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C:\LESSON\PRAISE\FPRAISE2.DOC 21.07.91 A NEW DIMENSION WHEN PRAISING PART 1 THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 2 Psalms 100:1 to 5 read This is a very exciting piece of scripture -- for when God and man came together in praise to God -- there is always an explosion of Holy joy --- not only does man like this -- God also likes it and he will also join in --- You go through your Concordance on the word Zion and remember as I said last week -- it is short hand for all this --- Psalms 87:2 and 3 says -- The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob -- glorious things are spoken of thee -- O city of God --- He is saying -- God loves -- this city of God -- this city of Zion -- God loves this fellowship with man -- God loves this interaction -- and as David danced God danced with him -- God loved it -- As David claps his hands -- God says I clap with you I love doing it --- I love the gates of Zion Psalms 132: 13 says -- for the Lord has chosen Zion -- he has desired it for his habitation --- God is saying --- if you want to know --- where my habitation is where my dwelling place is you will find it in the midst of people who praise and acknowledge that I am living in their presence -- THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 2 Psalms 9:11 -- speaks of Gods dwelling place It says -- sing praises to the Lord who dwells in Zion -- Isiah 8:18 says --- from the Lord of hosts who dwells in Mount Zion --- Zechariah 2:10 says --- sing and rejoice O daughter of Zion for lo I come -- and I will dwell in the midst of thee --- Psalms 48:2 says --- beautiful for situation --- This is not a description by real terms -- What he is saying --- this beautiful situation -- is Mount Zion --- it is the joy of the whole earth --- He is saying --- if you will know what true joy is -- the nature of everlasting joy -- Then see what is happening in Zion--see this Holy celebration of praise -- this being together of God and man -- this is the most beautiful situation you will ever find yourself in --- This is just a few of what is there --- it goes on and on --- something had started in Zion that would never finish --- God says --- This is my plan -- this is the beauty THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 2 this is the glory this is what I am after this is where my dwelling is Solomon built the temple -- and in the building of the temple -- the tabernacle was dismounted -- and the temple took the place of the tabernacle -- and the ark was moved back into the inner part of the temple -- which now became the Holy of Holies -- and Zion was left as a memory -- The prophets never forgot it -- To them this is what is going to happen one day -- The temple will be gone -- it was something that was just passing -- the day was coming when God would bring to pass his true purpose -- That is God and man would come together in Holy fellowship -- God and man united God and man as one braded together -- never to be parted what a celabration to look forward to Amos 9:11 speaks of such a day -- He says --- In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David --- This is speaking of Zion -- It goes on to say --- It is fallen down -- the people have forgotten God -- all that this fellowship ever was is now only a dim memory --- The tabernacle of David has fallen -- the day is coming --- when the tabernacle- when Mount Zion shall be bulit again--- THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 2 In Ezekiel you have one of the most tragic pictures of the Old Testament -- where you have the glory of God that light of God's presences moves from the centre of the Holy of Holies -- to the court yard of the temple -- and there knocks on the door -- saying --- if anyone in there realises I have left -- come and follow me --- -- will someone acknowledge that I am leaving --- but no one saw -- and no one cared --- The last picture of Ezekiel -- is that the glory of God had moved to the mountain East of Jerusalem --- As if looking and saying --- no one has noticed no one cared the rituals were still going on the priests were still doing their thing No one had noticed that God had left The next time the glory of God returned to Jerusalem -- was when a baby was born there --- When the people went away into captivity and the temple was destroyed -- the Ark of God was lost -- and it was never found --- When the remnant came back and built the temple -- they had a room in the centre -- they called it the Holy of Holies --- the Ark was not there the glory was not there But still they played church --- because this was the thing to do -- so they went through all the rituals --- The glory was not there until Jesus came -- and all through those dead years -- the prophets spoke of their THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 2 hope -- that Zion would come again -- There would be a day when God and man would be united -- would celebrate in Holy Joy --- Jesus came to bring about a new covenant --- The Mount Sinai covenant is now old -- so we call it the Old Covenant or the Old Testament -- old meaning it is over -- it is finished --- The Old Covenant gave them the Ark and