Power in Praise and Worship
Power in Praise and Worship
Posted on July 28, 2008
Genesis 1:26-27
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Acts 16:25-26
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.
his message is more of a counsel. In Genesis, we see that God created man in His image. We must believe this literally if we to have a good relationship with our Maker.
God has a body with Eyes, Ears, Nose, Hands, Legs, and Mouth. In the Bible, we read expressions like fire coming out of the mouth of the Lord, the right hand of the Lord doing valiantly, God listening with His eyes, the eyes of God being all over the world, and the world being under God’s feet.
God also has a Soul and a Spirit. He thinks, meditates, and has passions. The only difference is that unlike man, all thoughts of God are Holy. If we understand that God has a soul, it will not be difficult for us to know why he responds to praises. As humans, only sadists will not respond to praises. If you tell a man well done or a lady that she is cute, many will shake their heads and thank you for the compliments. As Husbands, our wives are not contended until we compliment the taste of their meals.
Few years ago, a woman told me an interesting story concerning her husband, who is a Socialite. The Husband had attended a night party, which had a popular Musician in the bandstand, and during the dance session, the musician sang praises of the Socialite.
In an appreciative response, as is the custom among the Yoruba ethnic group of South West Nigeria, the Socialite splashed currency notes on the musician to the extent that all the money he brought to the night party became exhausted. But the Musician did not relent in the Praise singing, and because the Socialite was enjoying the Praises, and wanted thee currency spray to continue, he dashed home in the middle of the night, borrowed some money from the wife, dashed back to the night party, and resumed splashing currency notes on the Musician!
If men can respond to Praise singing in such a way, how much more God. If a man can borrow money to give a Praise singer, imagine how God will bless us if we also praise Him qualitatively. We are created in the image of God, and God also responds to Praise such as men do.
There are various ways of communicating with God. Let us stimulate the example of four Christians communicating with God in various ways. The first person is praying to God, the second person confessing the word of God, the third is engaged in a fasting programme, and the fourth simply praising God and offering thanksgiving.
Let us analyze the acts of the four Christians. The first Christians is most likely praying for some needs. His requesting a favour from God. Unfortunately most prayers are not answered because of faithlessness, and our prayers often become tautology before God. The second Christian is confessing the word of God, most likely with a desire to bring the promises of God to pass in his life.
Like the former, he is engaged in this dialogue because he needs a favour form God. The third Christian is also involved in a fasting programme mostly likely to receive power to overcome Satan and get some prayers answered. Like the others, he is not giving anything back to God, but making a request. But the fourth Christian who is praising God, is not asking from God but giving to God.
Of all the four type Christians that are communicating with God, the first person that will receive God’s attention is the person involved in Praise and thanksgiving. God delights in praise. He enjoys t. Praise brings us to His presence, and in His presence, there is glory and abundance of Joy. If you are always in the Presence of God, the demons that the enemy has released to attack your life will become powerless. If you are a Praise warrior, you do not need to be a prayer warrior, as deliverance prayers will be needless. The glory of God will always be with you, and the enemy will not be able to approach you. When Moses went to the presence of God and came back, the people could not look at him because of the glory of God all over him.
Christians involved in praise and thanksgiving are the only ones that are giving rather intending to receive from God. And the Biblical principles of giving are clear. It is more blessed to give rather than to receive even from God. And the only thing we can give Him is praise
God separated, the Levites, on of the 12 tribes of the Israelite nation as His Priests and commanded the other tribes to give them a tenth of their increase, just because he wanted the Levites to be always before Him offering Praise and thanksgiving.
Praise is a sweet aroma before God, unfortunately very few Christians offer qualitative Praise to God. Have you ever spend three hours before God in Praise? Have you ever spent seven hours alone with God in Praise? If not, this may explain why you have not seen the glory of God. Like I said earlier, very few Christians are spending quality time before God in prayer. Even most Churches are programmed such that the Praise and Worship session has become an entertainment and a religious monotony.
This reminds me of the beautiful testimony of one brother who because of financial pressure decided to sell off his only notable asset, a Radio, for about $45. However, when he sought the opinion of his Pastor, he was Pastor counseled to be in the presence of God in praise for three hours, to hear from God before selling off the Radio set. The brother reluctantly obeyed this simple instruction, and miraculously on completion of this Praise therapy, somebody approached him and gave him a monetary gift of exactly $45, the exact amount he wanted to dispose off his only asset.
The lesson here is that we do not have to struggle to be blessed if we have an attitude of Praising and thanksgiving. God is really tired of most our Prayers. He says we are blessed already, just recognize and appreciate my omnipotence, and I will reveal to you the riches stored in secret places. God wants us to thank Him for what I have done for you in the past, and He will give us wisdom to make more wealth
In the Acts of the Apostles 16:25-26, we read that Paul and Silas praise God unceasingly and the foundation of the prison shocked violently, the gates gave way, and they walked out like free men with angelic assistance.
“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately al the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed”
This miracle can be easily explain. As we read in the Bible, the earth is the footstool of God, meaning the whole earth is under His feet. Now anytime a person praises God qualitatively, He will respond by shaking his body including his legs to the rhythm and melody of the praise.
Do not forget I stated by saying that we are created in the image of God, and that God also has passions like we do. Once God starts responding to your praise, he will be dancing and by so doing hitting His feet on the earth, which is His footstool. This physical movements will result in an earthquake freeing you from prisons of life.
Do not want to be freed from the prisons of life? Praise is the weapon for you freedom. Do you want the bands on your hands to get loosen? Start praising God now and see the shackles falling off. Before you can have the spirit of praise, it goes without saying that you must know who God is, and start a relationship with Him, meaning you must be born again.
Do you want to be reconciled with God, through Jesus the Lord and Saviour? Then say this simple prayer:
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ. I acknowledge that I am a sinner and have fallen short of your glory. I genuinely repent from all my sins and pledge to go and sin no more. I accept your plan to reconcile mankind to you through Jesus Christ, who you sent in your name. I believe Jesus Christ is the Messiah, and died on the Cross to pay the penalty for my sins and redeem me. I accept Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I pray that His blood washes my sins away. I invite the Holy Spirit to rule my Life. I am born again in Jesus name.
If you want more information on how you can build a new life with God, visit Save the World at http://www.christonline.info or send an email to: info@christonline.info
1. God turned me into a vessel of praise unto you
2. Holy Spirit remold my Praise life
3. Holy Spirit make me a vessel of praise unto God.
4. Spirit of murmuring and grumbling in my life, die in Jesus name
5. Holy Spirit give me the gift of Praise.
6. Holy Spirit teach me how to Praise you.
7. Spirit of Praise fall on me now in Jesus name
