THE POWER OF A POSITIVE PRAISE LIFE!
Palm 150
Introduction: There are five places in this psalm in which we can praise the Lord.
1. In his personal holiness.
2. In the person of his Son.
3. In heaven.
4. In the assembly of saints.
5. In the silence of the heart.
Praising God can be one of the most blessed times of a Christian. It ought be said about us that we praise more than we pout. But the reality of life is that we pout more than we praise. True praise always honors God.
D. L. Moody said this about praise. “Why should we go reeling and staggering under the burdens and cares of life when we have such prospects before us? If there is nothing but glory beyond, our faces ought to shine brightly all the time.” Charles Spurgeon said that praise is the rehearsal of our eternal song.
Just for a few minutes we are going to examine the power of a positive praise life.
First God is very pleased with our praises. God said, “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me.” (Psalm 50:23) God always manifests Himself in response to our praise. (Psalm 22:3 “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.”) Our praise prepares us for a life of prayer and service. Without praise we are apt to be discontent at best. One reason why we are not ready to worship is that we are praising our God.
Second A defeated Christian is one who does not praise the Lord. A church with a defeated spirit has no joyful praise unto God. Praise and defeat cannot live in the same house. The foundation of victory is a life of praise and joy.
Third Absolutely... words of praise will lift you from defeat to victory, from sickness to health, from despair to joy, from bondage to liberty. Praise is the language of faith, the language of victory, and the language of heaven.
Fourth To practice a positive praise life requires willpower and boldness, for the natural man doesn’t like to praise the Lord. It is a wonderful spiritual exercise. The farther you are from God, the less you desire to praise Him. Worldly, carnal Christians do not enjoy the power and blessing of a positive praise life. Neither do people bound by fear, timidity or reluctance.
Fifth Lack of praise and thanksgiving is a spirit of these last days. (2nd Timothy 3:2 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,”) God commands us to be full of praise. (Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”) “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” (Psalm 100:4)
Sixth Bold, unceasing praise can usher in the fullness of the Spirit. The one hundred twenty folks that were at Pentecost “were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.” (Luke 24:53)
Continual praise is a definite evidence of the Spirit-filled life. Ephesians 5:18-20
“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”
Seventh Discipline your lips to praise the Lord. You will possess tremendous power, enjoy great joy and keep Heaven “busy” working in your behalf for God honors a praising prayer life.
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.”
Praise brings glory to God, and rejoices the soul. We should daily offering the fruit of our lips, even praise to our God. Write down all the things for which you should be praising Him. Consider how great our Heavenly Father is and so spend time magnifying Him from a heart of praise.
Conclusion: Look with me at Psalm one and verse one. What is the first word we note here? It is the word “blessed.” Now look back at Psalm one hundred and fifty and verse six. What are the last words in that Psalm? It is “Hallelujah”. This is Hebrew word of “praise ye the Lord.” In fact, this is a universal word. It is basically the same in all languages. Our lives should be praise. Is yours?
Pastor Mike Walls
Freedom Baptist Church
Smithfield, NC
http://freedombaptistchurchnc.wordpress.com/
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