PRAISE AND WORSHIP

STUDY 1: PRAISE AND WORSHIP

INTRODUCTION. 

Praise means to bless, to glorify, to speak well off, to boast. It is an expression of admiration and appreciation to God for what He has done. We tell Him how wonderful He is and acknowledged His character and power. 

Psalm 63:3 "Because your loving kindness  is better than life, my lips shall praise You." 

When we want to come into the presence of the Lord and hear His voice, we should come praise Him. 

Psalm 100:4 "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise."

While praise is an expression of appreciation and administration, worship is an expression of love and adoration. 

I.   WHY WE PRAISE THE LORD

A. GOD COMMAND IT

Our feelings don't dictate whether we    praise God. It is an act of obedience. 

Psalm 117:1 "Praise the Lord all you                  Gentlemen! Laud Him, all you peoples!"  

B. BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS

Psalm 47:6-7 "Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding." 

We do not praise God because of what we might receive from Him, but because He is so wonderful and worthy of praise. 

C. PRAISE GLORIFIES GOD

Praising takes our attention from ourselves and gives honor to God, which should always be our desire.

Psalm 50:23 "Whoever offers praise glorifies me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God." 

D. BECAUSE OF HIS BENEFITS 

Our relationship with God, through Jesus, brings us many 'benefits' - eternal life, forgiveness, deliverance, healing, provision - and we praise and thank Him for these. 

Psalm 103:2-5 "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benifits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. "

E. BECAUSE HE IS GOOD

Psalm 107:8,9 "O, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness... for He satisfies the longing soul..."

F. BECAUSE HIS MIGHTY DEEDS

Psalm 150:2 "Praise Him for His mighty acts" 

God spoke and there was light: All of creation was accomplished by His word, and His word holds it all together (Hebrews 1:3). Such might should compel us to praise Him in awe and wonder at His greatness. 

G. BECAUSE IT FULFILLS PROPHECY

Psalm 22 talks about the coming Messiah, and verse 22 says, "I will declare Your name to my brethren; in the midst of the congregation I will praise You." 

This prophecy is quoted in Hebrews 2:12. How does Jesus sing in the midst of the church to the Father? He sings through us -  the redeemed saints. 

II. WHEN SHOULD WE PRAISE THE LORD? 

A. AT ALL TIMES

Psalm 34:1 "His praise shall continually be in my mouth."

When we praise God during testings, temptation or financial distress, it moves the hand of God on our behalf. 

When Paul and Silas were in prison, they were praising the Lord in song at midnight, and God sent an earthquake and loosed their chains and opened the prison doors (Acts 16:25-26). So, praise can bring victory and freedom in our Christian lives. 

Ephesians 5:20 "Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." 

Psalm 71:8 (Amplified) "My mouth shall be filled with Your praise and Your honour all the day."

Hebrews 13:15 "Let us continually offer up the sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." 

I Thessalonians 5:18 "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 

B. WHEN WE ARE DISCOURAGED

Praising the Lord in a 'down' time brings release not from the circumstances, but from the depression and the lowness of spirit. 

Psalm 42:11 (Amplified) "Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him; for I shall yet praise Him who is the Help of my countenance..."

C. WHEN WE HEAR HIS WORD 

Psalm 119:171 (Amplified) "My lips pour forth praise (with thanksgiving and renewed trust) when You teach me Your statutes."

When we hear His word this should produce belief in the heart of the believer and give rise to more praise. 

Psalm 106:12 (Amplified) "Then (Israel) believed His words - trusting in, relying on them; they sang His praise."

Psalm 56:4 (Amplified) "By (the help of) God I will praise His word" 

III. WHERE SHOULD WE PRAISE THE LORD? 

A. IN THE COMPANY OF THE CHURCH 

Hebrews 2:12  (Amplified) "I will declare Your (The Father's) nameto my brethren in the midst of the (worshipping) congregation..." 

Also, see Luke24:52-53.

B. AMONG THE NATKONS

Psalm 108:3 "I will praise You O Lord among the peoples. And I will sing praises to You among the nation." 

Despite unrest, ungodly rules and lawlessness, we are still to praise Him. 

C. WHEN ALONE

Psalm 63:5-6 "My mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches."