Worship, Praise and Social Justice
Priscilla Van Sutphin
Originally written Oct. 2001
Revised 2-27-06
Below is a long list of scriptures and comments to hopefully enhance your understanding of the importance of praise and worship. The definitions are fit in, to get you to think about the purposes of praise. I have been a fan of Merlin Carothers who has written many books on praise. One of my favorites is "Bringing Heaven Into Hell ". In all his books he emphasizes that praise is the key to overcoming. Praise is thanksgiving, revering God, singing, lifting our hands in worship, speaking the word over our situations, over people we pray for. It opens the door to His presence. In His presence all HE is, is possible for us to receive. This makes us possible to do what He wants , if we first receive what He has to give us. Praise is celebrating Him and all He does in our lives; worshipping Him for Who He is.
OT:3034
yadah (yaw-daw'); a primitive root; used only as denominative from OT:3027; literally, to use (i.e. hold out) the hand; physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the hands): KJV-cast (out), (make) confess (-ion), praise, shoot, (give) thanks (-ful, -s, -sgiving).
Gen 29:34-35 NKJV
34 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons." Therefore his name was called Levi. 35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Now I will praise the LORD." Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
Gen 49:8-12 NKJV
8 "Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father's children shall bow down before you. 9 Judah is a lion's whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him? 10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people. 11 Binding his donkey to the vine, and his donkey's colt to the choice vine, He washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes. 12 His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.
The last part of this verse is very much like the language of Song of Solomon in describing the Lord Himself. Juday of course means “praise”.
OT:3027 yad (yawd);
a primitive word; a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from OT:3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote [as follows]:
KJV-(+be) able, X about, + armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, X bounty, + broad, [broken-] handed, X by, charge, coast, + consecrate, + creditor, custody, debt, dominion, X enough, + fellowship, force, X from, hand [-staves, -y work], X he, himself, X in, labor, + large, ledge, [left-] handed, means, X mine, ministry, near, X of, X order, ordinance, X our, parts, pain, power, X presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, + swear, terror, X thee, X by them, X themselves, X thine own, X thou, through, X throwing, + thumb, times, X to, X under, X us, X wait on, [way-] side, where, + wide, X with (him, me, you), work, + yield, X yourselves.
OT:5115 navah (naw-vaw');
a primitive root; to rest (as at home); causatively (through the implied idea of beauty [compare OT:5116]), to celebrate (with praises): KJV-kept at home, prepare an habitation.
Consider that God is our HOME our Holy habitation , our place of comfort and rest.
OT:5116 naveh (naw-veh');
or (feminine) navah (naw-vaw'); from OT:5115; (adjectively) at home; hence (by implication of satisfaction) lovely; also (noun) a home, of God (temple), men (residence), flocks (pasture), or wild animals (den): KJV-comely, dwelling (place), fold, habitation, pleasant place, sheepcote, stable, tarried.
Ex 15:2 KJV
2 The LORD is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.
Ex 15:2 NKJV
2 The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will exalt Him.
This is an example of where translation differences are important. Look at the above two verses; one uses PRAISE, and the KJV says for the same word "PREPARE HIM A HABITATION. God says He inhabits the praises of His people, so as we praise Him, we are preparing Him an habitation ! His presence overshadows us and imparts and delivers, changes us more into His image.
OT:1974 hilluwl (hil-lool');
from OT:1984 (in the sense of rejoicing); a celebration of thanksgiving for harvest:
KJV-merry, praise.
OT:1984 halal (haw-lal'); a primitive root; to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate; also to stultify:
KJV-(make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool (-ish, -ly), glory, give [light], be (make, feignself) mad (against), give in marriage, [sing, be worthy of] praise, rage, renowned, shine.
Lev 19:24 NKJV But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, a praise to the LORD.
OT:8416 tehillah (teh-hil-law'); from OT:1984; laudation; specifically (concretely) a hymn: KJV-praise.
Deut 10:20-21 NKJV
You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name. 21 He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen.
Deut 26:19 NKJV
19 and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the LORD your God, just as He has spoken."
Judg 5:3 NKJV "Hear, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I, even I, will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.
1 Chron 16:4 NKJV And he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the LORD God of Israel:
1 Chron 16:34-36 NKJV
34 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
35 And say, "Save us, O God of our salvation; Gather us together, and deliver us from the Gentiles, to give thanks to Your holy name, to triumph in Your praise."
36 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting
1 Chron 23:3-6 NKJV
3 Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and above; and the number of individual males was thirty-eight thousand. 4 Of these, twenty-four thousand were to look after the work of the house of the LORD, six thousand were officers and judges, 5 four thousand were gatekeepers, and four thousand praised the LORD with musical instruments, "which I made," said David, "for giving praise." 6 And David divided them into divisions among the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
1 Chron 23:30-32 NKJV
to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at evening; 31 and at every presentation of a burnt offering to the LORD on the Sabbaths and on the New Moons and on the set feasts, by number according to the ordinance governing them, regularly before the LORD; 32 and that they should attend to the needs of the tabernacle of meeting, the needs of the holy place, and the needs of the sons of Aaron their brethren in the work of the house of the LORD.
OT:5012 naba' (naw-baw');
a primitive root; to prophesy, i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse): KJV-prophesy (-ing), makeself a prophet.
1 Chron 25:3 NKJV Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp to give thanks and to praise the LORD.
1 Chron 25:6-8 NKJV
All these were under the direction of their father for the music in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the authority of the king. 7 So the number of them, with their brethren who were instructed in the songs of the LORD, all who were skillful, was two hundred and eighty-eight. 8 And they cast lots for their duty, the small as well as the great, the teacher with the student.
Joanne McFatter says that in Kansas City Metro Fellowship, the prophetic singers are taught to sing the psalms. This familiarizes them with the psalms and helps to lead us into the place of openness to God guiding us in song and praise as we practice singing the psalms. He may give us new psalms to sing, new hymns, new spiritual songs, and prophetic songs to sing spontaneously as the Holy Spirit leads worship. I remember coming into prayer early one Monday at the Vineyard, and as I sat there I felt like first looking at the psalms, then I began to sing them. I felt compelled to do so. Then another person showed up, and she saw that there were angels filling the room from the Egyptian service that is held there on Sunday and she had the same compulsion to sing. God is ever creative in how He wants us to worship Him. We just need to be open to the possibilities of His leading.
1 Chron 29:13-17 NKJV
13 "Now therefore, our God, We thank You, and praise Your glorious name. 14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You. 15 For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, as were all our fathers; Our days on earth are as a shadow, and without hope. 16 "O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own. 17 I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness.
For all things come from Him even our worship . We cannot worship God without Him; without His grace (power)note it says and "OF YOUR OWN" we have given You. We only give Him what He deserves, out of His power working in us and through us, not because we are so good or holy, but because of His abiding presence. If you think not, His grace might be removed for a time to show you.
2 Chron 7:6 NKJV
And the priests attended to their services; the Levites also with instruments of the music of the LORD, which King David had made to praise the LORD, saying, "For His mercy endures forever," whenever David offered praise by their ministry. The priests sounded trumpets opposite them, while all Israel stood.
