Ex. 20:19 π Lev. 9:24 π Job 40:4 π Job 40:5 π Job 42:6 π Psa. 22:3 π Psa. 33:1 π Psa. 34:1 π Psa. 96:9 π Psa. 97:5 π Psa. 100:4 π Psa. 108:3 π Psa. 119:164 π Isa. 6:5 π Jer. 23:9 π Ezek. 1:28 π Ezek. 3:15 π Acts 9:4 π Heb. 13:15 π Rev. 1:17 π Rev. 19:5
“But You are holy, who inhabit the praises of Israel.” ( Psa. 22:3; top )
Praise to God can be verbal, but can also be evaluated in our lives in comparison to the character of Jesus in us. True praise and worship is giving God complete rights to our lives.
In many instances, as Christians gather for worship and praise, it becomes a traditional ritual and part of the program to praise – something to lift one’s spirit through uplifted praise and to fulfill obedience to the Scriptures.
“Praise God all you His servants.” ( Rev. 19:5; top )
“Come into His courts with praise.” ( Psa. 100:4; top )
“I will bless the Lord at all times…” ( Psa. 34:1; top )
“Seven times a day do I praise You.” ( Psa. 119:164; top )
“Praise from the upright is beautiful.” ( Psa. 33:1; top )
“I will sing praises unto You.” ( Psa. 108:3; top )
“Let us offer the sacrifice of praise.” ( Heb. 13:15; top )
This is all fine, unless we are only using it to quiet our spirit and to show we have obeyed God; but it is practically useless if we have no desire to let God change and remold us into His likeness. Because we may feel somewhat better as a result of the praising, we are convinced God has visited us because He is in the praises of His children.
But if God really visited us, we would be a prostrated congregation, and the fear of God’s holiness would convict us, purge us, remold us as the master potter and the clay, and we would change into the likeness of Jesus and would never again be the same. Each worship session would be a life changing experience. If a worship service doesn’t change us, then we are bowing down at Gideon’s Spring of Harod and heading toward a lukewarm exit out of the mouth of Almighty God. May praise be something more than the praise of our lips.
When God really comes down:
“The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.” ( Psa. 97:5; top )
“Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; fear before Him all the earth.” ( Psa. 96:9; top )
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