Hello I'm Shelley Quinn. 00:00:01.11\00:00:02.81 Did you know that praising God will change 00:00:02.84\00:00:06.25 your mental prayer posture and increase your faith? 00:00:06.28\00:00:09.46 Please join us today on "Pressing in to His Presence" 00:00:09.49\00:00:12.71 to learn how this amazing principle works. 00:00:12.74\00:00:17.32 Welcome to Pressing in to His Presence. 00:00:38.44\00:00:40.75 This is a series on prayer that is teaching us 00:00:40.78\00:00:45.18 how to approach the throne of God boldly but humbly. 00:00:45.21\00:00:51.12 As we are seeking intimate communication with God 00:00:51.15\00:00:56.24 we need to learn how to do this. 00:00:56.27\00:00:59.89 We're so glad that you're joining us today. 00:00:59.92\00:01:02.45 On our last program we concentrated on the first part 00:01:02.48\00:01:06.19 of the verse from Psalm 104 00:01:06.22\00:01:09.08 for focusing on entering 00:01:09.11\00:01:11.76 into His heavenly gates with thanksgiving. 00:01:11.79\00:01:15.37 Today we'll focus on the second half of that verse which reads, 00:01:15.40\00:01:19.90 "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, 00:01:19.93\00:01:23.06 and into His courts with praise." 00:01:23.09\00:01:27.34 Today's presentation will prove that praise can take us 00:01:27.37\00:01:32.17 from a down in the mouth attitude to one spiritual joy. 00:01:32.20\00:01:37.38 It's an amazing way to increase our faith. 00:01:37.41\00:01:41.02 And in this series we're using a book 00:01:41.05\00:01:43.99 that I was privileged to write, 00:01:44.02\00:01:45.92 titled "Pressing in to His Presence." 00:01:45.95\00:01:48.14 If you're following along in the book 00:01:48.17\00:01:50.33 today we're beginning on page 40. 00:01:50.36\00:01:54.73 Thanksgiving is our way of passing 00:01:54.76\00:01:58.47 through the heavenly portal of His heavenly temple. 00:01:58.50\00:02:02.36 We're now ready to enter into His courts with praise. 00:02:02.39\00:02:07.57 What is the difference between thanksgiving and praise? 00:02:07.60\00:02:12.17 In our last program we saw that thanksgiving 00:02:12.20\00:02:15.89 is a form of praise, a somewhat self focus platform of praise 00:02:15.92\00:02:21.64 but as we make a joyful expression of gratitude to God 00:02:21.67\00:02:25.72 for His goodness toward us, that's thanksgiving. 00:02:25.75\00:02:29.41 And having thus begun, we're now ready 00:02:29.44\00:02:32.41 to graduate to a higher form of praise. 00:02:32.44\00:02:36.25 You know, in the Hebrew the word for praise is "Halal." 00:02:36.28\00:02:40.93 And it means to boast about, to celebrate. 00:02:40.96\00:02:45.30 Nearly every language on earth 00:02:45.33\00:02:48.24 uses the expression, Hallelujah. 00:02:48.27\00:02:51.83 Sometimes the "H" is silent and they say alleluia. 00:02:51.86\00:02:55.81 But this is derived from the Hebrew halal 00:02:55.84\00:02:59.58 and it's generally translated praise Lord. 00:02:59.61\00:03:03.89 So every time you say Hallelujah 00:03:03.92\00:03:06.98 you're saying praise the Lord. 00:03:07.01\00:03:09.43 Did you know that praise 00:03:09.46\00:03:10.91 is the official worship language of Heaven? 00:03:10.94\00:03:15.39 It is how created beings give God 00:03:15.42\00:03:19.08 all inspired respect for His character traits 00:03:19.11\00:03:23.38 and all of His magnificent undertakings. 00:03:23.41\00:03:26.73 In fact, it is the first command 00:03:26.76\00:03:30.42 of the three angels messages found in Revelation 14. 00:03:30.45\00:03:34.95 Let's look at verses 6 and 7 00:03:34.98\00:03:38.50 and we're gonna read this from the amplified version. 00:03:38.53\00:03:41.83 That's Revelation 14:6, 7 which reads, 00:03:41.86\00:03:47.62 "Then I saw another angel flying in midair, 00:03:47.65\00:03:51.68 with an eternal Gospel with good news 00:03:51.71\00:03:55.66 to tell to the inhabitants of the earth. 