[0:00] We thank God you have tuned in to this message by David and Tree at Caris Church. No hand can help you with the fulfillment of your destiny but the Word of God. May God hand align with you further into your destiny through this Word.
[0:14] Open your Bibles to Psalm 150. I think we should all read it all together. It doesn't matter your version, just read it the way you see it. Amen?
[0:25] Are you ready? Alright, let's go. Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary. Praise Him in the firmament of His power. Praise Him for His mighty acts.
[0:37] Praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet. Praise Him with the soul of three and a half. Praise Him with the timbrel and the dance. Praise Him with the string, instrument, and organ.
[0:50] Praise Him upon the loud cymbal. Praise Him upon the high-sounding cymbal. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Hallelujah.
[1:01] Hallelujah. Father, thank you for giving us the privilege to assemble as a congregation in your name.
[1:12] Thank you for giving us the opportunity to come together to fellowship with one another and with you. As we hear your word, give us the grace to hear from you.
[1:23] Amen. Grant us the listening ears. Grant us circumcised ears. Amen. Grant us opened ears. Amen. That we can hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
[1:35] Amen. Thank you that as your word is coming, revelation is dawning. Amen. Thank you that as your word is coming, clarity is coming. Yes. Thank you that as your word is coming, healings, miracles, testimonies are being released.
[1:48] We give you praise and we vow never to stop and cease to give you praise. In Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Hallelujah.
[1:59] Hallelujah. Please be seated. Hallelujah. Amen. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Well, today I just want to talk about the mystery of praise and thanksgiving.
[2:12] In Ephesians chapter 6, verse 19 and 20, the apostle Paul tells the church of Ephesus, the Ephesian church, that pray for me that all trans may be given unto me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mysteries of the gospel.
[2:38] It didn't say the mystery. It says that I may make known the mystery of the gospel, not just the mysteries of life, but the mystery of the gospel.
[2:51] The mystery of the gospel. So when you look at the gospel, there are aspects of what we teach from scripture which ordinary people cannot get unless they are enlightened by the power of the Holy Ghost.
[3:06] So the mystery of the gospel, do you know why unbelievers tend to open their mouth and think they have the right to run commentary on the things we do in church?
[3:19] It's because the things we practice, there's a mystery aspect of it that they are unlearned and untrained spiritually cannot get.
[3:30] You can be highly educated and still very illiterate when it comes to the things of God. And usually most people think they have the right to run their mouth on.
[3:41] Well, why are you going to church on a Sunday? Why are you singing in church? Why are you giving in church? Why are you serving in church? And most people with their kind of understanding and instinct want to define how people should relate with God.
[4:00] But really, everything concerning the gospel and the things that concern our company, our salvation have some mystery aspects to it. The mystery of the gospel.
[4:12] So Paul said, pray for me so I will boldly declare the mystery. When I open my mouth to speak it, sometimes it is so mysterious that you might not even feel confident enough to speak it because of the faces and the political attitudes of people listening to you.
[4:33] So it says that, pray that we will boldly, I will be given utterance to declare the mystery of the gospel. The mystery of the gospel in Colossians chapter 4 verse 3 talks about, pray for us to speak the mystery of Christ for which I am also in chains.
[4:52] You see, it is the mystery that has put him in chains because if it is something that everybody understands, it will be easy for everybody to agree. And if it is something that everybody agrees, they will rise up and oppose you or attack you.
[5:06] They will attack him and arrest him and put him in prison because he is teaching, not that he is teaching anything wrong. He wasn't teaching falsehood, but it was mystery and the people listening didn't like it and they didn't agree.
[5:19] So now the gospel has mystery aspects of the gospel. Much of it has to be taught after you are born again. That's why much of your Christian life must be given to listening to teachings.
[5:32] Other than that, you cannot grow in Christ outside of teachings. And it is your teachings that will determine the quality of your spirituality.
[5:45] Why teachings? Somebody said, God speaks to me personally. I know God. No, no, no, no. He doesn't. God doesn't do that. If he's going to speak to you personally, he will point you to the things in scripture which must be explained to you.
[5:58] He said there was a revival in Samaria. And yeah, Samaria and the spirit takes Philip out of town where the revival is to go and meet one man who was trying to read the Bible.
