THE POWER OF PRAISE

PSALMS 113:5-6 “ Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, [6] who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?”

In worship and praise, we REMEMBER WHO WE ARE by remembering that God is the ultimate reality.

WORSHIP IS CENTRAL TO THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH John 4: 23,24 John 4: 23,24 “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. [24] God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.“ “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. [24] God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.“

Worship is the first and primary business of God’s people. All other acts of the church grow out of this one.

Worship is a… COUNTERFEIT DETECTOR. It exposes the competing, conflicting world views that are PASSED OFF AS REALITY.

Worship is an Worship is an ALIGNMENT CENTER We pull into the station with our wheels heading the wrong way – worshiping our careers, our money, our agendas - and there remember that Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE!

WORSHIP BRINGS US BACK TO REALITY I believe that worship is the closest we ever come to the REAL WORLD.I believe that worship is the closest we ever come to the REAL WORLD. Our eyes have been opened by the gospel to SEE THE UNSEEN.Our eyes have been opened by the gospel to SEE THE UNSEEN.

In worship we have fellowship with one-another but God is always the AUDIENCE. In worship we encounter God toIn worship we encounter God to PRAISE HIM (Psalms 110:10) “…to Him belongs eternal praise.”

THERE IS A GREAT CULTURAL TUG… When it comes to worship, because in most arenas, we are the AUDIENCE. When it comes to worship, because in most arenas, we are the AUDIENCE. Athletic teams play to us Politicians appeal to us Actors perform for us But in worship, we are not the audience.

The Psalmist Reminds Us Again And Again Of The Importance Of Praise Psalms 41: 13 “Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen. Psalms 72:18,19 “Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. [19] Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.

Psalms 113:3 “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.” Psalms 106:48 “ Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, "Amen!" Praise the LORD.

Although God is the object of our worship, THE HUMAN HEART is the issue of worship. All worship and service is to be from the HEART.

AN UNCHANGING BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: …GOD LOOKS AT THE HEART 1 Samuel 16:17 “….man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart”

Matthew 15:8 “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Deuteronomy 6:5 “…love the Lord your God with all your heart.” Psalms 139:23 “…search me O God and know my heart.”

When we come before God to worship, it must be a matter of the heart. - Hearts warmed by the love of God - Hearts transfixed by the majesty of God - Hearts humbled by the awesome holiness of God - Hearts bursting with jubilant praise at the goodness of God

WE WORSHIP A TRANSCENDENT, HOLY GOD Our understanding of God begins by realizing that He is not a created being. We carry the image of God, but He is not made in the image of humans.Our understanding of God begins by realizing that He is not a created being. We carry the image of God, but He is not made in the image of humans.

Our God is wholly other, sovereign, infinite, holy and powerful. In Paul’s words, he is “the blessed and only ruler, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.” (1Timothy 6:15,16)

GOD’S TRANSCENDENT NATURE IS SEEN IN HIS HOLINESS (Psalms 111:9) “… Holy and awesome is His name” In one sense, the word holy tells us that God is separate and unique. In our personality, our personhood, we are like God, but we are FINITE and He is INFINITE.

In the vision Isaiah had, heavenly seraphs were calling out to each other: “ Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord almighty, the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6:3) The threefold expression – Holy, Holy, Holy – is a Hebrew way of expressing the concept of “Holiest” (There is no one to whom God can be compared.)

God’s transcendence also points to His INFINITE POWER. The greatest expression of His power has brought deliverance to all of God’s people today. “He disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” ( Col 2:15)

His transcendence is not only seen in His holiness and power, but also His INFINITE WISDOM. Paul declared this infinite wisdom when he burst into praise. Romans 11:33-36 “ Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! [34] "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" cont.

[35] "Who has ever given to God, that God should [35] "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" repay him?" [36] For from him and through him and to him [36] For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” Amen.”

We cannot praise Him enough for His holiness, power, and wisdom and His INFINITE LOVE for us, causes Him again and again to draw near to us. All of history is the story of God loving and seeking to draw near to man. Though the heavens cannot contain Him, He still chooses in grace to dwell among us – out of unfathomable love He pursues us over and over.

1 John 4:10 “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

OH, HOW WE SHOULD PRAISE HIM! OH, THE POWER OF PRAISE!