The Hallelujah Factor Series
Based upon Jack Taylor’s book The Hallelujah Factor
Protesting or Practicing Praise Pt. 1
July 15, 2007 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor
Introduction
A Praise is any vocal, audible and/or visible adoration of God.
1 Series review...
a Last week: choice to rejoice, persistent prayer, gratitude attitude
b M M B W W
c Piracy of praise
B Today, are we protesting or practicing praise.
1 Many directions I could have gone with this message:
a Job’s wife: Job had lost everything, but he’s praising God anyway. He said, "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD." Job 1:21 (NASB) She said, "curse God & die" (Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!" 10 But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Job 2:9-10 (NASB)). Only saw today’s problem (short-sightedness), not the sovereignty of a living God.
b Pharisees: Triumphal entry-"Hosanna to the Son of David! The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!" Matt 21:9 (NASB) The Pharisees But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they became indignant 16 and said to Him, "Do You hear what these children are saying?" And Jesus said* to them, "Yes; have you never read, ’OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABIES YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF’?" Matt 21:15-16 (NASB) They hated Jesus because He didn’t buy into their religious identity. He wrecked their man-made systems & crippled their ceremonies. The sound of praise set their teeth on edge. Christ-less religious people always protest praise.
2 Michal (Saul’s daughter/David’s wife): pride as a protest.
a Original, two-point message (pride & hidden sin)-TOO BIG
b Pride will destroy praise or praise will destroy pride: they do not live together in the same heart long.
c Two accounts of David, Michal, & praise. Because God was helping the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27 Now David was clothed with a robe of fine linen with all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the singing with the singers. David also wore an ephod of linen. 28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the horn, with trumpets, with loud-sounding cymbals, with harps and lyres. 29 It happened when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and celebrating; and she despised him in her heart. 1 Chron 15:26-29 (NASB)
And David was dancing before the LORD with all his might, and David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouting and the sound of the trumpet. 16 Then it happened as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. 17 So they brought in the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18 When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offering, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. 19 Further, he distributed to all the people, to all the multitude of Israel, both to men and women, a cake of bread and one of dates and one of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed each to his house. 20 But when David returned to bless his household, Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, "How the king of Israel distinguished himself today! He uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants’ maids as one of the foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself!" 21 So David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel; therefore I will celebrate before the LORD. 22 "I will be more lightly esteemed than this and will be humble in my own eyes, but with the maids of whom you have spoken, with them I will be distinguished." 2 Sam 6:14-22 (NASB)
3 You have embraced these messages with great openness!
a People are usually "down on" what they are not "up on". Praise has not been taught.
b As truth is discovered, you are beginning to know the freedom, blessing of scriptural worship.
c If you’re not free in an area of your life, it’s because the truth has not been received & allowed to do the work in that area.
I Pride is a praise protester
A Pride: an undue sense of one’s own superiority, arrogance conceit. Pride manifests itself in disdain or haughtiness toward others.~Funk & Wagnall Dictionary
1 Michal protested praise which is evidenced in her malignant, prideful accusations she threw at her husband, King David.
a David was returning the Ark to its rightful spot (take two)-wrong manner/right mission.
aa The Ark, which had been captured by the Philistines, was emblematic of God’s covenant, God’s presence, national pride.
bb Its return was cause for celebration, rejoicing, praise.
cc David was overjoyed! Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the horn, with trumpets, with loud-sounding cymbals, with harps and lyres. 29 It happened when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and celebrating; and she despised him in her heart.
Then it happened as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. Sacrifice, give people bread, figs, raisins, blessing
b He goes home to bless his own household. But when David returned to bless his household, Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, "How the king of Israel distinguished himself today! He uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants’ maids as one of the foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself!"
2 Michal meets him at the door (I see her as an unhappy, critical, cynical, hard-to-please, high-maintenance kind of gal. Maybe dad didn’t spend enough time with her/didn’t get a pony).
a The happier David is-the more miserable Michal is
b She miserable, so everyone else must be, too!