[6:14] Ethiopian eunuch. He was reading the Bible, but Philip said, do you understand what you read? How can I? Someone needs to explain these things to me. And a lot of people are reading it to, using their own understanding to read it.
[6:26] And then later I say, oh, this whole thing is contradicting. It says, because you just don't understand it. You know, so it is necessary that much of your Christian life should be hinged on teaching. Today, being the last Sunday of the year and the last day of the year, I think it's just appropriate to just come and be singing and rejoicing in his name.
[6:44] That is important. If we have one hour rejoicing or two hours rejoicing and singing, oh, it's so fantastic. That's why we have praise nine. And it will be good that we do that now. But you know what?
[6:55] Two hours of praising God without understanding won't take you much. Five minutes of praising God with understanding is more powerful and potent than two hours of praising without proper understanding.
[7:07] So when you read the Bible in Psalm 47, verse 7, it says, praise the Lord with understanding. There must be a reason. You know what you are doing. When you see an artist painting something, you understand when he starts, but he knows where he's going.
[7:23] You must know what you are doing when you are praising. In Romans chapter 11, verse 36. Oh boy, I like that text. I like that text. Romans chapter 11, verse 36.
[7:35] It said, for off, I think it's better we all read it together. Is that okay? Sometimes it's nice when we read the Bible publicly and loudly. Let's all go. Let's go.
[7:46] For of him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. What about time? For of him and to him are all things.
[8:00] To whom be the glory forever. Amen. Wow. For tells you as an explanation to some conversation that have been going on. After all these powerful things Paul has been teaching.
[8:12] In fact, if you want to really know from a legal standpoint, the legalities behind our salvation, Christian salvation, you have to know more about Romans. But after Paul said all these things, so many things, he said for.
[8:27] For of him. Through him and to him are all things. This is what theologians call the big God theology.
[8:39] This scripture is divided into two. The first half. The first half is called the big God theology. The big God. Let's all say the big God theology.
[8:51] The big God theology. What does that mean? It says for. Of him. Through him. It says that of him, through him and to him are all things.
[9:02] It's telling you how big this God we are dealing with is. In theological terms, there are two types of glory of God. We have the intrinsic glory. I taught on this a while ago.
[9:14] Intrinsic. It's inherent. You don't have to do anything to it. Whether you praise him or not. You don't pray. Whether you don't praise him. Whether you praise him. Whether you sing or you don't sing. Whether you don't come to church. It doesn't change who God is.
[9:26] He said that big God theology said of him. We are of him. You didn't show up by yourself. We are of him. And he said through him are all things.
[9:38] Everything that is happening is not that God is not aware. God is in control. That's big God theology. In spite of the negative things going on in your life. Which doesn't put smile on your face.
[9:49] That troubles you. If God is with you. That means that he is in control. How can God be with Joseph and he found himself in prison. After being framed and being lied upon.
[10:00] And they threw him in prison. And he was there for not one year. Not two years. For a while. Without God intervening. Where are you God? Big God theology. Big.
[10:12] It's only God. Who can create life out of death. God be with God. So when he says he will show up. Even when you die. And he says he will show up.
[10:23] He will show up. That is the kind of God Abraham attempted to trust. So when God told Abraham. Sacrifice Isaac on the altar for me. But Abraham.
[10:33] But you said. Isaac is the one through whom everybody did. After Hebrew chapter 11 verse 17. You said. Isaac is the one through whom every blessing will come. Whatever. Whatever my. The meaning to my life is embedded in Isaac.
[10:47] Now if I get rid of him. How can. But Abraham knew that this is a big God. He understand the big God theology. So he judged that. Even if I kill him. God will still be able to make him come back to.
[10:59] Oh. Big God theology. When you understand the big God theology. Nothing scares you in life. When you understand the big God theology.
[11:10] Sometimes. Particularly. I think. The Yoruba. Most nations. And most tribes. And most communities. By the Yoruba. And then. In Ghana. A particular tribe called the Ashantis.
[11:22] And the Yorubas. They have a lot of big. Big name for God. When you see them. Mentioning God. And describing God. God. It is even the names.
[11:33] They ascribe to God. In fact. Years ago. When I used to be redeemed. Somebody told me. It's a Yoruba language. It says. Alagbara. The name itself.
