INTRO: The Praise of His Saints. What does that actually mean? Is it music, prayer, acknowledging of God’s Works and Wonders, or is Praise revealed as something that aids and even guides our conversion?
A very large failing in human beings is the drive to focus on the “self” and the “urgency of the here and now”. We need to “BE”, as is God in “BEING”. So we seek to achieve, be accepted, valued, and even self-valued, while we work on our latest problems, or enjoyments, or self-valuing projects. We have a sense of purpose and eternity, but we dilute the reality of all that in favor of “self in the urgency of the here and now”.
Proverbs 14:27 (NKJV) 27 The fear [moral reverence] of the LORD is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.
Benefit Statement: As we allow God to reveal what the Praise of the Saints is …let’s open ourselves to the simple Biblically based concept that we relate to God primarily not by thinking less of ourselves (as in incomplete repentance), but by thinking of ourselves less. All this process given by God is not about being crushed by God (unless that’s how He reaches us), but more about “SEEING” God as Job did.
SPS: There is a balance to the converting relationship between God and His People while they grow in His Grace and His Knowledge and His Righteousness …that balance in repentance and conversion is achieved through “The Praise of The Saints – That Our Eyes May be Opened”
BODY: Since the reality of all existence is that God is Supreme …let’s see how that affects us.
- Praise is FOR and God in His Designed Purpose for All
Even Jesus Christ Who lived a perfect morally balanced sinless life could not be good or perform God-Like things by Himself as a human. Remarkable, so think of ourselves as being good or performing perfect judgement. He could not do that by Himself.
John 8:28-29 (NKJV) 28 Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him." John 8:54 (NKJV) 54 Jesus answered, "If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.
((((John 5:30 (NKJV) 30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
((((Psalm 107:13-15 (NKJV) 13 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. 14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And broke their chains in pieces. 15 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
After committing murder of his loyal leader due to adultery with that man’s wife, David’s repentance from his ignorant sin is described by him as not against Uriah or Bathsheba or his child, but against God. That must be inaccurate.
Yet God wants us to see something is this “repentance” Psalm that we may miss when we think less of ourselves and not think of ourselves less. (This is valuing God as able and Superior to David).
Psalm 51:1-4 (NKJV) 1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight-- That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.
The words used for “Praise” in the Old and New Testaments refer to recognizing in action or thought or both …the Superior. We can say this is condensed to mean Praise – “To Set A Value On” as in “to Appraise”. This is a conscious mental process that leads to action recognizing the Superior.
Psalm 51:10-13 (NKJV) 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.
Praise and Sincere change of heart are in balance when we think of ourselves less and MORE of God …Who has been, IS, and Will BE …Superior as our Creator, Sustainer, Savior, and Teacher of Good for God’s Purpose in us!
(((1 Timothy 2:3-5 (NKJV) 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
(((Revelation 21:7 (NKJV) 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
(((Ephesians 3:14-16 (NKJV) 14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
1 John 3:1-3 (NKJV) 1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
- God Is Above All that is Above Us – Actively React to This Eternal Truth
He is over our enemies, Fears, Trials, Inabilities, Insecurities, Faults, Failures, Vanities, Sins, Life, even Death. God tells us what HE thinks and does with what is REALLY going on. He lets us in on how to do it WITH Him and His People through the ages.
John 16:33 (NKJV) 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
John 17:1-2 (NKJV) 1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.
John 17:20-23 (NKJV) 20 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
Valuing of ANYTHING before God is dilution of proper Valuing of God and His Purpose. This is not allowed in God’s Family. So sin IS either not valuing God, or diluting His Value. This leads to exclusion from God’s Family.
Matthew 19:20-22 (NKJV) 20 The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Revelation 12:9-11 (NKJV) 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
So, what are we to be aware of when acknowledging God IN praise of His Superiority to US?
Romans 2:4 (NKJV) 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance [THAT’S a miracle from outside our abilities]?
Acts 5:31 (NKJV) 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, [in order] to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins [another miracle possible through recognition of the Superior].
Valuing God’s Plan as Superior allows revelation of His Design. Praise allows us to “see” God Work.
(((Acts 11:17-18 (NKJV) 17 If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?" 18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life."
(((2 Timothy 2:24-26 (NKJV) 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
Praise is setting a Value on the Superior, and with God …that IS Truth of what IS happening!
In the God given process of conversion to His Way, God tells us He is Superior, and what to do …
Luke 9:23-26 (NKJV) 23 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.
- ALL Things Created Already testify to God’s Creation – Creation Already Praises God
Nehemiah 9:5-6 (NKJV) 5 And the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said: "Stand up and bless the LORD your God Forever and ever! "Blessed be Your glorious name, Which is exalted above all blessing and praise! 6 You alone are the LORD; You have made heaven, The heaven of heavens, with all their host, The earth and everything on it, The seas and all that is in them, And You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You.
Mary’s Outburst prayer to God is well-versed in the Hebrew scriptures. “Magnificat of Mary”
Quoting: 1 Sam 2.1; Ps 34.2; Ps 35.9; Hab 3.18; Ps 138.6; Ps 111.9; Ps 103.17; Ps 98.1; Job 5.11; Ps 107.9; Gen 17.7; Ps 132.11.
Luke 1:46-55 46 And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. 49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. 50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever." 56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.
CONCLUSION: May our eyes be opened to God as Superior in our every thought, deed and prayer …Praise allows us conversion.
Hebrews 13:15 (NKJV) 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
- Praise is FOR and God in His Designed Purpose for All
- God Is Above All that is Above Us – Actively React to This Eternal Truth
- ALL Things Created Already testify to God’s Creation – Creation Already Praises God
CLOSE: Biblically when God speaks of “horns” it means the strength of something …
Psalm 148:1-13 (NKJV) 1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights! 2 Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! 3 Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light! 4 Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, And you waters above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, For He commanded and they were created. 6 He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away. 7 Praise the LORD from the earth, You great sea creatures and all the depths; 8 Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word; 9 Mountains and all hills; Fruitful trees and all cedars; 10 Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and flying fowl; 11 Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth; 12 Both young men and maidens; Old men and children. 13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, For His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven. 14 And He has exalted the horn of His people, The praise of all His saints-- Of the children of Israel, A people near to Him. Praise the LORD!