00:03:55.69\00:03:58.26 He cried with a mighty voice, 00:03:58.29\00:04:00.42 Revere God and give Him glory, 00:04:00.45\00:04:03.98 honor and praise in worship, 00:04:04.01\00:04:07.41 for the hour of His judgment has arrived. 00:04:07.44\00:04:11.27 Fall down before Him, pay Him homage and adoration 00:04:11.30\00:04:18.17 and worship Him Who created heaven and earth, 00:04:18.20\00:04:22.75 the sea and the springs, the fountains of water." 00:04:22.78\00:04:28.48 If that's the first commandment of the three angels messages 00:04:28.51\00:04:33.79 to an in time people let me ask you this, how are we doing? 00:04:33.82\00:04:40.90 Does our conversation with man 00:04:40.93\00:04:44.30 and our prayer to God reflect a true attitude of praise? 00:04:44.33\00:04:50.54 Why would God want us to praise Him anyway? 00:04:50.57\00:04:54.47 As we consider whom we approach in prayer is-- 00:04:54.50\00:04:59.83 if we consider Him as the creator 00:04:59.86\00:05:03.44 and as we offer Him the glory due His name. 00:05:03.47\00:05:08.42 Our expression of praise erodes our own pride for condition. 00:05:08.45\00:05:15.04 Coming into His quotes we praise causes us 00:05:15.07\00:05:19.03 to recognize our absolute dependency upon Him 00:05:19.06\00:05:24.18 and it teaches us to worship the Lord 00:05:24.21\00:05:27.60 in the beauty of holiness. 00:05:27.63\00:05:30.55 I love what Psalm 96 says, 00:05:30.58\00:05:35.08 we'll read verses 4, 6, 8 and 9, 00:05:35.11\00:05:39.13 and David wrote, 00:05:39.16\00:05:40.89 "For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised. 00:05:40.92\00:05:46.24 Honor and majesty are set before Him, 00:05:46.27\00:05:49.90 strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. 00:05:49.93\00:05:54.51 Give to the Lord the glory due His name, bring an offering, 00:05:54.54\00:06:01.06 and offering and praise and come into His courts. 00:06:01.09\00:06:05.17 Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!" 00:06:05.20\00:06:13.10 Do we? 00:06:13.13\00:06:15.09 You know He is a loving God 00:06:15.12\00:06:18.07 who created us for personal worship. 00:06:18.10\00:06:21.31 And if we truly understand all that He is 00:06:21.34\00:06:25.93 and all that He is done for us 00:06:25.96\00:06:27.71 and all that He has in store for us 00:06:27.74\00:06:30.84 we would declare His praises. 00:06:30.87\00:06:33.85 That's what God expects. 00:06:33.88\00:06:36.13 In fact, in Isaiah 42 and excuse me-- 00:06:36.16\00:06:41.17 Isaiah 43:21 here's what He says. 00:06:41.20\00:06:47.00 This is God speaking, He says, "This people I have formed 00:06:47.03\00:06:51.33 for Myself, they shall declare My praise." 00:06:51.36\00:06:56.05 The Bible has much to say about our acts of praise. 00:06:56.08\00:07:00.43 It says, we were formed, chosen and commanded to praise God. 00:07:00.46\00:07:07.05 The Apostle Peter puts it this way in 1 Peter 2:9, 00:07:07.08\00:07:12.66 he says, "You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood 00:07:12.69\00:07:18.81 that you may proclaim the praises of Him 00:07:18.84\00:07:22.79 who called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light." 00:07:22.82\00:07:29.39 For which I say praise the Lord. 00:07:29.42\00:07:32.56 The temple priests of old 00:07:32.59\00:07:35.32 entered into the gates with thanksgiving. 00:07:35.35\00:07:39.94 If they had to enter this gate to reach the outer court 00:07:39.97\00:07:43.58 then as they were walking through the outer court 00:07:43.61\00:07:47.96 pressing in if you'll to the presence of God 00:07:47.99\00:07:50.53 they're approaching closure to God. 00:07:50.56\00:07:53.63 As they walk through His courts they did so with praise. 00:07:53.66\00:07:58.46 If this is how the priest approached 00:07:58.49\00:08:01.80 to his earthly sanctuary should we, 00:08:01.83\00:08:05.57 as a role up priesthood not do so, 00:08:05.60\00:08:08.37 as we approach His heavenly sanctuary? 00:08:08.40\00:08:12.23 Why does God command us to praise Him? 00:08:12.26\00:08:16.69 Does He require our praises to feel good about Himself? 