Some fundamentalists don't believe in using certain instruments or dancing, unless they are mentioned in the bible. But in these scriptures, we see that God ordained praise and worship It is HE who still orchestrates His praise and worship , all we have to do is LET Him lead us. And trumpets are not quiet instruments !
2 Chron 8:13-14 NKJV
And, according to the order of David his father, he appointed the divisions of the priests for their service, the Levites for their duties (to praise and serve before the priests) as the duty of each day required, and the gatekeepers by their divisions at each gate; for so David the man of God had commanded.
2 Chron 20:15-23 NKJV
And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you." 18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. 19 Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with voices loud and high. 20 So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper." 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever."
22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. 23 For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
God made it so all we have to do at times is worship Him and He takes care of all the details of our life . He just wants our worship. He wants His loved ones to love on Him...and He will take care of everything else though an army encamps against me, I will not be afraid because My LORD is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, He alone knows all the details behind any attack of the enemy and the battle in the heavenlies belongs to Him, as we worship and pray it empowers the angels who fight in the war. He made this thing an interactive interdependent war. In order to win we have to pray, fast, worship, prophesy the word, dance,sing and give glory to the Lord; things we love to do. Isn't He wonderful ? !!! And what army today would go out singing praises to the LORD ? ONLY THE ARMY OF GOD ! This is warfare ! As Israel praised, God ACTED !
2 Chronicles 23:12-19 NKJV ( Athaliah was the daughter of Jezebel and Ahab )
12 Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people in the temple of the LORD. 13 When she looked, there was the king standing by his pillar at the entrance; and the leaders and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, also the singers with musical instruments, and those who led in praise. So Athaliah tore her clothes and said, "Treason! Treason!"
14 And Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were set over the army, and said to them, "Take her outside under guard, and slay with the sword whoever follows her." For the priest had said, "Do not kill her in the house of the LORD." 15 So they seized her; and she went by way of the entrance of the Horse Gate into the king's house, and they killed her there.
16 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, the people, and the king, that they should be the LORD's people. 17 And all the people went to the temple of Baal, and tore it down. They broke in pieces its altars and images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 18 Also Jehoiada appointed the oversight of the house of the LORD to the hand of the priests, the Levites, whom David had assigned in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was established by David. 19 And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the LORD, so that no one who was in any way unclean should enter.
So judgment came for Athaliah. Note how upset she was at the worshipping, this daughter of Baal !
2 Chron 29:25-30 NKJV
And he stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with stringed instruments, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, of Gad the king's seer, and of Nathan the prophet; for thus was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets. 26 The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. 27 Then Hezekiah commanded them to offer the burnt offering on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD also began, with the trumpets and with the instruments of David king of Israel. 28 So all the assembly worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. 29 And when they had finished offering, the king and all who were present with him bowed and worshiped. 30 Moreover King Hezekiah and the leaders commanded the Levites to sing praise to the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshiped.
Ezra 3:10-11 NKJV
When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel. 11 And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD: "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever toward Israel." Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
It's ok for worship and praise to be noisy , to be loud and boisterous at times , just so that stuff is NOT of the flesh ! It needs to be Spirit led, and as we do it, the Lord comes down and sometimes things get even noisier as HE has His way with us; healing and delivering and changing us into His image ! Look at this next scripture doesn't this seem like some of our churches in renewal ??? Crying, laughing, shouting, screaming, laudation - all coming out at once. How wonderful God is to minister to us individually as we worship Him and how it offends the spirit of pharisees in our churches !
Ezra 3:12-13 NKJV****
12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes. Yet many shouted aloud for joy, 13 so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard afar off.
Neh 9:5-6 NKJV
And the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said: "Stand up and bless the LORD your God Forever and ever! Blessed be Your glorious name, Which is exalted above all blessing and praise! 6 You alone are the LORD; You have made heaven, The heaven of heavens, with all their host, The earth and everything on it, The seas and all that is in them, And You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You.
Neh 12:45-13:1 NKJV
Both the singers and the gatekeepers kept the charge of their God and the charge of the purification, according to the command of David and Solomon his son. 46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 In the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah all Israel gave the portions for the singers and the gatekeepers, a portion for each day. They also consecrated holy things for the Levites, and the Levites consecrated them for the children of Aaron.
**The worshippers were actually provided for in the old testament think about that !
Ps 7:17-8:1 NKJV NKJV I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
OT:2167 zamar (zaw-mar');
a primitive root [perhaps ident. with OT:2168 through the idea of striking with the fingers]; properly, to touch the strings or parts of a musical instrument, i.e. play upon it; to make music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song and music: KJV-give praise, sing forth praises, psalms.
OT:2168 zamar (zaw-mar'); a primitive root [compare OT:2167, OT:5568, OT:6785]; to trim (a vine): KJV-prune.
OT:3034 yadah (yaw-daw');
a primitive root; used only as denominative from OT:3027; literally, to use (i.e. hold out) the hand; physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the hands): KJV-cast (out), (make) confess (-ion), praise, shoot, (give) thank (-ful, -s, -sgiving).
One thing I noticed so much in the psalms is the issue of social justice mixed with praise. Look carefully at this psalm below, then you will notice it throughout scripture as we sing and praise the Lord, HE mets out justice in the land ! There are practical things we should do as well outlined in Isaiah 58 , but this is wonderful! If we want more justice in our land, we must learn to worship HIM; the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, not our things, not our entertainment. Some things come at a sacrifice; are we willing to worship instead of other things, or worship while doing other things like our work around the house ? Imagine if it were done in every Christian home !!!
Ps 9:1-10:1 NKJV
I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
3 When my enemies turn back, They shall fall and perish at Your presence. 4 For You have maintained my right and my cause; You sat on the throne judging in righteousness. 5 You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever. 6 O enemy, destructions are finished forever! And you have destroyed cities; Even their memory has perished. 7 But the LORD shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment. 8 He shall judge the world in righteousness, And He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness.
9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble. 10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. 11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people. 12 When He avenges blood, He remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the humble.
13 Have mercy on me, O LORD! Consider my trouble from those who hate me, You who lift me up from the gates of death, 14 That I may tell of all Your praise In the gates of the daughter of Zion. I will rejoice in Your salvation. 15 The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught. 16 The LORD is known by the judgment He executes; The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Meditation. Selah 17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God. 18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten; The expectation of the poor shall not perish forever. 19 Arise, O LORD, Do not let man prevail; Let the nations be judged in Your sight. 20 Put them in fear, O LORD, That the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah
Ps 21:11-13 NKJV
For they intended evil against You; They devised a plot which they are not able to perform. 12 Therefore You will make them turn their back; You will make ready Your arrows on Your string toward their faces. 13 Be exalted, O LORD, in Your own strength! We will sing and praise Your power.
Ps 22:19-28 NKJV
19 But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me! 20 Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog. 21 Save Me from the lion's mouth And from the horns of the wild oxen!
