The Sacrifice Of Praise Series

THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE

INTRODUCTION

• Good morning to all of you and also to those who are tuning in online.

• My latest sermon two weeks ago was entitled SOP (Source of Perseverance)

• Something that we need to realize in the midst of our storm and challenges.

• We need to Persevere in God’s Purpose, with God’s Presence, and for God’s Glory.

• Today the passage is taken from Hebrews 13:15-16.

Let’s look at it,

Hebrews 13:15-16 (NKJV)

15 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. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

• Let’s pray and commit this time to the Lord.

• Today I want to share about “Sacrifice of Praise”.

• So whenever you remember the word SOP, you will remember Source of Perseverance or Sacrifice of Praise.

• This word “praise” appeared 238 times in the whole Bible of NKJV.

• Not just the Old Testament, especially in the book of Psalms.

• Even in the New Testament, not just happening in the world but even in Heaven, the angels are praising God.

• We probably heard about this word in the church context as in “praise and worship”.

• Sometimes it might give us the impression that we praise God only when we are happy, the song is more upbeat, the worship leader will be jumpier.

• But it’s more than that.

IMPORTANCE OF PRAISE IN THE CHURCH.

• Praising God in the service is important, the singing part is not a prelude for the sermon.

• The singing part is not an appetizer, it is as important as the preaching of the word.

• That’s part of our sacrifice of praise unto God.

• Praising God is the giving part,

• Preaching of the Word is the receiving part.

• But if we are not careful, we might come only with a receiving attitude when we’re also supposed to give God the praise and honor that He deserves.

• Today I want to preach about this topic of Praise in a simple way and I pray that the Holy Spirit will help you to understand.

• In order to do that, I want to go old school way to expound on that particular verses, and may it be a Rhema to us.

• First, I want to look at the question, WHY?

• Everything we do, without the why, we lose the meaning and the significances of that particular action.

• Because last time I thought praise song is to wake the members up from their morning sleepiness before going into the real worship.

• I’m sure you know better because you have a great teacher in your midst. Ps. Joseph.

• So we want to look at the Question,

Why do we praise God?

• When I think about the reasons to praise God.

• That’s just too much to count.

• If you just think about Who He is, What He has done, and What He is able to do.

• You can fill in the blank.

• Just back track a few verses talked about the animal sacrifice, Jesus suffered and died and His blood washes our sins.

• Verse 14: For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven.

Our salvation, eternal gift, our purpose – all made possible because of Christ.

WHY do we praise Him?

1. WE PRAISE HIM BECAUSE OF CHRIST.

• In order to truly understand this point, we need to know the meaning of “Sacrifice” especially in the context of the OT.

• According to Google, the word sacrifice has two meaning:

a. An act of slaughtering an animal or person or surrendering a possession as an offering to a deity.

b. You give up something valuable for the sake of others. (time, interest for something)

• If we’re still living in the old covenant, we all need to prepare our animal for the sacrifice. (Burnt offering)

• Not just once and for all, many times and repeatedly.

• This place will be a bloody place.

• Probably all the pastors will be busy slaughtering animals.

• Blood will flow out from the hall.

• But because of what Christ has done for you and me.

• Because of Him:

Hebrews 10:10 (NIV)

we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

• So since now, we don’t need to bring any animal anymore.

• Does it mean no sacrifice needed? Nope.

Hebrews 13:15a (NKJV)

15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God,