00:08:16.72\00:08:20.64 Do our praises change Him? Certainly not. 00:08:20.67\00:08:26.36 He has spoken in Malachi 3:6 00:08:26.39\00:08:29.07 and "I'm the Lord, I change not." 00:08:29.10\00:08:33.91 And again it is written in Hebrews 13:8, 00:08:33.94\00:08:38.15 that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. 00:08:38.18\00:08:44.83 Praise does not change God. Praise changes us. 00:08:44.86\00:08:51.73 It changes our mental prayer posture 00:08:51.76\00:08:55.43 making us more respectful as we realize 00:08:55.46\00:08:59.19 it is our Holy and righteous Father 00:08:59.22\00:09:02.38 whom we're addressing. 00:09:02.41\00:09:04.63 And as we offer up a sacrifice praise 00:09:04.66\00:09:09.61 God's authority as Master of our life 00:09:09.64\00:09:13.85 and destiny is magnified in our minds. 00:09:13.88\00:09:17.94 Let's consider David's words, he wrote these before 00:09:17.97\00:09:22.43 as he was speaking actually before the assembly. 00:09:22.46\00:09:25.87 As he blessed the Lord 00:09:25.90\00:09:27.68 found in 1 Chronicles 29:11-13. 00:09:27.71\00:09:34.68 This-- you talk about a beautiful praise. 00:09:34.71\00:09:38.26 David says, "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, 00:09:38.29\00:09:43.03 the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty, 00:09:43.06\00:09:48.35 for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours. 00:09:48.38\00:09:52.29 Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, 00:09:52.32\00:09:55.25 and you are exalted as head over all. 00:09:55.28\00:09:58.58 Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. 00:09:58.61\00:10:04.27 In Your hand is power and might, in Your hand 00:10:04.30\00:10:08.82 it is to make great and to give strength to all. 00:10:08.85\00:10:13.61 Now therefore, our God, we thank You 00:10:13.64\00:10:17.36 and praise Your glorious name." 00:10:17.39\00:10:23.55 What a prayer praise. 00:10:23.58\00:10:26.36 When is the last time you approached the Lord 00:10:26.39\00:10:29.78 with a heart filled with awe and respect like David did? 00:10:29.81\00:10:37.45 Can you see our praise could change him into prayer pastor? 00:10:37.48\00:10:42.36 David wrote in Psalm 42:11 00:10:42.39\00:10:49.67 excuse me Psalm 21:13. 00:10:49.70\00:10:53.10 He wrote, "Be exalted, O Lord, in Your own strength! 00:10:53.13\00:10:58.79 We will sing and praise Your power." 00:10:58.82\00:11:02.88 Praise causes us to recognize the power of God 00:11:02.91\00:11:08.23 and to remember that nothing is impossible for Him. 00:11:08.26\00:11:12.61 We should praise God whether we feel like it or not. 00:11:12.64\00:11:16.90 Praise changes our frame of reference 00:11:16.93\00:11:20.58 and it increases our faith. 00:11:20.61\00:11:23.43 At one of his lowest times 00:11:23.46\00:11:25.67 when David was actually hiding as if-- 00:11:25.70\00:11:30.26 he was a hunting fugitive Saul always hunting him. 00:11:30.29\00:11:34.35 He was finding refuge in the rocks 00:11:34.38\00:11:36.96 and caves of the wilderness 00:11:36.99\00:11:38.96 and here's what he wrote in Psalm 42:11, 00:11:38.99\00:11:44.10 "Why are you cast down, O my soul? 00:11:44.13\00:11:47.75 And why are you disquieted within me? 00:11:47.78\00:11:51.65 Hope in God for I shall yet praise Him. 00:11:51.68\00:11:56.10 The help of my countenance and my God." 00:11:56.13\00:12:00.13 We see here that David encouraged himself 00:12:00.16\00:12:04.51 through praising God. 00:12:04.54\00:12:06.77 As we recall the wondrous works 00:12:06.80\00:12:09.77 of our Creator and sustained God. 00:12:09.80\00:12:12.95 Praise increases the level of our expectations 00:12:12.98\00:12:17.44 and it heightens the hope that's in our hearts. 00:12:17.47\00:12:21.30 In short, praise takes us 00:12:21.33\00:12:23.85 from that down in the mouth attitude 00:12:23.88\00:12:26.53 to one of spiritual joy. 00:12:26.56\00:12:29.22 And as we boast about our loving God 00:12:29.25\00:12:32.55 we begin to celebrate in our hearts. 