You have answered Me. 22 I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You. 23 You who fear the LORD, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel! 24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from Him; But when He cried to Him, He heard. 25 My praise shall be of You in the great assembly; I will pay My vows before those who fear Him. 26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied; Those who seek Him will praise the LORD. Let your heart live forever! 27 All the ends of the world Shall remember and turn to the LORD, And all the families of the nations Shall worship before You. 28 For the kingdom
Ps 22:28 NKJV For the kingdom is the LORD's, and He rules over the nation
Ps 28:7-9 NKJV
The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. 8 The LORD is their strength, And He is the saving refuge of His anointed. 9 Save Your people,
And bless Your inheritance; Shepherd them also, and bear them up forever.
Psalms are a wonderful mixture of praise, thanksgiving and supplication and declarations of His goodness. It is never a waste of time to spend time with the Lord. You may be shocked that I say that; that anyone would think it is, But some do, they say "he is too heavenly minded to be any earthly good" Some however are made for this....John the Baptist was one !
Psalm 30:1 NKJV
I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my foes rejoice over me. 2 O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me. 3 O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. 4 Sing praise to the LORD, You saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. 5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. 6 Now in my prosperity I said, "I shall never be moved." 7 LORD, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face, and I was troubled. 8 I cried out to You, O LORD; and to the LORD I made supplication: 9 "What profit is there in my blood, When I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth? 10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me; LORD, be my helper!" 11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
Worship and Social Justice:Praise pt 2 Priscilla Van Sutphin
Ps 33:1-5 NKJV
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful. Praise the LORD with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy. For the word of the LORD is right, And all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
What is true religion ? James 1:21-27 says NKJV
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
Now this part that says the non-doer is like a man looking in a mirror who goes away and forgets what kind of man he was..is interesting and I never understood it before but as I reread it, I saw that this is exactly the problem in the church today in North America. We look at ourselves in the eyes of God and see our nakedness, and are aware of our sins. We go to church and we confess, and feel better but then we walk around in a false image of who we really are supposed to be, as if we were not sinners once ourselves. We judge the sinners and how awful they are and do not reach out to them, forgetting who we were. This is what this means. If we worship in Spirit and truth, we will not turn our eyes from the little things God would have us do each day to represent HIM on this earth. We would comfort the hurting and lost, and relay God's heart to them, not only in our speech, but in our actions.
Ps. 34 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. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.
God is a rewarder of those who are diligent seekers it says in Hebrews, so here David says, I sought the Lord, and He hears me ( because He always is listening) And He delivered me from ALL my fears. Many of us have not sought Him to remove all our fears, because we are too busy. Too busy with life's demands, and too busy playing church sometimes to be honest with where we are. Or we don't even realize we have them, because we have not humbled our hearts to ask the Lord to search our hearts and see if there be any wicked way within us. I know that I have done the same thing so many times in my walk; fallen into rituals and religion, rather than falling on the ROCK who loves us, due to my fear of intimacy and fear of getting hurt by others. God is not asking you to trust in man, but to trust HIM with all of your life. If you trust Him, you will allow others into your world. If we cannot love one another, as if they were our real sister or brother, (at church or on the street ) like our own son or brother , then we are not ready to reach out to others WE NEED TO LOVE EACH OTHER IN OUR OWN FAMILIES, AND CHURCH COMMUNITIES AS OURSELF, IF WE EXPECT TO BE ENTRUSTED WITH REACHING OUT TO THE LOST. If you cannot disciple and clean the fish you are already entrusted with how can you go out and bring in more ? If you are suspicious ( a fruit of witchcraft control ) or judgmental of those God has sent to you, and you don't know how to love them, then how can you reach out and bring more in ? We need to CRY OUT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD TO INVADE OUR HEARTS AND THE CHURCH IN SUCH A WAY IT WILL TRANFORM OUR THINKING, OUR LIVING AND ACTIONS, OUR OBEDIENCE TO GOD.
Ps 35:18 NKJV I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people.
Ps 35:27-28 NKJV Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, "Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant." And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness And of Your praise all the day long.
Ps 40:2-3 NKJV He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth--Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD
The Lord will establish the steps of the righteous. HE WILL. HE WILL. HE WILL establish your steps and you won't have to go through any striving to get there. His grace and might are not dependent on what WE do , but what HE did on the cross.
Ps 42:4-5 NKJV When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast. Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.
Ps 43:3-5 NKJV Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your tabernacle. Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God. Make God your delightand He will lead you and give you JOY unspeakable and overflowing.
Ps 48:10-11 NKJV According to Your name, O God, So is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness. Let Mount Zion rejoice, Let the daughters of Judah be glad, Because of Your judgments.
Ps 50:23 NKJV Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God."
First we see that we should rejoice in His judgments. This flies in the face of what we want to believe, but His judgments are His LOVE, greatly provoked ! For the word says that when His judgments come, that the earth will learn that He alone is Lord. Then we see that PRAISE glorifies God. Our eyes then are on Him and not ourselves. The first thing the enemy does, when God uses you or pours His power on you, is to get you to look at yourself, instead of God, that he could have an entrance for pride or arrogance, but for the one who offers praiseand thanksgiving to God, there is blessing. A prideful heart will not express thanks.
Ps 51:10-17 NKJV Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart--These, O God, You will not despise.
Repentance leads to JOY for then in our hearts there is nothing the enemy has in us. Jesus IS our exceeding JOY for He is the one who brought us freedom at a very precious price He told Peter that once bathed then we have only to wash our feet daily, Daily repentance from sin is not an option for we know not the day of His appearing, yet our lives get so busy here sometimes we don't even take the time for prayer and we tend to live in much presumption. The sacrifices God wants most, it says, are broken spirits, broken hearts for the ways in which we turn His love away. Are you able to just sit and receive the love of God ? Because if you cannot say a resounding yes, then you have hindrances. We all have some hindrances, and Jesus cautioned us this way:
Luke 11:33-36 NKJV
"No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light. 34 The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35 Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light."
Verse 33 indicates to us, that the Lord knew our fleshly tendency to be selfish with what He has given us, because He knew the fallen state of man. He knew our propensity for isolation and withdrawal when men reject us. Moses had this propensity this fear of man when God called him to go to Pharoah his answer was not an immediate "YES ,LORD", but a rationalization for why he could not do it.send someone else Lord ! He was looking at himself still not realizing the grace God had given him, still not realizing that if God sent him, then it was God who would sustain him and back him up. For this hesitancy God almost slew him if not for Tsipporah's intercession; throwing the cut foreskin of her son at Moses' feet, saying, "a husband of blood you are to me" This is a beautiful picture also of the bride of Christ willing to obey her King of Kings; Moses being a type at that moment of Christ. Our consecration needs to be complete , not half, not three fourths willing to surrender, but TOTAL surrender to HIS will in our life.
Verse 34 tells us the eye is the lamp of the body and I have often thought why then I realize He is not just talking of our sight but our perception of things. How we perceive HIM is a reflection of how well we really know Him and understand Him. As we progress in our healing and deliverance our view of HIM is enhanced, and we come to know with all the saints, the depth, length, width, and breadth of the love HE has for us.
