April 15, 2007am     Praise the LORD      Psalm 150

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

Alexander Whyte, the Scottish preacher, always began his prayers with an expression of gratitude. One cold, miserable day his people wondered what he would say. He prayed, "We thank Thee, O Lord, that it is not always like this." From the Bible Illustrator: 

 Psalm 150

^1 Praise the Lord . ^a

Praise God in his sanctuary;

praise him in his mighty heavens.

^2 Praise him for his acts of power;

praise him for his surpassing greatness.

^3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,

praise him with the harp and lyre,

^4 praise him with tambourine and dancing,

praise him with the strings and flute,

^5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,

praise him with resounding cymbals.

^6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord .

Praise the Lord . ^[1]

I.  What is Praise?

1. An Expression of admiration.  What do you admire?
2. Worship.  What do you worship?
3. Commend.  Who do you commend?
4. Extol.  Who do you extol?
5. Honor.  What or who do you honor?
6. Pay Tribute to.  Who do you pay tribute to? 
7. Applaud.  Who do you applaud? 

II.  Where do you praise the Lord?  The psalmist praises the Lord in the sanctuary and in His mighty heavens.  Wherever you are you can praise the Lord.  Praise when you get up and when you lay down.  Praise him when you go to work, while you are there, and when you get home.  Praise him when you are and where you are.  He is worthy.  Will we praise the Lord? 

III.  Why do you praise the Lord?  ^2 Praise him for his acts of power;  praise him for his surpassing greatness.   Why do you Praise the Lord?  Why don’t you praise the Lord?

Praise Him because He is.  Praise Him because He is love.  Praise Him because He loves you.  Praise Him because He died for you.  Praise Him because He rose from the dead.  Praise Him because He gives you hope.  Praise Him because He gives you purpose.  Praise Him because He is worthy of praise.  Praise Him because He is the one and only true God.  Praise Him because you can and because you want to.  Praise the Lord!  Praise Him because He has saved you.  Praise Him because He redeemed you.  Praise Him because He died in your place.  Praise Him because since He died you don’t have to.  Praise Him because He continues to live in you, through you, and for you. 

IV.  How do you praise the Lord?

1.      You give Him your love.

2.      You give Him your all

3.      You praise Him with your song.

4.      You praise Him with your musical instruments.

5.      You praise Him with your dance.

6.      You praise Him with you. 

V.  Who should Praise the Lord?  V. 6 says that everything that has breath.  What about you?  Will you and do you? 

“Praise Him … Here We Go!”

A little five-year-old girl had been attending the church kindergarten. Each day before the children were dismissed, the teacher had them sing the Doxology, which the little five-year-old loved to sing, but in her own words. “Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures, here we go!”—Christian Parent^[2]

Value Of A Hymn

“You gave the Lord two hundred dollars this morning,” said a servant of God to an aged brother who had never had much of this world’s goods. “What do you mean?” asked the aged Christian. “I don’t have it to give.” “I heard you singing,” replied the preacher, “I counted five hymns of praise to the Lord. The psalmist said that a song of praise would please the Lord more than an ox. A cow would be worth at least forty dollars. So you have given the Lord two hundred dollars” ( Psalm 69:30–31 ). —Choice Gleanings^[3]