Central Though:
Our God is worthy of Praise continually by all who dwell on earth.
Hymn: “Praise, my soul, king of Heaven”
Text: Psalm 66:1-20, 89:1-26, 2 Chronicles 20:15-24
Introduction:
Christian praise to God is appreciating God for His grace, love and favor right in the soul (depth of the heart) of man accompanied spontaneously by a response of body, soul and spirit yielded to Him. The heart of it all is thanksgiving; not only with our lips, but in our lives. The true nobility and fulfillment of man are found in his right relationship with God as Father and the worshipper as a child through Jesus Christ.
In spite of the importance of praises and the central place it occupies in the life of a Christian with his God, some still find praises dry, boring and uninteresting. One can give reasons why Christian praises appear dull to some believers. But by and large, it would seem that many Christians are not quite sure what praises to our God is really about. It is important for us to mention here that praises unto our God is more or less a command from the scriptures. “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord” Psalm 150:6. The main aim of praises to our God is not for amusements but to show thanksgiving and gratitude to God who has ransomed and redeemed us and has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, to show forth His praises.
Lesson Objectives:
- To understand the meaning of praises
- To know how and when to praise God
- To resist the hindrances to praise
- To appreciate the benefits of praises
Question 1.) What is the meaning of Praises?
The dictionary meaning of praises is to bestow an approval upon, or a commendation. But the Christian meaning of praise is to appreciate God for whom He is. We only praise something that we honor and prize highly. If we hold the Lord in the highest state of respect and admiration it will be easy to praise Him. Praises are obligatory for believers irrespective of age because out of the mouth of babes and suckling’s God has perfected praise (Matthew 21:16).
We are born and created to praise God for his mighty acts and for His wonderful works. God needs men and women today in our generation who will praise Him in the beauty of His holiness, who will launch out into the deep, take hold of the promises of God, and bring forth the witness of the truth. Praises bring down God’s glory. (2 Chronicles 5:13-14).
A very important component of praise is worship which means a celebration of God’s grace and love in the soul of man. To worship God is to quicken the conscience with the holiness of God.
In Revelation 4:8-11, we see the saints and the heavenly host give honor and thanks to Him that sat on the throne. Furthermore in chapter 5:9-14, there is the universal worship of the Lamb that was slain. They proclaimed “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory and blessing” We also find in Revelation 7:9-12 another incident of worship of the Father and Son for His redemptive work. They said “Blessing and glory and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor and power, and might be unto our God forever and ever”.
Question 2.) When, how and why can and should we praise God?
2 Chronicles 20:15-23, Psalms 103:1-2
Praises should be given to our God always, especially in times of adversities and needs. When we have prayed and the answer appears not forthcoming, we should try praising God. This type of praise is an expression of our faith in the ability of God to act on our behalf. The scriptures in 2 Chronicles 20 tell us that Jehoshaphat overcame his enemies by reason of praises.
When the enemies waged war against Jehoshaphat and Judah, he consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord that should praise God in the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, “Praise the Lord; for His mercy endures forever”. And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambush against the enemies and they were smitted for every one helped to destroy another. Praising God in all sincerity is a strong weapon at our disposal.
We should praise God for anything and everything with our lips and mouth, singing with instruments unto the Lord. Praises should be offered to God with the soul and with our whole heart. The Psalmist says: “Blessed the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me and forget not all His benefits” Psalm 103:1, 9:1.
We also praise God for His mighty and wonderful acts, His might, the power of His providence, and wonders of His grace. Furthermore, we praise God for His works in creation, government, and redemption of the world, for children of men in general, and for His own church and children in particular.
We should praise Him with musical instruments but the best music in God’s ears is devout and pious affections, not a melodious string, but a melodious heart. Praise Him with a strong faith, praise Him with holy Love, by a lively hope and expectation of the kingdom of His glory; Praise Him for dying for our sins and for giving us victory. While we have breath, let us praise our Lord, and when death runs us out of breath, we shall be removed to a better state to breathe god’s praises in freer, better air.
Question 3.) What are the hindrances to praises?
- Wondering thought
Satan may cause the heart to wonder so that it is not concentrated in praises unto God, by bringing to the mind issues like a root of bitterness, grudge or a disappointment. Satan often contests our worship of God as he desires men also to praise him.
Satan is engaged in the battle of the mind trying to regain control of it thereby preventing the mind from praising and worshiping God. He attempts to enter the mind through a wrong thought, impression or idea lodged in the realm of the thought life. The Bible says as a man is, so his thoughts make him and this is the reason why we should not allow the enemy to enter our mind. We must resist the devil and he will flee from us. James 4:7.