Then in Verse 35 Our LORD warns us, take heed that the light in you is not darkness. How can the light in you be darkness ? Well it says in scripture, Satan comes as an angel of light. I once saw a demon in full 3D & he was surrounded by light, tall as a man, and had a hunched back like an old man, with grey hair, but talons with which he had scratched me, pounding on the bed. I didn't see his face, because I was so angry when it pounded on my bed to scare me, that I jumped up to run after him (as if I could catch up LOL) so his back was to me and he was outta there. This was my last encounter with seeing them in the spirit for a long time. My point being, from the back, someone may have thought it to be some angel form. But it was a demon. The bright light surrounding him was an illusion like satan coming as an angel of light.
Then the Lord says something very revealing in verse 36:
If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light." This is the scripture the Lord used to show me that Christians can be demon oppressed. If a part can be dark and not FULLY light, then of course he is saying darkness can reside within you. There is a misconception in some circles of Christianity that this is not so, but the first time I went as a Christian to a healing conference, I saw the most demonic manifestations I have EVER seen at that conference, by those who were professing Christ as saviour. So many were getting healed and delivered.
This is a time when Jesus is saying to lay aside every hindrance, every weight. Your spirit is full of His light, but not all of our soul has always been fully surrendered to Him. Our soul is gradually sanctified by the Lord. If it took Paul years, it will take time for our souls to be completely sanctified by the Lord. It is a process
Ps 52:9 NKJV I will praise You forever, Because You have done it; And in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good.
Ps 53:2 NKJV God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
Ps 61:8 NKJV So I will sing praise to Your name forever, that I may daily perform my vows.
Now there is an interesting statement. I will praise to Your name forever, that I may daily perform my vows. So PRAISE is essential to receiving the grace from God to do what we are supposed to do. How mighty one little scripture can be !
Ps 63:1-7 NKJV O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
This reminds me that we are God's lovers. What are lovers always thinking about ? Each other ! The language here is like Solomon's Songs-your lovingkindness is better than life ! My mouth will be satisfied. HE is enough ! There is so much thought about him that even on our beds we are meditating on Him.
Ps 65:1-4 NKJV Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion; And to You the vow shall be performed. O You who hear prayer, To You all flesh will come. Iniquities prevail against me; As for our transgressions, You will provide atonement for them. Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You, That he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of Your Holy temple.
Have you ever felt like your iniquities (inherited sins) have prevailed against you ? I have, and it is not pleasant. It is frustrating to try to do all we are told to do and still not achieve that inner peace of knowing His love when our heart wants to. He did send His atonement through Christ, then He says Blessed is the man YOU choose, and CAUSE TO APPROACH YOU. It is God Who gives the grace to approach Him. We need to ask for the power (grace) to approach Him , to be passionate for Him. We must be seekers. Praise will bring us into his courts.
Ps 66:1-4 NKJV Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious. Say to God, "How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power. Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. All the earth shall worship You And sing praises to You;
Ps 66:8-12 NKJV Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard, Who keeps our soul among the living, And does not allow our feet to be moved. For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.
Jesus never said that we wouldn't suffer. He said, in John 16:33 NKJV
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
And…
Rom 5:1-5 NKJV Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
And…
Rom 8:35-39 NKJV
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:
"For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Praise is a warfare tool and it will help us to throw off depression, defeatism, condemnation and most other ploys of the enemy to defeat us. The battle is in our minds, so we must take every thought captive. If we are speaking outloud, it is hard for the enemy to talk to us; to distract us. So speak your praises outloud whenever you can. Take a Psalm and sing it or speak it. READ ALOUD the scriptures.
Ps 67:3-7 NKJV Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously, And govern the nations on earth. Selah Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us, And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.
When a people turns from idolatry and wickedness and chooses to worship the Most High, even the ground will be blessed ! There was a portion of the movie "Transformations" that took place in a little town in Guatamala, and when revival broke forth through worship and prayer, the produce that once went out of the farms of the city a few times a week now goes out in big Mercedes trucks 4 times a DAY. The vegetables grew so large now, that the town is mostly Christians, that the carrots were the size of a mans arm ! There was much idol worship before and alcoholism, and once repented of, now the town is prosperous. People even came from the U.S. to see what their secret was to getting these large blessings. But the answer they got surprised them; that it was JESUS !
Ps 69:30-35 NKJV I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bull, Which has horns and hooves. The humble shall see this and be glad; and you who seek God, your hearts shall live. For the LORD hears the poor, and does not despise His prisoners. Let heaven and earth praise Him, The seas and everything that moves in them. For God will save Zion And build the cities of Judah, That they may dwell there and possess it.
The LORD does not despise the poor, the prisoners, the widows and single moms. He does not ignore the cries of the poor, even though at times it seems that way to them. We are called to praise even in the midst of tribulations and trials. He calls us to a higher level of accountability than the world has for themselves. In Micah it is asked what is required of me Lord, and He says, to do rightly, to act justly and to walk humbly with our GOD.
Ps 71:22-72:1 NKJV Also with the lute I will praise you--And Your faithfulness, O my God! To You I will sing with the harp, O Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, and my soul, which You have redeemed. My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long; For they are confounded, For they are brought to shame Who seek my hurt. God says He will make even your enemies to be at peace with you.
Ps 74:20-23 NKJV Have respect to the covenant; For the dark places of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty. Oh, do not let the oppressed return ashamed! Let the poor and needy praise Your name. Arise, O God, plead Your own cause; Remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily. Do not forget the voice of Your enemies; The tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually.
Ps 76:8-10 NKJV You caused judgment to be heard from heaven; The earth feared and was still, When God arose to judgment, To deliver all the oppressed of the earth. Selah Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; With the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself.
Right now in countries across the earth there are Christians being killed and abused. The dark places are indeed full of cruelty. If we will praise His name and pray that He would protect them and change the leadership of those nations, that the oppressor could oppress no more, He will go and He will act on the behalf of those who worship and pray to Him. And He may just call us to GO.
Ps 86:12-13 NKJV I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore. For great is Your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. This is true for ALL of usso there is ample reason to rejoice and praise Himeven in the face of dire circumstances, we must cast all our cares on HIM for HE cares FOR us.
Ps 99:2-5 NKJV The LORD is great in Zion, And He is high above all the peoples. Let them praise Your great and awesome name--He is holy. The King's strength also loves justice; You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt the LORD our God, And worship at His footstool--He is holy.
Ps 100:1-5 NKJV Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.
Thanksgiving and gratefulness are the entrance fees, so to speak into the presence of God. Sometimes we go through hard times, and we forget this point we forget to be thankful, even in adversity because adversity brings maturity. We need to remember in these times to exalt His name to worship and offer a sacrifice of praise. Thanksgiving is also a sign of humility. The prideful are not that thankful.
I see this in my own life as well; it is a kind of barometer. The Lord is the Source for all we need, so if we feel unthankful or ungrateful we can just ask for it. For the Lord to fill us with gratefulness for all He has done, and to break down any pride in our hearts. Singing always brings joy and peace to my heart, and when I can't sing I feel like a duck without water.
