Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done - and the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, debt, fear, hatred, anger, unforgiveness, bitterness, pornography, etc.), whatever it is, you need to know that God saw the whole thing. He has seen our whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that your are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you. The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness, He not only forgives you, but He forgets.
Remember that is is by God's Grace and Mercy that we are saved.
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Monday, February 24, 2014
Saturday, February 22, 2014
WORSHIP
So, I believe that we have established that Praise is different from Worship. They are two different things. Praise is something we do as an outward expression. Worship is something that goes on in our hearts and is not necessarily displayed outwardly. However, it can be, through the expression of words, song, bowing down, etc...that lead us into His presence. To quote David Wilkerson again, "...worship cannot be learned! It is a spontaneous outbreak, the act of a heart overwhelmed by a revelation of God's glory and His incredible love."
I'm going to wind up this posting on Praise and Worship. However, I know that this will be an ongoing series of revelation in my life. I'm going to share some thoughts and quotes here and believe that the Lord will confirm the revelation in your heart as He has in mine.
I am of the opinion that we should separate the phrase Praise and Worship from any musical connotation. While music is an awesome gift from God and a wonderful way to express our love for Him, Praise and Worship are not musical terms.
Pastor Jack Hayford, shared how the song, "Majesty" came into being. I copied this from his site, www.jackhayford.org. "So powerfully did the sense of Christ Jesus royalty, dignity, and majesty fill my heart; I seemed to feel something new of what it meant to be His! The accomplished triumph of His Cross has not only unlocked us from the chains of our own bondage and restored us to fellowship with the Father, but He has unfolded to us a life of authority over sin and hell and raised us to partnership with Him in His Throne - now! He is fully worthy. "Majesty" is also a statement of the fact that our worship, when begotten in spirit and in truth, can align us with His Throne in such a way that His Kingdom and authority flows to us - to overflow us, free us, and channel through us."
So much more in my file that could be shared but let me add two more things here. Look at the choruses of these Worship songs.
"WHEN I LOOK INTO YOUR HOLINESS" by Wayne and Cathy Perrin. "The reason I live is to worship you."
"COME LET US WORSHIP AND BOW DOWN" by Dave Doherty. "Come let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our God and Maker. For He is our God and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hands."
"HERE I AM TO WORSHIP" by Chris Tomlin. "Here I am to worship. Here I am to bow down. Here I am to say that you're my God. You're altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to me."
I end with this from a friend and fellow pastor. Using the illustration of our triune being and the Tabernacle or Temple, showing the Seven Steps to Worship.
FLESH - Symbolic of the Outer Court
*Door - Flesh enters through the Door - Jesus
*Altar - Recognizing the Blood sacrifice for our sins
*Fire Laver - The Holy Ghost, washing of water by the Word.
SOUL - Symbolic of the Holy Place or Inner Court
*Show Bread - The Word or Jesus revealed
*Candlestick - Anointing, fresh oil daily, and wicks trimmed, the revealed Word illuminated
*Alter of Incense - Our Praise is a sweet savor unto God
SPIRIT - Enters the Holy of Holies
*Worship - God is light, total transparency of ourselves
I encourage you to consider these verses on Worship. Romans 12:1; Genesis 24:25-27; John 4:23-25.
With this I encourage you to do your own study of Praise and Worship. Let the Holy Spirit reveal to you what it is that He wants you to glean. But more than that, Praise Him at all times and in all places and Worship Him in your inner most being.
This study has been fun, encouraging, uplifting, enlightening, and has brought about within me a strong desire to Praise and Worship our awesome, powerful, loving, etc., Heavenly Father.
Your fellow traveler on this Journey.
Troy
I'm going to wind up this posting on Praise and Worship. However, I know that this will be an ongoing series of revelation in my life. I'm going to share some thoughts and quotes here and believe that the Lord will confirm the revelation in your heart as He has in mine.
I am of the opinion that we should separate the phrase Praise and Worship from any musical connotation. While music is an awesome gift from God and a wonderful way to express our love for Him, Praise and Worship are not musical terms.