[11:45] It's mouthful. Alagbara. What's the meaning of Alagbara? The most powerful one. Alagbara. Alagbara.
[11:58] They ascribe Alagbara to God. So. See. When you grow in a culture. And a tradition. Which makes God so big. That nothing can intimidate God.
[12:08] You don't struggle to trust God to show up. No. Yes. It doesn't matter what you find yourself in. You still know. This Alagbara can show up anytime. A big God theology.
[12:23] Amen. Instead of Him. Through Him. To Him. And all things. Amen. If you can get your theology of God right. This is the intrinsic glory of God.
[12:36] He just is. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Come on. Come on. Can I be a bit. Don't mind me. But. Me too. I don't understand it.
[12:46] But I learned it. When I used to be redeemed. He said. What is the meaning of that? What is it that you cannot do?
[12:59] Can you imagine? Iwati oda. Aye atoru. Yeah. What is o yigi yigi? There's no English word.
[13:11] To describe the o yigi yigi. But it's God o yigi yigi. O yigi yigi. Can you imagine?
[13:24] It sounds like tongues. But it's actually language. When you have big God theology. Invariably results in glorious doxology.
[13:39] That's right. So he said. For of Him. Through Him. And to Him. Are all things. Now we have the ascribed glory for him.
[13:51] So the intrinsic glory. And the ascribed glory. All in one text. The intrinsic glory. Is the big God theology. Who he is. And then when you get it.
[14:02] You can't help. But to give him the glory. Forever. And ever. And ever. And ever. Big God theology. Listen.
[14:12] When you come into contact. With the intrinsic glory. You can't help. But to give the ascribed. Oh my God.
[14:26] Share glory. Glory. Share glory. Glory. Glory. Glory. Glory. He said. When you pray. Glory.
[14:36] Glory. Glory. Glory. Say our Father. Glory. Glory. Who acts in heaven. Glory. Glory. Glory. Glory. lath свою. As 가짜� linking his faith. I'll start with it. As soon as you recognize who you are dealing with. Hascribe to him first.
[14:48] And your prayer is not valid. Until you seal it with the fact that. Thine is the kingdom. The power of heaven. Together. For how long.
[14:59] Forever. For how long.elledfearne. For how long. For ever. For how long. Forever. Shout Hallelujah! Be God! Be God!
[15:19] Let anyone threaten you. Don't be afraid. Tell them you're coming to me. Recently a songwriter wrote a song and sang a song. He said, I don't walk alone.
[15:33] I walk with God the Father. I walk with God the Son. I walk with God the... I get back alone.
[15:45] I know they walk alone. Hallelujah! I have a back in and guess who is backing me? Be God! Be God! I want to ask you. This year, the reason why you are still standing is not because of your doctors.
[16:03] Be God! Not because you go to the gym. But because there is a... Be God!
[16:14] Be God! Be God! Be God! Come on. Be God! Be God! Be God! Be God! The big God himself has chose to be your security.
[16:28] Hallelujah! I am concerned about your enemies. Hey! I am concerned the way they are trying to take you up. Because they are provoking this big God.
[16:40] Pastor, David in the Bible had understanding of the big God. He said, who is this on circumstance? That is why in all scripture, there is nobody who prays like David.
[16:53] Wow! Because he understood the big God. Big God! Big God! Big God! Tell somebody, I serve a very big God.
[17:04] I serve a very big God! I serve a very big God! Even the devil knows. I serve a very big God! I serve a very big God! Even the devil knows! I serve a big God! I serve a big God! I serve a big God!
[17:15] Big God! The greater your knowledge of him, the bigger he can be in your life. So to some people, God is very small. He is tiny. And he will only be tiny in your life. But the more you understand, that's why you cannot afford not to be taught to God.
[17:27] The Bible says, let him who boasts, in Jeremiah, let him who boasts.
[17:42] He should boast that he knows the Lord. Don't boast in your riches. Don't boast in where you live. Don't boast in your contacts. Don't boast about who you know or what links you have.
[17:55] He said, if anyone who boasts, let him boast that he knows Jeremiah chapter 9. Let him boast that he knows the Lord. Let him that glory, glory, glory in this, that he understands and knoweth me.
[18:11] Oh yeah! That means you can understand God. And you can know him. That I am the Lord which exercises loving kindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth.
