The Power of Praise

THE P WER  F PRAISE
Week 6: Praise & Worship
Psalm 150:6 New King James Version
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!
So far we have established that Scripture is filled with this phrase to PRAISE THE LORD! And as we saw, it’s not a suggestion, it is something that God expects us to do! And I believe there be something to it for the Holy Spirit to put in the Bible so many times. 
Definition of PRAISE: 
Praise includes commending; expressing approval or a favorable judgment of; and glorifying, especially by crediting with perfections. (Websters)
On top of that, we have looked at all the Biblical ways to worship (SINGING, SHOUTING, MAKING A JOYFUL NOISE, THANKSGIVING, STANDING, KNEELING, CLAPPING OUR HANDS, DANCING AND JUMPING FOR JOY, LAUGHTER, UPLIFTED HANDS, TONGUES, AND MUSIC)  
Then we reinforced that God is worthy of our praise in the best of time, in the mundane times, and the worst of times.
Last week saw that the Progression of Praise when Jesus said:
John 14:6 NKJV
6…“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 
Last Sunday we learned that God’s Original Plan was that we were mad to be in His Presence and that the whole bible has been about God striving the bring us back to Him. 
Why are you a Christian? Why does God want you to be saved? To restore communion with Him. 
We have three weeks left in this series. Basically, we have two sermons and one Sunday of Praise and Worship and feast. 
Today I want to talk about 
Praise & Worship. 
What is the difference between the two? Have you ever wondered about this? Is it as simple as fast songs versus slow songs? 
I want to talk about the relationship between Praise and Worship. I know that we that we learned so much about Praise…but let’s begin there see where it leads us. 
PRAISE (SEEK) ME…with all You Heart
We must seek the face of God, not the blessings of God. 
This takes disciple in our prayers, discipline in our thoughts. It’s not that God doesn’t care, in fact He knows our every need. 
Matthew 6:6-9 New Living Translation
6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!

Jesus then begins to teach the disciples the LORD’s Prayer. 
And the prayer starts with PRAISE….
KJV9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it in heaven. 
Matthew 6:33 King James Version
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
I want you to see that SEEKING is the same as PRAISING.
Example: Seek someone is the congregation. 
When we seek God for stuff we can forfeit the things we truly need and that’s Him. 
We see this in King David…who was known as a true worshipper of God. Read what he wrote…
Psalm 42:1-2 NKJV
1As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. 
2My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
The heart cry of King David was Where is God? Why can’t I find Him? How can I build a road to where He is so that I may be with Him? 
Seeking God is such a deep hunger and thirst that true worshippers will seek God until they are caught by Him. Their passion for Him will not allow themselves to stop until they gain the One for whom they love. The One who saved their souls. The One who redeemed their lives. The One who mended their hearts. The One who set them free from addiction. The One who gave them life. 
Hours spent in prayer and praise are the rule for true worshippers, not the exception. 
However, this attitude is uncommon in the church. We are too comfortable to expend the effort. Why is this? Why are we lackadaisical in our search for God? 
One possible answer is that we have yet to experience the beauty and power of God’s manifest presence. So we don’t understand the reward for our seeking is worth the effort and more. 
You hear this longing in David because David knew the presence of God. 
Another reason, we have become consumers. We are naturally self-centered and that competes with giving ourselves completely to Him. 
Walking in God’s ways and obeying Him in all things is a privilege, not a hinderance. I would even say that it’s the “least we can do”. 
Remember that God doesn’t need us so that He can be God. We need Him so that we can be human. Seeking Him is for our benefit, not His. 
When we seek God in our Praise, He turns around and finds us. 
If, then, we find that we are unable to seek God because of the many obstacles in our life, what are we to do?? 
PRAISE ME (SEEK) ME…with Repentance
As the children of Israel were about the enter into the Promised Land, Joshua recounted all the God had done for them to choose whom they would serve. 
Joshua 24:15 NLT
15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
The people chose to serve God. 
Joshua 24:16-18 New King James Version
16 The people replied, “We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods. 17 For the Lord our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us.18 It was the Lord who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the Lord, for he alone is our God.”
Then Joshua charged them
Joshua 24:23 New Living Translation
23 “All right then,” Joshua said, “destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”
Praising God is always this way. It is a choice. We choose to hindered by our wants and desires, our habits, our addictions, our hobbies, basically our way. But to truly Praise God is making the choice to lay throw off those weights that easily beset us. 
Hebrews 12:1 NLT
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 
Repentance is just that!! Striping off every weight and choose God. It’s more than asking for forgiveness. It’s turning away from those things and turning our eyes upon Jesus. 
2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who 
initiates and perfects our faith…Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
Repentance is the essential ingredient to truly Praising God. 
But let’s be honest, that’s hard to do… in order for us to be able to do that we must…

 PRAISE (SEEK) ME…with Humility and Trust
It’s something that we cannot do on our own. We need God to do it for us. 
We tie His hands when we do not give Him access or control of our lives. 
We find it easier to talk than to do. And this is becoming an ever-growing trend in our culture today even on a secular level.   
Very often we hand God the reins one day only to take them back the next day or even in the next moment. 
Perhaps we struggle with this because we have not learned to trust Him. David said this:
Psalm 9:10 New King James Version
10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;
For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek (Praise) You.
God is searching for a generation who will value His presence over their own selfish desires and waits for His purposes despite long periods of preparation. 
Psalm 14:2 NKJV
2 The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. 

Even Jesus said that God was searching…
John 4:23-24 NKJV
23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
See, these true worshippers will be caught by God, for His plans and purposes always include intimacy with Him. 
Proverbs 8:17 NKJV
17 I love those who love me, and those who seek (Praise) me diligently will find me.  
God always has a future much brighter than any of us can imagine. 
Jeremiah 29:11-14 New Living Translation
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 
13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 
14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”
So this same challenge is to us! To you, to me!! 
So I asked what is the difference between Praise and Worship..
Here are some simple truths. 
•    Praise is initiated by us. Worship is God’s response. 
•    Praise is something we do. Worship is something God releases. 
•    Praise is our building a house for God. Worship is God moving in. 
•    Praise is seeking God. Worship is being found by Him. 

WORSHIP: The Climax of Praise
Worship is the whole reason why we praise. Seeking God until He graces us with His presence. One He is present, everybody and everything else is dismissed. 
When the King enters the room, the very atmosphere changes. 
I want to show you the difference in the Bible. Let me give you some context first…
Solomon Temple has been built and they are having a dedication. The dedication was preceeded by the transfer of the Ark of the Covenant to the inner sanctuary of the Temple, where it was placed beneath the wings of the cherubim. Sacrifices were made and the priests withdrew from the Holy Place and consecrated themselves so they would be holy in their relationship to God. 
So we pick up in the festivities…
2 Chronicles 5:13-14 New Living Translation
13 The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words:
“He is good!
    His faithful love endures forever!”
So you see, they are having a Praise session. All the things that we have learned about Praise was happening…and then the atmosphere changes…watch this. 
At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. 14 The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of God.
Please try to get a picture of this in your mind. Sacrifices (putting their sins under the cross), consecrating themselves, (humbly trusting God) in preparation for the service. 
As this time of praise began, the band struck up, singers begin to sing. 
Thanking  and Shouting to God, “YOU ARE GOOD!! YOUR MERCY ENDURES FOREVER”
And then the power of God came into the Temple so strong that the priest could not stand up!! 
Finding God and enjoying His presence is the sole purpose of our praise. Only then may we know what to do and how to live our lives with HIS ABUNDANCE.