Pastor Jack Hayford, shared how the song, "Majesty" came into being. I copied this from his site, www.jackhayford.org. "So powerfully did the sense of Christ Jesus royalty, dignity, and majesty fill my heart; I seemed to feel something new of what it meant to be His! The accomplished triumph of His Cross has not only unlocked us from the chains of our own bondage and restored us to fellowship with the Father, but He has unfolded to us a life of authority over sin and hell and raised us to partnership with Him in His Throne - now! He is fully worthy. "Majesty" is also a statement of the fact that our worship, when begotten in spirit and in truth, can align us with His Throne in such a way that His Kingdom and authority flows to us - to overflow us, free us, and channel through us."
So much more in my file that could be shared but let me add two more things here. Look at the choruses of these Worship songs.
"WHEN I LOOK INTO YOUR HOLINESS" by Wayne and Cathy Perrin. "The reason I live is to worship you."
"COME LET US WORSHIP AND BOW DOWN" by Dave Doherty. "Come let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our God and Maker. For He is our God and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hands."
"HERE I AM TO WORSHIP" by Chris Tomlin. "Here I am to worship. Here I am to bow down. Here I am to say that you're my God. You're altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to me."
I end with this from a friend and fellow pastor. Using the illustration of our triune being and the Tabernacle or Temple, showing the Seven Steps to Worship.
FLESH - Symbolic of the Outer Court
*Door - Flesh enters through the Door - Jesus
*Altar - Recognizing the Blood sacrifice for our sins
*Fire Laver - The Holy Ghost, washing of water by the Word.
SOUL - Symbolic of the Holy Place or Inner Court
*Show Bread - The Word or Jesus revealed
*Candlestick - Anointing, fresh oil daily, and wicks trimmed, the revealed Word illuminated
*Alter of Incense - Our Praise is a sweet savor unto God
SPIRIT - Enters the Holy of Holies
*Worship - God is light, total transparency of ourselves
I encourage you to consider these verses on Worship. Romans 12:1; Genesis 24:25-27; John 4:23-25.
With this I encourage you to do your own study of Praise and Worship. Let the Holy Spirit reveal to you what it is that He wants you to glean. But more than that, Praise Him at all times and in all places and Worship Him in your inner most being.
This study has been fun, encouraging, uplifting, enlightening, and has brought about within me a strong desire to Praise and Worship our awesome, powerful, loving, etc., Heavenly Father.
Your fellow traveler on this Journey.
Troy
Sunday, February 2, 2014
MOSES WORSHIPED
I got this over email just this week and it fits right in with my studies on the difference between Praise and Worship. I share this from the late David Wilkerson written before his death in 2011. This is the whole devotion as he wrote it.
When Moses saw the revelation of God's glory - that He is good, loving, caring, gracious, forgiving - he quickly fell to his knees and worshiped "Moses made haste, bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped" (Exodus 34:8).
The revelation of God's nature overwhelmed this man. He saw how merciful, long-suffering and patient God is with His children, including stiff-necked people, idolaters and those who grieve Him. Moses was so stirred by this revelation that he ran out from behind the rock, fell down and worshiped Him!
It is important to note that this is the first mention ever of Moses worshiping. Prior to this revelation of God's glory, we find Moses praying and interceding, weeping and pleading with God for Israel, talking with Him face to face. We hear him singing the Lord's praises on the victory side of the Red Sea and calling on the Lord at the bitter waters of Marah. And we hear his desperate cry to God at Rephidim, when the people were ready to stone him for not providing water. But his is the first time we read the words, "Moses worshiped."
I believe this one verse tells us much about the church today. It says a Christian can pray diligently without ever really worshiping. Indeed, it's possible to be a prayer warrior and intercessor and still not be a worshiper of God. You can plead for your unsaved children, pray for the needs of an entire church, be holy and meek in seeking God's burden - and yet never truly worship Him!
I don't want to add to the multitude of definitions of what it means to worship. There are already too many books published on the various techniques of worship. But, in short, I will say this: worship cannot be learned! It is a spontaneous outbreak, the act of a heart overwhelmed by a revelation of God's glory and His incredible love.
Worship is a response of gratitude. It recognizes how we should have been destroyed by our sin long ago, incurring the full wrath of God for all our failures and faults but, instead, God came to us with the powerful revelation, "I still love you!"
