The Basics of Faith Series #3 – PRAISE!
Psalm 100 Victory Fellowship
January 22, 2023 - Rev. Roderick Grabski - Healing Service
Introduction: I’m doing a seven part series dealing with Scriptural guidance in the Basics of our Faith. This includes Obedience, Fear, Praise, Forgiveness, Intercession, Making Disciples, and Giving.
The first week I shared how important it is that we embrace our Obedience to God. Remember that w/o a basic desire to obey God we can’t properly embrace any aspect of our faith.
Then last week I shared how we can embrace a proper attitude toward FEAR
Today I want to talk about the basic practice of PRAISING GOD.
Think about the last time you were excited in a very good way. Maybe you yelled/sang out loud or raised/clapped your hands. Maybe you jumped up and down or even danced. When was it? Cheering your favorite team? At a concert or play? Winning the lottery? Seeing a find or loved one who you had not seen in awhile? Finding money on the ground? Whatever it was, it probably wasn’t in church. And that’s not a good thing.
The average person who calls themselves a Christian gets more animated at sporting events or concerts then they ever do at church.
In his book, America the Beautiful, neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson talks about the decline in the great world powers of the past – Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Great Britain, France, and Spain. He says that as they began to decline they all shared some peculiar similarities – they ALL had an inordinate emphasis on sports and entertainment, a fixation with the lifestyles of the rich and famous, political corruption, and a loss of a moral compass. Ben Carson suggests that the United States seems to be copying the mistakes of former world powes.
I couldn’t help but notice that an emphasis on worshipping God is not on the list. It should be at the top of the list.
WHY should we praise God? To Glorify the One worthy of Praise.
Rev. 5:11-12: Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing."
Psalm 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabits the praises of Israel.
Matthew 5:16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
WHEN should we praise God? At all times – In all circumstances.
Hebrews 13:15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
James 5:13…is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.
1st Peter 4:16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. (Jesus Christ)
HOW should we praise God?
PSALM 100: Shout
a. Shout Joyfully to the LORD (vs. 1) (Cloverleaf Speedway)
Hebrew literally means to “split the ear with sound” Shout for all you’re worth in a verbal expression of thankfulness.
Command is for ALL THE EARTH.
When was the last time we did that for God? I thought so.
b. Serve the LORD with Gladness (vs.2)
Some translations say “worship.” Our spiritual act of service.
c. Come Before Him with Joyful Singing (vs. 2) God inhabits His
praise (explain). Sing with a joyful spirit.
d. Know that the LORD Himself is GOD (vs. 3)
Elohim – plural name for a monotheistic faith – the Trinity.
More than our Savior – Lord of our life. Our sustenance!
Our Creator – we are His plan and He is not done yet.
We belong to God – His sheep, His possession. Not just the Jews.
We are to submit to God.
e. Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving and His Courts with Praise
(vs. 4) How do we do that today?
f. Give Thanks to Him (vs. 4)
2nd Tim 3:1-5 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that.
g. Bless His Name (vs. 4) barak = to kneel. His name is higher than any other.
CONCLUSION:
(Call to Worship) Psalm 63:3-5 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.
Psalm 134:2 Lift up your hands to the sanctuary And bless the LORD
Psalm141:2 May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.
Luke 19:40 But Jesus answered, "I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!"
If we are to develop the basic attitude of PRAISE to God, it’s going to require verbal and physical effort on our part. God’s word commands it. Do we desire to obey?
PRAYER and ANOINTING with OIL
SONG: My Jesus (Anne Wilson)
Psalm 100 (NLT) 1 Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth! 2 Worship the LORD with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy. 3 Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