Ps 102:18-21 NKJV This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD. For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary; From heaven the LORD viewed the earth, To hear the groaning of the prisoner, To release those appointed to death, To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, And His praise in Jerusalem.
Here again is the issue of social justice for the prisoner, for those appointed to death. This can be literal, but I think of it more in spiritual terms those whose lives are so bound by sin or torment they are like prisoners like those on death row, that have no life to look forward to. And here the Lord promises LIFE to release them from death. His LOVE is the great releaser. When we can show His love to others, it will release them from the bondage of death and destruction.
Ps 104:33-35 NKJV I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. May my meditation be sweet to Him; May sinners be consumed from the earth, and the wicked be no more. Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!
Here David is calling for justice, but for us; we know that Christ came to release the prisoner so we can cry out for the wicked to be transformed by His glory
Ps 106:2-3 NKJV Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? Who can declare all His praise? Blessed are those who keep justice, And he who does righteousness at all times!
Those who fight for justice are blessed by the Lord, but the fighting part needs to not get out of hand where we become so zealous as to blow up abortion clinics, then we succomb to the same deception that those who do it are in murder. We are not the judges. He alone is judge. We can fight on our knees, and that is more effective. The Lord hates violence and Isaiah talks about the one who keeps his eyes from evil and his ears from hearing violence, will see the King and His glory.
So God never condones violence for the sake of revenge. His heart is so broken when He sees us go our own way instead of doing things His way. He said, he who lives by the sword, dies by the sword. The kingdom of God suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. That word violent in greek can mean LION so like the lion of Judah who lives in our hearts, we get with the Father who is the Judge, and PRAY violently.
We shake the kingdom of darkness when we do. THAT is the kind of violence He wants.... to worship with abandonment is violent warfare. It shakes the powers of witchcraft to the bone; it destroys strongholds over cities and nations. THAT is the violence we are called to : NOT physical violence. Snatching a child that is abused from a murderous hearted parent by reporting it, is social justice. It also is something that must be done under the orders of the Spirit of God, for we are not Gods and we do not know the hearts of men like HE does. I grew up with that violence while very young and no one snatched me out of it but today I can have compassion on others because of it. WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO RESENT what has made us the persons we are in CHRIST. All things work for the good to those who are called to His purposes. God wants to raise up 24 hour worship in our churches that our communities would be invaded by the glory of God.
Ps 107:31-37 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, And praise Him in the company of the elders. He turns rivers into a wilderness, And the water springs into dry ground; A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of those who dwell in it. He turns a wilderness into pools of water, And dry land into water springs. There He makes the hungry dwell, that they may establish a city for a dwelling place,
This is literal and spiritual. Earlier we read that the land is cursed when idolatry is present, yet when God is lifted up and worshipped, the land is blessed. It also applies spiritually to the dry land of our heart. He changes the barreness to streams in the desert in our "land".
Ps 108:1-6 NKJV O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise You, O LORD, among the peoples, and I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your mercy is great above the heavens, and Your truth reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and Your glory above all the earth; That Your beloved may be delivered, Save with Your right hand, and hear me.
Ps 109:1-5 NKJV Do not keep silent, O God of my praise! For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful have opened against me; They have spoken against me with a lying tongue. They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause. In return for my love they are my accusers, but I give myself to prayer. Thus they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
Have you been hurt by the wounds of close friends and members of your church ? Then you are in good company. David was betrayed. Christ Jesus was betrayed. It is a very painful thing when people believe lies about you, or tell lies about you, or misunderstand your heart. But we are not alone in the midst of that. Jesus is with us, and cries with us, and helps us to overcome all offenses that we won't walk in bitterness because He is a God of justice. He will make even your enemies to be at peace with you, if you walk in forgiveness and humility. Most of us get betrayed somehow in the house of the Lord. It is a test. "Offenses come" the Lord said...We MUST work through the forgiveness. For if we don't forgive He said, then He will not forgive us.
I got betrayed a couple years ago while a fledgling pastor and people believed lies about me...my fellow ministers that had me ordained even,....those whom I had trusted with even my thoughts, betrayed me....but I had to work through it all. It was not easy...it was a greatly difficult time...but God is a RESTORER of the breach...and we must learn to be the same...to be at peace with men as much as depends on us. We must realize that we too have hurt others and we hope for that same forgiveness for ourselves...so be EAGER to forgive...even if your emotions don't catch up for a while...God will restore all things.
Ps 109:30-31 NKJV I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; Yes, I will praise Him among the multitude. For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those who condemn him.
Have you ever been poor and condemned by the church for being poor, or in a bad situation ? I was constantly for years. Yes, some of it was my fault, but I also was blind to the things that kept me there, which was not my fault. IT IS NOT OUR JOB TO CONDEMN SINNERS, for Jesus said, they are already condemned. He wants to bring His LOVE and LIFE to them. Our human tendency is to feel put upon, to feel resentment to have to help the weaker. But at some time or another we are all weak. Not all of us had the advantage to be born into a home that wanted us, or treated us well. If we don't have God's compassion for others, don't even bother praying for them out of a soulish heart ! Wait on the Lord for the compassion HE has for them. ASK for it. Then you will have His heart to pray rightly as you ought to and your opinions won't get in the way. Jesus told the Pharisees, that they put burdens on people, and did nothing to help them themselves. We do not want to be like the Pharisees. We want to be good Samaritans who are willing to help others without constraint. Jesus said if a man asks you to go one mile go two. Sometimes, you have to start by just being obedient, and your heart will catch up later.
Ps 111:1-7 NKJV Praise the LORD! I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. The works of the LORD are great, Studied by all who have pleasure in them. His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures forever. He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; The LORD is gracious and full of compassion. He has given food to those who fear Him; He will ever be mindful of His covenant. He has declared to His people the power of His works, In giving them the heritage of the nations. The works of His hands are verity and justice; all His precepts are sure.
Yes, David said, I have never seen the people of God going hungry He gives food to those who fear Him, and He gives SPIRITUAL food to those who fear Him also ! Manna from heaven, from the heart of the Holy Spirit comes food to chew on; wisdom from above.
Ps 112:1-3 NKJV Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
Who delights greatly in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth;
The generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house,
And his righteousness endures forever.
The condition here in this promise must be noted those whose hearts want to walk in HOLINESS are blessed of the Lord. We all sin, but it is our heart that God judges. If our flesh is weak, it is no surprise to Him. It is our heart He is most concerned with.
Ps 113:1-9 NKJV Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, Praise the name of the LORD! Blessed be the name of the LORD From this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down The LORD's name is to be praised. The LORD is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the LORD our God, Who dwells on high, Who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth? He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes--With the princes of His people. He grants the barren woman a home, like a joyful mother of children. Praise the LORD!
God humbles Himself ! Is that a revelation or what ? God ALMIGHTY humbles Himself ! He is not in heaven going " Hal-le-lu-me!" He lifts the poor out of the dust and ash heap ( again literal and figurative) that He might seat him with princes. Blessed be the name of the Lord ! He is not there crying " UNCLEAN ! UNCLEAN ! I CAN'T TOUCH THAT ONE ! For He humbles Himself. He is not a stranger to poverty. He sent His Son to be born in a stable with the smell of animals and dung around him. Yet some of our churches wouldn't even let a homeless person in them, or a drunk, because their smell might offend others.