When Moses saw the revelation of God's glory - that He is good, loving, caring, gracious, forgiving - he quickly fell to his knees and worshiped "Moses made haste, bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped" (Exodus 34:8).
The revelation of God's nature overwhelmed this man. He saw how merciful, long-suffering and patient God is with His children, including stiff-necked people, idolaters and those who grieve Him. Moses was so stirred by this revelation that he ran out from behind the rock, fell down and worshiped Him!
It is important to note that this is the first mention ever of Moses worshiping. Prior to this revelation of God's glory, we find Moses praying and interceding, weeping and pleading with God for Israel, talking with Him face to face. We hear him singing the Lord's praises on the victory side of the Red Sea and calling on the Lord at the bitter waters of Marah. And we hear his desperate cry to God at Rephidim, when the people were ready to stone him for not providing water. But his is the first time we read the words, "Moses worshiped."
I believe this one verse tells us much about the church today. It says a Christian can pray diligently without ever really worshiping. Indeed, it's possible to be a prayer warrior and intercessor and still not be a worshiper of God. You can plead for your unsaved children, pray for the needs of an entire church, be holy and meek in seeking God's burden - and yet never truly worship Him!
I don't want to add to the multitude of definitions of what it means to worship. There are already too many books published on the various techniques of worship. But, in short, I will say this: worship cannot be learned! It is a spontaneous outbreak, the act of a heart overwhelmed by a revelation of God's glory and His incredible love.
Worship is a response of gratitude. It recognizes how we should have been destroyed by our sin long ago, incurring the full wrath of God for all our failures and faults but, instead, God came to us with the powerful revelation, "I still love you!"
Saturday, February 1, 2014
WORSHIP IS DIFFERENT FROM PRAISE
I've spent some time on what Praise is and none on what Worship is. That is deliberate on my part as I want to establish that Praise is more an outward showing with hands raised, clapping, dancing, bowing and singing, that is, something we do.
Worship on the other hand is something much deeper. It is where we are offering our bodies, our selves, giving them to God to have His way. Kind of like the Potter and the clay, Clay doesn't tell Potter what to do with it. No, the clay, us, in Worship are saying to God, here I am, do with me as You want to. Lord, I surrender all. All my wants, desires, needs, goals, everything I surrender to you.
A couple of quotes to illustrate: A. W. Tozer, a great pastor, was asked in 1954 what he thought would awaken the church from its complacency. His answer is doubly relevant today as it was then. "In my opinion, the great single need of the moment is that light-hearted superficial religionists be struck down with a vision of God high and lifted up, with His train filling the temple. The holy art of worship seems to have passed away like the Shekinah glory from the tabernacle. As a result,we are left to our own devices and forced to make up the lack of spontaneous worship by bringing in countless cheap and tawdry activities to hold the attention of the church people."
Warren Wiersbe offers a broad definition, "Worship is the believer's response of all that he is - mind, emotions, will, and body - to all that God is and says and does. This response has its mystical side in subjective experience, and its practical side in objective obedience to God's revealed truth. It is a loving response that is balanced by the fear of the Lord, and it is a deepening response as the believer comes to know God better." (emphasis is mine)
Jerry Solomon puts it this way, "Worship is pure adoration, the lifting up of the redeemed spirit toward God in contemplation of His holy perfection."
The late David Wilkerson wrote, "The revelation of God's glory should be the wellspring of all our worship. We ought to regularly lay claim\to His glory, testifying, "Lord, I know You're holy and just, and You won't wink at sin. But I've also seen Your glory and I know You're not out to destroy me. You don't condemn me in my struggles. On the contrary, You show me how loving and long-suffering You are toward me. I know I deserve rejection. I've failed so often I should be cast aside completely. But You reveal to me that You are merciful, gracious, tenderhearted!"
OK, so I used four quotes.
I admit that I have never really stopped to consider the importance of Worship.
Why should we Worship God? To put it simply, we should Worship Him because of who He is - God. In Revelation 4 and 5 we see some descriptions that should help us. He is "the only God, the highest, the Lord God, the Heavenly King, the Almighty God and Father, the Holy One". "in Worship we simply tell God the truth about Himself."
