I. Nobody wants to go to prison willingly. Prison does not have the appeal of a Hilton, beach, or exotic location. I know by the reports that we hear of our prison systems running over that it must be the number one vacation destination in the world. It is evident that we are living in difficult times; the Bible says, “in the last days perilous times shall come. Paul would go on and say, “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”
A. Jesus would compare the last days to that of Noah and Sodom and Gomorrah. He would say that “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” There is no question that out there people are living in bondage and are prisoners to sin.
1. Jer 17:9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it? Man will always be corrupt and seek to do evil Job 14:1 Man [that is] born of a woman [is] of few days, and full of trouble. The prisons will continue to fill up and man will stay incarcerated to sin.
a. BUT… where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. 2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2. Isa. said of Jesus that The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon (Him); because the LORD hath anointed (Him) to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent (Him) to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
3. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Jesus said, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
B. But while you shout over those that are in prison being freed…right now in this house are Christians confined to a prison. Yeah that’s right within the church we have prisoners not of sin but those shackled by the cares of this world. The stresses of everyday living have placed the body of Christ on lock. For so many their “daily walk” has been over taken by their daily lives.
1. It has not always been this way but while we were busy in well doing the enemy has come in and sown thorns into your faith causing the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, to choke out your word and your promises.
2. As I look at the church today, I am amazed at the attitude that some of us have adopted. It blows my mind how many folks come into the House of God week after week and leave the same way they came. It’s mind-boggling to me how some folk treat the church just like they treat their job.
a. They just show up and put in their time, then complain about everything that’s going on, but do nothing to help the matter. It seems like you ought to get tired of the same old things .You ought to get tired of living from day to day without any joy, peace, and happiness in your life…
3. You ought to get tired of being down and out…Going through…Going under… going backwards…You ought to be tired of coming in here week after week and leaving the same way you came…Leaving here with the same ole problems…Leaving here with the same ole heartaches…Leaving here with the same ole heartbreaks…Leaving here with the same ole let downs…Leaving here with the same ole setbacks…
a. I Don’t know about you but I’m tired of being down and out…I’m tired of being the tail and not the head…I’m tired of being the defeated and not the over-comer…but what it all comes down to is how we respond to what life brings to us and how it treats us.
4. Part of our problem is that you won’t praise God in spite of. We all know the saying, “when praises go up, the glory comes down” but do we really know and understand the Power of Praise and its benefits? Praise can cause walls to fall just ask Joshua, praise can stop the fury of fire just ask 3 Hebrew Boys, praise can make a den of lions lose their appetite, just look at Daniel. Look at your neighbor and say, “you need chill out and take a praise pause”!
II. What we need to do when life gets overwhelming, when it comes in like a flood; is RAISE OUR PRAISE! Understand me when I tell you that Praise is permeated with Productive Power. True Praise has the Proclivity and the Propensity to be a Powerful Producer. How is Praise a Producer? How do you “raise your praise”?
A. In 1Ch 4:1 The sons of Judah; Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal. Judah means “Praise” but, did you notice that something is missing from that verse… there is no mention of the mother anywhere here; there’s a father (producer) present, but no mention of the mother (carrier/ womb).
aa. Sounds like the church, huh? Let me explain, Judah (Praise) shows up in the worship service and is looking for a partner (a bride/ womb/ carrier) to help nurture the seed that must be produced (the sons) but he can’t find one, because Judah isn’t just looking for anybody.
B. Some of you are not attractive to Judah because your heart’s not right, your motives aren’t right, your intentions are not right; that’s why it seems like you’re not growing and gaining in Kingdom Principles. Dress up all you want, GQ it but that don’t do it for God. He is not desperate for your praise, Jesus said in Luke 19:40 that He can get the rocks to do what you want do own your own.
1. That’s why: The church is boring to you, the devil is beating you down, the enemy is wreaking havoc in your life, because you refuse to hook up with Judah and consummate your relationship with him but, I need to tell you that there are some advantages to hooking up with Judah. Your praise will produce seeds that will give way to fruit!
C. Pharez: (Breach, Cut off, Divider, break forth) Understand me when I tell you that when you praise God, He begins to cut-off some things He begins to cutoff or cut away the things in your life that hinder you from your forward progression in Him, Pharez creates a dividing line between you and what the enemy has designed for your life.
1. So every time he tries to derail you from the plan of God in your life, your Pharez throws him off course, every time he tries to remind you of past failures, your Pharez steps in and reminds him of his future, every time he tries to block you from reaching your full potential in God, your Pharez steps in and cuts off his onslaught at the very point of contact.
