2001-01-01
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Today, I am led to finish discussing what Pastor Avery T. Willis in his "MasterLife" course on discipleship says about praise. We need to remember that praise of God deals with His character and His attributes, not with what He does. The latter is addressed in prayers of thanksgiving. It is also important to remember that genuine praise of God is a weapon in spiritual warfare that causes Satan to lose confidence, to be unhappy, and to experience discomfort. That is one more pressing reason why we should continually offer God the praise He so richly deserves. This entire message is our prayers to the Lord. I ask you to join me in dedicating it to Him.
Pastor Avery shares his idea of what should we say when we praise God. First, we should consider the following prayers of praise and adoration:
1) Glorify God's person, character, and attributes. Here are some examples: PS 8, 19, 24, 65, 104, and 139. PS 8: 9, "O Lord, our Lord, Your greatness is seen in all the world!" PS 19: 7 & 14, "The law of the Lord is perfect; it gives new strength. The commands of the Lord are trustworthy, giving wisdom to those who lack it...May my words and my thoughts be acceptable to you, O Lord, my Refuge and my Redeemer." PS 24: 8, "Who is this great King? He is the Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord victorious in battle." PS 65: 11, "What a rich harvest Your goodness provides! Wherever You go there is plenty." PS 104: 1-2, 33-34, "Praise the Lord, my soul! O Lord, my God, how great Your are! You are clothed with majesty and glory; You cover Yourself with light. You spread out the heavens like a tent...I will sing to the Lord all my life, as long as I live I will sing praises to my God. May He be pleased with my song for Him." PS 139: 1-2, 13, 15b-16, "Lord, You have examined me and You know me. You know everything I do; from far away You understand all my thoughts...You created every part of me; You put me together in my mother's womb...You knew that I was there-You saw me before I was born. The days allotted to me had all been recorded in Your book." Just writing these words to you gives me such joy and lends us such insight into Who our loving Abba really is.
2) We should praise God's goodness. Here are some examples: PS 9, 30, 108, 138; EX 15: 1-18; 1 SAM 2: 1-10; 1 CH 29: 10-19; LK 1: 46-55. And now, some excerpts for us to ponder: PS 9: 8, 10, 16, "He rules the world with righteousness; He judges the nations with justice...Those who know You, Lord, will trust You; You do not abandon anyone who comes to You...The Lord has revealed Himself by His righteous judgments and the wicked are trapped by their own deeds." PS 30: 4, "Sing praise to the Lord, all His faithful people! Remember what the Holy One has done." PS 108: 4, "Your constant love reaches above all the heavens; Your faithfulness touches the skies." PS 138: 8, "You will do everything You have promised; Lord, Your love is eternal. Complete the work that You have begun." EX 15: 2, 6,11,18, [Moses writes] "The Lord is my strong Defender; He is the One Who has saved me. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father's God, and I will sing about His greatness...Your right hand, Lord, is awesome in power; it breaks the enemy in pieces...Lord, Who among the gods is like you? Who is like you, wonderful in holiness?...You, Lord, will be King forever and ever." [From Hannah's Prayer] 1 SAM 2: 2, 10, "No one is holy like the Lord; there is none like Him, no protector like our God...The Lord's enemies will be destroyed; He will thunder against them from heaven. The Lord will judge the whole world; He will give power to His King, He will make His chosen King victorious." [David's Praise of God] 1 CH 29: 11,17a, "You are great and powerful, glorious, splendid, and majestic. Everything in heaven and earth is Yours, and You are king, supreme Ruler over all...I know that You test everyone's heart and are pleased with people of integrity." [Mary's Words of Praise] LK 1: 46-47,49b-50, "Mary said, 'My heart praises the Lord; my soul is glad because of God my Savior...His name is holy; from one generation to another He shows mercy to those who honor Him.'"
3) Enjoin others to honor Him. Some examples are: LK 19: 37-38; EPH 3: 20-21; 1 TIM 1: 17; Jude 25; REV 5: 9-14, 7: 9-12, 15: 3-4, & 19: 1-7. Here are some excerpts to pray: LK 19: 38, "God bless the King Who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory to God!" EPH 3: 20-21, "To Him Who by means of His power working in us is able to do so much more than we can ever ask for, or even think of: to God be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever! Amen." 1 TIM 1: 17, "To the eternal King, immortal and invisible, the only God-to Him be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen." Jude 25, "To the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, might, and authority, from all ages past, and now, and forever and ever! Amen." REV 5: 12, [7-fold Doxology] "The Lamb Who was killed is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise!" REV 7: 12, [All the heavenly worshippers threw themselves face downward saying,] "Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving honor, power and might belong to our God forever and ever! Amen." REV 15: 4, "Who will not stand in awe of You, Lord? Who will refuse to declare Your greatness? You alone are holy. All the nations will come and worship You, because Your just actions are seen by all." REV 19: 1, 3, 5, 7, "After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a large crowd of people in heaven, saying, 'Praise God! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God!'...Again they shouted, 'Praise God! The smoke from the flames that consume the great city [Mystery Babylon] go up forever and ever!'...Then there came from the throne the sound of a voice saying, Praise our God, all His servants and all people, both great and small, who have reverence for Him!'...Let us rejoice and be glad; let us praise His greatness! For the time has come for the wedding of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself for it."
Dear Ones, after reading and praying today's message, it is my fervent hope that the devil knows we are on to him and that he is feeling the power God has given us to use against him. Amen.
Tomorrow we will look at three strategic truths from EPH 1: 15-23 and examine how God has given us His Scriptural teaching and how to approach studying it. If we are of one mind with the Lord, we have the power to give the adversary a pretty hard time! I hope you will take the time to look at each of the verses here and know that when we add them to the praise that comes from our hearts, we can please God enormously. That power was given to us by our Abba Who treasures each one of us, looks after us in every phase of our lives, and provides us for a way to eternal life. What greater love can there be than that? Peter and I also send our love to you.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn