THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE
INTRODUCTION
• Good morning to all of you and also to those who are tuning in online.
• My latest sermon two weeks ago was entitled SOP (Source of Perseverance)
• Something that we need to realize in the midst of our storm and challenges.
• We need to Persevere in God’s Purpose, with God’s Presence, and for God’s Glory.
• Today the passage is taken from Hebrews 13:15-16.
Let’s look at it,
Hebrews 13:15-16 (NKJV)
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. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
• Let’s pray and commit this time to the Lord.
• Today I want to share about “Sacrifice of Praise”.
• So whenever you remember the word SOP, you will remember Source of Perseverance or Sacrifice of Praise.
• This word “praise” appeared 238 times in the whole Bible of NKJV.
• Not just the Old Testament, especially in the book of Psalms.
• Even in the New Testament, not just happening in the world but even in Heaven, the angels are praising God.
• We probably heard about this word in the church context as in “praise and worship”.
• Sometimes it might give us the impression that we praise God only when we are happy, the song is more upbeat, the worship leader will be jumpier.
• But it’s more than that.
IMPORTANCE OF PRAISE IN THE CHURCH.
• Praising God in the service is important, the singing part is not a prelude for the sermon.
• The singing part is not an appetizer, it is as important as the preaching of the word.
• That’s part of our sacrifice of praise unto God.
• Praising God is the giving part,
• Preaching of the Word is the receiving part.
• But if we are not careful, we might come only with a receiving attitude when we’re also supposed to give God the praise and honor that He deserves.
• Today I want to preach about this topic of Praise in a simple way and I pray that the Holy Spirit will help you to understand.
• In order to do that, I want to go old school way to expound on that particular verses, and may it be a Rhema to us.
• First, I want to look at the question, WHY?
• Everything we do, without the why, we lose the meaning and the significances of that particular action.
• Because last time I thought praise song is to wake the members up from their morning sleepiness before going into the real worship.
• I’m sure you know better because you have a great teacher in your midst. Ps. Joseph.
• So we want to look at the Question,
Why do we praise God?
• When I think about the reasons to praise God.
• That’s just too much to count.
• If you just think about Who He is, What He has done, and What He is able to do.
• You can fill in the blank.
• Just back track a few verses talked about the animal sacrifice, Jesus suffered and died and His blood washes our sins.
• Verse 14: For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven.
Our salvation, eternal gift, our purpose – all made possible because of Christ.
WHY do we praise Him?
1. WE PRAISE HIM BECAUSE OF CHRIST.
• In order to truly understand this point, we need to know the meaning of “Sacrifice” especially in the context of the OT.
• According to Google, the word sacrifice has two meaning:
a. An act of slaughtering an animal or person or surrendering a possession as an offering to a deity.
b. You give up something valuable for the sake of others. (time, interest for something)
• If we’re still living in the old covenant, we all need to prepare our animal for the sacrifice. (Burnt offering)
• Not just once and for all, many times and repeatedly.
• This place will be a bloody place.
• Probably all the pastors will be busy slaughtering animals.
• Blood will flow out from the hall.
• But because of what Christ has done for you and me.
• Because of Him:
Hebrews 10:10 (NIV)
we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
• So since now, we don’t need to bring any animal anymore.
• Does it mean no sacrifice needed? Nope.
Hebrews 13:15a (NKJV)
15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God,
Hebrews 13:15 (TLB)
15 With Jesus’ help we will continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God…
• This is not only applicable on Sunday but every day of our life.
• But it’s also a good reminder for all of us.
• Every Sunday when we come to church, we’re supposed to offer our sacrifice of praise.
• Thank Him, Adore Him, Worship Him…
• Not just mark our attendance without a giving attitude but only a receiving attitude.
So we Praise God not to gain forgiveness but because we received forgiveness.
Amen?
WHO do we praise with?
2. WE PRAISE HIM WITH THE BELIEVERS.
Hebrews 13:15 (NKJV)
15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God
The “us” herein that context referred to the Jewish Christian.
But it’s also referred to all of us who saved by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Now come to the practical question,
HOW do we praise God?
3. WE PRAISE HIM WITH OUR LIPS.
Hebrews 13:15 (NKJV)
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.
• God no longer wants sacrifices of grain or animals.
• He wants your sacrifice of praise to Him, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
• Fruit often described as the result/produce/outcome of something deeper.
Luke 6:43-45 (NKJV)
43 "For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Praise Him with our lips and from our heart.
Psalms 86:12 (NKJV)
12 I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And I will glorify Your name forevermore.
• God wants us to praise him, how? By giving thanks…
• Audible, not just feel it, sense it.
• We are here to sing and praise Him, not here to hold on to the praise He deserve and just let Him see how stubborn we are.
• We are supposed to praise Him, thank Him, Worship Him with our voices.
How do we praise Him?
• There are at least 7 ways to praise Him.
• Every time when you read the word praise in the book of Psalms, it can be one of seven Hebrews words that translated as “praise”
Halel – to rave, boast, celebrate, clamorously foolish.
• Halel means to rave, boast, celebrate, clamorously foolish.
• God likes it when you get a little bit crazily excited for Him.
