7 Things Concerning Praise 2 Series

7 Things Concerning Praise – 2

Last Sunday morning I spoke on “Praise Changes the Atmosphere.” Then Sunday night I started a message called, “7 Things Concerning Praise” and we were able to get through three of the benefits that praise gives us.

I. PRAISE IS A WEAPON

II. PRAISE ACTIVATES THE SPIRIT WORLD

III. PRAISE CAUSES THE ENEMY TO RETREAT

I felt compelled to finish this message this morning. Praise is a powerful force in the life of the believer. There is something that happens supernaturally when a believer starts to praise God in spite of his circumstances.

IV. PRAISE IS A LIFESTYLE

Praise is a weapon; praise activates the spirit world; and praise causes every enemy in hell to retreat. The only way this works for the believer is if praise is a lifestyle for them. Praise is not to be used like Papa Smurf’s magical potion. It doesn’t work that way. It is not just to be used when trouble arises, it needs to become a lifestyle, praising the Lord needs to be second nature to us.

Hebrews 13:15, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”

This word “continually” is referring to a lifestyle. We need to continually offer praise through our lips. That doesn’t mean just in our thoughts, we must speak out something. We must say, “Thank you Lord, for you are good and your mercy endures forever.” We can’t just think it.

Colossians 3:15, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

I Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Psalm 71:5-6, “For You are my hope, O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth. By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother's womb. My praise shall be continually of You.”

Psalm 104:33-34, “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the Lord.”

Praise is something you do everyday, not just when you feel like it and things are going good. Praise is something you fill your mind with all week long. We must live a life of praise if we expect to loosen the devil’s grip on us and our circumstances. Every one of these Scriptures makes it clear that our praise to God needs to be a lifestyle, not a get out of jail free card. God loosens all the resources in heaven when we begin to praise Him.

V. PRAISE IS SIMPLY RECOUNTING THE FAITHFULNESS AND GREATNESS OF GOD IN TIMES PAST

Luke 19:37, “Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen.”

God requires thanksgiving and praise! He is good and when we begin to reflect on all that He has done in the past, it causes our focus to get off our current circumstances and we are reminded that God has been faithful in the past and He will continue to be faithful in the future. There is no reason to fear. Praise dispels fear from our lives because confidence rises once again in His ability and character. If God saw you through last time, you can mark my words, He will see you through again.

Deuteronomy 8:10, “When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.”

My mind goes back to the ten lepers. Only one came back to give Him thanks and praise for what God had done in his life. Only 1 out of 10!

➢ Every time we eat, we should give Him thanks that we have food on our table.

➢ Every time we drive somewhere in a car, we need to thank God because not everyone has that blessing.

➢ Every time we kiss our spouse good night or good morning, we should give God thanks and praise that we have a loving relationship with someone that we can trust.

➢ Every time our children ask us to do something or play with them, we should be giving God praise that we have healthy children that want to stay busy.

➢ Every time we get in the shower, we should be praising God for hot water, some don’t have that.

➢ Every time we put money in the cashiers hand at the grocery store, we should be giving God praise that we have food on our table.