The Lord deserves the praises of all who lead, provide for and protect people. The Lord is the well with ample cool and refreshing water to resource us with all we need to honor Him and to serve those we serve well. Praise the Lord!
I have noticed that meetings with preaching of God’s Word usually begin with worship to Him. Evangelist Billy Graham began his crusades with songs of praise and worship to God before He preached. When I did rallies in schools and churches in Hong Kong with Youth for Christ, the programs always began with singing and testimonies of praise to God.
As we praise and thank the Lord, we invite His presence among us. We set our minds on the good things that He does for us, and express love to Him.
“Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the assembly of saints.” [2]
Praise the Lord for those who compose new songs to the Lord. Praise the Lord for musicians who fine tune their skills and rehearse frequently, and yield all of this to the Lord for His glory.
“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.” [3]
Dancing to the Lord... have you ever done it? I have enjoyed worship services where people leap from foot to foot with arms uplifted in praise to the Lord. It is glorious! You can feel the Spirit of God like electricity in the atmosphere beautifying the moment as God takes pleasure in people who get Him. He is God! Creator and Sustainer of the universe! He loves us. He blesses us as we love Him in return. He is bringing us to happily ever after.
“The Lord says... those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.” [4]
It makes sense. Whomever you treat respectfully and with love usually yields some of the same back to you. The Lord is much more honorable in this regard than any human being.
“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!” [5]
Wind, string, and percussion instruments praise the Lord. Phil Driscoll speaks of being an instrument of praise to the Lord. Phil is an excellent trumpet player. Phil testifies, “I am not a trumpet player. I am a trumpet to the Lord. My purpose for existence is to bring God glory!” Phil says that sound consists of vibrations. As we praise the Lord, we are releasing vibes into the atmosphere around us. They are very good vibes. Healthy vibes! Just like light dispels darkness, good vibes destroy bad vibes. Therefore, we should make every attempt to fill the environment around us with praise, music and singing to the Lord.
The Lord speaks of Satan as originally being a cherub who had timbrels and pipes. “The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.” [6]
Some believers believe that the Lord created people with a free will to prove that given the choice to either praise the Lord or serve themselves, those who knew Him would love Him more than life itself.
“They [the brethren] overcame him [the accuser of the brethren – Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” [7]
I have noticed that meetings with preaching of God’s Word usually begin with worship to Him. Evangelist Billy Graham began his crusades with songs of praise and worship to God before He preached. When I did rallies in schools and churches in Hong Kong with Youth for Christ, the programs always began with singing and testimonies of praise to God.
As we praise and thank the Lord, we invite His presence among us. We set our minds on the good things that He does for us, and express love to Him.
“Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the assembly of saints.” [2]
Praise the Lord for those who compose new songs to the Lord. Praise the Lord for musicians who fine tune their skills and rehearse frequently, and yield all of this to the Lord for His glory.
“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.” [3]
Dancing to the Lord... have you ever done it? I have enjoyed worship services where people leap from foot to foot with arms uplifted in praise to the Lord. It is glorious! You can feel the Spirit of God like electricity in the atmosphere beautifying the moment as God takes pleasure in people who get Him. He is God! Creator and Sustainer of the universe! He loves us. He blesses us as we love Him in return. He is bringing us to happily ever after.
“The Lord says... those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.” [4]
It makes sense. Whomever you treat respectfully and with love usually yields some of the same back to you. The Lord is much more honorable in this regard than any human being.
“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!” [5]
Wind, string, and percussion instruments praise the Lord. Phil Driscoll speaks of being an instrument of praise to the Lord. Phil is an excellent trumpet player. Phil testifies, “I am not a trumpet player. I am a trumpet to the Lord. My purpose for existence is to bring God glory!” Phil says that sound consists of vibrations. As we praise the Lord, we are releasing vibes into the atmosphere around us. They are very good vibes. Healthy vibes! Just like light dispels darkness, good vibes destroy bad vibes. Therefore, we should make every attempt to fill the environment around us with praise, music and singing to the Lord.
The Lord speaks of Satan as originally being a cherub who had timbrels and pipes. “The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.” [6]
Some believers believe that the Lord created people with a free will to prove that given the choice to either praise the Lord or serve themselves, those who knew Him would love Him more than life itself.
“They [the brethren] overcame him [the accuser of the brethren – Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” [7]
May the Lord grant to us by His Spirit a love that is so great for Him that nothing will dampen our will to praise and honor Him.
Once when the disciples of Jesus were rejoicing and praising God with loud voices, some religious leaders demanded that Jesus rebuke them. Jesus responded, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” [8]
Why should any stone out-praise us who were created for that very purpose?
Chris Christensen wrote a beautiful song entitled, “I was Made to Praise You.”
Once when the disciples of Jesus were rejoicing and praising God with loud voices, some religious leaders demanded that Jesus rebuke them. Jesus responded, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” [8]
Why should any stone out-praise us who were created for that very purpose?
Chris Christensen wrote a beautiful song entitled, “I was Made to Praise You.”
“I was made to praise You
I was made to glorify Your Name
In ev'ry circumstance to find a chance to thank You
I was made to love You
I was made to worship at Your feet
And to obey You Lord
I was made for you
I will always praise You
I will always glorify Your Name
In ev'ry circumstance I'll find a chance to thank You
I will always love You
I will always worship at Your feet
And I'll obey You Lord
I was made for You”
[1] Psalm 148:11, 14
[2] Psalm 149:1
[3] Psalm 149:3-4
[4] 1 Samuel 2:30
[5] Psalm 150:3-6
[6] Ezekiel 28:13-15
[7] Revelation 12:10-11
[8] Luke 19:37-40
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