The Power of Praise
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. For with such sacrifices God is well pleased. [Hebrews 13:15-16]
Many Christians are familiar with the concept of praise as it relates to their experiences in a church service. The praise band plays, the choir sings, we clap our hands and sing along, even occasionally lifting up our hands in worship to the Lord. Some may even dance as they lift up praises to God. However, some in the body of Christ limit their praises only to the confines of the church walls where it becomes more of a ritual instead of a heartfelt sacrifice from the believer to God. The Bible commands us to praise God continually by speaking words of thanksgiving to His name. This means that we should be praising the Lord in our cars, at work, in the shower, and even in circumstances where praise doesn't seem appropriate.
We all know that singing songs of praise and thanksgiving are easy when times are good. It's when the storm hits, however, we see our true commitment to praising His name. During these times of trouble, or even in times when it seems the Lord has removed Himself from our lives, we are able to truly realize the power in praise.
God Inhabits Your Praises
O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you hear me not; and in the night season, and am not silent. But you are holy, O you that inhabits the praises of Israel. [Psalm 22:2-3]
Have you ever been in a bad mood? Are there times when you feel God has abandoned you--leaving you to fend for yourself? Do you face days when stress gets so high that you just can't cope? When these feelings overwhelm you, understand that this is a spiritual attack. The devil feeds upon your despair and will bombard you with lies of abandonment, self-pity, jealousy, and other wickedness that may cause you to act out in the flesh. How do we most effectively combat this spiritual attack? We do it with praise.
I remember one day when I had awakened in a bad mood. Nothing specific had occurred to put me in such a state. I just felt like being in a bad mood I guess. Fortunately, it was Sunday and I would be going to church. Once I arrived and began to earnestly praise the Lord with song, I was no longer in a bad mood. In fact, the bad mood turned into joy by simply singing praises to the Lord. Has this ever happened to you?
Notice I said, "I felt like being in a bad mood"? Being grumpy is a choice--a choice to either respond to your fleshy feelings or meditate on the word of God that says the fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control [Galatians 5:22] If you look in a thesaurus, you won't find grumpiness as a synonym for any of those characteristics. When this happens, recognize it for what it is--a spiritual attack--and respond with what the Bible teaches. The lesson I learned that day was that praise to the Lord releases the anointing of God and chases the devil and his lies away. Much like fervent prayer, which should always be filled with praise and thanksgiving, I was focusing on praising God instead of what was bothering me.
So, you ask, "What if I'm attacked during the week?" No problem--just lift up your hands and begin to sing praises to Him. We don't need to be in church to worship the Lord--we just need to be willing to do so and He'll do the rest. The Bible says in Isaiah 61:3 that we are given the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. When we put on the garment of praise, the spirit of heaviness (despair, fatigue, weariness, loneliness, discouragement, rejection, etc.) will flee from you.
Humility in Praise
When tough times come, it can be difficult to praise God because it doesn't seem fitting to praise Him for your struggles as if He were responsible. Knowing that God is not responsible for our problems, but rather the solution to them, we should praise Him by giving thanks for His grace and mercy in delivering us from these storms. Psalm 98: 1 says: O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he has done marvelous things. His right hand, and his holy arm, has gotten him the victory.
There is great humility in heartfelt praise to God. When we're facing a struggle, we tend to focus on the circumstance instead of praising God. In doing this, we become self-centered and prideful. Praise rebukes pride and allows the anointing of God to send healing and deliverance to you.
God resists the proud and gives grace unto the humble. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up. [James 4:6-7]
Pride and selfishness can raise their ugly heads in a variety of ways, but mostly they manifest when we fall into the trap of blaming God for our troubles. Because of the false doctrine of God's sovereignty that is being taught, many Christians immediately point the finger of blame at God when tragedy strikes. "It must have been God's will that Grandpa got cancer and died," they whine. "It must have been God's will for little Jessica to get kidnapped and raped. If it wasn't, this wouldn't have happened."
When I hear people saying these things, I shake my head in frustration. Instead of blaming the true source of the problem, they lash out at the only One that can help them. I don't want to begin another message, but because of our lack of understanding and knowledge of God, many Christians believe that since God is sovereign, He actually wills sickness, poverty, and catastrophe to His children--just to teach us a lesson or for some perverted greater purpose. There is nothing farther from the truth as this behavior is absolutely contrary to the character of God. Jesus said: The thief comes not, but to steal, kill and destroy. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. [John 10:10]
I heard a great saying a few months ago and I have it sealed in my heart--especially when trouble comes. "The devil has taken a lot from you, but God is the reason he did not succeed in taking everything from you." When we walk around offended at God, we have forsaken the very answer to what we're facing. Jesus said: Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me. [Matthew 11:6]
The story of John the Baptist is one where we can see how pride can result in being offended at the Lord, and just how destructive it can be. In Matthew 11, John the Baptist had (from prison) sent two of his disciples to Jesus to ask Him this question (v. 3): Are you he that should come, or do we look for another? Now why would John ask this preposterous question? John was doubting that Jesus was the Christ when before he had said of Jesus: Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world. [John 1:29] As you know, John had been cast into prison by Herod because John had offended Herod's wife by preaching against their marriage (Herod had married his brother's wife). Because John had been chosen by God to prepare the way of the Lord, he was offended that God had not delivered him from prison.
