All Creation Testifies of God’s Greatness In the beginning God… Genesis 1:1 Last week we learned that the word “praise“ is found well over 200 times in the Old and the New Testament. Songs of praise are prevalent throughout the Book of Psalms and songwriters of yesteryears and today provide lyrics through which worshippers have lifted voices to honor and extol the love and wonders of Almighty God. Whether the praise emanates from a psalm, a traditional hymn, or contemporary Gospel, the message of praise is to the only wise God who loves, protects, and provides for all His creation. Yet praise extends beyond songs or hymns. When used as a noun, praise expresses a favorable judgment of or glorifies (a god or saint) especially by the acknowledgment of perfections (The 2019 online 2019 Merriam-Webster dictionary). As a noun the same dictionary defines praise as an expression of approval, commendation, worship, value, or merit. All Nature Praises God At this very moment and into eternity, God is praised! Throughout all creation, nature displays the wonders of God and each element of creation praises God in its unique way. In heaven, God is continually worshiped as angels and seraphim in heaven never stop glorifying Him (Psalm 103:20; Isaiah 2—3; Luke 2:14; 15:10; Hebrews 1:6). Throughout this lesson, the words nature and creation will be used interchangeably. Also, creation includes more than just nature (such as land, sea, plants, animals, and weather). The word creation also includes spiritual forces which are invisible to us, while nature speaks of what we can see. Nevertheless, the terms nature and creation will be used interchangeably to emphasize that nature is God’s creation. The secular mind thinks of nature as distinct from God (as in “mother nature”) or as a separate god (as in “mother earth”). Praise of God is Without Compromise Throughout scripture, believers are continually reminded that all of nature was created by God. While God desires praise from His people, He also expects praise from the rest of His creation. David wrote, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” (Psalm 19:1, NIV). That means every day of every year of every century, the heavens are proclaiming the greatness of God in every corner or God’s creation. Not just in the cities commonly known to man but also into the countryside, His praise echoes in the hills and mountains, while pulsating throughout the seas, and into galaxies and universes that are yet unknown. Creation will glorify God! Remember the words of Jesus the Christ to the Pharisees when they told him to quiet his noisy disciples during the triumphal entry of our Savior into Jerusalem during His final days before the Last Supper, the crucifixion, and His resurrection. Jesus knew there was no reason to argue with the Pharisees or to present them a heavy lesson on worship, praise, or any other God-centered focus. Jesus knew the Pharisees had a clandestine agenda so He simply said to them, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out” (Luke 19:37-40 NIV). God is Creator of All The word create, is a concept that is difficult for humans to truly understand. For some reason, many believe that the word “create” actually means there are “raw materials” or something from which creation, a miracle, occurs. The online Webster-Merriam dictionary defines the verb “create” as “to bring into existence” or “to make or bring into existence something new”. Genesis 1:1-2 declares, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” God’s word goes on to identify ways in which the earth and all within the worlds were created by God. Throughout early chapters of Genesis, the narration of God’s acts of creation state that God spoke, and God formed all into existence. Before God began to create the universe, nothing else existed except God Himself! The phrase “the heavens and the earth” Psalm 33 also tells us that “ by the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth…For he spoke and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood forth (Psalm 33: 6,9). John’s account in the New Testament also affirm that “All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made (John 1:3). This verse is affirmed in Acts 17:24 and Hebrews 11:3. Paul also extends the discussion of the creation in Colossians 1 when he expands the creation account in verse 16. Revelation 4:11 also affirms the creation sovereignty of God as the scripture declares “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will hey existed and were created.” This scripture reminds us that God’s creation was grounded in His God’s will. Throughout both the Old Testament and the New Testament multiple scriptures affirm the creation by God. The Apostle Paul declared to pagan Greek philosophers in Athens, that the true God, “… who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. (Acts 17:24-25 NIV). What a wonder God we serve! Please Enjoy This Video Casey J - Creation Testifies (Official Live Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te3CsL4u73Q Examples of Scriptures - Creation Praises God; Creation in the Work of God Old Testament New Testament Genesis 1:1-31 Psalm 96:11-13 Matthew 5:44-45 Hebrews 11:3 Genesis 9:1 Psalm 99:5 Matthew 6:28-32 Hebrews 13:15 Exodus 19:16 -20; Psalm 104:21-, 30 Matthew 10:29-31 Revelation 4:8-11 Exodus 20:18 Psalm 114:1-8 John 1:3 Revelation 5:13 John 1:10 1 Chronicles 29:11 Psalm 147:79 Revelation 11:18 Acts 17:24 Nehemiah 9:6 Psalm 148:1-14 Revelation 14:7 Romans 1:18-20 Job 12:7-10 Psalm 150:6 Romans 1:25 Job 37:2-13 Proverb 8:22-31 Romans 8:18-25 Job 37:14-16 Isaiah 24:4-6 Romans 11:36 Psalm 19:1-14 Isaiah 43:20-21 1 Corinthians 8:6 Psalm 24:12 Isaiah 45:18 Ephesians 2:10 Psalm 33:6-9 Isaiah 55:12 Colossians 1:16 Psalm 65:9-13 Isaiah 45:18 Psalm 66:4 Isaiah 65:17-25 Colossians 1:15-17 Psalm 89:11 Jeremiah 10:13 I Timothy 4:4 Hebrews 1:2 Psalm 95:4-5 Jeremiah 32:17 ~~~~~ Resources: • The NKJV, Vines Expository Bible • Zondervan – NIV Bible Commentary: Volume 1: Old Testament • Zondervan – NIV Bible Commentary: Volume 2: New Testament • Moore, Dwayne. Pure Praise (Revised): A Heart-Focused Bible Study on Worship, Group Publishing, Inc. Kindle Edition • Casey J - Creation Testifies (Official Live Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te3CsL4u73Q • Louie Giglio, Passion City Church, The Creation Praises God! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaAiCdRHV4k ∞∞∞∞ FOLHOW Prayer Targets for This Week Committed Workers 1. In 2020 as members of FOLHOW we commit to be Vested in Doing Kingdom Work. Vision 2020 6. We will have a Spirit of Peace in all we do. 7. We will be in Acceptance of Your will and plan for 2020. 8. We will be Vested in the Vision of FOLHOW. 3 April 2020 .