A. BLESSING OF GOD
“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name” Psalms 103:1.
It’s incredible to think that we have the capacity to honor our Creator. Yet, throughout Scripture, we are encouraged to do so repeatedly. We honor Him through our praise and worship. Refer to Psalm 34:1-3 for more insight.
B. PRAISE
Praise is a way of conveying admiration and gratitude. When we offer praise to someone, we highlight how exceptional we believe they are or celebrate their achievements.
The same concept applies to the Lord; praising God involves recognizing His character and might.
“Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands” Psalms 63:3-4.
1. Why Do We Praise God?
a. Because Of Who He Is.
“Sing praises to God, sing praises, sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise”. Psalms 47:6-7.
b. Because Of What he Does.
“Praise the Lord, o my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases; He redeems my life from the pit and crowns me with love and compassion. He satisfies my desires with good things, so that my youth is renewed like the eagle’s” Psalms 103:1-5.
2. Who Is To Praise God?
a. Those Who Seek God. “… they who seek the Lord will praise him… ” Psalms 22:26.
b. Everything That Has Breath.
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord” Psalms 150:6.
3. When Do We Praise God?
a. At All Times
“I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips” Psalms 34:1.
b. In Every Circumstance
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” 1Thessalonians 5:16-18.
4. Where Are We To Praise God?
a. Surrounded By God’s People
“He [Jesus] says, ‘I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises’” Hebrews 2:12.
b. Among The Nations
“I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples” Psalms 57:9.
c. On Our Beds
“I will praise you as long as I live… with singing lips my mouth will praise you; I think of you through the watches of the night” Psalms 63:4-6.
C. WORSHIP
While praise conveys admiration and gratitude, worship signifies a deep love or adoration. One can admire someone and recognize their contributions without feeling romantic love for them. Similarly, worship is rooted in our affection for the Lord and can only be fully expressed through the complete devotion of our heart and life to Him.
“To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself, is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices” Mark 12:33.
The religious rituals and ceremonies of ancient Israel in the Old Testament were seen as repulsive to the Lord, as their hearts were distant from Him (Isaiah 1:10-15; 29:13). In the present day, God continues to seek authentic and heartfelt worship that reflects true sincerity.
“Yet a time is coming, and has now come, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is a spirit, and his worshippers MUST worship in SPIRIT and TRUTH” John 4:22-23.
Read also verses 4-26.
1. In Spirit
Our inner being is referred to as the “inner man” (Ephesians 3:16). Authentic worship occurs when this inner man, prompted by the Holy Spirit, communicates love and reverence for God. This expression can manifest as spoken words, a heartfelt song to the Lord, or even quiet contemplation.
Genuine worship is a product of the Holy Spirit’s influence on our spirit, which means that only those who have been “born again of the Spirit” through faith in Jesus Christ can truly worship God (John 3:5-8). The life of a true worshiper is characterized by OBEDIENCE.
Our obedience serves as a tangible expression of our love for God, as illustrated by Jesus’ words in John 14:15: “If you love me, keep my commandments.” This theme continues in verses 21, 23-24.
2. In Truth
Worshiping God in truth means honoring Him according to the guidelines laid out in the Bible. The incident involving Nadab and Abihu, the sons of the high priest, who perished after offering unauthorized fire before the Lord, serves as a serious reminder of this principle (see Numbers 3:4; 26:61).
It emphasizes the importance of understanding God’s design for priestly service, as exemplified by the Tabernacle of Moses, which involved sacrifice, cleansing, anointing, and proper attire before worship (Exodus 30:17-38).
In Revelation 1:5-6, we see that believers are “washed from our sins in His own blood” prior to being appointed “priests unto God.” An incident involving a U.S. apostle/teacher who was training numerous leaders in healing and miracles was met with a prophetic warning.
The prophetess admonished him, saying, “The Lord says to you, ‘How dare you teach those who are unclean to do my works! Stop it!’” This highlights the essential preparation that priests underwent before entering the Holy Place to worship the Lord.
Neglecting this established pattern could lead to dire consequences. Thus, we must commit to worshiping in truth—following the biblical way.
D. EXPRESSIONS OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP IN SCRIPTURE
1. With The Mouth
b. Praising. Psalms 103:1
c. Shouting. Psalms 47:1
2. With The Hands
a. Lifting. Psalms 63:4
b. Clapping. Psalms 47:1
c. Musical instruments. Psalms 150
3. With The Body
a. Standing. Psalms 134:1
b. Kneeling, bowing. Psalms 95:6
c. Dancing and leaping for joy. Psalms 30:11
“Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? … Sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted… ” Exodus 15:11, 21.
“Among the gods there is none like you, O lord … For you are great and do marvellous deeds; you alone are God … I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever” Psalms 86:8, 10 12.
