The Ministry Of Praise And Worship From Genesis To Revelations

Today’s trend (fad) is men exposing their bottoms and women revealing their tops. However, the ministry of Praise and Worship isn’t new fad for today’s 21st century church. On the contrary since God spoke, the beginning of creation is disclosed in the Book of Genesis giving praise to God. Then the never-ending of time is revealed in the Book of Revelations worshiping God Almighty. Ultimately, throughout the Bible, we see where all peoples (regardless to race, nationality, or creed) perform some act of praising and worshiping God, the Alpha and Omega. The difference in their praise and worship is the target (e.g. a pointless target or a priceless target) to whom they praise, worship. Satan will have one to believe that as long as we’re worshiping and praising, all is well. The devil is a liar. In other words, the sinner man will praise and worship but to a pointless target. His/her target:

- will die one day, that luxury car will breakdown

- those can’t do no wrong children will later cause you great heartache

- and the bank roll will run dry

Oh yes, sinners do praise and worship but to an improper focus (improper target). Remember in 1 Kings 18, Prophet Elijah warned the Israelites to make a choice in who they will serve...either Baal (improper focus, pointless target) or God (the right target, a priceless target). Genuine sincere priceless praise belongs to a priceless target. This priceless target will:

- never die, never breakdown, and certainly will never leave nor run out

My brothers and sisters, the scripture declares that:

“God inhabits (invokes, likes) the praise of His people” (Ps. 22:3)

Thus, true praise and worship comes from the heart. How is your heart when praising and worshiping?

“Only he with clean hands and a pure heart can worship and praise the Lord” (Ps. 24:4).

So exactly what is praise and worship? Let us first understand praise. Every day (at football game, the entrance of presidents, children recitals, etc., we praise them. However that isn’t the type of praise for this occasion. The praise I’m referring to is biblical praise. There are several Old Testament Hebrew words for praise that we witness to during worship services such as:

- ‘yadah’ (to give thanks, to extend the hand, to throw out the hand)

“So I will bless thee as long as I live; I will (yadah) lift up my hands in Thy name” (Ps. 63:1.)

- ‘zamar’ (sing praise),

“Sing to Him, sing praises (zamar) to Him; speak of all His wonders.” (1Chr 16:9),

- ‘halal’ (the word hallelujah comes from this Hebrew word meaning (to honor, and/or commend to boastfully, to rave, celebrate, and to be clamorously foolish).

“Let them praise (halal) His name in the dance: let them sing praises with the timbrel and harp.”

Ps 149:3.

“Dressed in a linen ephod David danced with all his might (foolishly) before the Lord” 2 Sam. 6:14.”

Miriam danced with a timbrel in her hand and other women followed her” (Ex. 15:20)

These Hebrew words give a picture of one giving thanks and honor to one worthy of praising. It is also noteworthy to understand that praise is not a choice; rather, God commands it.

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” (Ps. 150:6).

Jeremiah 10:6, “For there’s no one like You, Oh Lord! You’re great and great is Your Name in might.”

Praise is what one does. God resides in a climate of praise as one “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.” Praising God is our sacrificial offering unto Him. Our praise offering is not conditioned to one’s feelings and/or emotions.

Our praise is the gateway to worshiping God. Though derived from the Hebrew ‘shachah, meaning to bow down it is also presence in the New Testament with various meanings such as:

- ‘Proskuneo’ pro-sky-e-no (to adore, kiss, crouch, and/or to prostrate oneself in reverence to the Lord)

“The twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever” (Rev. 4:10).

- Theosebes the-o-se-bes (reverent toward God, worshiper of God)

“Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him” (John 9:31).

The word worship comes from two words “worth-ship” meaning to attribute worth to someone. We must understand that not everything that’s worship is actually genuine worship. What about Cain and Abel’s worship? God looked favorably on Abel’s worship but unfavorably on Cain’s Why? Because Cain thought he could give God any type of worship and keep the best for himself (Gen.4:4-5). Virtually the same thing happened when Satan tempted Jesus with earthly possessions. But Jesus didn’t fall for that trap like Cain did. Jesus said,

“Go satan, for it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord Your God and serve Him only’” (Mat. 4:10).