Thanksgiving, Praise & Worship
Pastor Bob Ashcraft July 14, 2002
(RealAudio Help)
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INTRODUCTION:
§ These are different words used in scripture with different meanings and specific purposes
§ Thanksgiving relates to God’s deeds, what He has done
§ Praise relates to God’s character, who He is
§ Worship relates directly to God’s holiness
§ This is an examination of these three functions of the Church and importance operating in them
1. THE MEANING AND PURPOSE OF THANKSGIVING
§ NT scripture regularly speaks of thanksgiving that can be done in one’s heart and in private
§ As opposed to the Hebrew references for Praise which has a connotation of being public and open
§ Thanksgiving occurs when we breathe a prayer of thanks to God
§ Praise occurs when we thank God publicly
§ The Hebrew word most commonly translated as thanks in the OT is related to the word for hand
§ This gives the concept of stretching out or lifting up hands to God
1 Thess 5:15-20
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit.
§ If we don’t give thanks, we are out of God’s will
§ But there is also a point of confusion here
§ Some think we should give thanks for everything good, bad or indifferent
1 John 3:8…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
§ If Jesus came to destroy the works of the Devil, then obviously the Devil has been working
§ The Bible does not command us to give thanks for the work of the Devil but only for the work of God
§ Also, in 1 Thes 5:18 - it says "in everything give thanks" not "for everything"
§ We don’t give thanks for everything but rather in the midst of everything, of whatever is happening
§ Thanksgiving is a fruit of the Spirit - Gal 5:20
§ Thanksgiving is a manifestation of the infilling of the Holy Spirit - Matt 12:34
§ Thanksgiving is the first stage of our approach to the throne of God - Psa 100:4
§ Thanksgiving goes with our supplication - Phil 4:6
§ Thanksgiving strengthens faith
§ Thanksgiving triggers miracles
2. THE MEANING AND PURPOSE OF PRAISE
§ The Psalms of David can be divided into 2 groups
§ Psalms of Declarative Praise emphasize what God has done for His people
§ Psalms of Descriptive Praise exalt God for who He is
§ A relationship with God cannot exist without praise
§ Of all the books in the Bible, the book of Psalms is the longest
§ The English word "psalms" is actually a transliteration from the Greek word "Psalmoi" - which means; a striking of a finger on a stringed instrument
§ The Hebrew word for psalms is tehilim which is a term of music
§ Praise according to the Webster’s dictionary means; to speak well of, extol, magnify the virtues of someone
Hebrew Words of Praise
§ Halal: to be boastful, to be excited, to enjoy
o It connotes a tremendous explosion of enthusiasm in the act of praising
§ Yadah: means to acknowledge in public, to throw out with extended hands
o This is the word for praise used in 2 Chro 20, when the Levites went out before the army
o Ps 63:4 Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
§ Barak: to kneel by implication bless God
o Bowing before the Lord expresses our submission & expectation
§ Zamar: The idea of striking with the fingers properly, to play the strings or parts of a musical instrument
o Ps 92:1 It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
§ Shabach: To address in a loud tone, to shout triumphantly
o Ps 63:3 Because Your loving kindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.
§ Towdah: The sacrifice of praising God through trials, pushing through adversities
o Praising in faith before God moves
§ Tehillah: cheering and singing our praise, literally to sing our "halals"
o It is used in Psa 22:3 "God inhabits…"
§ Ruah: To shout in joy
o Ps 95:1-2 Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
§ All of these words are words of sound
3. THE MEANING AND PURPOSE OF WORSHIP
§ Reverent devotion and allegiance pledged to God; the rituals or ceremonies by which this reverence is expressed.
§ The English word “worship” comes from the Old English word, “worthship”, a word which denotes the worthiness of the one receiving this special honor and devotion.
§ Most common Hebrew - Shachah: to prostrate in homage to royalty or God, bow down, fall down flat, humbly beseech, do reverence, make to stoop.
§ "It is impossible to understand worship without relating it to an attitude of the body." - Terry Law
We Are Created to Worship
§ Our choice is not whether we will worship but whom we will worship
§ God will not share our worship with anyone else or anything else
§ When Satan tempted Jesus - Matt 4:9 And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ’You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ "
o This illustrates an important principle
o Whatever we worship, we will end up serving
o Worship is the ultimate decision
§ Just knowing that God can be worshipped provides an incredible opportunity for each of us
§ But also knowing that the Almighty takes note of our worship is hard to comprehend
CONCLUSION:
§ Thanksgiving, Praise & Worship should be compared to the three areas of the tabernacle of Moses
§ The Outer Court represents thanksgiving
§ The Holy Place represents praise
§ The Holy of Holies represents worship
§ It is the divine invitation of the Lord
§ It is an act of our will and complete openness is required
