The Pathway To Praise Series

The Hallelujah Factor Series

Based upon Jack Taylor’s book The Hallelujah Factor

The Pathway to Praise

July 8, 2007 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor

Introduction

A We have spent several weeks on the topic of praise.

1 Established many facts, learned many things

a Praise is any vocal (shout, sing), audible (clap, music), and/or visible (raised hands, dancing, bowing) adoration of God.

b M(antle) M(iraculous) B(less) W(ard of spirit of depsair) W(eapon)

c Open door & occupied throne

d Crown jewel of the church has been pirated

2 My aim is to help you develop a private life of praise.

a Up until today-conceptual, today we shift gears in a practical direction.

b One seldom moves from one place to another in one giant step-generally done in smaller steps.

c Praise is that way.

B Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess 5:16-18 (NASB)

1 Our text does not say praise, yet if we obey these three steps, praise will be the result.

a Likewise, if we abstain from one of these steps, we will be prohibited from praise’s fullest expression.

b Follow them? Land in the center of praise.

2 I pray you’ll memorize 1 Thess. 5:16-18

a Honestly assess your life’s tendencies in accordance with the spirit of our text.

b Ask God if there is anything for which you’ve not given thanks (repent & give thanks).

c Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous ordinances. Psalms 119:164 (NASB) (7x’s a day)

I The first step on our pathway to praise...we make the choice to rejoice. "Be joyful always" KJV, "Rejoice always" NASB, HCSB, "Be cheerful no matter what" MSG, "Always be joyful" NCV, TLB

A God is joyful, & desires/wants His people to be joyful, cheerful, rejoicing.

1 Then he said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." Neh 8:10 (NASB)

a You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalms 16:11 (NASB)

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness Psalms 30:11 (NASB)

Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones; praise is becoming to the upright. Psalms 33:1 (NASB)

Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; let those who love Your salvation say continually, "The LORD be magnified!" Psalms 40:16 (NASB)

b Ps. 47:1, 5; 66:1; 71:23; Isa. 12:3, 6; 35:10; 44:2-3; Jer. 15:16; 30:19

2 The case for joy continues with our Savior, Jesus, because bringing joy is what He does, wherever He goes. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people Luke 2:10 (NASB)

a These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. John 15:11 (NASB)

b Jesus modeled this joy even on His way to the cross. ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:2 (NASB)

c Jesus encouraged joy even in the worst of times. Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. 23 "Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets. Luke 6:22-23 (NASB)

3 Paul, an apostle of joy, reminds us. ...for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. Romans 14:17-18 (NASB)

a But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness...Gal 5:22 (NASB) Joy is a fruit of the Spirit

b From prison he wrote with joy. Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. Phil 3:1 (NASB)

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Phil 4:4 (NASB)

4 Our heritage as a New Testament church testifies of a church of gladness & celebration. ...they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. Acts 2:46b-47a (NASB)