Becoming People of Praise Becoming People of Praise April 29 & 30, 2017 April 29 & 30, 2017

The 3 things we need to know to become people of praise are: The 3 things we need to know to become people of praise are:

1. Praise is expressed. 1. Praise is expressed.

The first thing the teach us about praise is that praise is The first thing the Psalms teach us about praise is that praise is expressedexpressed. It’s physical, it’s verbal, it’s out loud. Psalm 66 says, expressedexpressed. It’s physical, it’s verbal, it’s out loud. Psalm 66 says, “Shout with Joy all the earth, sing the glory of his name; make his “Shout with Joy all the earth, sing the glory of his name; make his praise Glorious. “Praise our God, O peoples, Let the sound of his praise Glorious. “Praise our God, O peoples, Let the sound of his praise be heard!” praise be heard!”

Not only is it out loud, it’s often loud! When we read, “Shout with Not only is it out loud, it’s often loud! When we read, “Shout with Joy…” I don’t think it’s quiet. It’s not a whisper praise. It’s loud. Joy…” I don’t think it’s quiet. It’s not a whisper praise. It’s loud. Shouting stirs our passions. We’ve got to let that passion for Jesus Shouting stirs our passions. We’ve got to let that passion for Jesus come out because he is worthy of our praise. Psalm 96: “Great are come out because he is worthy of our praise. Psalm 96: “Great are you Lord and most worthy of praise.” you Lord and most worthy of praise.”

Biblical expressions of praise: Biblical expressions of praise: • Spoken word: Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise • Spoken word: Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard. - Psalm 66:8 be heard. - Psalm 66:8 • Shouting: Shout to the LORD, all the earth; break out in praise • Shouting: Shout to the LORD, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy! - :4 and sing for joy! - Psalm 98:4 • Playing musical instruments: Praise Him with the sounding of the • Playing musical instruments: Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre, praise Him with the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre, praise Him with the tambourine and dancing, praise Him with strings and flute, with the tambourine and dancing, praise Him with strings and flute, with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals. - clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals. - :3-5 Psalm 150:3-5 • Dancing: Let them praise His name with dancing. - :3 • Dancing: Let them praise His name with dancing. - Psalm 149:3 • Clapping: Clap your hands all you nations; shout to God with cries of • Clapping: Clap your hands all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. - Psalm 47:1 joy. - Psalm 47:1 • Lifting our hands: “I will praise you as long as I live, and in your • Lifting our hands: “I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.” - Psalm 63:4 name I will lift up my hands.” - Psalm 63:4 • Singing: “Sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord, all the earth. • Singing: “Sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise His name and proclaim his salvation day Sing to the Lord, praise His name and proclaim his salvation day after day.” - Psalm 96 after day.” - Psalm 96

There are over 400 references to singing in the Bible and 50 There are over 400 references to singing in the Bible and 50 commands to sing. commands to sing.

“Praise begins with a mind set upon God, but then those thoughts “Praise begins with a mind set upon God, but then those thoughts must be put into action in order to qualify as praise.” - Bob Sorge, must be put into action in order to qualify as praise.” - Bob Sorge, worship pastor and author worship pastor and author 2. Praise precedes your preference. 2. Praise precedes your preference.

The second thing we need to learn about praise is that praise The second thing we need to learn about praise is that praise precedes your preference. The one thing that will keep us from precedes your preference. The one thing that will keep us from becoming people of praise is our preference to do what we feel like becoming people of praise is our preference to do what we feel like doing. Praise needs to overcome whatever you feel like doing. We live doing. Praise needs to overcome whatever you feel like doing. We live in a culture where preference is king. It’s the “Have it your way.” in a culture where preference is king. It’s the “Have it your way.” culture. People say, “It’s not my preference.” It doesn’t matter. Your culture. People say, “It’s not my preference.” It doesn’t matter. Your praise needs to precede your preference no matter how you feel. Your praise needs to precede your preference no matter how you feel. Your praise needs to overcome it all if you are to become a personperson of praise needs to overcome it all if you are to become a personperson of praisepraise. praisepraise.

