PRAISE
(THE PATHWAY TO SPIRITUAL VICTORY)
(Phil 4:4 NKJV) "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!"
(Heb 13:15 NKJV) "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."
Introduction:
Focused praise always maintains a correct purpose. Jesus, is always the center of praise and worship to the attentive child of God. The enemy of our walk with the Lord tries, as he always has, to re-direct the focus of our praise and worship. It isn't that he blatantly tempts us to worship him - for he knows that would be wasted effort in most cases. Rather, his temptation is directed to our carnality which, if obeyed, will allow someone or something else to replace the Lord as the center of our attention.
Praise from the heart of an obedient child of God is pleasing to the Lord. A redeemed man or woman proclaims the purest and highest form of praise which humanity can produce. To honor and revere the Lord, to deny fleshly lusts and be pure before Him, to be diligent in attending to Christian service and to regularly worship God with a heart of total obedience is the true purpose of man.
For this reason, the enemy of our praise tries to corrupt our purpose and redirect our attention and adoration to another personality.
For instance, a favorite preacher or evangelist can become the focus of praise. His personality, style, charisma, "anointing" and so forth artfully persuades the careless worshippers that their attentive and adoring emotions are justified for, after all, he is "the man of God."
Remember Paul and Barnabas at the healing of the crippled man in Lystra in the book of Acts, chapter 8 verses 8-18?
(Acts 14:8 NKJV) "And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked."
(Acts 14:9 NKJV) "This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,"
(Acts 14:10 NKJV) "said with a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet!" And he leaped and walked."
(Acts 14:11 NKJV) "Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!""
(Acts 14:12 NKJV) "And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker."
(Acts 14:13 NKJV) "Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes."
(Acts 14:14 NKJV) "But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out"
(Acts 14:15 NKJV) "and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,"
(Acts 14:16 NKJV) ""who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways."
(Acts 14:17 NKJV) ""Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.""
(Acts 14:18 NKJV) "And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them."
Paul and Barnabas, refused to allow the people to deify them and steadfastly pointed them to God. They realized the danger and the foolishness of permitting the people to give the praise which belonged to God to them. Unlike many popular ministers today, Paul was quick to repudiate the praise of the people. Even though a great miracle had just occurred, no praise, no glory, no adoration, no attention belonged to the preachers. It all belonged to God.
In our present day "celebrity conscious" mentality, Paul and Barnabas would be out of sync with the celebratory adulation of the great men of God. Many today drink in the nectar of success as the adoring crowds bow and scrape to give honor to their successful and rich men of God. We are taught that they are examples to model how God will reward those who are faithful to Him.
Satan has tried to divert the praise which belongs to God from the beginning of time. He tried first with the angelic host and was successful with a third of them. Then he worked his scheme on Adam and Eve. Biblical history reveals that he induced people of every generation to design gods of silver and gold, of celestial bodies, of trees, of animals and of other people. He even tried to get Jesus to fall down and worship him, giving him the praise and adoration which belongs to God. He continues to work his schemes and stratagems in our generation using the same techniques with people of every nationality. Idol worship is alive and well in our nation as well as the nations of the world. Our generation bows before the idols of sport, of film, of music, of politics, of business, and of religion.
For some, it is their Denomination, their local church, their heritage, their great music program, their wonderfully gifted choir, their beautiful church furnishings, their outreach ministries, their tithe records, their missions giving, their sophisticated congregation, and the list could go on and on. Foolishly, we praise our achievements and our possessions as though they have some sort of inherent value. We fall into the same snare as others who follow the pattern of Nebuchadnezzar and heap unto ourselves the praise which belongs to the Lord.
