Today’s trend (fad) is men exposing their bottoms and women revealing their tops. However, the ministry of Praise and Worship isn’t new fad for today’s 21st century church. On the contrary since God spoke, the beginning of creation is disclosed in the Book of Genesis giving praise to God. Then the never-ending of time is revealed in the Book of Revelations worshiping God Almighty. Ultimately, throughout the Bible, we see where all peoples (regardless to race, nationality, or creed) perform some act of praising and worshiping God, the Alpha and Omega. The difference in their praise and worship is the target (e.g. a pointless target or a priceless target) to whom they praise, worship. Satan will have one to believe that as long as we’re worshiping and praising, all is well. The devil is a liar. In other words, the sinner man will praise and worship but to a pointless target. His/her target:
- will die one day, that luxury car will breakdown
- those can’t do no wrong children will later cause you great heartache
- and the bank roll will run dry
Oh yes, sinners do praise and worship but to an improper focus (improper target). Remember in 1 Kings 18, Prophet Elijah warned the Israelites to make a choice in who they will serve...either Baal (improper focus, pointless target) or God (the right target, a priceless target). Genuine sincere priceless praise belongs to a priceless target. This priceless target will:
- never die, never breakdown, and certainly will never leave nor run out
My brothers and sisters, the scripture declares that:
“God inhabits (invokes, likes) the praise of His people” (Ps. 22:3)
Thus, true praise and worship comes from the heart. How is your heart when praising and worshiping?
“Only he with clean hands and a pure heart can worship and praise the Lord” (Ps. 24:4).
So exactly what is praise and worship? Let us first understand praise. Every day (at football game, the entrance of presidents, children recitals, etc., we praise them. However that isn’t the type of praise for this occasion. The praise I’m referring to is biblical praise. There are several Old Testament Hebrew words for praise that we witness to during worship services such as:
- ‘yadah’ (to give thanks, to extend the hand, to throw out the hand)
“So I will bless thee as long as I live; I will (yadah) lift up my hands in Thy name” (Ps. 63:1.)
- ‘zamar’ (sing praise),
“Sing to Him, sing praises (zamar) to Him; speak of all His wonders.” (1Chr 16:9),
- ‘halal’ (the word hallelujah comes from this Hebrew word meaning (to honor, and/or commend to boastfully, to rave, celebrate, and to be clamorously foolish).
“Let them praise (halal) His name in the dance: let them sing praises with the timbrel and harp.”
Ps 149:3.
“Dressed in a linen ephod David danced with all his might (foolishly) before the Lord” 2 Sam. 6:14.”
Miriam danced with a timbrel in her hand and other women followed her” (Ex. 15:20)
These Hebrew words give a picture of one giving thanks and honor to one worthy of praising. It is also noteworthy to understand that praise is not a choice; rather, God commands it.
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” (Ps. 150:6).
Jeremiah 10:6, “For there’s no one like You, Oh Lord! You’re great and great is Your Name in might.”
Praise is what one does. God resides in a climate of praise as one “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.” Praising God is our sacrificial offering unto Him. Our praise offering is not conditioned to one’s feelings and/or emotions.
Our praise is the gateway to worshiping God. Though derived from the Hebrew ‘shachah, meaning to bow down it is also presence in the New Testament with various meanings such as:
- ‘Proskuneo’ pro-sky-e-no (to adore, kiss, crouch, and/or to prostrate oneself in reverence to the Lord)
“The twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever” (Rev. 4:10).
- Theosebes the-o-se-bes (reverent toward God, worshiper of God)
“Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him” (John 9:31).
The word worship comes from two words “worth-ship” meaning to attribute worth to someone. We must understand that not everything that’s worship is actually genuine worship. What about Cain and Abel’s worship? God looked favorably on Abel’s worship but unfavorably on Cain’s Why? Because Cain thought he could give God any type of worship and keep the best for himself (Gen.4:4-5). Virtually the same thing happened when Satan tempted Jesus with earthly possessions. But Jesus didn’t fall for that trap like Cain did. Jesus said,
“Go satan, for it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord Your God and serve Him only’” (Mat. 4:10).
Worship is giving value to God for who He is and not what He’s done. Also, worship is God responding to our praise. Listen, we can’t worship God until we first praise Him and He accepts our praise. We are in the presence of God when we worship as Jesus Christ stated in John 4:24, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” This means worship is not of the flesh but rather from the inner man’s heart and according to God’s Word. Scripture states, “Jesus is the way, the ‘truth’ and the light.” No one enters into worship without a special invitation from the Almighty. Worship is throne-centered realizing God’s sovereignty and man’s worthlessness without Him. The worshiper is unconscious to the environment meaning the worshiper doesn’t care what’s going on around him because his focus is on the ‘priceless target, God.’
For that reason, praise and worship isn’t something that starts within the walls of the church. Oh no, it starts at home! Daily we should render praise offerings unto God. It isn’t just the song we sing; it’s a continual way of living. It isn’t a bargaining tool solely in times of despair. No, it’s a sweet, smelling love offering to God. Then the aroma in corporate worship is conducive for God’s manifested presence to appear because true worship is romance with God; it is a love relationship with Him. One cannot worship God if there’s no relationship with Him. According to Dr. Aimee V. Kovacs, “God wants our praise and worship to reach a high point so He can impregnate us with seeds of greatness.” These seeds of greatness will war off the attacks of the enemy as God’s children daily speak to these ungodly spirits.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of darkness of this world, against wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12)
We realize without a doubt that we are “overcomers, and more than conquerors.” I thank Him that when the storms of life are raging, I can be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the grace and peace of God! Trusting and believing the enemy’s attacks may form but not prosper. Regardless to what’s going on I can praise and worship God even if I have to do it with tears running down my face.
I’ll leave you with these words. There’s much to address regarding the ‘Ministry of Praise and Worship from Genesis to Revelations’. It’s no fad but according to God’s Holy word, the forefathers “pitched a tent and built an altar.” As sojourners they did this to honor God whenever and wherever they traveled. The significance for believers today and hereafter is that the pitched tent was a temporary shelter for the Israelites and the built altar is where they worshiped God. So whether your pitched tent is home or at the church house understand that they’re temporary shelters for we’re aliens on this earth. And while here, I can’t help but build an altar and give God some praise; thus, the rocks will not have to cry out for me and prayerfully for no one under the sound of my voice. For one day, I’ll see my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ again in my permanent place of residence the New Jerusalem where together with “countless angels, the 24 elders and every creature worship Him in a loud voice forevermore “(Rev. 5:11-15).But, until then on this side of New Jerusalem our reasonable service is to praise and worship Him daily (Romans 12:1).
Listen, “When I think of the goodness of Jesus and all that He’s done for me my soul cries out hallelujah; I thank God for saving me.” I thank Him that I can praise Him in a dance, in a song, in a prayer, by lifting and/or clapping my hands, with a tambourine, shouting hallelujah and glory, on the musical instruments, in my car or in the elevator, or wherever the Holy Spirit leads me to do so. Amen. I thank Him that when He decides to receive my praise, I can come into His presence and worship Him and know without a doubt that He’s pleased with my worship.
I thank Him! I thank Him!
I will bless the Lord at all times!
I will worship Him for
He’s worthy to be praised!
You are Alpha and Omega
We worship You Our Lord
Your are worthy to be praise
(Repeat)
We give all the glory
Your are worthy to be praise
(Repeat....)
