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THE TRUTH ABOUT CHRISTIAN WORSHIP
Chapter 23
The Reasons for Praising and Thanking God
Text
Ps. 113:1-9 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!
Memory Verse
Ps. 113:5-6 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?
Introduction
To praise God is to express appreciation and love for Him in the way He accepts (Ps. 69:30).
The Greek word ‘hymnos’ and the Hebrew ‘halal’ - where we get “hymn” and “hallelujah” - both mean raising songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.
It is more than music. It is a response of the heart.
Objective
To appreciate why we praise God and when He wants us to do it.
Presentation
1. God is the Perfect Model for Life
In everything, God has shown Himself as the perfect example for how to live successfully from now into eternity (Matt. 5:43-48).
Our first assignment is to become like Him, as Christ taught (Rom. 8:28-30).
When we look like Him, we become too strong for our adversary, Satan. Living like God is our best defence.
2. He is Our Creator and the Provider of Everything We Need
Before He brought us into existence, He had already prepared everything we would need for life (Ps. 135:3; 1 Chr. 16:25-26).
We did not create the air we breathe, the food we eat, or the earth we stand on. He did. That alone is reason to praise.
3. In Distress, He is Our Healer and Sustainer
God is the reason we can have confidence when life falls apart. He delivers, He heals, He sustains (Ps.107:20; Heb. 13:5-6; 1 Cor. 10:13; Ps. 46:1).
When you have no strength left, He is still there. That is worth thanking Him for.
4. The Recommended Time for Praise and Thanksgiving
Under the New Covenant, praise is not limited to certain seasons or festivals. It is every moment, because it is done in the Spirit, which never stops (Acts 2:46-47; Phil. 4:4-7).
We are to be full of praise and thanksgiving always. Not just when things are good. Always.
Conclusion
Praising and thanking God, in words and in actions, is how we acknowledge His daily care for us. He commands the morning for us (Job 38:12), and gives us access to each new day.
We do not even know all the ways in which He is blessing us. But we can be thankful all of the time anyway.
Evaluation Questions & Answers
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Give three reasons why God deserves our thanksgiving.
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He is perfect and our model for life. He shows us how to live and be victorious (Matt. 5:48; Rom. 8:29).
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He created us and provided everything we need. Life, air, food, and earth were ready before we arrived (Ps. 135:3).
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He heals and sustains us in distress. He is our help when we are weak (Ps. 107:20; Heb. 13:6).
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Why are there no longer seasons of thanksgiving?
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Under the New Covenant, praise and thanksgiving are not limited to festivals or set seasons. We live in the Spirit, and the Spirit does not take breaks (Acts 2:46-47; Phil. 4:4). So thanksgiving is now a continuous lifestyle.
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What three benefits do we derive from being thankful to God?
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It keeps our hearts focused on Him. Thankfulness shifts us from worry to trust (Phil. 4:6-7).
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It strengthens us against the enemy. A thankful heart is hard for Satan to discourage.
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It aligns us with God’s will. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess. 5:18 (NIV))
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Prayer
Father, thank You for who You are and for everything You do for us daily. Teach us to praise You in every season, in every moment, for every reason we see and even for the ones we do not see. Keep our hearts full of gratitude. Amen.
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All Scripture quotations on this website are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
No part of the books "THE TRUTH ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH", "THE TRUTH ABOUT CHRISTIAN WORSHIP", "THE TRUTH ABOUT CHRISTIAN TRADITION" or "THE TRUTH ABOUT CHDISTIAN UNITY" by Michael James Ekperikpe may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other, without the prior written permission of the publisher, save as follows:
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