Psalm 35:18 (NLT)
I will thank you in front of the great assembly. I will praise (clamorously foolish, boast and celebrate) you before all the people.
• Sometimes we are so afraid of even shout for Him, raise our hands or kneel before Him. All because of our ego.
John 12:43 (NIV)
43 for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
• Sometimes you’re afraid of what people might think more than what God might think
• So we need to learn to give God all the praise, not only He deserves but He wants it
• He wants your Passion, He wants your Worship.
Yadah – to acknowledge in public, confess, worship with extended hands.
Psalm 139:14
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Barach – to bless by kneeling or bowing.
• The meaning is to bless by kneeling or bowing
• It’s like to submit in reverence to that person, that’s what the word means
• It’s an act of surrendering to God
• It’s like saying to God, “I belong to you, I come before you, I’m Yours”
• So the word praise can be clamorously foolish and surrendering by bowing down
Zamar – making music to God with strings.
• God likes that when we make music for Him.
• Musician, please be reminded you’re not just playing for the sake playing but it’s part of praising Him.
Psalm 92:1
It is good to praise (Zamar) the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High.
Shabach – to address in a loud tone, to shout.
• The fifth word, that appears to be the word “Praise” can be this word “Shabach”
• Actually the correct pronunciation in Hebrew it’s like you’ve got a fish’s bone stuck in your throat
• You need to have the “vack~”, : Sha Vakh
• Don’t try to do that, in case you wet the person in front of you
• God uses this word, shabach means to address in a loud tone, to shout.
• God likes people shout for Him
• If you watch football/world cup.
• You will see when the football team walking to the field,
• The people shout with excitement for them
• Or in the concert, people will shout and scream when the singer goes to the stage.
Sometimes people shout for football team, a singer or stars who don’t even know them, but keep silent to the God who knew them
• We are not going to do that, AMEN? Why?
Psalm 63:3-4
Because your love is better than life,
(car, house, career, phone, money, everything in the world) my lips will glorify you. I will praise (shabach) you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
Towdah – to lift hands in adoration.
• There are 2 out of the seven words talks about lifting up our hands
• It’s Biblical to raise our hands
• But this one different from the first one, the first one (yadah) it’s to acknowledge or confess.
• This one it’s complete different, this one is to lift our hands in adoration, thanksgiving
• Giving Him the gratitude of from heart with hands lifted up.
Psalm 50:23
He who offers praise (towdah) glorifies me: and to him that orders his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God.
Tehilah – exuberant singing, boasting, giving glory.
• The word praise can be this word, “tehilah.”
• It sounds like tequila but it’s not, maybe it gets the same result but it’s tehilah
Psalm 34:1
I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise (tehilah) will always be on my lips.
• You can see all the different meaning shows that God wants us to praise Him and the psalmist understand this.
HOW do we praise God?
There’s a second part of How do we praise Him, found in Hebrews 13:16.
Hebrews 13:16a (NKJV)
16 But do not forget to do good and to share,…
4. WE PRAISE HIM WITH OUR LIVES.
• Not just praising Him in Words but also in Deeds.
• Doing good, and sharing.
• Praise of God in word and deed are inseparable.
• Lip service must be accompanied by life service.
• Just like when you tell your wife you love her, if that’s not accompanied by action, it is meaningless.
• But on the other hand, if you just provide, be around without the verbal expression, probably is not complete.
• Jesus not just talk, but also walk the talk.
• He loves and shows His love.
1 John 3:18 (TLB)
18 Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions.
WHEN do we praise God?
Hebrews 13:15 (NKJV)
15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God
5. WE PRAISE HIM CONTINUALLY.
• We praise God not only in good times but also in the bad times and the normal routine times.
• In other words, in your mighty, miserable, and mundane time.
• Remember to praise God.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (BBE)
18 In everything give praise: for this is the purpose of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Acts 16:25-26
• If we look at the incident of Paul and Silas being put into the prison, they were praising God in their tough time.
• Recently when I read that part in the book of Acts.
Acts 16:25 (KJV)
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
• I was reminded that a lot of times when we are in trouble, we might pray but seldom praise.
• You know the rest of the story when their chain fell off and they were free.
David praises God even he was wanted by Saul. Psalms 71:14
Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NIV)
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.
Praising God in Hard times is:
Seeing the un-changeable God in our changeable situation.
Learn to Praise God in your hard time, because God is taking care of you all the time.
Hebrews 13:5b (NIV)
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
WHAT is the result of praising God?
Hebrews 13:16b (NKJV)
…for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
6. WE PLEASE HIM THROUGH OUR SACRIFICE OF PRAISE.
Let me close with this passage:
Malachi 1:7-9 (NLT)
7 "You have despised my name by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar. "Then you ask, `How have we defiled the sacrifices?' "You defile them by saying the altar of the LORD deserves no respect. 8 When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn't that wrong? And isn't it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!" says the LORD Almighty. 9 "Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you! But when you bring that kind of offering, why should he show you any favor at all?" asks the LORD Almighty.
**What kind of sacrifice of Praise we bring to God every day/Sunday?
We praise Him – together, Christ, lips, life, continually, so that God is well pleased.
