*We need to be a church that centers itself entirely on prayer
and praising God. the
praises we bring to God in our lives, change us to reflect Him,
to live and walk reflecting Jesus in greater ways, more intimate ways.
*It is
too easy for us to think our prayers and praises are entirely about praising
God. It is true that they
are! But God uses our prayers
and praises of Him to change us! Our prayers and praises of God are used to give US
life, abundant life, life that knows no boundaries or limits or fears.
*Praise brings out life in people simply because when we praise God, He
IS life! When we truly praise God with our whole heart, our own desires turn to
Him, to seek Him only and to exalt His Holy name!
*When
Moses went up onto the mountain to commune with God
and receive the 10 commandments, when he came down, Exodus 34 tells us:
29 When Moses came
down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he
was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. 30
When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they
were afraid to come near him. Exodus 34:
29, 30 NKJV
*In Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit came down and filled the 120 people
gathered together in the upper room, a type of glow fell on them like
fire. He often uses a supernatural sign.
*Thomas when he finally saw His risen Lord
and worshipped Him:
28 Thomas said to
him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:
28 NKJV
*Mary Magdalene when she saw the risen Jesus??!!?
16 Jesus said to
her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him,
“Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).
John 20: 16 NKJV
*Or
Philip when he spoke about the risen Lord to the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8:
35 Then Philip
began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about
Jesus. Acts 8: 35 NKJV
And
after Philip baptized the Eunuch, the Holy Spirit took him away.
*It
is through our praises and our exalting Jesus that we become more like Jesus Christ! The story of the
blind man in the Gospel of John chapter 9 after being healed. After being thoroughly questioned and cast out by the Pharisees, the man wanted to know who had healed him. And when Jesus told him it was He:
38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him. John 9: 38 NKJV
*I
have always believed that bringing messages that exalt Jesus
Christ and admonish us to
walk as disciples of His is my primary responsibility. We will face worldly issues such as tolerance, racism, sexual identity, politics, homelessness, work and jobs whether we run after them and participate in them, or
if we keep our eyes on Jesus.
*Let
me tell you who my Jesus is!
He is the Son of God promised to Israel.
He is the Messiah!! He is my
redeemer and friend! Jesus is my way, my
truth, my light and life! He is my
protector, my banner, my healer, my deliverer!
*In
Him, I know peace. In Him, I know love
and forgiveness! In Him, I walk in
victory because He has paid the entire price for all my sin. In Him, I walk in power and authority because
I am a child of God! I walk in that
power and authority because He calls me an ambassador and priest of His Gospel
in this world.
*In
Jesus, I have confidence to go forward as He leads me! In Jesus I have faith to live this life as He
directs and guides me! In Jesus, I have
trust that wherever I set my feet, it will be on His solid ground!
*He
is my rock and my fortress, my refuge and strength and song. He is my high tower, my creator and sustainer
and my Lord God! There is no one like
Him!
*In Jesus, I shall not
be ashamed! In Jesus, I find all truth
and the answers for the questions that confront us all throughout our
lives. In Jesus, I know I have eternal
life and salvation! In Jesus, I walk in
righteousness before God!
*The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy:
6 Therefore I
remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of
my hands. 7 For God has not given us a Spirit of fear, but of power and of love
and of a sound mind. 2nd
Timothy 1: 6, 7 NKJV
*Stir it up, as in stir the fire in you. Stir it up! Ask God to stir it in
you!
*How does one do that in their life?
Stir up your Praises to God in prayer and fasting and reading God’s Word! Praise Him!
*Laying
on of hands in prayer is part of God’s order, that His servants follow to
impart and to gift the power of God into another’s life whether healing or
gifting.
*Stir
it up in you! Stir up the gift! Good advice! What
is the gift? The spiritual definition or
essence of gift is ‘charisma.’ It is a
supernatural unction to fulfill the divine purpose in your life! It is yours to walk in. It gives life
and passion and purpose and joy to you, for it comes from God.
29 “Is not My word
like a fire?” says the Lord,
“And like a hammer
that breaks the rock in pieces? Jeremiah
23: 28, 29 NKJV
*Christians
everywhere are under direct assault, even here in America where religious
freedom is a constitutional right. When
there is so much clamor about the wrongs of discrimination and racial bias, it
seems very ironic that violent and oppressive discrimination and racial bias
attitudes and actions are at an all time high.
People are more aware and differences are highlighted and cursed. Human dignity and love is thrown out the window
and is replaced with hate and vile cursing.
*How are we as Christians supposed to answer these assaults and
insults?
27 “But I say to
you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those
who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes
you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your
cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you.
And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you
want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. Luke 6: 27-31 NKJV
*Why do we respond with love when we are assaulted by evil?
9 But you are a
chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people,
that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into
His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of
God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 1st Peter 2: 9, 10 NKJV
*We
are to show mercy and grace and love to those who try to offend us. And how does all this talk of worship and
praise enable us to walk through the violence that surrounds us? I have said it multiple times these past
weeks. We are to keep our eyes on Jesus
always. Like Moses, we are to look to
the reward and not worry about our situations.
7 For God has not
given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2nd Timothy 1: 6, 7 NKJV
*stir up our faith, like a fire, and sing praises in worship to HIM on
whom we believe.
15 For thus says
the High and Lofty One
Who inhabits
eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the
high and holy place,
With him who has a
contrite and humble spirit,
To revive the
spirit of the humble,
And to revive the
heart of the contrite ones. Isaiah 57:
15 NKJV
*Worship
and praise is supposed to usher us into the throne room of God! When we praise God with our whole being, He
touches our hearts and changes us! And
His presence causes us to respond to God in even greater faith and unimaginable
ways!
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