The church IS a social service agency; a hospital for the unclean, sick and broken. Jesus said, if a man asks for your cloak, give him your tunic also. HE said, whoever asks of you, give to him !!! Boy that's a revelation for us, but it is in the WORD. Read Luke 6 every day for a week. Some people's idea of God is so small, they think that if someone steals from them, they could never replace something. God is a RESTORER ! So what someone might steal from you ! As if God is such a weakling. I used to have that mentality myself, but God has showed me differently. He corrected me.
I had been worried that our own kids would not have enough food if I took in this homeless couple and their kids ( into our two bedroom apt, by the way) and then God provided vegetables for us from two neighbors, who came and just offered them to us, because their parents worked on farms in Santa Rosa and they get to glean the fields, so I had plenty for all of us. It is our own FEARS that hold us back. If you GIVE, GOD will RESTORE to you and MORE even. You cannot outgive Him.
Ps 118:19-24 NKJV Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them,
And I will praise the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD, through which the righteous shall enter. I will praise You, for You have answered me, and have become my salvation. The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
God is ALWAYS listening there is nothing hidden from him. Even our thoughts He knows because He sees our hearts. And He always answers, sometimes yes, sometimes no, whatever is best for you; that works HIS heart into you, He will do. This is easy to say when you are not going through something you might say. But as I write this, I have no money for rent for my apartment rent; it is due today, on the 3rd of the month. But my GOD has never let me down. I am trusting Him to help me.
Ps 135:1-5 NKJV
Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD; Praise Him, O you servants of the LORD! You who stand in the house of the LORD, In the courts of the house of our God, Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; Sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant. For the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His special treasure. For I know that the LORD is great, and our Lord is above all gods.
Our problem is that we don't believe sometimes that He would be that good to us. But the scripture says He is GREAT and above all gods. He is the creator of heaven and earth and WE are His prize possession, that He greatly guards over and watches, and provides for.
Ps 138:1-7 NKJV
I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You. I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul. All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O LORD, When they hear the words of Your mouth. Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, For great is the glory of the LORD. Though the LORD is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me.
What is amazing to me, is the goodness He has shown me even though I have been so proud in my life ! That is the mercy of Jesus ! He knows the things that made me the way I am. He knew all the abuse and violence against me, yet loved me so much, and died for me and drew me to Himself. Even my salvation is nothing I can boast in...for it is HE that drew me that was seeking me out. Like the Good Shepherd He is, he leaves the flock of 99 and seeks for that one that is lost. He has healed my defensive pride, and the wounds of the past, and is still healing me. Is still reducing the pride of my opinions, that I would only go by HIS opinion.
Ps 139:13-16 NKJV For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.
Doesn't this just blow your mind that He knew you before you were born ? He chose you from the foundations of the earth it says !!! Think of that ! It is too awesome to behold. He is amazing ! AMAZING LOVE He has for us !
Ps 142:7 NKJV Bring my soul out of prison, That I may praise Your name; The righteous shall surround me, For You shall deal bountifully with me.
Remember what Moses was told to say to Pharoah ? LET MY PEOPLE GO ! that they might WORSHIP ME ! Unless our soul is released, it is difficult to worship. It is hard to be grateful when you are oppressed or possessed ! I remember the words of my former pastor..."We are to be lovers of God and deliverers of men ! "
Ps 145:1-8 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. One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works. Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness. They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness.
It is easy to become very negative if we only look at the bad things. It is much to our benefit to look at our King, rather than looking at all the enemy is doing. If you look too long at what the enemy is doing it robs you of hope and joy and peace. And then you lose your ability to be loving. But if you behold your King and meditate on the good things, like it says in Philippians, then you gain peace, joy, hope, and receive the LOVE from Him that helps us to do exploits for our God. Keep a log of all the things He does, all the prayers He answers, all the words He gives you so when the enemy comes, you can remind him of what GOD has done and yourself.
Ps 148:1-14 NKJV Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light! Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He commanded and they were created. He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away. Praise the LORD from the earth, You great sea creatures and all the depths; Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word; Mountains and all hills; Fruitful trees and all cedars; Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and flying fowl; Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth; Both young men and maidens; old men and children. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven. And He has exalted the horn of His people, The praise of all His saints--Of the children of Israel, A people near to Him. Praise the LORD!
Ps 149:1-9 NKJV
Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples; To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute on them the written judgment--This honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD!
There is something about the DANCE that just brings such JOY to the heart of God, it is like your praises take shape, JOY explodes within you that you just can't sit still any longer, you just have to express what is in your heart to the Lord. And it rains down God's JUSTICE on the land. Worship with abandonment is the most awesome tool against witchcraft that we have. We could do with less rebuking, and more dancing and singing to the Lord. God is raising up the Tabernacle of David, ( see ACTS 15:16 ) because He is restoring what has been stolen, and because the witchcraft and evil are increasing, and HE comes down in the midst of our praises. As we sing and dance, He brings His vengeance on the enemy of our soul.
Psalm 150:1 NKJV Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!
Isaiah 12:1 NKJV
And in that day you will say: "O LORD, I will praise You; Though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. 2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; 'For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.'" 3 Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation. 4 And in that day you will say: "Praise the LORD, call upon His name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, make mention that His name is exalted. 5 Sing to the LORD, for He has done excellent things; This is known in all the earth. 6 Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!"
When the Old Testament says " in that day" it is talking about the day of the Lord ; the day of the Lord's vengeance; His establishing HIS order. We are privileged to be living in that time. It is coming. He is coming, He is coming, and His Kingdom will reign forever and ever ! If you can read through the rest of these scriptures, just to solidify your understanding. They are encouraging and full of hope and especially to those who will be coming out of darkness into our churches in this next awakening.
Isaiah 25:1-8 NKJV
O LORD, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. 2 For You have made a city a ruin, a fortified city a ruin, a palace of foreigners to be a city no more; It will never be rebuilt. 3 Therefore the strong people will glorify You; The city of the terrible nations will fear You. 4 For You have been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; for the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. 5 You will reduce the noise of aliens, As heat in a dry place; as heat in the shadow of a cloud, The song of the terrible ones will be diminished. 6 And in this mountain The LORD of hosts will make for all people A feast of choice pieces, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of well-refined wines on the lees. 7 And He will destroy on this mountain the surface of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. 8 He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces;
What an amazing testimony of SOCIAL JUSTICE !
Isa 38:20 NKJV "The LORD was ready to save me; Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments all the days of our life, in the house of the LORD."
Isa 42:8-11 NKJV I am the LORD, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to graven images. 9 Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them." 10 Sing to the LORD a new song, and His praise from the ends of the earth, You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, You coastlands and you inhabitants of them! Let the inhabitants of Sela sing, Let them shout from the top of the mountains. 12 Let them give glory to the LORD, and declare His praise in the coastlands. 13 The LORD shall go forth like a mighty man; He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war. He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail against His enemies. 14 "I have held My peace a long time, I have been still and restrained Myself. Now I will cry like a woman in labor, I will pant and gasp at once. 15 I will lay waste the mountains and hills, and dry up all their vegetation; I will make the rivers coastlands, and I will dry up the pools. 16 I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them. 17 They shall be turned back, They shall be greatly ashamed, Who trust in carved images, Who say to the molded images, 'You are our gods.'