Jonathan Edwards, American pastor, philosopher, theologian of the 18th century, tells of an experience of worship during a time of contemplation and prayer. He sought to focus on God, and God responded in a dramatic way. "The person of Christ appeared ineffably excellent with an excellency great enough to swallow up all thought and conception . . . which continued near as I can judge, about an hour, which kept me the greater part of the time in a flood of tears and weeping aloud".
Is there a difference between Praise and Worship? Praise is something we do, while Worship is "a deepening response as the believer comes to know God better."
I know I've spent time on quotes, but I feel that it is important to see what others are saying about the subject of Worship.
I'll cover more in my next post. Leave a comment so others can be in on our 'conversation'.
May you know God better as you study His Word for yourself. May you have that "deepening response as you come to know Him better". May your response be what Paul said in Phil 3:10, "I want to know Christ..." to have an intimate and deepening knowledge of Him.
Your fellow traveler
Worship on the other hand is something much deeper. It is where we are offering our bodies, our selves, giving them to God to have His way. Kind of like the Potter and the clay, Clay doesn't tell Potter what to do with it. No, the clay, us, in Worship are saying to God, here I am, do with me as You want to. Lord, I surrender all. All my wants, desires, needs, goals, everything I surrender to you.
A couple of quotes to illustrate: A. W. Tozer, a great pastor, was asked in 1954 what he thought would awaken the church from its complacency. His answer is doubly relevant today as it was then. "In my opinion, the great single need of the moment is that light-hearted superficial religionists be struck down with a vision of God high and lifted up, with His train filling the temple. The holy art of worship seems to have passed away like the Shekinah glory from the tabernacle. As a result,we are left to our own devices and forced to make up the lack of spontaneous worship by bringing in countless cheap and tawdry activities to hold the attention of the church people."
Warren Wiersbe offers a broad definition, "Worship is the believer's response of all that he is - mind, emotions, will, and body - to all that God is and says and does. This response has its mystical side in subjective experience, and its practical side in objective obedience to God's revealed truth. It is a loving response that is balanced by the fear of the Lord, and it is a deepening response as the believer comes to know God better." (emphasis is mine)
Jerry Solomon puts it this way, "Worship is pure adoration, the lifting up of the redeemed spirit toward God in contemplation of His holy perfection."
The late David Wilkerson wrote, "The revelation of God's glory should be the wellspring of all our worship. We ought to regularly lay claim\to His glory, testifying, "Lord, I know You're holy and just, and You won't wink at sin. But I've also seen Your glory and I know You're not out to destroy me. You don't condemn me in my struggles. On the contrary, You show me how loving and long-suffering You are toward me. I know I deserve rejection. I've failed so often I should be cast aside completely. But You reveal to me that You are merciful, gracious, tenderhearted!"
OK, so I used four quotes.
I admit that I have never really stopped to consider the importance of Worship.
Why should we Worship God? To put it simply, we should Worship Him because of who He is - God. In Revelation 4 and 5 we see some descriptions that should help us. He is "the only God, the highest, the Lord God, the Heavenly King, the Almighty God and Father, the Holy One". "in Worship we simply tell God the truth about Himself."
Jonathan Edwards, American pastor, philosopher, theologian of the 18th century, tells of an experience of worship during a time of contemplation and prayer. He sought to focus on God, and God responded in a dramatic way. "The person of Christ appeared ineffably excellent with an excellency great enough to swallow up all thought and conception . . . which continued near as I can judge, about an hour, which kept me the greater part of the time in a flood of tears and weeping aloud".
Is there a difference between Praise and Worship? Praise is something we do, while Worship is "a deepening response as the believer comes to know God better."
I know I've spent time on quotes, but I feel that it is important to see what others are saying about the subject of Worship.
I'll cover more in my next post. Leave a comment so others can be in on our 'conversation'.
May you know God better as you study His Word for yourself. May you have that "deepening response as you come to know Him better". May your response be what Paul said in Phil 3:10, "I want to know Christ..." to have an intimate and deepening knowledge of Him.
Your fellow traveler
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
WHAT TO DO WHEN FEELING OVERWHELMED
MANY TIMES IN LIFE WE ARE FACED WITH CIRCUMSTANCES THAT OVERWHELM US AND MAKES US WANT TO COWER IN FEAR. WHAT TO DO?
