Good morning, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. We gather here today, not as individuals seeking solace, but as a collective body, unified in our love for the Lord, our Savior. We are here to lift our voices in praise, to proclaim His glory, and to bear witness to His unending love. We are here to worship, not just within the confines of these four walls, but to carry this worship into our daily lives, making it a living testimony of our faith.
As we gather in this sacred space, let's remember the words of the great preacher, Charles Spurgeon, who once said, "Praise is the rehearsal of our eternal song. By grace, we learn to sing, and in glory, we continue to sing." These words remind us that our praise is not a temporary act, confined to Sunday mornings, but a continuous song, a melody that resonates through every moment of our lives.
Our Scriptures today are Psalm 9:11 which says, "Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds!", Isaiah 12:5, "Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.", Luke 19:40, "He answered, 'I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.'" and finally, Psalm 96:9, "Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!"
These verses remind us of our divine mandate to praise God purposefully, to proclaim His greatness publicly, and to ensure our private worship translates to public witness. They serve as a clarion call, urging us to make our lives a living testament to God's love and mercy.
When we consider the act of praising, it's easy to think of it as a spontaneous outburst of joy or gratitude. And indeed, it can be. But there's another aspect to praise that we must not overlook. It's the idea of intentional, deliberate praise. This is a praise that is a conscious decision, a determined act of the will.
It's like setting the table for a meal. You don't just throw the dishes and silverware on the table. You place each item carefully and thoughtfully. You consider where each piece should go, and how it should be arranged. You do it with purpose. And so it should be with our praise. It should be done with thought, with intention, with purpose.
This type of praise requires effort. It requires discipline and a conscious decision to focus on God and His goodness, even when our circumstances are difficult, even when our hearts are heavy. But it is in these moments, when praise is a choice rather than a spontaneous reaction, that it becomes a powerful testimony of our faith.
This brings us to our first aspect of praising purposefully: the choice of praise. The Scriptures remind us time and time again to "sing praises to the Lord". This is a command. It's a call to make a conscious decision to praise God, regardless of our circumstances. It's a call to choose praise, even when it's hard, even when it doesn't come naturally.
Next, consider the focus of our praise. When we praise God, our focus should be on Him and Him alone. It's not about us, our feelings, or our circumstances. It's about God, His character, His works, His love. Our praise should reflect this focus.
Thirdly is the consistency of our praise. Praise should not be a sporadic event in our lives, but a constant practice. It should not be limited to Sunday mornings or special occasions. It should be a part of our daily lives, a regular part of our routine. Just as we eat and drink and sleep every day, so should we praise God every day. It should be as natural and necessary to us as breathing.
The fourth and final aspect of praising purposefully is the testimony of our praise. Our praise is for both our own benefit and the benefit of others. It's a way of proclaiming God's greatness to the world. When we praise God purposefully, we are not just expressing our own faith, but encouraging the faith of others. We are not just glorifying God, but pointing others to His glory.
In the book of Psalms, we find a beautiful exhortation, "Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds!" This is a call to lift our voices and sing praises to the Lord, not just within the confines of our personal spaces, but among the peoples, in the public sphere ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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