B 2 Sam. 6:20 tells of two possible reasons of how Michal’s pride protested praise.
1 "How the king of Israel distinguished himself today!" (V. 6:20a)
a She’s Saul’s daughter, grew up in a royal home, never saw a king behave the way David did (tradition had been offended).
aa We don’t do that!
bb I’m sure she thought she was right...not!
b The same offense occurs today! (Mistake taste/preference/ tradition for a conviction).
aa Not all tradition is bad! (Useful, profitable, Scriptural) baby/bath water
bb When we fight over tastes like they are our convictions, praise protest!
cc Convictions (convinced): saved by grace, incarnation, Trinity, Word of God, pipe organ, hymns, raising hands/shouting have no place in church.
c When the enemy can get us to engage in fighting over taste preference...he’s put a stronghold on us (curse).
aa We’re not fighting him!
bb many well-meaning believers protest biblical truths & principles of praise in the name of "defending the faith"-when all they are really doing is "guarding the traditions" that should have been discarded a long time ago.
cc So David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel; therefore I will celebrate before the LORD. (V. 21)
2 "He uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servant’s maids as one of the foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself!" (V. 6:20b)
a David was so excited about praising God he didn’t care who saw, Michal did!
aa What do you think the help thought about the display? (Embarrassed, why? PRIDE)
bb David responded in v. 22: "I will be more lightly esteemed than this and will be humble in my own eyes, but with the maids of whom you have spoken, with them I will be distinguished."
cc God punished Michal in v. 23: Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death. 2 Sam 6:23 (NASB)
b Many of us don’t engage in Scriptural praise because...we’re concerned what others will think (charismatic, show-off, embarrassed).
aa Lift up your hands to the sanctuary and bless the LORD. Psalms 134:2 (NASB)
Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. Neh 8:6 (NASB)
So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. Psalms 63:4 (NASB) Yadah (word 2nd most frequently translated as "praise" in the Old Testament).
bb Means "to worship with extended hands, to throw out the hands, to give thanks to God."
cc Paul writes about lifting hands. Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension. 1 Tim 2:8 (NASB)
c Lifting our hands in worship is one of the most controversial exercises today (often seen as offensive to those who have not done it).
d I want to be frank with you, understanding the risk of offense-lifting our hands is one of the most explosive & meaningful expressions of worship.
aa I believe God loves it, the flesh hates it, & the devil is devastated by it.
bb International sign of surrender-but I think there’s more
3 Ridge is the most independent, self-reliant of my two boys. Up until 4 months ago, he would not hold my hand crossing the street without a major fight.
a He recently started putting his little hand up, wanting mine.
b When he does this, without a word he’s telling me...
aa Daddy, I need your help-I can’t cross the street by myself
bb I want you with me every step of the way-tell me when to "go" & "stop".
cc I could hold Lake/Mom’s hand, Dad-I want yours. I’m trusting you!
c I look at him & say, "Put your hand down, you little charismatic! Who are you trying to impress? Show-off! Are you trying to embarrass me?"
aa No! I grab his hand & meet his need.
bb In my private worship (& sometimes in public), I’ll lift my hand & I’m telling God "I want you, Lord! I need You, Lord!"
d If you think that’s cheap emotionalism-just leave me alone in it (I like it with my kids & my Lord).
e Yadah was used over 90x’s in the Old Testament; my conviction is lifted hands accompanied with worship/ thanksgiving/praise is a valid expression of praise (privately or publically).
aa Some do, more are doing it, & I believe God will send more who express praise with lifted hands.
bb Caution you against protesting!
Conclusion
A More than anything, I’m asking you to develop an attitude of praise.
1 Don’t limit worship to where you are.
a If you do, you’ll leave your attitude of worship behind-here.
b Like a crumpled-up bulletin
2 I can give you the tools, but you’ve got to use them yourself.
B List any feelings of protest you have felt toward the personal or corporate exercise of praise. Trace these feelings honestly to their source & acknowledge them before God.
1 Determine you will be glad & rejoice. This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24 (NASB)
2 Memorize Nehemiah 8:10 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)
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Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