Being offended at Christ wasn't John's only transgression--his question indicated unbelief. The Lord's answer in verses 4-6 illustrates John's attitude: Go and show John again those things which you do hear and see. The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
The Lord's answer also reveals the root of John's offense: Jesus was performing all these miracles and wouldn't deliver him from prison. John's reaction to the Lord's chastening isn't recorded in the Bible, but one can infer that Jesus' words did not have any impact on John's attitude. We can infer this because of the outcome of John's prison sentence. Would John have been spared and even delivered from prison had he repented? No one knows, but we must consider what the Bible says: 1) that John was offended and was skeptical about Christ's power, and 2) that John was beheaded at the whim of a wicked and adulterous woman.
Instead of believing the lies of the devil that caused John to doubt Jesus was the Christ, John should have lifted up praises to God in spite of his ordeal. We should do the same when difficulties come our way. Let's compare John's behavior with that of the apostles Paul and Silas in the book of Acts.
Paul and Silas had been arrested in Thyatira [Acts 16:14-40] and after being beaten with many stripes (v.23), they were cast into prison under the charge of the jailer, who placed them in a dungeon and secured their feet in stocks (v.24). Instead of complaining to God and singing, "Nobody knows the trouble I've seen", they prayed and sang praises to God--so loud that other prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. (v. 26)
Because they chose to praise the Lord instead of being offended, Paul and Silas unleashed the power of God that led to their release and also with leading the jailer and his family to the Lord. This is a great lesson in how to respond in times of trouble. When the devil has you bound--whether it be in fear, poverty, or sickness--do what Paul and Silas did--sing loud praises to the Lord and you will be delivered.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations [trials, attacks]. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. [James 1:2-4]
Praise is Evidence of Faith
How can we best demonstrate faith when asking for something in prayer? Since faith is the proof of things not yet seen [Hebrews 11:1], giving thanks and praise to the Lord for His provision speaks volumes concerning the level of our faith. As Jesus saw the faith of the men who were letting down the crippled man from the roof [Mark 2:5], let Him hear your faith in thanksgiving and praise. There is no greater display of faith than by giving thanks and praise for a prayer that has yet to come to pass.
Be careful for nothing. But in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. [Philippians 4:6-7]
Praise Ministers to God
Our praise actually ministers to God. As we welcome praise from the Lord, He also loves to receive it from us. As I mentioned before, our praise releases the anointing of God. When we praise Him, we humble ourselves and acknowledge that our blessings are not of ourselves, but of God. In Acts 13:1-2 we see that certain prophets and teachers ministered to the Lord, and fasted in Antioch, which resulted in the Holy Spirit sending out Paul and Barnabas.
The Lord's prayer is an example of the model prayer. It begins and ends with praises to God. Our prayer lives should be filled with praise and thanksgiving for what He has done through Jesus. The apostle Paul, who endured more persecution than most of us ever will, never refused to give praise to the Lord--despite everything he faced. He wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:17 and 12:10: For our light affliction, which is but for a moment works in us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, the am I strong.
The trials and sufferings we endure throughout our lives are to be met with praise. Jesus said: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. [John 16:33] A great example of this is illustrated when Jesus walked on the water [Mark 6:45-52 & John 6:16-21].
Immediately after feeding the five thousand, the Lord had commanded the disciples to get into a ship and go to the other side while He sent the people away. After they had departed, Jesus went up to a mountain to pray. Mark 6:48 says: And he saw them toiling in rowing. For the wind was contrary unto them. When Jesus appeared walking on the sea, the Bible says that Jesus would have passed them by if the disciples had not seen Him and cried out. Mark's account in verse 51 says that when Jesus entered the boat, the storm ceased. John's gospel, however, says much more: Then they willingly received him into the ship. And immediately the ship was at land whither they went. [John 6:21]
The lesson learned here is that first Jesus had commanded them to go to the other side. After just witnessing the Lord feed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish, I guess He thought the disciples would have faith to believe that this would be done without "toiling in rowing" or struggle. Sometimes, the Lord will send us out in faith and all we do is struggle with our circumstances (trying to get to the other side) when difficulty arises. Jesus was watching them from the mountain to see how they would react to the storm. When He saw them struggling, He appeared on the water and would have passed them by if they hadn't asked for help. And, as soon as they received Him on the boat, the storm was ceased and they immediately arrived at the other side.
What if, after witnessing an awesome miracle, the disciples began singing praises to God instead of worrying about getting to the other side? Do you think they would have struggled as much? The same storm would have come, and if their praises would have grown louder, more than likely they would have arrived on the other side much faster.
When tribulation comes your way--and it will, trust in the Lord and praise Him with all your strength. Even when you don't feel His presence, you can operate on the highest level of faith that simply believes His words: I will never leave you nor forsake you. [Hebrews 13:5]
