02 FEBRUARY 2002 TOPIC: PRAISE & WORSHIP

"Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" Ps. 107: 15

Praise

The Oxford dictionary defines the word "praise" as:

a. An expression of warm approval or admiration

b. Glorifying God

c. The act of commendation

d. Expression of pious gratitude.

This definition suggests 2 dimensions of praise: Admiration on the one hand, and Commendation, Glorification or expression of Gratitude, on the other.

 Admiration

When you admire someone, you regard them with approval, respect or satisfaction. Admiration has to do with a person's personality -their substance, their attributes. There is usually something in or about them that fascinates you or makes you respect them. See Ps. 18:1 & 2. The psalmist is admiring God for what He is and in Ps. 29, he is admiring the authority of His voice.

Glorification/ Commendation/ Gratitude

This is when you express thanks to a person for what they have done for you, or commend them to someone else's approval on the basis of what they have done for you.  See: Ps.106:1 & 2; 107:1,2,8 & 9.

Who should we praise?

See: Ex.20:2 & 3; Deut.10:20 & 21; lChr.16:25; Ps. 95:6; Matt.4:10.

When should we praise?

See: Ps.34:1; Ps.113:3; ITh.5:18

Why should we praise?

a. Because He is worthy -2 Sam.22:4

b. It is befitting/ appropriate for us to do so -Ps. 33:1; 92:1 & 2

c. When we praise God, we are reminded of His goodness -Ps. 103 : 1 -5

d. God expects it-Num. 27:12 -14; Ps 50:7-15, & 23; Dan. 5:22- 28

e. It is a fundamental aspect of prayer -Phil. 4:6 & 7; I Tim 2: 1.

Please note that this list is by no means exhaustive.

What are the benefits of praise?

a. In most African cultures, you are ushered into the king's presence by a praise singer who sings his praise  as you approach. It is no different with the King of -kings -Ps. 100.

b. Conversely, praise invites God's presence into your circumstances -Ps. 22:3

c. Praise defeats our enemies -Matt. 21 :15 & 16, Ps. 8:2. See also: 2Chr. 20:21-25; Josh 6:20 & Ps. 149:6- 9.

Worship

The Oxford dictionary defines worship as:

a. Homage or reverence paid to a deity

b. Adoration or devotion shown towards a person or principle

c. Recognition, honour or respect given or due to a person or deity

d. Idolisation.

"Worship" can also be broadly divided into 2 categories -the act of reverence or paying homage to a deity or other figure of authority and the act of idolisation.

Homage

In the bible, the act of paying homage to a form of authority denotes total submission to that authority. Hence the response of our Lord in Matt. 4:10, and His commandment in Ex. 20:4 & 5a. See Josh. 5:13 -15. Note that the homage is followed by total surrender, "What saith my Lord to His servant?"

See also 2Chr. 20:16- 18.

(Just an observation: The Mulsims worship their deity by bowing until their foreheads touch the ground. They also are so totally sold out to him that it is nothing for teenagers and women to become suicide bombers in order to fight his cause. I think there is a lesson in worship for us Christians to learn)

Idolisation

To idolise is to venerate or love someone or something extremely or excessively; in otherwords, to be totally sold out or committed to that person or thing. See Dan. 3: 16- 18.  Note that for the 3 Hebrews, the issue was not that their God was able to deliver them, but that they were not going to worship Nebuchadnezzar's gods or bow down to his idol under any circumstance. See also Dan. 6:7- 10.

This form of worship is a state of mind, a "purpose of heart" (Dan. 1 :8). Joseph was in the same state of mind and that is how he was able to overcome the temptation posed by Portiphar's wife.(Gen. 39:7 -9). His greatest concern was not to sin against God, whatever the consequences.

CONCLUSION

As children of God, we ought to begin everyday by submitting ourselves to His authority (reverence), praising our way into His presence, then with thanksgiving, make our requests to Him. The way we live our lives and conduct our affairs should be an expression ofworship, as was the case with Joseph, Daniel & co. See Dan. 6:4 & 5.

Praise is the ministry of every Child of God to his / her father, and should not be taken lightly. Not all of us are called to be pastors or evangelists or prophets, etc., but every one of us is commanded to worship God and praise Him. If we don't, the rocks and stones will put us to shame. (Luke 19:40). Perhaps as a Fellowship, we should consider re-prioritising Praise & Worship and set aside certain days for it, as we used to. Remember,

"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me; and to him that ordereth his conduct aright will I show the salvation of God."

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