How To Praise God?

God desires us to give Him High Praises (Psalms 149:6).

What does it mean to give High Praises? Praising God in the middle of great trials.

Paul and Silas praised God through midnight in jail. Midnight = terrifying suffering. Trials, temptations, tribulations, afflictions and sufferings. (Acts 16:25,26)

WHAT HINDERS OUR ABILITY TO GIVE HIGH PRAISE?

We need to purge out the old leaven (1 Corinthians 5:7,8). Which Old Leaven? Old leaven of Praise and Thanksgiving.

During the OT times, children of God offered many sacrifices and it never pleased God. Why? They never turned to Him (Amos 4:5,6,7,9,10,11). Their Sacrifices and Thanksgiving lacked willingness. It was hypocritical and ritualistic. God desires WHOLEHEARTED praises (Exodus 25:2).

What we sow, we reap (2 Corinthians 9:6). Your heart is a field that needs to receive the seed of God's word. So the more willingly you accept the word of God, you will reap the goodness of God. It's not about what you do, but who He is.

• Give after you've made peace with God and man (Matthew 5:23,24)

• Give alms discreetly (Matthew 6:1-4)

• Give freely (Matthew 10:8)

• Give happily (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Our righteousness should be better than the Pharisees (Matthew 5:20). Their love was outward - the old leaven of hypocrisy. When God's love fills our hearts, we will always Praise Him. It will be genuine.

Paul and Silas praised God because they loved God in every situation, good or bad. Their praises ended up saving an entire household that day.

Praise God because God deserves our praises.

Maranatha, Praise God, and Amen.