Praise Ye The Lord

Acts 16:23-26 

 ²³And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:  ²⁴Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.  ²⁵And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.  ²⁶And 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.

We all know this Bible story and how that it begins with the unjust arrest of Paul and Silas.  They were arrested after casting a spirit of divination out of a girl.  They were then beaten by these Phillippian authorities and thrown into a jail cell.  Not only did they have the trauma from the beating but they were fastened in stocks which clamped their arms and legs in an immobile position.  This caused cramps and loss of circulation, Im sure.  The atmosphere there was no doubt depressing.  A jail in those days was more like a dungeon, not a hotel room.  It was a dark, damp, stinky place with no waste facilities, no pillow top mattresses, no down comforters, no heat, no air condition, no color cable tv, no weight rooms, no 3 course meals.  It was what jail was intended to be. 

Yet, in spite of the disheartening atmosphere and the pain in their bodies, at midnight Paul and Silas began to praise the Lord.  (And by the way, can you imagine what nuts the other prisoners must have thought those two were?)  Then, suddenly, the earth began to shake creating what my husband often refers to as the original “Jail House Rock.”   The doors flung open and the stocks that bound Paul and Silas were broken, releasing them and all of the other prisoners.  (Amazing how our praise can help those around us, huh?)  What do you think could have caused such an amazing discharge of power?

Paul and Silas knew the secret of how to lift their hearts above their troubles and enter into Gods presence and power.  Thru worship and praise, their hearts provided God a channel to operate in their circumstances.

The Bible says in Psalm 22:3 that God inhabits in the praises of Israel.  In other words, God dwells in the atmosphere of His praise.  So this means that praise is not just a reaction from coming into His presence, but it is actually the action that gets us into His presence.  It is the gate-pass that allows us to enter the sacredness of His glory.  The psalmist wrote “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful to Him and bless His name.”  

 Some think that worship is a response after the Holy Spirit moves upon them.  However, it’s the other way around.  Gods presence responds when we move upon Him with worship.  Lifting up praises to God provokes Him to send His sweet spirit by to bless and comfort us. 

So what is praise?  It is an expression of lifting up and glorifying the Lord.  It is an expression of humbling ourselves and centering our attention upon the Lord.  There are many actions that can be involved with praising God including singing, playing instruments, shouting, or lifting our hands.  But true praise to God is no just merely going thru any of these motions.  We are not to be like the Pharisees and worship only as an outward show.  Genuine praise to Him is a matter of humility and sincere devotion to the the Lord from within.

He delights in the love and devotion of His children.  He eagerly awaits the “fragrance” of our affections toward Him, so that he can manifest His sweet presence to us.

Praise to God is a lifestyle.  All to often we leave our praise at church.  It is an event that we only allow to happen when we come together with other Christians.  However, it should be part of a believers lifestyle that is inter-mingled as a part of our daily prayer life.  At work, in the car, at home in the bed, or anywhere; praise to the Lord brings a refreshing of the Lords presence, along with His power and anointing.  “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1

Praise is an expression of faith and a declaration of victory.  It declares that we believe God is with us and that He is in control of the outcome of all of our circumstance.  (Rom 8:28)   Praise is a sacrifice.  Something that we offer Him sacrificially, not just because we feel like it, but because we believe in Him and want to please Him.  “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.”  Hebrews 13:15

Since praise manifests Gods presence, we realize that praise must send the enemy running.  An atmosphere that is filled with sincere worship to God by humble and contrite hearts, is disgusting to the devil.  He fears the power that is in the name “Jesus” and he has to flee. 

When the children of Judah found themselves outnumbered by the hostile armies of Ammon, Moab, and mount Sier; King Jehoshopat and all the people sought the Lord for His help.  The Lord assured the people that this would be His battle.  He told them to go out against them and He would do the fighting for them.  So what did the people do?  Being the people of praise (Judah means praise) and knowing that God manifest himself thru praise, they sent their army, led by the praisers, against their enemies.  So on they went, ahead of the army.  “And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.”  II Chronicles 20:22

When Gods people praise Him, their enemy will flee.  That, alone, is worth us praising Him.  The absence of our enemy, the devil, is worth shouting from now until the Lords return.  I know how he can ruin my day with one simple thought.  Let alone if I give him half the day to play inside my mind. 

