Through Praise Pt. 3 Series

Series: We need to find joy in the journey!

Thesis of series: Joy needs to be experienced in the journey of life! But Joy, like any other attitude, can come and go. It is not guaranteed simply because we are born again believers because storms will blow in and out of our lives. We must put ourselves in the places where experiencing joy is a possibility. We need to go after and find joy in our journey of life even in times of grief, illness, financial crisis, hardship and even persecution.

Introduction:

Studying about joy in Scripture, looking at verses which speak of joy, helps build an understanding of how to put ourselves in places where it is possible to find and maintain an attitude of joy in our journey of life. We need to position ourselves in 2019 to seek after and find joy in the journey of life. God desires to help us find that joy!

• We can find Joy through laughter and humor.

• We can find joy in God’s Love.

• But we also can find joy in praise, worship and prayer to the Lord.

Summary of sermon 2: Find Joy in the Journey Through Praise pt. 2!

Thesis: Gods greatest desire is that we – you and I - would act like Him and live with Him. God placed His nature in us and as a believer His presence lives in us (Gen 2:8). He desires to interact with us through praise which encompasses prayer and worship as well. We can discover with the help of the Lord joy in the journey of life – even when we face illness, death, persecution, trials and hardship.

Tavian’s story recap! He found joy in prison and persecution for his faith and in the midst of it all he wrote 600 Worship songs and Hymns to the Lord.

We have been exploring finding Joy in life through Davidic Worship:

Characteristics of David’s style of praise/prayer and worship:

• Davidic prayer/praise and worship puts God in first place.

o Colossians 3:2: 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

• Davidic prayer/praise and worship flows from our hearts out of love for God – true prayer, praise and worship flows from a deep intimate relationship with the Lord.

o The Psalm’s which you have in the Bible where birthed from the hearts of the people as they worshipped before the Lord night and day in this Tabernacle.

o David wrote most of them as songs and prayers to the Lord!

o Davidic prayer/praise and worship is a conscious choice – no one can make you do it – you have to want to do it.

? Hebrews 13:15: 15Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.

o Davidic prayer/praise and worship is an expression of our faith – our trust in the Lord.

? 2 Cor. 5:7: 7We live by faith, not by sight.

David is said in the Bible to be a man after God’s own heart! Ron Edmonson states this about our man David:

Acts 13:22 says, “After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.‘” The following words describe the heart of David as seen in his own writings: (All verses New International Version)

a. Humble – “Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath.” Psalm 62:9

b. Reverent – “I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.” Psalm 18:3

c. Respectful – “Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.” Psalm 31:9

d. Trusting – “The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1

e. Loving – “I love you, O Lord, my strength.” Psalm 18:1

f. Devoted – “You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.” Psalm 4:7

g. Recognition – “I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.” Psalm 9:1

h. Faithful – “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:6

i. Obedient – “Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.” Psalm 119:34

j. Repentant – “For the sake of your name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.” Psalm 25:11