the glory of God Jesus comes saying --- I am going to give you a New Covenant and it is better than the Old Covenant --- When Jesus died -- the veil of the temple was torn -- the veil was the door way to the Holy of Holies -- so in the death of Jesus when the Old became old and a New is about to happen --- God says --- I tore it just to let you know that there is nothing in there -- it is empty -- the glory left long ago --- Then -- where is the glory -- where is the Ark -- the Ark is the person of Jesus -- everything that the box ever pointed to Jesus is it --- Where is the glory -- on the day of Pentecost - the glory came -- the glory came not to a physical temple but to the new temple of God -- and this was those who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as -- Saviour and Lord --- In Acts 15 --- James was trying to explain what was happening -- the Jews had trouble in understanding - so James turns his Bible to -- Amos 9 THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 2 Saying -- in Acts 15:16 --- I will return and build again the tabernacle of David -- this is Zion which is fallen down -- James is saying --- we with the Holy Spirit upon us and in us -- are the new Mount Zion -- we are what Amos was talking about --- Hebrews 12:22 says --- you believers have come to the true Mount Zion you have come to the true city of God you have come to the heavenly Jerusalem Under David they came to a physical Jerusalem -- and within that city of Jerusalem was the city of God -- Mount Zion --- Now we have come to the real thing -- We have come to a true relationship with God -- through the blood of Jesus -- We have come to the true glory of God -- who is the Holy Spirit -- we are now the appointed Levites -- to praise and to worship God --- In 1 Corinthians 3:16 --- Paul refers to all the believers in Corinth -- Saying --- Do you not know that you believers are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you --- The word temple here -- in the Greek is -- NAOS -- and it does not mean the whole temple --- Naos means the Holy of Holies --- Where is the Holy of Holies -- it is where the Ark of God is -- THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 2 At one time the Holy of Holies was in the tabernacle that Moses built --- Then it was in a farm house at Kir'jath Jearim Then it was in the house of Obededon Then it was on Mount Zion Then it was in Solomon's temple Now says Paul --- you believers are the Holy of Holies Right now you are in Mount Zion -- Everything that Zion was you are there right now -- This is the -- NAOS -- of God This is the Holy of Holies --- Ephesians 2:21 says --- In whom the whole building-- (here he is speaking of believers -- you a brick) -- In whom the whole building fitted together in growing into a Holy temple in the Lord --- temple here is Naos -- He is saying --- God is not bothering with the rest of the temple -- he is only building a Holy of Holies and you are that Holy of Holies -- and the glory of God is in the midst of you --- He also says -- You are built together in his dwelling place in the Spirit --- You are Mount Zion you are legally in Zion you can clap your hands unto God you can applaud him you can get excited about this The expression that we have in the Old and New Testament --- "Bless the Lord" THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 2 Could be better translated as give God an applause exalt God Be excited -- For we are in Zion -- For we are living in that -- intimate fellowship -- with the living God -- That fellowship that was given to us in Jesus' shed blood -- through this shed blood he is now made real to us by the Holy Spirit -- Now in the Old Testament -- the picture of Mount Zion when it comes to praising God was not an option -- this had to be -- that is why they appointed Levites -- Remember this is only an introduction to my message -- now we have only got to what we are going to talk about --- And that is praise in the Old Testament was not an option -- This is the key -- this is what we see as we look at churches that are exploding with the joy of the Lord -- They have come to see that praise is - NOT - an option praise is a necessity within Mount Zion What is praise --- We will look at this next week because there is a lot more than just saying praise the Lord --- But just for an introduction to vocal praise -- I acknowledge the living God -- I acknowledge that he is there -- One does not read as a philosopher and use praise words --- because philosophy is dead --- THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 2 My God is alive I live in him and he lives in me where he is I am where I am he is Then I will praise him continually Seeing this is continually my state of being then David says --- I will bless the Lord at all times --- His praise shall continually be in my mouth --- This is why the Levites were continually -- --- praising and giving thanks to God -- because they were acknowledging God -- Praise is -- considering who God is -- You will find praise scattered through the Psalms -- Who is like unto you O Lord among the gods When you look at other religions -- you will find there is no way of salvation -- From this you can Say -- Who is