Protesting Or Practicing Praise Series

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)