I just love the above scripture once spoken to me, as it is a picture of what Ruth Heflin taught. We pour out our worship then the Lord HIMSELF will fight FOR you !
Isa 43:21 NKJV This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.
Isa 48:9-10 NKJV "For My name's sake I will defer My anger, And for My praise I will restrain it from you, So that I do not cut you off. 10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
Isaiah 58 was quoted in the first half ; they are the paramount scriptures for spiritual warfare and all about social justice
Isa 60:18-20 NKJV
Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; but you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. 19 "The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; but the LORD will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory. 20 Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; For the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended.
Isa 61:1-4 NKJV "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." 4 And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.
If this isn't social justice what is ? God’s restoration is a promise of wholeness as we pursue Him, He pours down glory that changes us.
Isa 61:11 NKJV For as the earth brings forth its bud, as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Isa 62:6-7 NKJV I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, 7 And give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
In her book, Glory, by Ruth Heflin, she speaks a lot about offering up praise and worship to Him, and in turn He RAINS down on us His glory. There are a variety of ways to worship, but MINISTERING TO HIM involves interaction one on one and is the key to the secret place.
Isa 62:9-12 NKJV But those who have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; Those who have brought it together shall drink it in My holy courts." 10 Go through, Go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people; Build up, Build up the highway! Take out the stones, Lift up a banner for the peoples! 11 Indeed the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the world: "Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Surely your salvation is coming; Behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.'" 12 And they shall call them The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD; and you shall be called Sought Out, a City Not Forsaken.
Jer 13:8-11 NKJV 8 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9"Thus says the LORD: 'In this manner I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10 This evil people, who refuse to hear My words, who follow the dictates of their hearts, and walk after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be just like this sash which is profitable for nothing. 11 For as the sash clings to the waist of a man, so I have caused the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to Me,' says the LORD, 'that they may become My people, for renown, for praise, and for glory; but they would not hear.'
Cling to God and He will cling to you. Abide in the Vine and He will abide with you. There is a greater measure of His grace that is His power available to us if we will pursue Him as a Lover. We pursue after the love of so many other things, so giving to Him what is truly due HIM is beneficial to our spiritual health. If we really want more of Him, and more freedom, we will RUN into His arms, and be overcome by His LOVE and glory to the place that like DAVID we will RUN towards our goliaths knowing who backs us up !
Jer 17:14 NKJV Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for You are my praise.
Jer 17:26-27 NKJV And they shall come from the cities of Judah and from the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin and from the lowland, from the mountains and from the South, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and incense, bringing sacrifices of praise to the house of the LORD.
Jer 20:13-14 NKJV Sing to the LORD! Praise the LORD! For He has delivered the life of the poor from the hand of evildoers.
Jer 31:3-4 NKJV The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. 4 Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, and shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice.
We get so excited in this worldly arena about things that do not matter eternally, so why is it when it comes to expressing the fullness of our joy and delight in Jesus, is it, that we become so serious and morose and dull ? God never meant for worship to be dull. It is the HIGHEST PLACE to rest in His arms of love. And that is where we abide when we fully express our love to Him, if we will settle down at the end of a series of worship, that is sweet and loving and softly tenderly speak to Him, and He will sweet, and tenderly speak to us if we will slow down and quiet ourselves enough to listen. It is not the loudness of the music, but the loudness of our hearts He is listening to ! Loud is good for warfare, but when you want to hear you need to hear without distraction. Some people are so offended that Christians would dance, and I think, HOW can you be offended at the purity of expression of love. I agree that performance has no place in the church if you are ministering to the LORD and not to our ego’s yet there is one person who may express themselves differently than the next and all is good. Ron Metcalf sent me a video of which part was of a conference in Jerusalem where people were dancing in different ways all over the hall, but all was so beautiful and each in their own way so beautifully expressing love to their Father, it brought tears to my eyes and I thought, this is how it will be in heaven !
Jer 31:6-7 NKJV For there shall be a day When the watchmen will cry on Mount Ephraim, 'Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.' " 7 For thus says the LORD: "Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations; Proclaim, give praise, and say, 'O LORD, save Your people, the remnant of Israel!'
There is an endless array of things people get offended by. Shouting is one of them, yet we are told to SHOUT ! to PROCLAIM unabashedly our love for the Lord ! I understand when the shouting or chaos comes from people not doing things in the spirit and how that can seem more like a cacophony than praise. But when the Spirit moves us to do things…you go with the flow, and all works out beautifully when we ALLOW HIM to orchestrate it !
Jer 31:11-14 NKJV For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of one stronger than he. 12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, Streaming to the goodness of the LORD--For wheat and new wine and oil, For the young of the flock and the herd; Their souls shall be like a well-watered garden, and they shall sorrow no more at all. 13 "Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, And the young men and the old, together; for I will turn their mourning to joy, I will comfort them, and make them rejoice rather than sorrow. 14 I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance, and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the LORD."
When I went to a Messianic Temple once, I was impressed how the people of all ages danced together in a circle dance to the Lord. There was no performance here, just joy inexpressible and it was wonderful ! - No staging of the music but everyone could be a part !
Jer 33:7-9 NKJV
7 And I will cause the captives of Judah and the captives of Israel to return, and will rebuild those places as at the first. 8 I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me. 9 Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.'
Dan 2:20-23 NKJV "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. 21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. 22 He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him. 23 "I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of You, for You have made known to us the king's demand."
Dan 4:37 NKJV Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.
The Lord is a God of JUSTICE repeats over and again in scriptures. He is concerned for every aspect of our lives. As we worship, HE is working in the heavens fulfilling the needs and desires of His people.
Ps 38:9 NKJV Lord, all my desire is before You; And my sighing is not hidden from You.
Ps 37:4 NKJV Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Joel 2:23-32 NKJV
Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you--The former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. 24 The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. 25 "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. 26 You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame. 27 Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the LORD your God And there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame.
28 "And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. 29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. 30 "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. 32 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the remnant whom the LORD calls.
He says that AFTER the latter day rains, after restoration it will come to pass He will pour out His Spirit on all flesh. Peter announced at Pentacost that this day had come to pass, and that is what they were experiencing at Pentacost. I believe the Lord told me there would be a RECAPITULATION of fulfilled prophecies, and that this will be fulfilled AGAIN in this end times hour. He will pour out His Spirit and the old will have dreams and the young will see visions and He indicates He will pour it out on EVERYONE young and old, male and female, and then will come the signs of the end and tribulation. The moon turned to blood is the affect that happens with volcanoes erupting from seeing the affects of Mt St Helens and on specials I’ve watched on volcanoes. Blood, fire, pillars of smoke. Eruptions all over the earth will happen as groanings before His return. After the greatest oupouring on earth will come His great judgment on the earth. We are in the beginnings of birth pangs.
