HOW to Praise God – Part 1

Hebrews 13:15

Nov 11, 2012 AM

Pastor Craig Ledbetter

Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland

www.biblebc.com

 

I.       Introduction (Psalm 50:23)

 

A.    There were specific instructions on HOW to worship God in the Old Testament

 

1.      The entire Book of Leviticus described all the many steps necessary to approach and worship Almighty God – very explicit instructions, and very serious!

2.      You couldn’t just walk into the tabernacle.

3.      You couldn’t just bring any kind of an animal, and it couldn’t be flawed in any way.

4.      You couldn’t just burn your own brand of incense.

5.      It had to be done one way – God’s way!

6.      It was very important to praise and worship the Lord rightly, or else it would become a mockery of God – and believe me, the devil LOVES that!

 

B.     We in the New Testament era, are a Royal Priesthood (1Peter 2:5,9)

 

1.      No longer offering labs, or bulls, or goats

2.      No longer offering corn or wheat, or fruits

3.      We offer only two basic sacrifices today

 

a.       The living sacrifice of our own lives to do the will of God (Romans 12:1)

b.      And the sacrifice of praise (Heb 13:15)

 

4.      The same is still true in the New Testament. People think they can just go to any kind of church, and worship any ol’ way they want and God will be pleased! There is just so much MOCKERY of God going INSIDE churches today – not just outside them!

 

C.     We need to pay careful attention to God’s description of how to praise Him for that very same reason – because Satan has done a very good job at convincing people that they are doing a good job of honouring God, when they in fact are actually only honouring themselves, and ultimately, honouring and praising devils

 

1.      Carnal fleshly show

2.      Unknown tongues actually praising Satan

3.      Massive amounts of money and praises wasted on performers and false religious leaders!

4.      The devil is really pleased with all that

5.      But God is NOT!

6.      Matt 15:8 “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”

 

D.    So, How SHOULD we offer the Sacrifice of Praise?

 

II.    Background Truths

 

A.    It’s sad, but so many people are on a praise kick today – way out of balance

 

1.      They praise their children for everything

2.      They praise their sports teams and players

3.      They praise their dogs and hamsters

4.      But they do not praise and thank God (Romans 1:21)

 

B.     To praise God is

 

1.      To say something good about Him. Something that applauds Him, and makes Him look good in the eyes of others.

2.      It is when we show approval of God and and are thankful for what He has done.

3.      We are praising God when we honour Him, bless Him, and do things that make Him feel good!

 

C.     The sacrifice of praise is when we honour and glorify God at a high price to ourselves!

 

1.      I wish it was easy! And what a sacrifice praise can be! A hard gift to give to God!

2.      But praising God means sometimes not praising Himbecause of anything other than just that HE is God! That is your gift to Him!

 

D.    But it is the HEALTHIEST thing we can do!

 

1.      God dwells where praise is (Ps 22:3) He Inhabiteth praises! Not grumblings!

2.      God beautifies a praiser (Ps 33:1) “Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.”

3.      Praising God is enjoyable (Psa 135:3) “Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.”

4.      God actually protects a praiser (Psa 50:23) “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.”

5.      Go ahead and be a grumbler – filled with a critical spirit! I’m going to praise the Lord!

 

III. Message – So, How Should We Order Our Praise?

 

A.    By Singing (Psalm 28:7)

 

1.      We will start with that strangest form of praise – singing!

 

a.       Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

b.      Psa 40:2,3 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

c.       There are too many “performing singers” and too few “thanking singers”

d.      People passing by our meeting will think we ARE crazy if only we would sing loud

 

2.      Singing praises to God can cure almost anything!

 

a.       When you feel like getting mad, start singing “Count Your Many Blessings!” You won’t be so mad afterwards!

b.      When you want to just quit, sing, “I ain’t a quitting now!”

c.       When you are wanting to go and give out to someone, sing first

d.      When you are defeated and ruined and depressed, sing “His eye is on the Sparrow…”

e.       When hated and persecuted, sing “What a Friend we have in Jesus!”

 

3.      Singing is a great way to praise God – as long as it is with the right kind of music!

 

a.       Have you noticed how everywhere you turn, there already is singing going on? It fills our world around us all day long almost – ipods, mp3 players, background radio music – all the WRONG kinds of music – no wonder no one can get along!

b.      Fight back with right songs – a praising attitude!

 

4.      Every Sunday we are warming you up to praise God all week with song! Don’t miss the training time! Don’t think this is foolish! It is one of the greatest ways to praise God

 

B.     By Remembering (Psalm 63:5-7)!

 

1.      Praise begins in your thoughts first (Philp 4:8)

 

a.       What do YOU think about? No wonder you find it hard to praise God every day!

 

b.      We can think about so much stuff – so many troubles and frustrations – so many worries and cares

 

2.      In your memories!

 

a.       Remember that God means everything for good! (Gen 50:20)

 

1)      Times of trouble

2)      Times of affliction even (Psa_119:71) It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

3)      Great times! Answered prayer! Don’t forget to PRAISE God! Thank Him!

 

b.      Remember that He only doeth wonderous things. (Psalms 72:18)

c.       Remember what He alone has done for you!

d.      Remember that He alone deserves all praise (Rev 5:12,13)

e.       Remember that this world is not our home (Rev 22:21)! That should make you SHOUT!

