<FONT size="4"><FONT COLOR="purple">Kind of an odd expression, don’t you think? I think it is really appropriate for this weeks study. God is the author of order, heck He invented the math that rules the world that we live in. So what, you may ask, is God’s order for our lives? What was the single solitary purpose for creating all of this, the universe, everything. God created all of this to be a testament to His glory and mercy. He created all of this to praise Him! That is the one thing that almost all of us, and even more men than women, struggle with. In this modern live by your accomplishments world we often forget that God is first and not us. Men are even more susceptible to placing themselves first. We are ego-centered creations, in other words we live and die by our achievements. (hence our inability to admit faults) It is a huge internal struggle that we must master with God’s help in order to get our life in the right perspective. God gave us, men and women, a way to get into the proper place in the order of things, ie. underneath God. God would have us praise Him. In order to praise, you must believe that the object of your praise is greater than yourself, and through praise you honor Him (God) and you reinforce in yourself that HE is greater than we. Praise is a real submissive heart condition. We must lay down our egos, our pride, and our selfish wants and desires.</FONT c>

The Word:
1Timothy 2:8 I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.

<FONT COLOR="purple">Ouch, that is hard to do if you have not laid down that baggage you have been carrying. That is why God would have us lift our hands. You can’t lift your hands to heaven in surrender if they are full of the stuff of this world. Just who is supposed to praise God? What does God say about it?</FONT c>

The Word:
Psalm 148:1 Praise the LORD.* Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the heights above.
[2] Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
[3] Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars.
[4] Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.
[5] Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created.
[6] He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away.
[7] Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
[8] lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding,
[9] you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars,
[10] wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds,
[11] kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth,
[12] young men and maidens, old men and children.
[13] Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
[14] He has raised up for his people a horn,* the praise of all his saints, of Israel, the people close to his heart.
Praise the LORD.

<FONT COLOR="purple">Look at that will you! Everything in creation is supposed to praise the Lord! Do you know that if you are not praising God then you are being beat out by fish and rocks and the wind? I would hate to get to heaven only to find out that a rock offered more praise to God than I did during my life, and rocks can’t talk! How does our praise sound? We want to please our God but what does the Bible say it is supposed to sound like?</FONT c>

The Word:
Psalm 33:3 <FONT COLOR="blue">Sing</FONT c> to him a new song; play skillfully, and <FONT COLOR="blue">shout</FONT c> for joy.

Psalm 35:27 May those who delight in my vindication <FONT COLOR="blue">shout</FONT c> for joy and gladness; may they always say, "The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant."

Psalm 47:1 Clap your hands, all you nations; <FONT COLOR="blue">shout</FONT c> to God with cries of joy.

Psalm 66:1 <FONT COLOR="blue">Shout</FONT c> with joy to God, all the earth!

Psalm 71:23 My lips will <FONT COLOR="blue">shout</FONT c> for joy when I <FONT COLOR="blue">sing</FONT c> praise to you--I, whom you have redeemed.

Psalm 81:1 <FONT COLOR="blue">Sing</FONT c> for joy to God our strength; <FONT COLOR="blue">shout</FONT c> aloud to the God of Jacob!

Psalm 98:4 <FONT COLOR="blue">Shout</FONT c> for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;

Psalm 100:1 <FONT COLOR="blue">Shout</FONT c> for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

Isaiah 12:6 <FONT COLOR="blue">Shout</FONT c> aloud and <FONT COLOR="blue">sing</FONT c> for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you."

Isaiah 24:14 They raise their voices, they <FONT COLOR="blue">shout</FONT c> for joy; from the west they acclaim the LORD's majesty.

Zechariah 2:10 "<FONT COLOR="blue">Shout</FONT c> and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you," declares the LORD.

<FONT COLOR="purple">God has done a great work in all of our lives even just by creating us, let alone that we are saved by grace! It is more than appropriate that we give God the glory, simply because He is God, and even more for the things He has done in our lives. We have all seen and most of us have been to some type of sporting event where the home team got cheered on. Yet in contrast most of us sit in palpable silence in our churches while there are a select few singing Gods praises, praises that God would have us sing! Many feel that they cannot sing well. Do not be embarrassed, just sing! I have been told that I sing rather well….. in a crowd! (think about it) Why was David so successful with God and had so much favor with God yet our own lives are filled with calamities. David was a “praiser” even when he was at his lowest and freshly rebuked from God he got up and worshipped God! (2 Sam 12:15-20) I encourage you brethren don’t let another day go by that you are out-praised by a box of rocks!</FONT c>

<FONT COLOR="red">Pray with me: Father help me learn to praise you. I need you to help me overcome the wrong ways that I have learned over the years. Let me be as excited for you as your anointed servant David. Father give me the strength to put down my baggage so I can lift my hands in surrender. Lord I want to get loud for you! I want people to know you are first in my life and you are my God. Help me, Father, to put down my silly pride and heal my embarrassment of being seen worshipping you. Let me be the spark in my too quiet church, Let me set them on fire to praise your name. I thank you Father, in the name of your son, the Christ! Amen!</FONT c></FONT s>


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<FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial">This message has been edited by SLattier on 03-12-2001 at 11:55 PM</font>

That is correct, THAT IS CORRECT!!!
Sheeeeesh...I been watchin too many commercials lately.

Anyway, RIGHT ON!!! I have the sudden overwhelming urge to sing and shout...maybe even !!!

Last night was the first night in months that I felt true freedom in worship, and God is so awesome.

If you ask a basketball fan why Michael J. gets paid big bucks, you would get an answer having to do with the fact that he is a great player. If you ask a music fan why the Beetles are so well known worldwide, you would get a quick response: They are talleneted musicians. If you ask movie fans why Marylin Monroe is still adored, I don't think it would have too much to do with acting, but she was good at what she did...whatever she did.
All of these people have one thing in common: They surpassed by far the average standard in their fields.
So if you ask a Christian why do you worship God...why is it that sometimes they stumble for an answer? Shouldn't the response to a move of God be just as enthusiastic as if you were in a football stadium when your favorite player scored? Shouldn't you "tune in" to God as faithfully as we tune in to see our favorite show? Shouldn't we enjoy hearing from God more than we enjoy listening to our favorite song???
True...he doesn't exceed the standards set by His peers. He stands in a class all by Himself.

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Michelle