2. If you want to go to war against the devil then follow these words from Jud 20:18 And the LORD said, Judah [shall go up] first. Jesus when teaching the disciples to pray told them to start with praise, before you petition you should start with a praise! He said in Mt 6:9 ¶ After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Ps 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, [and] into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, [and] bless his name.
a. Your praise will start a war that you will win; look at what happened to the Israelites in 2 Chron. 20, verse 15 says, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle [is] not yours, but God’s. Your praise will breach the enemies’ camp and not just take back what the devil has stole from you but will take the enemies camp from him!
D. Hezron: (Surround, Shield) When you hook up with Judah it will produce a shield so “When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard (shield, buffer, safeguard) against him”, cause “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty”,
aa. Understand that Hezron blocks “all the fiery darts of the wicked one” Hezron can shield you so that you won’t even see the darts coming at you, you’re so caught up in your praise, that no one and nothing else around you matters, true praise will create such a shield (Hezron) that all hell can be on your doorstep and it won’t affect you.
1. Your praise can take you to another place Into the deep recesses of God Into the Shekinah Glory,into the Holy of Holies, from glory to glory, from storm to shelter, from fear to faith. It is here you can get wrapped up, tied up, and tangled up in the presence of God and causes you to declare that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
2. Let me finish what happened in 2 Chron. 15, verse 22 says, And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. The enemy may come up against your praise and try to keep you from the Lord, but your praise will prevail. Look at your neighbor and say, “Your Praise will Prevail”!
E. Carmi (Vinedresser/Harvester) First of all, you need to understand that there is difference between a farmer and a vinedresser (harvester). A farmer harvests his own crop, but a vinedresser (harvester) harvests that which he did not plant! Not only that, but he doesn’t just do it when he gets ready. Understand that harvest time comes in its own season you don’t just harvest whenever you want to, but it has to be done in its own season.
1. When you hook up with Judah (praise) it will produce a Carmi as a result of your praise; God will put you in a season to harvest (inherit) that which you don’t necessarily deserve. The Bible calls that Grace! But another word for it is favor! Through your praise, God will cause blessings that you don’t even deserve to come your way, that’s unmerited favor! Tell your neighbor, “I need favor” now look back at them and say, “You better get to harvesting with your praise”.
a. Let me tell you something about seasons. We spend a lot of time trying to figure them out. God said I’m trying to tell you stop looking at the seasons, waiting for them to change (Why?) Because your season is already here! When you hook up with Judah (praise) it will produce a Carmi (Vinedresser) causing you to harvest sooner than you expected. Praise will change your atmosphere it will begin to make shifts in your life. Have you not ever seen a flower bloom out of season, something happened that made that flower bloom early. Don’t you see your praise causes you to bloom early and to go into your season.
b. Once your season begins, folks will begin to look at you and wonder: How did you… (ex), How come you got…(ex), How come you’re walking in…(ex), How come your household is blessed… Carmi will cause folks to look at you funny…Carmi will cause folks to treat you funny…Carmi will cause folks to talk about you…Carmi will cause folks to ask all kinds of crazy questions.
2. But it’s not because of what you’ve done, or who you are, but it’s simply because of your praise that produced a Carmi. When you have a praise party, God says, “Since you put on the party I will bring my presence and presents” He has come to show up and show out. Ps 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
a. You need to understand that when you hook up with Judah (praise) Carmi is produced and blessings will come forth and folks will trip out on the favor that God has shown you, but let ‘‘em trip (Why?) because “favor ain’t fair…” Not my fault you want get your lazy rusty dusty self up and Praise the Lord. Not my fault you got up on the wrong side of the bed and had a bowl of frosted bitter O’s with sour milk and came to church with a chip on your shoulder.
