People of Praise – Pastor McLean Faw
Acts 2:46-47 (NKJV) – “So, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
Praise – aineo – The root word in the Greek speaks of a story.
When we praise God, we are proclaiming His Story and how His story has impacted our story.
The Hebrew equivalent to aineo is hallel. Hallel is the root of Hallelujah!
Hallelujah literally, “Everybody Praise the Lord!”
PRAISE THE LORD!!!
1. WHY SHOULD WE LIVE A LIFE OF PRAISE?
a. We Praise God because of what He has done.
Colossians 1:13-14 (NLT) – “For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sin.”
1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV) – “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.”
b. We Praise God for Who He is.
Psalm 145:1-3 (NKJV) – “I will extol You, my God, O King; And I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.”
Psalm 145:8-9 (NKJV) – “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.”
He is Jehovah Jireh – Our Provider
Jehovah Rapha – Our Healer
Jehovah Shalom – Our Peace and
Jehovah Nissi – Our Banner and Victory
2. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE PRAISE THE LORD?
a. Praise Magnifies the Lord.
Praise doesn’t make God bigger. Praise makes God bigger in our own eyes, and our problems smaller.
Psalm 34:1-3 (NKJV) – “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together.”
b. Praise Ushers in the Presence of God.
Psalm 22:3 (NKJV) – “But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.”
Acts 16:25-26 (AMP) – “But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them, suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened and everyone’s shackles were unfastened.”
Acts 2:47a (NKJV) – “Praising God and having favor with all the people.”
c. Praise Pushes Back the Darkness.
Psalm 8:2 (NIV) – “Through the praise of children and infants You have established a stronghold against Your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.”
Psalm 149:6 (NKJV) – “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand.”
d. Praise Breaks the Spirit of Heaviness.
Isaiah 61:3b (NKJV) – “To give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.”
e. Praise Lifts up JESUS and Draws the Lost.
Acts 2:47 (NKJV) – “…praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
John 12 :32 (NKJV) – “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”
3. HOW DO WE PRAISE THE LORD?
a. We Praise God with hearts wide open.
Mark 7:6b (NKJV) – “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.”
b. We praise God with voices lifted high.
Luke 19:37 (NKJV) – “Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen.”
c. We praise God with hands clapping and shouting.
Psalm 47:1 (NKJV) – “Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!”
d. We praise God with our hands lifted to heaven.
Psalm 134:2 (NKJV) – “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and bless the LORD!”
e. We praise God with musical instruments, dancing, and singing.
Psalm 100:2b (NKJV) – “Come before His presence with singing.”
Psalm 150:4-5 (NKJV) – “Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals.”
Psalm 150:6 (NKJV) – “LET EVERYTHING THAT HAS BREATH PRAISE THE LORD. PRAISE THE LORD!”
Discussion Questions
1. Is expressive praise as outlined in this message a challenge for you? Why or why not?
2. What parts of expressive praise are you comfortable with?
3. What parts of expressive praise are you uncomfortable with? Why or why not?
4. What is one act of expressive praise that the Holy Spirit might be encouraging you to step into?
5. What are some of the ways the Lord has been good to you? Can you give Him thanks and praise?
6. Is there an area of struggle in your life in which you could invite the Presence of the Lord through praise just as Paul and Silas did in Acts 16?
