How Jesus Found Power In the Praise of the Father - Matt 6:9-13
Illustration:What is worship? Worship is to feel in your heart and express in some appropriate manner a humbling but delightful sense of admiring awe and astonished wonder and overpowering love in the presence of that most ancient Mystery, that Majesty which philosophers call the First Cause, but which we call Our Father Which Are in Heaven.
A.W. Tozer, quoted in D.J. Fant, A.W. Tozer, Christian Publications, 1964, p. 90.
1. Jesus taught all of us to begin prayer with praise. The Lord Jesus said, "This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name_" (Matt. 6:9) Praise helps us honor, worship and give maximum glory to the only one who deserves it. Worship allows us to fix our mind on things above instead of on things on the earth. Our life is hidden with Christ in God. We gain our sense of purpose, power and perspective through worship. People who worship the Lord as their priority are enabled to see God’s perfect will for their life. The Holy Spirit energizes, equips and empowers those who are worshiping the Lord in Spirit and in truth for such the Father is seeking many others who will likewise worship Him. Let the Lord use you to enhance, enrich and enlarge the sphere of His worshipers.
2. Jesus praised God for all of His great works. The Lord Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure." (Matt. 11:25,26) Worship the Lord for the great visible and invisible things He is doing. He works in ways we cannot see or understand, yet we should praise Him since His ways are past finding out.
3. Jesus knew that the Pharisees sought the praises of men. The Lord Jesus wanted to teach all people to whom their praises should be directed. John wrote, "The Pharisees loved praise from men more than praise from God." (John 12:42,43) Praising God through song and prayer and testimony rightly directs others to whom they should be worshipping.
4. Jesus knew that praise helps people get a better appreciation for their identity, privileges and power as children of God. The Lord Jesus knew that Paul would write, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ." (Eph. 1:3)
5. Jesus knew that praise gives people a greater insight into God’s will, way and wonderful working. Mark writes of Jesus’ early morning pattern, "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." (Mark 1:35) No doubt the Lord Jesus prayed the prayer of David, "I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; before the gods I will sing your praise_ I will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness. For you are exalted above all things." (Psa. 138:1,2) Jesus gained greater empowerment for all that God wanted Him to accomplish through His praise and private worship.
Illustration: Scripture: Acts 16:10
“The dream gave Paul his map. We went to work at once getting things ready to cross over to Macedonia. All the pieces had come together. We knew now for sure that God had called us to preach the good news to the Europeans” MSG
A father just home from a hard days work wanted to read the paper in his easy chair, but was being bothered by his little daughter, Vanessa. Finally in desperation for some peace he tore a page out of a magazine. Printed on the page was a map of the world. Tearing it into small pieces he gave it to Vanessa, and said, "Honey, go into the other room and see if you can put this together."
After a few minutes, Vanessa bounced back into the room and handed him the map correctly fitted together. The father was amazed and asked, “Vanessa, how did you finish so quickly?”
"Oh," she said, "on the other side of the paper is a picture of Jesus. When I got Jesus in His place, then the world came out all right."
Prayer: Father help me to view the world through Jesus. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
6. Jesus praised God in public assemblies as a way of pledging His highest allegiance, commitment and loyalty to the Father. "Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them." (Matt. 26:27) Give everyone an opportunity to express their public praise for the Lord as a way of affirming their primary commitment to their savior and creator.
7. Jesus praised His Father to give people a greater incentive to live holy, blameless and obedient lifestyles to God. Jesus prayed, "I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you have me to do." (John 17:4) The Lord receives greater honor when we are living a righteous lifestyle that bears fruit in every good work. Ask the Lord for ways to help you bear more spiritual, relational, and ministry fruit for His glory.
8. Jesus did many good works to bring greater glory to God and to draw more people to a relationship with the Father. Jesus said, "Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matt 5:16) Ask the Lord for more ways to let your lifestyle and ministry bring more people into a saving faith relationship with God.
9. Jesus praised God because He wanted everyone to know God’s power is greater than any other authority. Jesus said to the paralytic man, "So that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins_ Get up, take up your mat and go home." And the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God who had given such authority to men." (Matt. 9:6-8) Ask the Lord to use you to affirm that God’s power is greater than any other demonic, worldly, or human authority for His praise.
10. Jesus knew that people who praised God would grow in wisdom, knowledge and understanding of the Father and His will. The Lord Jesus knew that Paul would write, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will." (Eph. 1:7-9) Spending time praising God will give you greater intimate knowledge of the Holy One and His will for your life.
11. Jesus knew that praising God would take away stress, anxiety and worry. The Lord Jesus said, "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!" (John 12:27,28) Praise helps everyone rely more on God’s sovereign will and less on our own natural ways of thinking. Praise God in all situations as He gives power in praise.
Conclusion:True biblical worship so satisfies our total personality that we don’t have to shop around for man-made substitutes. William Temple made this clear in his masterful definition of worship:
For worship is the submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness; the nourishment of mind with His truth; the purifying of imagination by His beauty; the opening of the heart to His love; the surrender of will to His purpose -- and all of this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable and therefore the chief remedy for that self-centeredness which is our original sin and the source of all actual sin.
Warren W. Wiersbe, The Integrity Crisis, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991, p. 119.