 

3.      Constantly remind yourself to thank God for things in your life, whether easy or tough, good or bad!

 

a.       Wake up every morning, and remember to praise the Lord!

b.      Through the day, remember! To praise God!

c.       In each conversation, remember! To give GOD all the glory!

d.      At the end of each day! Be thankful for everything!

 

4.      Don’t be like the nine lepers who were miraculously and completely healed by Jesus, only to run away and forget who did it for them! God does miracles for us everyday, and we just walk on like “ho hum”, Big deal!!!

5.      Praise is a choice (Ps 34:1; 108:1). So, Just constantly Remind Yourself To Praise God and Thank Him

6.      Here is a thought, Add praise to everything you say and do – that’s what God says to do!

 

a.       Philp 1:6

b.      Col 2:7

c.       Col 4:2

d.      1Tim 4:1-4

 

C.     As Forgiven (Psalm 66:18)

 

1.      It’s a waste of time to praise God with secret sins in your heart and mind!

2.      Praise can NOT take place out of a filthy mouth! You cannot bless God and then turn around and curse anyone James 1 says!

3.      Humble YOURself and confess to God, I am sorry for my sin. (Psalms 38:18) – sacrifice your pride so that you can truly praise!

4.      We live in a generation thst is NOT clean – (Pro_30:12) There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

5.      Too many of us know how to hide our sin without ever exposing it and getting rid of it!

6.      Get rid of any and all sin that would block your ability to praise God!

7.      I believe most people CANNOT praise God simply because of sin in their lives

 

D.    Praise God Verbally - With words - The Sacrifice of Praise is Something We SAY

 

1.      Your lips should say things that are sacrificial gifts to God:

 

a.       Just say that you love Him! (John 21:17)

b.      We need to say, Jesus Christ is my Lord (Philp 2:11) – your Lord – it may be hard, but it is awesome!

c.       Rehearse your own testimony of what God has done in your life (Luke 21:12-15)

 

2.      Tell people of the things you are thankful just to Him for

 

a.       Just say, “Thank you God for…” (Luke 17:15-17)!

 

1)      Saving a wretch like me – and sticking with me through thick and thin!

2)      Giving me my wife – my husband – my children – my parents!

3)      This church – my pastor – my pastor’s wife!

4)      My job! My health!

5)      And, Thank you Lord for my health problems, my financial struggles!

 

b.      Just say, “Blessed be God for…”

 

1)      Eph_1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ

2)      Psa 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.

 

c.       THAT is Bible talk! Amen!

 

3.      Christian!!! Use your mouth for good. Fill your mouth with PRAISE

 

IV. Conclusion

 

A.    More to follow next week!

B.     We in the New Testament era, are a Royal Priesthood (1Peter 2:5,9)

 

1.      We offer only two basic sacrifices today

 

a.       The living sacrifice of our own lives to do the will of God (Romans 12:1)

b.      And the sacrifice of praise (Heb 13:15)

 

2.      We need to pay careful attention to God’s description of how to praise Him for that very same reason – because Satan has done a very good job at convincing people that they are doing a good job of honouring God, when they in fact are actually only honouring themselves, and ultimately, honouring and praising devils

 

C.     To praise God is …

 

1.      To say something good about Him. Something that applauds Him, and makes Him look good in the eyes of others.

2.      It is when we show approval of God and are thankful for what He has done.

3.      We are praising God when we honour Him, bless Him, and do things that make Him feel good!

 

D.    The sacrifice of praise is when we honour and glorify God at a high price to ourselves!

 

1.      I wish it was easy! And what a sacrifice praise can be! A hard gift to give to God!

2.      But praising God means sometimes not praising Him because of anything other than just that HE is God! That is your gift to Him!

 

E.     But it is the HEALTHIEST thing we can do!

 

1.      God dwells where praise is (Ps 22:3) He Inhabiteth praises! Not grumblings!

2.      God beautifies a praiser (Ps 33:1) “Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.”

3.      Praising God is enjoyable (Psa 135:3) “Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.”

4.      God actually protects a praiser (Psa 50:23) “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.”

5.      Go ahead and be a grumbler – filled with a critical spirit! I’m going to praise the Lord!

 

F.     So, How Should We Order Our Praise?

 

1.      By Singing (Psalm 28:7)

2.      By Remembering (Psalm 63:5-7)!

 

a.       Remember that God means everything for good! (Gen 50:20)

b.      Remember that He only doeth wonderous things. (Psalms 72:18)

c.       Remember what He alone has done for you!

d.      Remember that He alone deserves all praise (Rev 5:12,13)

e.       Remember that this world is not our home (Rev 22:21)! That should make you SHOUT!

f.       Don’t be like the nine lepers who were miraculously and completely healed by Jesus, only to run away and forget who did it for them! God does miracles for us everyday, and we just walk on like “ho hum”, Big deal!!!

g.      Add praise to everything you say and do – that’s what God says to do!

 

3.      As Forgiven (Psalm 66:18)

4.      Praise God Verbally - With words - The Sacrifice of Praise is Something We SAY

 

a.       Just say, “Thank you God for…” and then fill in the rest

b.      Just say, “Blessed be God for…”