So even tho half the church is against you, your bills aren’t paid, your children are mean, your hubby has had a bad day, your boss woke up on the wrong side of the bed, your laundry is piled up, your car refuses to pass a gas station without stopping….. Praise ye the Lord!!!!  When we get to where we can praise Him in the bad times, our praise during the good times will be sweeter than ever.  That is just one more of Gods promises that we can rely on, His presence in response to our worship!

Our MIssion ~ Soul Winning

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20

Think of how much you love your children, your parents, your spouse, your siblings.  Well everyone you come in contact with is that to someone.  Somebody loves them the way you love your family.  I would hate to think that someone wouldn’t witness to one of my lost loved ones because of how they dress or how much money they have, or what kind of car they drive, or where they work, or even because they are a “mean or rude”  individual.  Lately I have been burdened about lost people.  Things that used to enrage me, now break my heart.  I began to realize that I was somewhat like a Pharisee after a certain incident took place in a grocery store checkout line.  Landon and I were waiting in line to check out when a boy, that looked to be the same age as Landon, was acting out toward and lashing out to his mother.  The child was really causing a scene and using profanity all over being told to “come back and help put the groceries up here.”  The people finally got their items loaded and paid for and left.  Landon and I put our things up on the belt and paid and proceeded to the car.  Once we got outside, we saw and heard the mother and son in the parking lot.  They were still fussing and going on.  I looked and noticed that he was teary eyed.  I leaned over to him and was just going to remind him that it would never be a good idea for him to talk to me or treat me like that and to tell him what I would do to that kid if he were mine.  Before I could get my declaration out, the tears started streaming down his little face.  He looked up and me and said, “Momma, he just needs to be saved.  I could have been like him but God gave me a momma and daddy that took me to church and I got saved.  I don’t think his mom takes him to church, so he doesn’t know about God or how much He loves him.”  Of course, I felt like a terrible person. But I am so thankful for the events of that day.  God used that to help me regain a burden for lost people.

We each have different gifts, but God has given us all the same mission. "Go...make disciples." That's the great commission, not the great suggestion! And it's not just for pastors and missionaries, it's for you! And it's mandatory, binding and urgent. Listen: “When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”  Ezekiel 3:18

"But I'm not good with words," you say. So what? If you can interview for a job, apply for a loan, or propose to your husband or wife, surely you can say something on behalf of Christ. Can you imagine having a cure for cancer and keeping it to yourself? Sharing the greatest news is the greatest kindness you can show to anyone.

One problem long-term Christians have is they forget how hopeless it felt to be without Christ. Another problem is they mix so much with church folks that they forget how to communicate with non-church folks. No matter how contented or successful the people around you appear to be, without Christ they're empty and lost - eternally lost!

You are the only Christian somebody knows; there are people that only you can reach because of where you live and what God has made you to be. If just one person is in heaven because of you, your life will have made a difference. So, start looking around at your personal mission field and begin to pray: "God, who have You put in my life today that needs to know about Jesus?"
Today there's a growing interest in the Second Coming of Christ. Before He ascended, Jesus' disciples asked Him about it. His response? “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth..” Acts 1:8.   When the disciples wanted to talk about prophesy, Jesus switched the conversation to soul winning. He told them that the details of My return aren't your business. Your business is winning the lost. Focus on that!  That is what we should focus on. 

Speculating on the timing of Christ's return is futile because Jesus said: "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." Matt 24:36. Now if Jesus didn't know the day of His return, why are you trying to figure it out? What we do know for sure is: Jesus will not return until everyone God wants to hear the good news has heard it. So if you want Jesus to come back sooner, get busy and start winning souls.

Soul winning isn't something you "fit into your life".  It should be your life's purpose! Instead of praying: "God I want You to bless what I do," we should pray, "God help me to do what You're blessing."  I’m convinced that there's almost nothing God won't do for the one who's committed to bringing others into His kingdom!