I'm borrowing some thoughts from an old friend of mine, George Magdalany, Pastor of Hope Chapel Hawthorne, CA. George and I, about the same time, went out from Hope Chapel Hermosa Beach to plant churches, he to Hawthorne, CA., and I started Hope Chapel Albuquerque, NM.
Turn to 2 Chronicles 20:1-30, the whole chapter. There was a vast army coming against Judah. King Jehoshaphat did some things that we can do when facing overwhelming odds, or a situation that seems impossible.
First he called for all of Judah to fast, then he went into the temple of the Lord and prayed.
In that prayer he first saw God exalted above everything: "O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you"(v.6). When I am (we are) faced with threatening circumstances, I (we) must see God as He really is - mightier and more powerful than the enemy. My faith will rise when I meditate on the fact that the Lord is far above all "rule and authority, power and dominion". (Eph 1:21)
Next, Jehoshaphat stood on God's promises and remembered His past faithfulness: "Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?"(v.7) We MUST see and believe and act on the fact that God is a promise keeper. If He says it in His Word, it WILL come to pass. God, who has delivered me in the past WILL deliver me now, because He doesn't change. (Mal 3:6)
Then Jehoshaphat prayed specific prayers without mincing words (vv. 10-11). He poured out his heart and trusted God to deal with the specific problem. Our prayers need to be specific and aimed directly at the problems we face. God knows our heart, so we should be honest and tell Him. Then, when we receive answers, we can give the glory to God.
Last, Jehoshaphat, admitted the situation was too much for him to deal with on his own: "For we (I) have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us (me), nor do we (I) know what to do, but our (my) eyes are upon You" (vs 12). We, men especially, think we are competent enough to deal with any situation or circumstance. However, like Jehoshaphat did, we (I) must confess our (my) dependence on the Lord, who is well able to deal with every situation we (I) face.
God provided a plan that was far above any plan that Jehoshaphat could have thought up. What was that plan? Face the enemy, praise God, whose love endures forever", and watch Him work in our (my) behalf (v21).
We (I), too, can experience victory as we (I) pray to and praise the One who is able to deliver us (me)!
This came to me while I am in what could be an overwhelming, costly, situation. I will face it, praise my heavenly Father, who loves me, and I will watch Him work and carry me through. Praise His holy name!
I'm borrowing some thoughts from an old friend of mine, George Magdalany, Pastor of Hope Chapel Hawthorne, CA. George and I, about the same time, went out from Hope Chapel Hermosa Beach to plant churches, he to Hawthorne, CA., and I started Hope Chapel Albuquerque, NM.
Turn to 2 Chronicles 20:1-30, the whole chapter. There was a vast army coming against Judah. King Jehoshaphat did some things that we can do when facing overwhelming odds, or a situation that seems impossible.
First he called for all of Judah to fast, then he went into the temple of the Lord and prayed.
In that prayer he first saw God exalted above everything: "O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you"(v.6). When I am (we are) faced with threatening circumstances, I (we) must see God as He really is - mightier and more powerful than the enemy. My faith will rise when I meditate on the fact that the Lord is far above all "rule and authority, power and dominion". (Eph 1:21)
Next, Jehoshaphat stood on God's promises and remembered His past faithfulness: "Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?"(v.7) We MUST see and believe and act on the fact that God is a promise keeper. If He says it in His Word, it WILL come to pass. God, who has delivered me in the past WILL deliver me now, because He doesn't change. (Mal 3:6)
Then Jehoshaphat prayed specific prayers without mincing words (vv. 10-11). He poured out his heart and trusted God to deal with the specific problem. Our prayers need to be specific and aimed directly at the problems we face. God knows our heart, so we should be honest and tell Him. Then, when we receive answers, we can give the glory to God.
Last, Jehoshaphat, admitted the situation was too much for him to deal with on his own: "For we (I) have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us (me), nor do we (I) know what to do, but our (my) eyes are upon You" (vs 12). We, men especially, think we are competent enough to deal with any situation or circumstance. However, like Jehoshaphat did, we (I) must confess our (my) dependence on the Lord, who is well able to deal with every situation we (I) face.