like unto you O Lord among the gods -- You cannot compare Christianity with other religions -- You can compare all other religions because they are all without hope -- You can compare their various levels of hopelessness -- But when I come to Christianity in its biblical form -- I can say -- Who is like unto you O Lord among the gods THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 2 Bring on all your philosophy Bring on all your idols Then have a look at my God Who is like unto you O Lord among the gods Praise is -- acknowledging how great God is Next week we will look at how we get the word -- HAL-LE-LU-JAH HAL-LE-LU -- loosely translated means praise JAH -- means -- the Lord So we have -- Praise the Lord HAL-LE-LU -- properly translated means -- to boast to rage over to get so excited that you are nearly out of your mind It is saying -- Rave over God go bananas over God go overboard over God Boast in God This is the meaning of HAL-LE-LU To praise the Lord -- is to boast in God It is to consider his attributes -- who is God When I see who he is -- I boast -- rave over him Praise is a necessity -- because it is an expression of faith -- In spite of what I see around me -- I make the decision to praise him -- although it looks as if my enemies have overcome me -- But I know these looks are not the facts for I know that -- THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 2 The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear the Lord is the defence of my life by whom then shall I be afraid Praise in this sense is affirming what looks to be the opposite -- is actually God in the positive -- Therefore if I am ever going to walk in faith -- I will praise him in ALL situations -- For the people who live in the Zion of the New Covenant -- are people of God who live in the Spirit -- to them praise is not an option -- it is the way faith is --- Praise takes us out of the fantasy world -- that is associated with religions --- Many people today live in a religious fantasy world -- the whole thing exists in their head somewhere -- They just imagine things about God -- They never seriously think that he is here -- and that he is liable to do something right now -- This is not their God -- he could not possibly do that - What they are really saying is --- My God is not here -- as a matter of fact I am not too sure as to where he is --- But when I praise a God who is really here -- I move out of this fantasy world - to an interaction with God himself -- I am opening up myself to the living God -- to a God who is really present -- and allowing him to do what he really wants to do -- in and through me -- Praise is the way this happens Praise is the gateway to interaction with the living God THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 2 Now we are seriously addressing a God who is really there - and we are allowing ourselves to have our emotions born again -- so that we may be properly excited - and holy with God -- We are Mount Zion -- and at the same time we are in Mount Zion -- No matter where you are -- you are there -- Wherever there are two or three gathered together in my name -- (my attributes) says Jesus -- there the glory of God is in the midst -- We are appointed to praise the Lord -- This is not just Saying -- Praise the Lord It is actually a lifestyle of praise -- Peter says -- We are called out of darkness -- into his glorious light - that we may show forth the praises of him who has called us This is not just praising the Lord with one or two words in a conversation -- It is a lifestyle In this act of praise -- we who are appointed we who have come to be the praises of God He says -- I dwell in the praises of my people God chooses Mount Zion -- this is the presence that we can feel in a church that truly praises the Lord -- How can this ever happen when a person -- or -- a church is trading off Mount Zion -- THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 2 For a tabernacle without the presence of God being there -- all that they can see and hear -- are the rituals and the hush of a Funeral Parlour -- How can this happen -- We cannot make it happen -- I am well sure that you realise this -- Which comes first -- Is it the presence of God that creates the praise -- or does the praise create the presence -- I think you will find that the presence creates the praise -- I cannot make God do anything by praising him long enough --- and loud enough It is the presence that creates the praise Once the praise is there -- the presence is understood and known -- Therefore all that I can do -- is to acknowledge my shallowness and the theory that I have -- To admit just how far I have got from living in Mount Zion -- I am to call upon the Holy Spirit -- for the Holy Spirit is the one who brings forth the praise -- and in the praise is the presence of the Spirit --- Ephesians 5:18 says -- Be filled with the Spirit Let the presence come first -- Speaking to one another in Psalms -- and Hymns -- and spiritual songs -- and making melody in your heart to the Lord -- always giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ So first the presence then the praise -- and because of the praise the presence is made manifest --- AMEN.