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1992-10-30
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Sacrifice of Praise
There is a difference between Praise and the Sacrifice of Praise.
PRAISE is something that comes easily and spontaneously, when God
has answered a prayer or blessed us. When we have positive
feelings and can sense His presence - then praise comes easily.
THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE is when we don't feel like praising the
Lord. There are no answers to prayer, no positive feelings,
everything seems to be going wrong, yet we offer the sacrifice of
praise. Praise becomes a sacrifice, acceptable unto God.
ROYAL PRIESTHOOD TO OFFER SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES.
Ye are .... an Holy Priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. 2:5.
As a royal Priesthood we become our own priests and offer our own
sacrifices, Jesus followed this pattern. He was the High Priest,
as well as the lamb of God, sacrificed on the altar.
A. THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE.
By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of Praise to God
continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks
unto His Name. Heb. 13:15.
A blessing is something which you receive when you come into
the House of God, but the "sacrifice" of Praise is something
you bring with you, which you offer to God, not on the basis
of your feelings, or circumstances, but on the basis of our
revelation of God, His greatness and our desire to please
and obey Him.
1. ORDER YOURSELF TO PRAISE AND PREPARE A WAY FOR GOD.
Whoso offereth (sacrifices) praise ... and to him that
ordereth his conversation aright (orders himself to
praise the Lord) will I show the salvation of God
(prepareth a way whereby I may show forth My victory).
Psa. 50:23.
If we want victory in adverse circumstances, make a way
for God to bring it by offering the sacrifice of praise.
2. GATES OF PRAISE ALWAYS OPEN.
To be opened continually, never to be shut day or night.
Isa. 60:11. Thou shalt call thy gates PRAISE. Isa.
60:18. When we are experiencing night (spiritual
darkness), keep the gates of praise open that a way may
be prepared for God to show forth His victory.
3. TO BE OFFERED IN CHURCH.
Bring the sacrifice of praise into the House of the
Lord. Jer. 17:27; 33:11.
Determine before you attend the service that you will
bring an offering of Praise even though you have no
feelings and everything is going wrong.
4. FREELY OFFERED,
I will freely sacrifice unto thee, I will praise thy
name. Psa. 54:6
The more abundantly and freely we sacrifice praise, the
more abundant will His touch be upon our lives. God
loves a cheerful giver.
5. PAUL AND SILAS SACRIFICED PRAISE in prison - hands and
feet bound. They had nothing to praise God for. They
suffered unto bonds, yet the Word was not bound.
2 Tim.2:9.
The message of the sacrifice of praise in their heart
was NOT BOUND. As they put it into operation praise
created an atmosphere for God to come down and deliver.
B. THE SACRIFICE OF THANKSGIVING.
1. Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving.
Psa. 107:22. It's easy to be thankful for the good
things and God's blessings, but to give God the
sacrifice of thanksgiving is to give thanks for
everything, Eph. 5:20, even in adverse circumstances.
Realizing that all things work together for good. All
things are of God. Give thanks in all things.
2. Thanksgiving with leaven.....leavened bread with the
sacrifice of thanksgiving. Lev. 7:13. Leaven speaks of
sin, shortcomings, imperfections.
Though we recognise our shortcomings and imperfections,
we are nevertheless, to offer the sacrifice of
thanksgiving believing that Praise is a refiner and
purifier. Proverbs 27:21.
1. Thanksgiving before the answer comes - I will offer to
Him the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and call upon the
name of the Lord. Psa. 116:17. Many are discouraged and
robbed of faith because they haven't learnt to offer
praise before seeing results.
4. Jonah sacrifices thanksgiving. Jonah had no reason to
be thankful. Look at his circumstances.
Weeds wrapped around his head, darkness, wet, smelly,
hot, belly of hell. Waters covered him even to his soul
(emotions, feelings). He tried everything to get out,
repented, cried to God, but when he offered sacrifices
of thanksgiving IMMEDIATELY, the fish becomes ill. A
thankful prophet became too much for the fish. He was
delivered.
C. THE SACRIFICE OF JOY.
1. Therefore will I offer in His tabernacle (of David),
sacrifices of joy. Psa. 27:6.
There is a difference between the joy of the Lord and a
joyful exuberance in the natural. Some people are
naturally happy and outgoing in nature, and there is no
sacrifice involved in this. Most however, are not of
this disposition, and it is difficult to enter into the
aspect of praise which involves the expression of joy.
This becomes a sacrifice, and as a priesthood we must
offer God this expression also.
We must learn to rejoice in God and find Him to be our
joy even when circumstances are at their worst and when
we would never in the natural, find anything in which to
rejoice. The reward of the faithful steward is "the joy
of the Lord".
2. Example. Although the fig tree shall not blossom, no
fruit in the vines, the olive shall fail, flocks cut
off, no herd in the stable, YET I WILL REJOICE IN THE
LORD ... Hab. 3:17-18.
In spite of unfruitfulness, drought conditions etc., we
can still JOY IN HIM.
THE END