- Distractive influences of others
It is not uncommon to notice some people in a congregation being involved in some distractive actions when praises are in progress. Whispering, joking, shouting unnecessarily or banging the bench or chair constitutes distractive influences to others in their moments of devotion to God. These actions not only hinder praises unto God but could quench the spirit of praise.
- Spirit of Criticism
It is unfortunate to note that quite a number of individuals do not fully appreciate the essence in praising God while others divert the praises meant for our God to human beings. Instead of fault finding and criticizing events, situations or people, we should look for something to commend and out our heart in praises and adoration to God. When we bite and devour one another, (Galatians 5:15), we cannot effectively give our praises to our God. Wherefore, to offer praises meaningfully to our God, we should eschew an unforgiving spirit, pride, grudges, and anger. We should resist or eschew the spirit of criticism and ask God to create in us the spirit of praise.
- Slothfulness
Some Christians are too lazy to exert both physical and spiritual energy needed to praise God, while others attempting to praise Him fall asleep and fail in their basic desire to meet the Lord and praise Him. Believers should not allow themselves to be weighed down by reason of sleep, so they must be alert, praising the Lord.
- Sin
“If I regard iniquity in my hear the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18). Isaiah also declared that sin separates one form God (Isaiah 59:2). Thus no one with a sinful habit or unconfessed sin can sincerely approach God with the sacrifice of praise. His spirit cannot be in tune with God as that person is not at peace with God (Romans 5:1). It is not possible to praise god with an uncleansed heart full of guilt. One cannot praise God that he/she has disobeyed by living in sin. Such praising amounts to mockery and it is impossible to mock God for God is not mocked (Galatians 6:7).
- Grumbling
A grumbling heart is an unappreciative and ungrateful heart. It complains not only about events and people but also about God. Thus, such an individual cannot give thanks nor extol the name of the Lord as he will find no “sustainable” reasons to justify his praising God. He believes that God has not been fair to him/her.
Other attitudes that hinder praise are pessimism and anxiety. Pessimism has to do with an attitude that does not believe that any situation will get better. Thus, he believes and hopes for the worst. But this is the contrary to the word of God which says “All things work together for good to them that love God” Romans 8:28. That is the reason why we praise God no matter the situation.
Anxiety or worry on the other hand is declaration of lack of faith in the goodness of God. The anxious heart is unsettled, disturbed, and disorganized hence it is not in a position to extol God. It requires faith to praise God always.
Question 4.) What are the results or benefits of praising God?
2 Chronicles 20:22-23, Acts 16:24-26
One of the results is that God Himself is glorified when He receives the praises and honor due to Him, and He in turn reciprocates by pouring down His blessing and benefits upon His people. Praises bring miracles, healing and victory to believers who exercise themselves in praising God always.
Praises also bring deliverance to those who are bound and frustrated. Praises can bring changes and succor to our circumstances. In Acts 16:25-26, Paul and Silas sang and rendered praises unto God while in the prison and the power of their praises caused a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. Moreover, the prison doors were opened and everyone bands were loosed by reason of praises unto God.
Praise is a weapon of war against the enemy. For example Jehoshaphat appointed singers who sang and praised God until their enemies were all destroyed. Also, it was the power of praises that caused the walls of Jericho to fall down (Joshua 6). There is power in praise. Let us praise Him in the morning, noonday, even times, every day, till the sun goes down.
Daily Living Application
True praises and worship leads to the surrender of the whole man to God. This surrender results in the obedience of the will, to the demands of God.
As believers we are to praise God in every situation. When we are in god and surrounded by Him as by an atmosphere, all evil has to pass through Him before it comes to us. Therefore we can thank god for everything that comes, not for the sin of it, but for what God will bring out of it and through it.
May God make our lives, one of thanksgiving and perpetual praise. The road to a sustained victorious life is through a heart full of praises to God continuously.
Memory Verse
Psalm 66:8
“O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of His praise to be heard”
Daily Devotional Guide
Monday: Praise God for a marvelous deliverance.
Exodus 15:1-18
Tuesday: Praise God for His wonderful works.
1 Chronicles 16:23-36
Wednesday: Praise God for He brings victory.
2 Chronicles 20:20-25
Thursday: Come into His presence with Praise.
Psalm 100:1-5
Friday: All the creation shall praise Him.
Psalm 149:1-9
Saturday: The Saints shall praise Him.
Luke 2:13-14, Revelation 5:11-12, Revelation 7:11-12