Musicians and singers must be alert to the beguiling spirit of pride which arises from the shouts and praises of the adoring crowds. When music becomes a vehicle to catapult a believer into the rarified air of celebrity and shifts the praise from God to the performer, it is no longer an act of worship but is merely a secular performance. Even
if the musician/singer is a Christian, the value of the music is lost when the focus is polluted. Christians who provide music in church services must never allow their worship to be turned into performance. If our preaching or our music is self-serving we are not truly praising God. He must always be the focus; He must always be exalted and praised; He must always get the glory; He must be the One about Whom the people speak when they leave the service.Listen to these provocative verses about praise. This is only a small representation of the many verses in the Bible about praise.
(Psa 9:11 NKJV) "Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people."
(Psa 32:2 NKJV) "Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit."
(Psa 34:1 NKJV) "I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth."
(Psa 40:3 NKJV) "He has put a new song in my mouth; Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD."
(Luke 19:37 NKJV) "Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen,"
(Luke 19:38 NKJV) "saying: " 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!""
(Luke 19:39 NKJV) "And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.""
(Luke 19:40 NKJV) "But He answered and said to them,
"I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.""(1 Pet 2:9 NKJV) "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;"
(1 Pet 2:10 NKJV) "who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy."
Jack Hayford, pastor of the great Church on the Way in Los Angeles, writes the following commentary about 1st Peter 2:9. He says, "The spirit of worship is essential to all advance of the Kingdom. Just as ancient Israel will only take the Promised Land while doing battle from a foundation of righteous worship before the Lord, so with the contemporary church. We will only experience promised power for evangelism and spiritual victories as we prioritize and grow in our worship of the living God. Kingdom power is kept from pollution this way, as Kingdom people keep humbly praiseful before the King - and witness His works of power with joy."
(taken from commentary in the Spirit Filled Bible)
In an Old Testament battle, Israel experienced the fear destroying power of praise. They were surrounded by their enemies and were threatened with annihilation. The great soldiers of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir were fierce in their hatred of the Israelites. The Spirit of the Lord spoke to a Levite Priest and said that the battle belonged to the Lord and they should not fear. (Might I remind you that your battle is not yours. It belongs to the Lord and you ought not to fear.) Listen as I read from 2nd Chronicles 20:16-22
(2 Chr 20:16 NKJV) "'Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel."
(2 Chr 20:17 NKJV) "'You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you.""
(2 Chr 20:18 NKJV) "And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the LORD, worshiping the LORD."
(2 Chr 20:19 NKJV) "Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with voices loud and high."
(2 Chr 20:20 NKJV) "So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.""
(2 Chr 20:21 NKJV) "And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever.""
(2 Chr 20:22 NKJV) "Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated."
We must learn to praise the Lord in beauty and holiness because praising Him will be the primary activity in heaven. Listen to these revealing words of Scripture which give us a glimpse into that eternal praise gathering.
(Rev 5:11 NKJV) "Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,"
(Rev 5:12 NKJV) "saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!""
(Rev 7:11 NKJV) "All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,"
(Rev 7:12 NKJV) "saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.""
(Rev 11:17 NKJV) "saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned."
(Rev 15:3 NKJV) "They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!"
(Rev 19:5 NKJV) "Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!""
(Psa 100:1 NKJV) "Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!"
(Psa 100:2 NKJV) "Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing."
(Psa 100:3 NKJV) "Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture."
(Psa 100:4 NKJV) "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name."
(Psa 100:5 NKJV) "For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations."
B. How can I overcome the flesh and enter into His presence with praise? (John 16:13; Col. 3:16)
(John 16:13 NKJV)
""However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."(Col 3:16 NKJV) "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
C. How do I know when my praise and worship is accepted? (2nd Chronicles 7:14; Matthew 7:7-8)
(2 Chr 7:14 NKJV) ""if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
(Mat 7:7 NKJV)
""Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."(Mat 7:8 NKJV)
""For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."
D. What should I do after I have experienced His Holy touch? (Col. 3:12-17)
(Col 3:12 NKJV) "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;"
(Col 3:13 NKJV) "bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do."
(Col 3:14 NKJV) "But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection."
(Col 3:15 NKJV) "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful."
(Col 3:16 NKJV) "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
(Col 3:17 NKJV) "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."