[18:23] For in these things I delight. I delight in this, he declares the Lord. If anyone who boasts, the verse 23 says, let him not boast about the things you have. Don't boast about you are a wise man, you are well educated and you are this, and you are a mighty person.
[18:40] You have riches. He says, those things don't boast that you have. Let your confidence that you have a big God theology. Someone said, big God.
[18:51] Big God! So quickly, it's important to understand that there are things that can provoke praise naturally. Yes. Yes. Things that can provoke grace. One of them is what I've been speaking about the theology.
[19:05] Big God theology. Big God theology. For of him, through him, to him are all things. Then, naturally, the ascribed glory follows, to whom be glory forever.
[19:18] Number two, your revelation of God. The Bible says that he has done Ephesians chapter one from verse five, six, is that he did all these things to the praise of his glory.
[19:30] He has done all these things to the praise of his glory. And so, when you have revelation about Christ and his works in our life, it provokes praise. Praise can come spontaneously based on the revelations you have of God and his power.
[19:47] Hallelujah. Hallelujah. And then, praise can also be provoked spontaneously by virtue of someone being a bit thoughtful. If you can think about things, you see, sometimes you take things for granted.
[20:01] You lost your job. You thank God you didn't lose your life. Yeah. Yeah. So, sometimes it's good to think about how God has delivered you from what almost could have been something very, very disastrous in your family.
[20:16] How God has spared you. How, oh, if there's nothing you can thank God for, at least thank God for the fact that you have a place you can hear his word. Amen.
[20:27] For some of us, had it not been for a church like this by now, your story would be very messy. Very messy. Messy, messy story.
[20:39] Messy. But, I am, so sometimes, as I normally say, that if you pause to think, you will have a cause to thank.
[20:52] Meditate on the things God has done and it will shock you. How many prayers that have been answered you haven't remembered? Oh, yeah.
[21:03] A lot of prayers get answered and we forgot we actually prayed. It's only reflection that makes us remember, oh, yeah. I prayed about this guy liking me and actually like me, married me. I even forgot about that.
[21:16] When your sister or your brother didn't come home and late, he was still not, you were worried.
[21:30] What if something has happened? Oh, God, please. You are phoning and that line is not going through. Lord, let it be that it's just the battery that is dead, but not someone else. And, three hours later, he shows up and says, finally, I've seen you.
[21:46] Instead of remembering to give God thanks, he answered that prayer. Or he said, oh, no, you know, my phone, I just, I was tired, so I switched it off. And so that carried you away. You forgot that God has actually, because it could have also been the other one.
[22:00] Yes. Because at that material moment, you were not in control. Circumstances could have turned anyway. Yes. But it happened that it turned in a way that didn't bring you sorrow.
[22:12] If you pause to think, you have a cause to thank. Yes. Meditation provokes praise. And one of the biggest things that provoke praise is gratitude.
[22:26] See, when you think God hasn't done enough, you struggle to give him thanks. Yeah. And when we are praising, you think, oh, it's just music. It's just, you think God hasn't done enough?
[22:38] So, so when we are in church and say that this is the last Sunday of the year, look at how God has been good to us. Oh, yeah. Well, I'll be there. Others are there anyway.
[22:50] So, but you forgot that others are also not there. Yeah. Yeah. Others are also there, but not as free as you. That's right. Circumstances are very dynamic.
[23:02] Oh, yes. So it is important to be grateful to God. When you are thankful to God, it provokes a certain dimension of praise. Right?
[23:13] Someone get what I'm saying? Be thankful. Be, those of you who are mothers, be thankful for your children. Those of you who are fathers, be thankful that you have a child. Be thankful that your child is at least alive.
[23:27] Yes. Gratitude provokes praise. Now, quickly, let me just add this because we need to demonstrate praise to God. Why should I praise God? Number one, because it's a command.
[23:40] Psalm 113 verse 1. Psalm 113 verse 1. The scripture we read, Psalm 150 verse 6. Psalm 113 verse 1, it says, I praise the Lord. Praise all servants of the Lord.
[23:51] Praise the name of the Lord. Psalm 150 verse 6. It says, let everything that has breath, praise the Lord. Psalm 150 verse 1 says that, praise ye the Lord.
