You were created to Praise

A few months back my Pastor, Randy Hand of Celebration Church had been teaching on PRAISE. To me, this is so important and critical in our relationships with God. We were created to worship and praise and if we don't even the rocks will cry out.

"After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden, Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' say, 'The Lord needs it.' Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt the owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" They replied, "The Lord needs it." They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to PRAISE God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest" Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" "I'll tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." Luke 19:28-40

If you look closely the disciples weren't just praising but they were praising LOUDLY! HALAL!

As you may not know is that worshipping and praising aren't the same thing. Worshiping is the condition of the heart and praising is out actions towards God. Let's take a look at the different types of Praise broken down in Hebrew.

Halal- Cheer, shout, twirl, jump, loudly boast about and to God
Yadhah- Throw hands up in surrender, confess the name
Towdah- Extend hands, confess your agreement with the word of God
Barak- Kneel down
Tehillah- Sing a song from the heart, not rehearsed
Shabach- To shout with triumph
Zamar- To praise God with musical instruments

When is the last time you stopped and thanked Jesus?

You access God's miracles by praising Him and the key to miracles is PRAISE! It unlocks the door, it opens the windows of Heaven. Declare His name, confess His greatness. He is worthy to be Praised!!

Here are some thing I learned about Praise...

The enemy is silenced
It brings increase
Your faith will be strengthened
Heaviness is lifted
Thievery is stopped
Situations and circumstances begin to change when you start praising
God will set other free because of YOUR praise

In Acts 16:23-25 Paul and Silas had just been flogged and thrown into prison. Their cell was guarded carefully. Their feet were fastened in stocks. In the middle of the night Paul and Silas began praying and singing to God as other prisoners were listening. SUDDENLY there was a violent earthquake that shook the foundations of the prison. All at once the prison doors flew open and EVERYONE was set free, chains were loosened. This is how important praising God is. As soon as they started praising, and not just silently but sounds coming from their mouth proclaiming the goodness of God it SUDDENLY changed their situation. They were no longer prisoners. Can you imagine what God will do for you when you start doing the same? Your chains will be loosed! And not just you but the people around you too!! Instead of trying to change people just start praising and God will loose their chains too. If God did it for Paul and Silas then He can do it for you!

So remember, give back to God by worshipping and praising and see how your life changes. He is so good, He is faithful. Have faith. Keep fighting the fight. Also, remember we can pray and ask God for help all we want but we do need to just simply come to him to tell Him how good He is!