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SERMON: THE POWER OF PRAISE
Psalm 100:1-5
1Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.2Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before his presence with singing. 3Know ye that the LORD he is God: It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him and bless his name. 5For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; And his truth endureth to all generations.
Psalm 150:1-6
1Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: Praise him in the firmament of his power. 2Praise him for his mighty acts: Praise him according to his excellent greatness. 3Praise him with the sound of the trumpet; praise him with the psaltery and harp. 4Praise him with the timbrel and dance: Praise him with stringed instruments and organs. 5Praise him upon loud cymbals: Praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. 6Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
What is Praise?
Praise means “to commend, to applaud or magnify.”
What is praise to God?
Praise to God is an expression of worship, lifting-up and glorifying the Lord.
It is an expression of humbling ourselves and centering our attention upon the Lord with heart-felt expressions of love, adoration and thanksgiving.
High praises unto God bring our spirit into a pinnacle of fellowship and intimacy between ourselves and God;
Praise magnifies our awareness of our spiritual union with the most High God.
Praise transports us into the realm of the supernatural and into the power of God.
Psalms 50:23
“Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God”.
When we praise God it may be in;
a. Verbal expressions of adoration and thanksgiving,
b. Singing, playing instruments, shouting, dancing, lifting or clapping our hands.
But true Praise is not “merely” going through these motions.
The Bible says in Matthew 15:8
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Genuine praise to God is a matter of humility and sincere devotion to the Lord from within.
John 4:23
…the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him”.
Praise to God should be a Lifestyle not a religious exercise
· All too often, praise to God is something that many people leave at church, an event that happens only when they come together with other Christians.
· However, praise should be a part of a believer’s lifestyle, inter-mingled as a part of their daily prayer-life. At work, in the car, at home in bed, or anywhere;
· Praise to the Lord brings the refreshing of the Lord’s presence, along with His power and anointing.
Psalms 34:1
…I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Praise to God should be an expression of faith and declaration of victory
· When we praise God we are declaring that we believe God is with us and is in control of the outcome of all our circumstances.
· Praise is a “sacrifice,” something that we offer to God sacrificially, not just because we feel like it, but because we believe in Him and wish to please Him.
Hebrews 13:15
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
THE EFFECT OF PRAISE
· Praise elevates us into God’s Presence
Paul and Silas knew the secret of how to lift their hearts above their troubles and enter into God’s presence and power. Through praise and worship their hearts were raised into the joyous presence and peace of God, and thus provided God a channel for his power to operate in their circumstances.
Psalms 22:3
“The Bible says that God inhabits in the praises of His people”. (In other words, God “dwells” in the atmosphere of His praise. This means that praise is not merely a reaction from coming into His presence – Praise is a vehicle of faith which brings us into the presence of God and also activating the power of God)
Praise and worship is the “gate-pass” which allows us to enter the sacredness of His glory. The psalmist writes in (Psalms 100:4), “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name”.
· Praise is a weapon of deliverance.
Paul and Silas (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) tapped into God’s delivering power by praising instead of com-plaining even when all hope seems lost.
Praising brings a display of God’s power into our circumstances, while complaining enables the enemy to defeat us!
· Praise Sends the Enemy Running
Since praise manifests God’s presence, we also realize that praise repels the presence of the enemy, Satan.
2 Chronicles 20:22
…when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
· Praise also keeps us in an attitude of faith and expectancy when trusting God for the manifestation of His power.
Abraham’s life style shows a man with so much faith and trust in God.
Romans 4:20-21
20He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
· Praise also helps us keep our eyes on the Lord and off of our circumstances in the difficulties of life.
In Conclusion
· And a lifestyle of praise and worship is the key to walking in the abiding presence of God.
· Allow the kingdom of God to envelop your life today by making a choice to offer up continually the sacrifice of praise.
· Choose to walk in the rest that God has provided for you by living a lifestyle of praise.
Heb 13:15
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
PASTOR LANRE AREOLA
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