Praise

Title: Praise

Text:

Isaiah 43:21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

Psalm 107:8 "O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men"

Rev. 3:15 "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold or hot, I would thou wert cold or hot".

Introduction:

The Bible expresses that God has created us to PRAISE THE lord, the scripture also tells us that God desires that we would recognize his works and that we would give him the credit for it in our life.

PRAISE IS NOT JUST SOME ASPECT OF CHURCH THAT MEN THOUGHT UP.

it is a divinely ordained unconditional expression on our part

That if practiced by us

-- will draw us closer to God

-- and according to scripture it will draw God closer to us.

Ps 22:3

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

Proposition:

The purpose of my message is to encourage us to praise the Lord that we might enjoy the benefits and pleasure of this aspect of our worship toward God.

And I want to deal with this subject by asking the question What is Praise?

Prayer

I. What is Praise?

1. Praise by definition is: "an expression of approval or commendation; applause”

- it is getting hilariously excited

-I WILL NEVER FORGET BEING AT The High school football GAME..

WE HAD DECIDED TO GO TO THE LAST HIGH SCHOOL GAME OF THE SEASON. AT THE FOURTH QUARTER THE THERE WAS A 70 YARD CONVERSION FOR A TOUCH DOWN.

Do you know what happened

-We are a people formed to give praise,

We know how to give praise.

And people including me went wild

- we use words

-clap

-we smile

-cheer

-We even become FANATICAL.

OH THAT WE COULD GET AS EXCITED ABOUT GOD AS WE DO ABOUT FOOTBALL

2. The Bible tells us the manner in which we should show our praise to God!

None of these ways include reserved silence.

there is a times for silent meditation

Meditation is a different aspect of our life with God,

Meditation is not praise................

EXPRESSING YOUR PRAISE INCLUDES

Clapping -- Psalm 47:1 Clap your hands all ye people, shout unto God with a voice of triumph".

Lifting up your hands -- Psalm 134:2 "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord".

(that doesnt sound like a suggestion.)

Singing - Psalm 100:2 -- "come before him with Joyful song"

Ephesians 5:18-20 "Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord"

Verbal Praise - Psalm 100 "Shout for Joy all the earth, worship the Lord with gladness

(Modern americans have a very limited vocabulary so I created a Praise word List.....................)

praise is an expression of approval, commendation, and applause to God.

Isaiah 43:21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

Psalm 107:8 "O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men"

secondly praise is...

II. Thanksgiving to God for blessings received and the reporting of those blessings to others

a. The testimony of God’s goodness toward you should be an unceasing proclamation.

Isaiah 62:6 "I have posted watchmen on the walls., o Jerusalem they will never be silent day or night, You who call on the Lord give yourselves no rest".

When my father in law pastored in Nebraska. There was an old fellow -- who had been kicked in the head by a mule as a small boy. One day he recieved Christ.

His regular testimony was "we just can’t thank him enough" ...And he was right

also

b. Praise for What God is doing in your life should be shared in the home.

Mark 5:19 (demon possessed man) "go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has for you, and how he has had mercy on you.

--our faith and testemony needs to go beyond, sunday morning.

c. our testimony and Thanksgiving to God should be proclaimed in the assembly.

Ephesians 5:19 "Speak to one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.

Thirdly praise is...

III a response of faith toward his precious promises.

I believe in positive confession.

• If his promise to heal you is true then you need to thank and praise him for it.

• If you believe his promise to deliver you is true then you need to thank and praise him for it.

• If you trust him to guide you then you need to thank and praise him for it.