Hab 3:2-4 NKJV O LORD, I have heard your speech and was afraid; O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy. 3 God came from Teman, The Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise. 4 His brightness was like the light; He had rays flashing from His hand, and there His power was hidden.
Was Habbakuk seeing the end times appearance of the Savior ? He sees the earth full of His praise, and Jesus shining brightly rays flashing from his hands – His power.
What a picture of God’s intervention at the worship of those who love Him !
Zeph 3:19-20 NKJV Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the lame, and gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame in every land where they were put to shame. 20 At that time I will bring you back, Even at the time I gather you; for I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I return your captives before your eyes," Says the LORD.
God loves JUSTICE and as we worship, He reigns down JUSTICE !
Matt 21:15-16 NKJV and said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise'?"
There is something so wonderful at seeing children dance and sing…they are carefree and unashamed and they lack self consciousness that makes it a delight ! This is how He wants His children to be ! To be free in worship and as we let loose and we participate in worship of Him, oh, what wonders He does. WE dance with angels , and sing with angels and we get an outpouring of His love in our hearts to annhilate all the injustice done by the enemy in our lives ! I still remember this time a bit before revival when I was in a Vineyard one Sunday morning before dancing came, and one older lady took and led the children around the sanctuary dancing. They were SO happy and I remember the joy on their faces, and the scripture came to me, Luke 18:17 NKJV Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."
Luke 18:39-43 NKJV So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, saying, "What do you want Me to do for you?" And he said, "Lord, that I may receive my sight." Then Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
Luke 19:37-40 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, 38 saying: " 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" 39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." 40 But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."
John 12:42-43 NKJV Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
And thus it is so with many today. If dancing and praising with freedom is embraced it might drive the uptight away so some succomb to the fear of man and stifle the worship of God or relegate it to only seriousness and droning songs of old.
Acts 15:16-17 KJV After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David , which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
I believe because of the warfare arising with the spirit of antichrist and witchcraft that God gave us this clue to warn us HOW to war in this time. Worship breaks the power of witchcraft. Worship is singing your prayers as opposed to saying them in a way. There was a missionary from YWAM that went to New Guinea years ago and after failure in the usual methods to gain souls, he went on fast and prayer for two weeks. At the end of a couple weeks of abandonment to fasting and prayer, the Lord told him WORSHIP was the KEY to break the power of ancient strongholds that had been there since the beginning of time !!! A week later a German missionary that came got the same word, and an American also who came. So they spent three weeks in abandonment to prayer, 24/7 and THEN the breakthrough came. As they went out into the streets this time at the Lord’s bidding, the people gave up their amulets, and fell down in adoration to God, and gave their hearts to Him. This is why witchcraft so often attacks the worshippers trying to STOP UP the flow from earth to heaven !
Rom 13:1-4 NKJV Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
Part of worship is doing the RIGHT THING. Walking in obedience to Christ, so when we obey authority in all that is good, then we are also worshipping, demonstrating a life given to CHRIST. Same is true for loving our enemies, being good to those who hate us and praying for those who spitefully use us - Forgiving those who offend us.
Rom 15:9-13 NKJV
and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: "For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your name." 10 And again he says: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!" 11 And again: "Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!" 12 And again, Isaiah says: "There shall be a root of Jesse; and He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope." 13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
I’ve found that worship BRINGS hope because He comes in the midst of the praises of His people. It stirs up JOY. It stirs up the angels to rejoice with you. It stirs up the heart of God, that even in the midst of pain and suffering you are willing to worship HIM. THAT is overcoming. Anyone can sing when they feel good. But the one who SINGS when all is going wrong ? Well that’s just the ministering to the LORD that will turn His hand !
1 Cor 4:4-5 NKJV Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.
We are not to worship self or man. Praise will come, Favor will come as we obey God. Obedience is worship to Him. He said, the one who loves Me, obeys Me. So it is one form of worshipping God. One way to stop up the flow is to judge others. Then you can feel it in your heart, that your heart is not right with God somewhere.
Eph 1:4-7 NKJV just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
This is a good reason to REJOICE is it not ? He loved us first, and we are just loving Him back, telling Him how much we love Him.
Phil 1:9-11 NKJV And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
One of the fruits of righteousness I see is the willingness to worship God no matter what ! It reflects a heart that is appreciative and set on HIM. One thing that people who are moving in witchcraft cannot do too well is worship. I speak of the wicked who try to invade the camp of God. I’ve seen witches come into the church and they stand, but they don’t worship very well. One however exception was someone with MPD I met who was able to be in a totally different personality and worship in church, but also participate outside of the church in demonic services.
Heb 2:10-12 NKJV For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You."
Another form of worship is our suffering. Think about it. What can you give to God ?
Our praise, our adoration, and even in the midst of suffering to adore Him. I remember when I was sick with Immune deficiency & fibromyalgia, a day when all I could do is lay on the couch and listen to, and worship all day. At the end of the day, the Lord whispered, “ How did it feel to spend the whole day with Me ?”
Heb 13:14-17 NKJV
Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
1 Peter 1:6-9 NKJV
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 2:15-16 NKJV For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men--
Doing good as a form of worship, puts to silence the ignorance of man. It is amazing how when you do what others would resent or not think to do, how it causes conviction of heart. Thus acting in obedience to the word of God is worship as in Isaiah 58.
The heading in NKJV for that chapter of Isaiah says TRUE WORSHIP.
Rev 19:4-10 NKJV Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!" And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
The white linen of the saints is their righteous ACTS, not just singing and praying, but ACTING to help and love others. If we love GOD, it will naturally lead to us loving one another !
This verse brings up an important point about worship and that is that we are NOT to worship angels ! We are to worship GOD ALONE, not man, nor angels or demons, nor SELF. Worship is reserved for the Lord Jesus CHRIST, Holy Spirit and FATHER GOD who are ONE GOD in three different forms. HE alone is worthy of all PRAISE.
God is raising up 24 hr, 7 days a week prayer because it is a GOD idea ! HE is urging us to WORSHIP in this final hour as He is soon coming and we have much to rejoice in though the world trembles and groans, and is filled with wickedness…it is exactly the time to REJOICE IN HIM. Some well meaning, voice a troubled heart at those who seem to “party” in the Lord. But that is the very thing the scriptures point to in the end, that we should do, is to WORSHIP HIM. Spending time with GOD in prayer or worship is never “WASTING time.” We sow to the heavens and He rains down to the earth !
Father, give us the GRACE to worship You as You want to be worshipped and to be STEADFAST in our worship of YOU. Inspire us with songs, release creativity, and release us to dance and make a big deal of our GOD. You alone are worthy. Forgive us for worshipping other things of this world, for worshipping entertainment and men, even Christian TV has become an idol. We ask YOU to give us WHOLEHEARTEDNESS that we might worship YOU in Spirit and in TRUTH, without pretense. And when we can’t seem motivated to offer a “sacrifice of praise” anyhow that will lead us into Your presence where You are the Resource of all we need in the way of healing, deliverance or empowerment, wisdom and understanding ! In the name and blood of Jesus. AMEN !