[24:02] Praise God in the sanctuary. Praise Him in the firmament of His. It's a command. Praise Him. In Psalm 117 verse 1, the Bible continues to tell us that, praise the Lord, all ye nations.
[24:16] Praise Him, all ye people. So why should I praise God is a command. Number two, in Psalm 33 verse 1, why should I praise God? Because the Bible says that, rejoice in the Lord, all ye righteous.
[24:30] Praise is calmly for the upright. Give us a different NIV. Let's see how I put it there. Praise is calmly. Praise is calmly. It's a wonderful thing to praise God.
[24:41] It's fitting. It's just good. It's appropriate to do that. It's fitting. When your father, your daughter is hungry, or your son is hungry, your child is hungry, it's just right to pack somewhere to buy something for the child to eat.
[25:01] It's not something that you are doing anything bad. So, it is fitting. In the same way, it is appropriate. And the Bible said, praise is fitting. Praise is calmly for the righteous.
[25:13] If you are a righteous person, then when we come to church and we are praising God, don't think we are doing something youthful. Don't think we are doing something just as Zubram. No, it is fitting to praise God.
[25:24] It is fitting. It is calmly. It's right. It's right. It's appropriate behavior. It's rather inappropriate if you don't praise God as a righteous person.
[25:35] So, praise is a command. Praise is wonderful or is calmly. And then, number three, why should we praise God? Because He is good and His mercy endures forever.
[25:48] God is good. Why do you have to praise God? Because God is good. But look at the things going on in your life. It doesn't matter. God is good. The sun is hot. But right now, if you go out, I don't think you will feel the heat.
[26:02] Because, see, it's daytime. It's almost midday and there's no sun. The sun is not hot. No, the sun is not always hot. Your condition doesn't determine the nature of the sun.
[26:15] The nature of the sun is not determined by your condition. If you can be exposed to the sun somewhere else, you realize it's hot. So, the fact is, God is good. The fact that you are sad doesn't mean God has ceased to be good.
[26:28] The fact that things are not working the way you expect it to work doesn't mean God has not been good or God has ceased to be good. So, we're praising God He's good. Not because you feel He's good.
[26:39] Not because you feel things are good. We praise God because He's good. And His mercy. His mercy. In fact, that word, mercy. If you really understand it, even that alone will provoke an appropriate response from your heart to God.
[26:57] That God is merciful when He should have exposed you, when He should have striped you, when something negative happened to you and it would have been warranted. He still withheld judgment. Yeah.
[27:08] Yeah. When you made the biggest mistake in your life, when it should have cost you so much for some reason.
[27:20] For some reason, it looks like God winked. Hey! Thank God! Yeah! People have done things and they didn't survive anymore.
[27:31] And they have done smaller ones and it has cost them so much! And you have done bigger ones and look at you, you're still going on. God has been merciful to you! God has been merciful to you!
[27:42] God has been merciful to you! That's why the Bible says in Psalm 124, if it had not been for the Lord, who was on our side. Let Israel say, it's a challenge. I dare you to say it's not God.
[27:54] Say it's not God! And let's see. Provoke God to withdraw His protection. Say it's not God! Nebuchadnezzar thought this thing is not God.
[28:05] Actually, can you imagine that God gave Nebuchadnezzar dominion? He gave him the power. He gave him the jurisdiction. Even though he never knew God, God gave him. And he said, look at how my hands are built, all this.
[28:19] My glory, all this. And God says that, I will show you that the most high rules in the affairs of man. He became a beast for seven years.
[28:30] He became an animal, like a human being. A king, a sekeno. He eventually was in the forest, crawling on his feet and eating grass.
[28:41] The man who thought he was the most powerful man. And because of him, he says, God is nothing, I am the one. God said, okay, I think I need to withdraw the privileges. I won't kill you, you have to live to see.
[28:54] And Bible says in Daniel chapter 4, at the end of it, Nebuchadnezzar opened his mouth and started praising God. What? He opened his mouth and started praising God.
[29:06] Daniel chapter 4 verse 34, at the end of the times, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the most high and praised and all and honored him who lives forever.
[29:21] For his dominion is an everlasting dominion. And his kingdom is from Agadasha, the Bahaya, the Kabasha. This is someone who wants to apologize and says, God doesn't matter.