F. Hur: (Liberty) When you hooked up with Judah (praise) you can produce a Hur (Liberty), and the thing I like about it is that Hur frees me from the opinions of others, Ro 8:1 ¶ [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
aa. Hur frees me from the past, 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
bb. Hur frees me from the pain of the past, but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
1. That’s why praise is so important in the life of a believer it is your weapon, the reason some of you struggle like you do and can’t fight the way you should is because there is a giant on your land. 1Sa 17:1 Now the Philistines (a type of Satan) gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh (defense), which [belongeth] to Judah (praise), What that verse is saying is that Satan will try to position himself in your place of defense which is your praise.
a. The Bible says that, Eph 6:12 for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. Paul said that, 2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) (5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
b. Praise is the weapon that we use to get through the hell that the enemy tries to bring our way, it’s through our encounter and experience with praise that we are able to produce a Hur and the liberty that frees us from bondage.
c. You better learn how to praise God through your adversity, learn how to praise Him through trials and tribulations, learn how to praise Him through hell and havoc, learn how to praise Him through sickness and pain, learn how to praise him through rejection; you need to learn how to praise despite it all.
d. Let me tell you something; praise does not give you money, cars, spouses, blessings, what it does give you is a right mind that keeps you from a nervous breaking down, it strengthens you to hang in there until what you are praising Him for comes to pass. One thing I know is your praise gives you a break through before there is a break down.
G. Shobal: has two distinct meanings. The first one I want to show you is “An Embracer of Corn” Understand in Bible times, that money was not the only system in place. They used a system of barter and trading, and corn was used by the wealthy as a form of currency, remember in Genesis 41 when Joseph had Pharaoh store up corn for 7 years, so that when the famine came it was traded for money and property.
1. When you hook up with Judah (praise) and produce a Shobal; God will use new ways to make you prosperous, God will use Shobal to bring you into the position to start that business, God will use Shobal to bring you into the position to go forward in ministry, God will use Shobal to bring you into the position to be all that God has called you to be. Your praise will help align your destiny!
2. Not only does it mean “Embracer Of Corn,” but Shobal also means “Pioneer” your praise will have you going into places that you’ve never been before, not only will He do it, but He’ll do it in a way that other people won’t understand, 1Co 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
a. When you hook up with Judah (Praise) and produce a Shobal; doors will begin to open for you that no one can close, when you hook up with Judah (Praise) and produce a Shobal; you take on the attitude of Joshua, “we can possess the land” “give me my mountain”
b. Through praise, God will put you in a position to go where you had not been before, I told you Shobal means Pioneer (One who leads the way; one who breaks new ground) God is telling you to possess the land and to go and take back the Kingdom from the enemy.
c. Listen to what God told Joshua "(Jos.1:2-5) Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, You got to make your boundaries personal; I am praising you Lord for my … (ex.)
III. Paul and Silas understood the power in raising their praise. The title of today’s message is “Prison Break” the reason I am telling you now is because this was never a “get out of jail free” message. This is a word to those that feel locked up, tied up, and tangled up.
A. I know you were expecting a cookie cutter “Jail House Rock” message, but what I just gave you is a formula that will take you from prisoner to praiser. So many wait to praise him after the prison, after the doctor’s report, after the… (ex). Momma why wait until they come to church, why not praise them in.
aa. A lot of you are reserving the praise for after you get what you want. You are never going to get it. But if you put your praise on the front end, in the middle, and on the back you might get paid in full. Your praising God on credit!
1. Your spending too much time waiting on your miracle/blessing/promise, thinking it will come after the fact. The enemy has you convinced that you have been locked out of your blessing. Your not locked out of it…your locked in with it. The key is not locked in the other room it’s in there with you.
2. You need a Prison Break, a break in its simplest definitional form means “separation, to split up” companies will give their employees “breaks” to help give the workers a chance to catch their breath, to help them refocus, so they don’t become stagnant and unproductive. What Paul and Silas were doing was not a master plan of escape, but rather a pause on their circumstance.
a. You need to follow Paul’s instructions Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.
B. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. It is nowhere else. You can feel Him in your hands and feet all you want. There is no death and life decision in your hands and feet. You only have one mouth and one heart, and from the heart the mouth speaks. The connection to the mouth is the heart and when you love God and in covenant with Him your mouth ought to express it, along with your hands and feet. Praise visits hands and feet, but resides in the mouth.
1. What did God do in Genesis 1, He spoke first and creation happened. If you want to creative miracles in your life it starts with you opening your mouth!
2. Do you know that when you praise God, the devil will stop whatever he is doing to you? Self-defense classes teach people that a mugger is less likely to attack a person who refuses to act like a typical victim. Flaring your arms and feet is not as effective as making some noise. Sometimes the best thing to do is scream and make a lot of noise, because that can scare the attacker off. The devil is no different. He knows that noisy saints are the worst ones to pick on because they’ll call down a whole host of help from heaven with their praise.
3. There is Power in Your Praise, I dare you to praise God, In the midst of your circumstances, In the midst of your confusion, In the midst of your crisis, I don’t know about you but I’ve got to Praise Him.
