Praise and Worship

Text: John 4:23-24

We find three angels mentioned by name in the Bible: Gabriel, Michael, and Lucifer. We always find Gabriel delivering a message, Michael as fighting a battle, and Lucifer (before he fell) as worshipping.

Ezekiel 28 reveals that Lucifer was the most beautiful angel to look upon and he had a special anointing given to him with which he was to cover God with his praise. Verse 13 states that the tabrets and pipes were created in him from the very day that he was made. So the first musical instrument created by God was the singing voice. What a voice Lucifer must have had!!! All angels were created by God (Ps 148:5) so God created musical instruments including the voice! Lucifer was given these special talents and gifts, as well as, a fiery mountain from which he was to exalt and praise and sing and play to God!!! However, somewhere Lucifer became prideful and decided that he was so talented and skilled and beautiful that he should be the one to be worshipped! For this reason he was removed from his position of honor and glory and musical leadership!

God has six-winged angels (Seraphims) that do nothing but worship Him continually. However after Lucifer lost his position, we never find anyone else filling his role as chief worshipper or as singer.

Praise

We are God’s chosen creation and we have been given the role of praising God and lifting Him up! Why praise him?

1. We are commanded to. Psalms 150:6 states “let everything that hath breath praise ye the Lord!”

2. Boosts our Faith. Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Heb 13:15-16 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

3. Heals Depression Ps 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Ps 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

Luke 6:22-23 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy

4. Brings a closer relationship with God If God inhabits my praise, then the easiest way to spend more time with Him is to praise Him, because He’ll show up! For any relationship to improve, you must be willing to spend time with the other, and you must be willing to give something to the other. No relationship will last if you are never in the presence of the other or only take from the relationship!!!! Praise solves both issues in our relationship with God!

There are several types of praise found in scripture:

1. Thanksgiving- This is giving thanks for what God has already done for us. Does not have to be at the time of victory, but can be years later.

Ps 103:1-2 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Ps 116:1 I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.

Ps 116:17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.

2. Victory- At the times when God has delivered you and just blessed you. Ex 15:1, Moses and the children of Israel worshipped God for Delivering them from the Egyptians! I Sam 2:1-2, Hannah rejoiced when God gave her a child! II Samuel 22, David rejoiced that God had spared his life at the hands of Saul.

3. God’s Attributes- This is praising God for who he is to us. Praising God for being a friend, a healer, a saviour, a counselor, a mighty God, a listener, etc...

Ps 66. Luke 13:10-17 Jesus healed the woman who had an infirmity eighteen years where she could not stand up straight, and immediately she “glorified God” Luke 17:11-19 Jesus heals 10 lepers, only 1 returns to praise Him for being a healer. That one leper was made whole. If you praise one of God’s attributes, then more will be revealed to you!

4. God’s Worthiness- this is praise simply because God is worthy. Praising God for His identity. Because He is the only One who is sinless so He is the only one worthy to be praised!

Ps 18:3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Rev 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

5. God’s mercy- a special form of praise. In fact the most praises of any type mentioned in the Bible are for God’s Mercy! In the tabernacle, above the mercy seat was where God’s presence dwelt. As we will see later, praising God’s mercy is the easiest way for our praise to become worship!

Ps 31:7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;

Ps 136 [Read]

Methods of praising God

1. Singing

Angels still worship God but only through their Sayings. The Bible does not say that angels sang at Jesus’ birth, only the angels said “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Also Rev 7:12 states that the angels that are worshipping around the throne are saying their praises. In scripture there is no singing in heaven during the dispensation of Grace!!!! Angels are never found singing until the redeemed church, and the redeemed Jews have sung the song of the redeemed. Singing is our unique way of praising God that no other creature has!!!

Ps 33:3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

Ps 96:1-2 O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.

Ps 98:1 O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things

Ps 144:9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.

Ps 149:1 Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.

Isa 42:10 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth

Rev 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

2. Musical Instruments [Read Psalms 150] God loves musical instruments. And we should learn to play skillfully. Ps 33:3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. and it should not be soft!!!! [See handout]

3. Actions

With Clapping Ps 47:1 O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

With Dancing 2 Sam 6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

Ps 149:3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

With Leaping Acts 3:6-9 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength.

And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

With Lifting of Hands 1 Tim 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

4. Speaking and Shouting You do not have to be able to run or shout or even sing to worship God.

Ps 66:1 Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:

Ps 95:2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

Ps 98:4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

Ps 100:1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

Ps 47:1 O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

Worship

What’s the difference between praise and worship?

Matt 2:

1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him

The wise men could not worship Jesus until they were where He was. They were seeking to worship Him but they had to first get into His presence!

I can praise someone or something and not be in the presence of that person. (example: My parents live in Louisiana, but I can still praise them to you ie.. they are really great parents, have never treated me wrong etc...) But to worship them I must be with them!!!

2 Chr 5:13-14

It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;

So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.

It was just praise until the glory of the Lord came down, then they were in the presence of the glory of God so their praise became worship.

Worship is then a more sincere form of praise only able to be offered in the presence of the one who you are worshipping!

Praise can be led, but worship cannot because the preists could not minister unto the people the Spirit of God was so thick.

Ps 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

If we are His people, then God will come inhabit our praises!!! So we begin by praising God. If we are sincerely praising Him, then He will inhabit our praises which places us in His presence, and our praise becomes worship!!!

Our praise services should end in a time of worship! Maybe we didn’t feel the presence of God at the beginning of service, but if we are really praising God and not just going through the motions, then we will feel His presence by the end of the worship service!

John 4:24 = Jesus was talking about the Holy Ghost.

Critics

2 Sam 6:14-23

And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house. Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

Anyone that praises God will always have their critics. Notice however David did not a critic (even a family member) stop him from worshipping and praising God.

Michal did not have any children, because her criticism cost her relationship with David. When you criticize someone’s worship, you lose your relationship and intimatecy with the King!!!!

David messed up many times, and made mistakes but He developed a love of praise and worship to God. Because of this he would humble himself and repent because he did not want to lose the privilege of the relationship with God that he had found through praise and worship!

Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

***Despite David’s mistakes, and his failures, God called him a man after His own heart. Praise and worship will take you to a relationship with God like you’ve never known despite your past!!!