[29:32] Yeah. Yeah. He said, God doesn't matter. Yeah. Now, what's the one that says, I'm an atheist, I'm an atheist. Don't be, don't be, don't make it, don't, like the religious people, some religious people, when you are not serving their God, they hate you.
[29:45] Don't have time for that. Because you serve a big God. He can, he can defend, he don't have to fight for him. He can defend himself. Yes. He can defend. What we are called to fight for is to contend for the gospel.
[29:58] So no one dilutes it. Yes. So when they say that they are trying to infiltrate the gospel, our job is to fight and make sure we maintain the purity of what God is saying. But we don't fight for God. No.
[30:09] How can you fight for God? Why would you worship your God you have to fight for? You are such a sin. So Nebuchadnezzar was humble because God's mercy sent you.
[30:22] Psalm 106 verse 1. Psalm 106 verse 1, it talks about how his mercy is. Praise the Lord. Oh, give thanks to the Lord. Why? For he is good.
[30:33] Why? For he is good. For he is good. For he is good. For he is good. He is good. When we are dancing, you have that in your mind. Oh, God is good.
[30:44] God is good. God is good. In his mercy, I have not buried a child. God is good. God is good. God is good. God is good. God is good. This whole year, I felt so sick.
[30:55] I thought something will happen. But look at me. Today I am able to dance. Why won't I use my energy to dance? Use your strength to praise him. Use your strength to praise him.
[31:07] Number four. The reason why we should praise him is the highest expression of thanks. The more thankful you are, the more praiseful you become.
[31:19] When they came out of the Red Sea, the Bible said they took a timber and they started singing. I will sing unto the Lord. Exodus chapter 15. For he has triumphed gloriously. The horse and the rider is thrown into the sea.
[31:31] The God, my God, has become my victory. He is my Father's God. He said, and Miriam answered them, sing to the Lord. For he has triumphed gloriously. The horse and the rider is thrown into the sea.
[31:43] And he says that, I think he said, the one I'm looking for is the verse 1, 2, 3. But he said, there was the, the God is my God. My Father's God. I will exalt him. He has become my victory.
[31:55] He is my God. I will sing unto the Lord. For he has triumphed gloriously. The horse and his rider is thrown into the sea. Verse 2, please. The Lord is my strength and my song. He has become my salvation.
[32:07] He is my God. I will praise him. He is my Father's God. I will exalt him. God, I will shout out my higher. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! We praise him because it's an expression, the highest expression of thanks.
[32:24] And number 5, we praise him for his works. When you look at the things God is doing, his works alone, come and show, wow! Wow!
[32:35] I, God is about to wow somebody. Yeah! Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. He's about to wow. You see, the reason why a lot of people lack testimonies in their life is not because they are not praying.
[32:48] Because they are not praising. I'm telling you. Yes. Try the praise roots and see if you will see the fearful acts of God.
[33:00] Try it and see. I know sometimes your heart is sad. So, Pastor, when things are bad, my heart is sad. I would like to praise him, but I'm broken.
[33:12] How can I praise him? David said to his soul, why are thou disquieted within me, my soul? Why, why are you sad inside me?
[33:23] Sometimes you have to address your soul. Call your soul, get a chair, put your soul on the chair. And say, let's have a meeting. So, why are you so down? Why are you so down?
[33:34] He said that, why are thou cast down all my soul? Why are thou disquieted within me? Hope in God! For I shall yet praise him! You won't stop me from praising God.
[33:46] I will praise him! Yes! I will praise him! Yes! It doesn't matter what is going on. I will yet praise him! Hallelujah! In Habakkuk chapter 3, it says, Though the fig tree will not blossom.
[33:58] Verse 17. Habakkuk chapter 3 verse 17. Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines. Though the labor of the olive may fail, the fields yield no food.
[34:10] Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no head in the stall. Yes! Yes! Yes! I will rejoice! I will rejoice in the Lord!
[34:23] I will joy in the God of my salvation. Hallelujah! Now, how do you praise? Quickly, number one, with a heart of gratitude.
[34:34] When you are praising God, be thankful as you praise God. Number two, with various expressions, physical expressions. That's how you praise God.
[34:45] Various physical expressions. So, what are some of the physical expressions we can deploy in praising God? Like dancing. We read the foundational scripture, Psalm 150.