God provided a plan that was far above any plan that Jehoshaphat could have thought up. What was that plan? Face the enemy, praise God, whose love endures forever", and watch Him work in our (my) behalf (v21).
We (I), too, can experience victory as we (I) pray to and praise the One who is able to deliver us (me)!
This came to me while I am in what could be an overwhelming, costly, situation. I will face it, praise my heavenly Father, who loves me, and I will watch Him work and carry me through. Praise His holy name!
Sunday, January 26, 2014
WHAT IS PRAISE?
Isn't what we do on Sunday mornings Praise and Worship? Isn't the title Praise and Worship the thing we sing? Isn't Praise the fast upbeat songs we sing first and worship the slower songs we sing last? If Praise and Worship are two different things, what is the difference? Many people like the fast upbeat songs because it gets them excited and moving, however, we do not get past praise and move into worship which is where praise should take us.
Is Sunday morning church the place that we Praise God? In answer to that turn to Psalm 150:1-6 and see where all we are to Praise God.
The English language has only one word for praise....PRAISE. However, there are 7 Hebrew words for praise -- and each give a different definition for praise. Look at these:
Hallal: "to laud [to give praise or express devotion to], boast, rave, to celebrate" - This word is used approximately one hundred times in the Old Testament.
Yadah: "to worship with extended hands, to throw out the hands" - Used over ninety times in the Old Testament. (Yad means "hand")
Barak: "to bless, to declare God the origin of power for success, prosperity, and fertility" - Used approximately seventy times in the Old Testament as praise to God.
Techillah: "to sing or laud" - It is derived from hallal and is generally accepted to mean "the singing of hallals." Used over fifty times in the Old Testament.
Zamar: "to pluck the strings of an instrument, to praise with song" - Used almost exclusively in the Psalms and occurs approximately forty times in the Old Testament.
Todah: "to extend the hands in thanksgiving, a thank-offering" - Used only a few times when translated "praise" but occurs many other times in connection with thanksgiving.
Shabach: "to commend, address in a loud tone, to shout" - This is the exclamatory form of praise in a special sense and is found only about seven times in the Old Testament.
When we look at the difference in Praise and Worship in a worship service setting Praise seems to be more of an outward thing that we do, hands raised, clapping, dancing, bowing and singing. In other words, Praise is what we do outwardly.
When we praise Him we exalt Him ("1. to raise in position, character, status, or the like; elevate 2. to glorify; praise; honor; extol). Psalm 34:1-3. When you say "Praise God," you mean "Exalt Him." You cannot put Him too high. He is the most high above all.
Also, when we praise Him we rejoice in Him. Psalm 5:11
When we praise Him we are to boast in Him. Psalm 34:1-2, again.
Another aspect of praise is that we give thanks to Him. Psalm 18:49.
Again, when we praise God we please Him. Psalm 69:30,31.
And, when we praise God we bless His name. Psalm 34: and Psalm 63:3-5
This sure is a lot of information, isn't it? Well, to be honest, I haven't shared half of what I have been studying. You could and should be reading for yourselves.
Come on, people, let's Praise the Lord God Almighty and thank Him and bless His name!
More to share and not sure exactly what will be next. This is a journey and as some of you have said, let's travel this road together.
PRAISE THE HOLY NAME OF THE LORD!
Troy, a fellow traveler
By the way, each word for praise in Psalm 150 is Hallel. Look again at the meaning of hallel.
Is Sunday morning church the place that we Praise God? In answer to that turn to Psalm 150:1-6 and see where all we are to Praise God.
The English language has only one word for praise....PRAISE. However, there are 7 Hebrew words for praise -- and each give a different definition for praise. Look at these:
Hallal: "to laud [to give praise or express devotion to], boast, rave, to celebrate" - This word is used approximately one hundred times in the Old Testament.
Yadah: "to worship with extended hands, to throw out the hands" - Used over ninety times in the Old Testament. (Yad means "hand")
Barak: "to bless, to declare God the origin of power for success, prosperity, and fertility" - Used approximately seventy times in the Old Testament as praise to God.
Techillah: "to sing or laud" - It is derived from hallal and is generally accepted to mean "the singing of hallals." Used over fifty times in the Old Testament.