We don’t get to choose when we feel like praising God. We don’t get to choose when we feel like praising God.

I will extol the Lord at ALL times; his praise will always be on my I will extol the Lord at ALL times; his praise will always be on my lips. - Psalm 34:1 lips. - Psalm 34:1

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. - Hebrews 13:15 praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. - Hebrews 13:15

We need to be humble before God and put our fear of man and our We need to be humble before God and put our fear of man and our personal preferences aside if we are to become people of praise. God personal preferences aside if we are to become people of praise. God is always worthy of our praise despite how we feel. is always worthy of our praise despite how we feel.

3. Praise releases God’s power to overcome problems 3. Praise releases God’s power to overcome problems

In the book of Acts, chapter 16, Paul and Silas, who were two early In the book of Acts, chapter 16, Paul and Silas, who were two early church leaders, would travel around and share the truth about Jesus church leaders, would travel around and share the truth about Jesus Christ. They would proclaim that He was the Messiah. The religious Christ. They would proclaim that He was the Messiah. The religious people didn’t like what they had to say, so in this instance, they were people didn’t like what they had to say, so in this instance, they were publicly flogged and thrown in jail, and this is what the Scripture says: publicly flogged and thrown in jail, and this is what the Scripture says:

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the saved-you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household. whole household. Are you in an impossible situation like Paul and Silas? Are you faced Are you in an impossible situation like Paul and Silas? Are you faced with a seemingly hopeless situation? Do you need a miracle? Do you with a seemingly hopeless situation? Do you need a miracle? Do you need an encounter with God today? Praise him! When we cry out to need an encounter with God today? Praise him! When we cry out to God in worship and in praise, God shows up. God in worship and in praise, God shows up.

God inhabits the praises of his people. - Psalm 22 God inhabits the praises of his people. - Psalm 22

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. - James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. - James 4:8

Action Step: Practice your praise. Action Step: Practice your praise.

Start praising God in your everyday life. Listen to praise and worship Start praising God in your everyday life. Listen to praise and worship music. Read through the Psalms. music. Read through the Psalms.

Two reasons to praise God: Two reasons to praise God:

1. He has done more than you think He has. 1. He has done more than you think He has.

Remember what God has done in your life. Remember that it is Jesus Remember what God has done in your life. Remember that it is Jesus who has brought you salvation. God is always reminding us to who has brought you salvation. God is always reminding us to remember what He has done. remember what He has done.

Come and see what God has done. The awesome works on our behalf. Come and see what God has done. The awesome works on our behalf. He turned the sea to dry land, they passed through the waters on foot. He turned the sea to dry land, they passed through the waters on foot. - Psalm 66:5-6 - Psalm 66:5-6

2. He is going to do more than you think He will. 2. He is going to do more than you think He will.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. - Ephesians 3:20 - Ephesians 3:20

What is infinitely more that we might ask? It’s the unending What is infinitely more that we might ask? It’s the unending possibilities that God has for you and your life beyond what you even possibilities that God has for you and your life beyond what you even know you want, need, or ask. Isn’t that so amazing? Do you think Paul know you want, need, or ask. Isn’t that so amazing? Do you think Paul and Silas knew that when they prayed and praised God in the jail cell and Silas knew that when they prayed and praised God in the jail cell there was going to be an earthquake? I doubt it. Do you think they there was going to be an earthquake? I doubt it. Do you think they thought their chains were going to fall off and the doors were going to thought their chains were going to fall off and the doors were going to fly open? Probably not! Do you think they knew that the jailer was fly open? Probably not! Do you think they knew that the jailer was going to clean their wounds and bring them into his house, and then going to clean their wounds and bring them into his house, and then he and his whole family were going to be saved? I would guess not. he and his whole family were going to be saved? I would guess not.

Your praise releases God’s power in ways that you won’t ever know Your praise releases God’s power in ways that you won’t ever know until you start praising him no matter where you’re at. Then God will until you start praising him no matter where you’re at. Then God will move in your life in ways that you aren’t asking him for or even move in your life in ways that you aren’t asking him for or even thinking about. thinking about.