[34:57] It said, praising with the dance. Praising with the dance. No one has the right to say, I don't know how to dance. Even animals can dance.
[35:08] Yes. Dancing has, doesn't have to be in tune with the beat. You can just do your own thing.
[35:20] You can just do your own thing. You can just do your own thing. You don't need the beats. You can just do a, let some have the groove. Let some have the groove. You don't have to have the groove. You can still do it. That's right. Because it's an expression. An expression.
[35:31] Which is born from the heart. So, expressions like dancing. Psalm 100 verse 1, it says that, make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye land. You see, Psalm 47 verse 1, it says, clap your hands all ye people and shout unto God.
[35:51] So, watch this. Shouting is also one of the expressions of praise. Yeah. In the Hebrew, the Hebrew word is shabak. Shabak. Shabak. One of the expressions of praise.
[36:03] So, dancing is an expression of praise. Shouting is a physical expression of praise. And then singing. In Exodus chapter 15, we saw Miriam and Moses, when they came out, they sang verse 1.
[36:15] They started to sing praises. So, then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord. So, when he said, I will sing unto the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously.
[36:27] The horse and the rider is towing Israel. They were actually praising him. They are singing. The Bible says, we just read Psalm 150. It says, praise him with a song. Praise him with a song.
[36:39] So, 150, it talks about, praise him with a timbrel and a dance. Praise him with a string instrument. Praise on the loud instrument. Praise him with a cymbal. Let everything that I have.
[36:50] Praise the Lord in the sanctuary. Praise him in the firmament of his power. And then, praise him for his acts. Praise the excellence in his excellence. There is talk about the musical instruments. So, you can praise God in singing.
[37:02] The Bible says that they appointed 2 Chronicles chapter 20, from verse 20 downwards. And then, the Spirit of the Lord from verse 15 came upon Jehaziel and he prophesied and he said, Fear not Israel.
[37:17] The battle is not yours, but the Lord's. Verse 15. The battle is not yours. He said, tomorrow, go down to the valley of Tekoa, for God will deliver them in your hands. And the Bible says that when they had appointed singers.
[37:30] Yes. When they had appointed singers. So, afterwards, they appointed from verse 19 and verse 20. When they had consulted with the people, they appointed those who, watch this, those who should sing to the Lord.
[37:45] Who should praise the beauty of his holiness. As they went out before the army and were saying. So, the army was led by singers. Amen.
[37:56] Is it not a mystery? Is it rather the other way around that singers should be led by the army? Yes. For security reasons, yeah. And then this time you are going to war. And you are being led by singers.
[38:09] No. Let the army, let those who have the weapons, who are trained to fight, lead. And then when they clear, then you sing and come. But no. God said, do it the other way around. If you want me to be engaged, do it the other way around.
[38:20] So, the singers went ahead of the army. And they were singing and saying that, praise the Lord for his message. And that's how they were singing. Praise the Lord.
[38:32] Praise the Lord. And as they went, their story was a different story altogether. Amen. So, you praise God with singing. You praise God with rejoicing. Rejoicing.
[38:43] So, that's why most of our services must be characterized with some excitement and joy. Not excitement about music per se. But excitement about God.
[38:54] Who is the object? Who is the title? Who is the focus of our singing? Yes. That's this excitement. That should be. So, you praise God in rejoicing. In jubilating.
[39:05] The Hebrew word for that kind of praise is Hallel. You are making your boast in jubilating. That's what David did in 2 Samuel chapter 6. When the ark of the covenant was coming to Jerusalem.
[39:17] The Bible said David danced with all his might. That was how he was praising God. He danced with all his might. So, one of the expressions of praise is to rejoice, jubilate. Psalm 100 verse 2 and 3 says that, Serve the Lord with hope.
[39:31] I can't hear you. Serve the Lord with hope. Come before his presence with singing. Verse 3. Know that the Lord. That the Lord.
[39:42] He is God. It is he who has made us and not we ourselves. We are the people of, we are the people and the sheep of his pasture. You have to know this and come before him with rejoicing.
[39:55] So, one of the physical expressions of praise is, as I said, dancing, shouting, singing, rejoicing, kneeling. Sometimes you can kneel the posture, different postures you can employ.
