well, that baloney—fried baloney—I heard it was pretty good. That baloney was so good yesterday, they didn’t even believe me. But don’t worry, the preacher made it up. He bought me a plate of ribs, amen. I mean, that’s like going out with a high hand, amen, or a high bone.

Folks, God’s good to us. Let’s respond to His goodness. Let’s live in victory. Let’s be in our Bibles, praying with our family, passing out gospel tracts, winning souls, giving tithes and offerings, finding a place to serve. Because we want to leave this place with a high hand in victory.

Now, for that to happen, you’ve got to be born again. And to be born again, you’ve got to come to the realization that you are a sinner before God.

God looks at us, and He either sees us in Christ or He sees us in Adam. Adam was the first sinner, and Eve was his wife, our first parent. You see, the Bible says, “As in Adam all die.” When you’re born into this world, you are born a child of Adam and Eve. They are your descendants. And if your connection only goes back to Adam, here’s what you receive from Adam: sin, condemnation, and judgment. You’re born into this world as a sinner. You’re going to be judged for your sins, and you’re going to be condemned to a Christless eternity.

But then you have a chance to change your identity by faith. “For as in Adam all die, but in Christ shall all be made alive.” When you put your faith and trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sin and the saving of your soul, your whole identity changes. That’s why it says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” Your identity changes. You see, your federal headship when you’re born into this world is Adam. But when you get born again, it all changes.

When it says, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away,” that’s what it means—literally, theologically, doctrinally. It means his old identification with Adam: sinner, judgment, condemnation, separation from God. “Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” I have a new Savior. I have a new family. I have a new relationship. I have a new eternity, amen. I’m created in a new man, all because of Jesus. So if you’re going to live in victory, you have to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

And you’re here this morning and you have never been born again, then God is going to give you a chance to be born again. You just need to respond to His promptings, amen. And I promise you, there is not a better place in all the world than right here to be saved. There isn’t an easier place in all the world to be saved right here. Everybody that’s here, every member of this church, they will be glad for you. I mean, I have seen Sunday school teachers, religious people, leaders in the church get saved, and they all thought, “Oh, what is everybody going to say when I get saved?” I tell you what they’re going to say: “Amen! Hallelujah! They got saved!” Amen. Because that’s what we’re all about.

I’m going to ask some questions, and I want you to be honest. Because if you’re not honest, you’re never going to get the help that you need. Amen? I mean, how many think you ought to be honest, especially at church? Amen? All right, so here’s a question. Number one, here’s the first question: Do you know for sure you’re going to heaven when you die, or do you have doubts about it? How many of you say, “Brother Oliver, I know for sure that I’m going to heaven because I’ve been saved”? Hold your hand up. Don’t hold your hand up if you’re not saved. Don’t lie about it. The Bible says all liars shall have their part in a lake of fire. If you lie about that, you’re going to bust hell wide open unless you get saved. If you’re not saved, don’t try to fake it, okay, because you’re not going to make it. You’ve got to be honest. If you won’t be honest about that, you’re never going to get the help that you need. Isn’t it wonderful to be saved? Praise the Lord, man. That’s living life by the high hand. That establishes it all. Amen.

Let’s stand to our feet with our heads bowed and eyes closed. Every head bowed, every eye closed. Let’s pray together as we go into this invitation time. Before we go to prayer, I want to ask a few questions. First of all, let me ask you this: How many this morning say, “Preacher, would you pray for me?” I wanted to raise my hand while ago that I’m a Christian, or maybe I even did, but I know I shouldn’t have, but I’m not really truly saved. I cannot go back to a time and place where I know I got born again. I certainly don’t want to go to hell. I believe that Jesus Christ is God’s Son. I believe that He died on the cross and rose from the grave. I believe that. And I want to be saved, and I want to know that I’m saved. And preacher, I believe that God is speaking to my heart about being saved. God is speaking to me about needing to be saved right now. Would you pray for me? Who this morning is like that? Would you lift your hand up real high? “Pray for me, preacher. I need to be saved.” God bless you. God bless anybody else. God bless you good. I need to be saved. I need to be saved. God is speaking to my heart. I need to be saved.

I’m going to ask Pastor Chisgar, would you come right here? Stand right here in front of the Lord’s Supper table and face the crowd. And while our heads are bowed and eyes are closed, I’m going to ask this precious soul that raised her hand—would you look at me? God bless you. Raise your hand. Would you look at me, ma’am? You raised your hand? Thank you so much. Would you slip to the aisle and meet Pastor Chisgar right here? Someone will take the Bible and show you how to get saved. If somebody needs to come with you, God bless you. Thank you so much for listening so well. While our heads are bowed and eyes are closed, who else? “Preacher, pray for me, I need to be saved.” I need to be saved. God spoke to me, too. Anybody else slip out right now? Let’s take care of it right now. Come on. Who’s going to be next? Who’s going to be next?

All right, with our heads bowed and eyes closed, who hears this: “Preacher, would you pray for me? I’m a backslider. I’ve gotten far out of God’s will, and my life isn’t even really counting for Jesus right now. I’m so caught up in the world. The world, as bad as I hate to admit it, it’s put me in bondage. It’s afflicted me. I know it hates me, wants to take everything that’s good and godly, wants to take away from me.” Listen, I just need to—I need to surrender to the Lord again. I need to rededicate my life to the Lord, afresh and anew. I know that God is speaking to my heart. I know He speaks to my heart. “Pray for me. I need to rededicate my life to the Lord.” Who’s like that? Would you lift your hand up right now? Let me pray for you. Anybody like that? “Pray for me, Brother Oliver, I need to rededicate my life to the Lord.” Anybody? Anybody?

All right. While our heads are bowed and eyes are closed, others—would you pray for me? God has spoken to my heart this morning. There are just some areas in my life where I just felt a tug by the Holy Ghost of God about my spiritual life, about my attitude, about my service, about my testimony. And I thank God for His prompting, His conviction in my life. But I sense it this morning. And I see your hand. Would you lift it up real high? Let me have a prayer for you. Wonderful. Thank you so much. Wonderful. Many hands. Many hands. Many hands. Thank you. God bless you. It has always been such a humble church.

I’m going to ask the Lord’s blessing on this invitation. By the way, before we go there, let me ask this: Are there others that say, “Preacher, I’ve been saved, but I’ve never been baptized since I’ve been saved, and now that I’m saved, I need to follow the Lord and be baptized”? Could I see your hand? Would you lift it up real high? There’s a young man right there. God bless you, son. Anybody else? “Pray for me, preacher, I need to be baptized.”

All right, young man, would you look at me for a minute? Look at me. God bless you, son. Thank you so much for being honest. Would you slip to the aisle and meet the preacher right here, and have him pray with you? You can find out a time to get baptized as soon as possible, make Christ happy, and be obedient to Him. God bless you, son. Thank you very much.

Now let’s be humbled to the Lord. If He prompted, if He spoke to our hearts, let’s respond to Him. Amen? Let’s live life. We’re going to live with the high hand principle. We’re on the winning side because of Jesus.

Father, we pray now for the invitation time. Thank you, Lord, for being so good to us, dear God. Thank you for speaking to hearts. All the hands that were raised, oh, these precious souls that came to be saved, this young man for baptism. Maybe there are others who need to come for church membership or other reasons. Would you just do a great work in our hearts right now? Help us to be humble, dear God. Help us to be responsive. As parents, we want our children to be responsive to us, and as Your children, we need to be responsive to You as our Heavenly Father. Bless us. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Original File: With high hands - Dr. Oliver Araiza - Sunday AM 04242022