“Peace reigns where gratitude is practiced.” “Gratitude is more than an expression, it’s a posture.”
“Praise is the outward expression of an inward posture of gratitude.”
Colossians 3:15–16 (NIV) 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Acts 16:16–26 (NIV) 16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment, the spirit left her. 19 When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once, all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.
“Praise is stronger than protest.”
“A Christian may find more true joy in a prison than the monarch on his throne.” -Albert Barnes
The Spirit of Praise 1. Praise brings us in- Praise Engages us. Psalm 100:4(NIV) Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
“Praise is not hype — it is holy engagement.”
2. Praise brings Him in-Praise engages Him. Psalm 22:3 (NKJV)You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.
“When we set our Attention, Affection, and our Appreciation on Jesus, it sets us at an Advantage.”
“Enthroning Jesus engages dominion.” Psalm 24:3-8 (NIV) 3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. 5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. Selah 7 Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
“When the gates are lifted, our King doesn’t come quietly; He comes mightily.”
“Praise Proceeds Victory”
3. We put praise on Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV) 1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
Wearing the Garment of Praise: “Heaviness breaks when we put praise on.”
1. Show up Psalm 122:1 (NLT) I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
2. Lift up
3. Open up Hebrews 13:15 (NIV) Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.
“If you want peace in your heart, put praise on your lips.”