[40:07] And then, let me add this quickly. Raising of hands. He said, I love to stand and rejoice. Lift my hands and raise my voice. You raise your hands. The Bible said they lifted their hands and they began to praise God.
[40:19] So, lifting of hands is also an expression of praise. Sometimes, maybe you have a problem with your waist or with your leg. And it's really, you can't even stand up, but your hands can go up.
[40:30] Your hands can go up. So, we all don't have to do the same thing. You can use any of them, but me, I like using all of it. I'm dancing, I'm raising my hand, I'm making all of it.
[40:42] Hallelujah! So, now, how do you praise God with the heart of gratitude, with the various expressions? Number three, making music unto his name.
[40:53] I've spoken about that briefly. So, singing and making music can be an aspect, an expression of praising God. Number four, declaring the big God theology.
[41:04] So, we are, I serve a very big God, even the devil. You are, how great is our God. Sing with me, how great. You are declaring the big God theology.
[41:16] Sometimes, it's good to sing our theology. Not sometimes, always. Sing our theology. Sing what we believe about God. Let's sing it! How big it is!
[41:27] How good it is! How merciful it is! How forgiving it is! How loving it is! Sing it! Hallelujah! So, we sing praises by declaring the big God theology.
[41:42] Last two, when you sing praises, you, if you want, sometimes, how about when your feelings are low? You have to override your feelings.
[41:53] And praise Him. Because, it's not necessarily feeling seated. It's gratitude seated. Heart that is saturated with gratitude. So, even though you feel down, there's always a reason to praise God.
[42:07] So, you switch on to your reason, not your feeling. Else, a lot of the time, you won't praise God. Especially when the weather changes. And then finally, finally, last two, how do you praise God in the congregation?
[42:25] Try, I like that one. Take advantage of the... Psalm 35, verse 18. Psalm 109, verse 30. And then, Psalm 111, verse 1.
[42:37] That's easy to remember then. I like that one. I like the ones that are easy to remember. Psalm 111, verse what? 1. Let's look at that. And then, Psalm 111, verse 1.
[42:48] What does it say? Let's go! Let's read it out! Let's go! Praise Him, Lord! I'll praise the Lord with my whole heart in the assembly of the upright in the congregation.
[43:00] Hallelujah! I'll praise the Lord with my whole heart. It's from your heart. It's deep from inside. That's the next point. The next point is praise Him wholeheartedly.
[43:11] Not half-heartedly. Amen. So, five points on how to praise. Number one, with gratitude. Number two, with various physical expressions.
[43:24] Number three, making music unto the Lord. Number four, declaring the big God theology. Number five, overriding your feelings where need be. Number six, in the congregation of the saints.
[43:38] And number seven, wholeheartedly. How many of you believe your God is big? This is the last day of the year. It is asking for big God theology.
[43:53] Ascribing glory to God. We are going to rise up and just for a few moments, for about five minutes, as I said, we are going to dance.
[44:04] Please, don't let anybody intimidate you. Be like David. David's wife, who was a princess, looked at David and despised David. But David said, watch this. David said, I'll even do more.
[44:17] I'll even do more. It's about time. Listen. It's about time. You forget about your dignity. When it comes to praising God.
[44:29] I'm not saying that disrespect yourself, but give God so much that you really don't care what anyone. How can you dance like that? I'm dancing before God.
[44:40] How can you be shouting like that? I'm shouting unto God. How can we be singing so loud? When you go to a party, do you ask someone, how are you dancing like that? A genuine Christian shouldn't struggle to give God praise.
[44:54] In the midst, as I said the other time, there's a dimension of praise that can never be given, except in the context of a congregation. You always need a congregation.
[45:05] You can do it privately. But then, besides the private praise, there is another praise that can only happen in the congregation. Another dimension of praise. And when we come together, that's why there must be always opportunity to praise God.
[45:19] And this morning, boy, we're going to give him some praise. Is somebody grateful here? Is somebody grateful here? Thank you for listening to this message by David Entry.
[45:30] We pray you have been strengthened and enlightened. You can connect with David Entry on all relevant social media platforms, including Instagram and LinkedIn. You can also hear many more messages from David Entry on all relevant streaming platforms and the Carous Church app.
[45:45] Don't forget to like and share the message. Be blessed.