Zamar: "to pluck the strings of an instrument, to praise with song" - Used almost exclusively in the Psalms and occurs approximately forty times in the Old Testament.
Todah: "to extend the hands in thanksgiving, a thank-offering" - Used only a few times when translated "praise" but occurs many other times in connection with thanksgiving.
Shabach: "to commend, address in a loud tone, to shout" - This is the exclamatory form of praise in a special sense and is found only about seven times in the Old Testament.
When we look at the difference in Praise and Worship in a worship service setting Praise seems to be more of an outward thing that we do, hands raised, clapping, dancing, bowing and singing. In other words, Praise is what we do outwardly.
When we praise Him we exalt Him ("1. to raise in position, character, status, or the like; elevate 2. to glorify; praise; honor; extol). Psalm 34:1-3. When you say "Praise God," you mean "Exalt Him." You cannot put Him too high. He is the most high above all.
Also, when we praise Him we rejoice in Him. Psalm 5:11
When we praise Him we are to boast in Him. Psalm 34:1-2, again.
Another aspect of praise is that we give thanks to Him. Psalm 18:49.
Again, when we praise God we please Him. Psalm 69:30,31.
And, when we praise God we bless His name. Psalm 34: and Psalm 63:3-5
This sure is a lot of information, isn't it? Well, to be honest, I haven't shared half of what I have been studying. You could and should be reading for yourselves.
Come on, people, let's Praise the Lord God Almighty and thank Him and bless His name!
More to share and not sure exactly what will be next. This is a journey and as some of you have said, let's travel this road together.
PRAISE THE HOLY NAME OF THE LORD!
Troy, a fellow traveler
By the way, each word for praise in Psalm 150 is Hallel. Look again at the meaning of hallel.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
PRAISE VS WORSHIP
For years I have wondered about the phrase, "PRAISE AND WORSHIP". What does that mean? Praise and Worship Band...Let's enter into Praise and Worship...Praise and Worship Music...the Praise and Worship part of the service...etc. Are they the same thing or are they two different actions? Do we do both at the same time or do we do each separately during our Sunday morning service? And do we do them only during Sunday morning service?
I'm doing some studying on this and I haven't even scratched the surface. This will be an ongoing Post as the Lord leads me deeper into His Word. And to let you know, I do not have all the answers.
WORSHIP: Everything you think, everything you say, and everything you do, reveals that which you treasure and value most in life.
You can Praise God with sin in your life, but you cannot Worship God with sin in your life.
By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, this is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15
Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts. 1 Chronicles 16:8-10
Then David said to the whole assembly, "Praise the LORD your God." So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed low and fell prostrate before the LORD and the king. 1 Chronicles 29:19-21
The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang; "He is good; His love endures forever." Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud. 2 Chronicles 5:12-14
Can you see how large the scope of what praise really is? And this only 4 verses, there are many more we can look at.
Next I want to look at the different words used in the Bible for these words. Later I want to look at the seven steps to Worship using the Tabernacle as an illustration. There are seven Hebrew words in the Old Testament for Praise and each one is a different definition for praise. Our English language has one word, praise.
Come visit again and we will continue on this Journey looking at Praise and Worship.
I'm doing some studying on this and I haven't even scratched the surface. This will be an ongoing Post as the Lord leads me deeper into His Word. And to let you know, I do not have all the answers.
WORSHIP: Everything you think, everything you say, and everything you do, reveals that which you treasure and value most in life.
You can Praise God with sin in your life, but you cannot Worship God with sin in your life.
By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, this is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15
Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts. 1 Chronicles 16:8-10
Then David said to the whole assembly, "Praise the LORD your God." So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed low and fell prostrate before the LORD and the king. 1 Chronicles 29:19-21
The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang; "He is good; His love endures forever." Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud. 2 Chronicles 5:12-14
Can you see how large the scope of what praise really is? And this only 4 verses, there are many more we can look at.
Next I want to look at the different words used in the Bible for these words. Later I want to look at the seven steps to Worship using the Tabernacle as an illustration. There are seven Hebrew words in the Old Testament for Praise and each one is a different definition for praise. Our English language has one word, praise.
Come visit again and we will continue on this Journey looking at Praise and Worship.
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