December 31, 2006am   What or Who is number one?  Psalm 148

By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

New Year’s Day starts a new beginning.  Start at the Beginning.  Start off with the right foot.  What is number one?  Who or what should come first?  Who is He to you?  Why is God number one to you?  Who do we praise?

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 . ^[1]

1.  What is praise?  Who do we Admire, commend, extol, honor, congratulate, pay tribute to, and applaud?  To whom do we give the glory?  Who is number one to you?

2.      Why do we praise God?  He is number one.  He is the one and only.  V. 5 …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.

3.  Who Should Praise the Lord?  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. 

^13 Let them praise the name of the Lord , for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. Let all of creation praise the Lord. 

4.  Remember what He has done:  ^14 He has raised up for his people a horn, ^b the praise of all his saints, of Israel , the people close to his heart.  He gave us Jesus.

5.  How do we praise Him? 

            a.  We acknowledge His existence. He is the one true living God. 

            b.  We recognize His preeminence in our world.  He is number one.

            c.  We accept his invitation.  He invites us to be his children. 

            d.  We worship Him by following his will for our lives and become obedient.

            e.  We sing His songs, We live by his law of love, and We believe in Him.

            f.  We give ourselves to him by giving our time, talents, and treasures.