00:12:32.58\00:12:36.00 God prescribed praise for the benefit of our faith. 00:12:36.03\00:12:41.21 Hallelujah. 00:12:41.24\00:12:42.83 We can praise our Lord for more than His glory, His power. 00:12:42.86\00:12:48.55 Praise God for His name. Praise God for His Word. 00:12:48.58\00:12:54.88 His name represents His character and-- 00:12:54.91\00:12:58.22 these are symbolic His name and His word are symbolic 00:12:58.25\00:13:02.40 of His loving nature and His faithfulness. 00:13:02.43\00:13:06.52 Here are three examples of that 00:13:06.55\00:13:09.55 how we can praise God for His word. 00:13:09.58\00:13:13.53 The first is Isaiah 25:1 and it says, 00:13:13.56\00:13:19.08 "O Lord, You are my God, I will exalt You, 00:13:19.11\00:13:24.54 I will praise Your name, 00:13:24.57\00:13:26.70 for you have done wonderful things, 00:13:26.73\00:13:29.76 Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth." 00:13:29.79\00:13:35.28 And then in Psalms 56:10-11 David says, 00:13:35.31\00:13:40.78 "In God I will praise His word, 00:13:40.81\00:13:44.20 in the Lord I will praise His word, 00:13:44.23\00:13:47.16 in God I have put my trust, I will not be afraid. 00:13:47.19\00:13:53.66 What can man do to me?" 00:13:53.69\00:13:56.66 And then our final example is Psalm 138:2 00:13:56.69\00:14:01.23 where David prayed, 00:14:01.26\00:14:03.49 "I will worship toward Your heavenly holy temple, 00:14:03.52\00:14:06.22 and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth, 00:14:06.25\00:14:11.07 For You have magnified Your word above Your name." 00:14:11.10\00:14:18.14 Actually I claimed that for sometime 00:14:18.17\00:14:20.99 as the promise over my ministry, 00:14:21.02\00:14:24.34 word over your ministry that God exalts 00:14:24.37\00:14:27.73 His word even above His name 00:14:27.76\00:14:30.58 because Jesus Christ is the living word. 00:14:30.61\00:14:34.00 There is no limit to the number of things 00:14:34.03\00:14:37.01 for which we can praise the Lord. 00:14:37.04\00:14:39.25 And as we consider His power 00:14:39.28\00:14:42.38 and the pure beauty of holiness of His character 00:14:42.41\00:14:45.64 praise will just naturally dwell up in our hearts 00:14:45.67\00:14:48.79 and it will just pour forth from our mouth. 00:14:48.82\00:14:52.17 The Book of Revelation unveils the scene that is taking 00:14:52.20\00:14:57.91 in place in heaven, right now as all creatures there 00:14:57.94\00:15:02.22 live in constant praise of the Lord 00:15:02.25\00:15:05.91 enthroned in this atmosphere of praise and worship 00:15:05.94\00:15:09.84 our God is still inclined to condescend 00:15:09.87\00:15:13.69 to those who praise Him on earth. 00:15:13.72\00:15:16.47 In the King James Version, 00:15:16.50\00:15:18.64 Psalms 22:3 reads like this. 00:15:18.67\00:15:24.66 "But thou art holy, O Lord, 00:15:24.69\00:15:28.50 O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel." 00:15:28.53\00:15:34.60 When we press into His presence with praise, 00:15:34.63\00:15:38.37 God draws nearer to us in a special way. 00:15:38.40\00:15:41.72 He dwells in our praises, He inhabits our praise. 00:15:41.75\00:15:47.33 Does it James 4:8 say, "Draw near to God 00:15:47.36\00:15:50.57 and He will draw near to you." 00:15:50.60\00:15:53.06 And just listen to this incredible passage. 00:15:53.09\00:15:56.74 This is 2 Chronicles 5:13, 14. 00:15:56.77\00:16:04.53 It says, "Indeed it came to pass, 00:16:04.56\00:16:08.25 when the trumpeters and the singers were as one, 00:16:08.28\00:16:12.11 to make one sound to be heard 00:16:12.14\00:16:14.54 in praising and thanking the Lord, 00:16:14.57\00:16:17.29 and when they lifted up their voice 00:16:17.32\00:16:19.38 with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, 00:16:19.41\00:16:22.98 and praised the Lord, saying, 00:16:23.01\00:16:24.86 'For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.'" 00:16:24.89\00:16:29.12 When this happened it says "That the house, 00:16:29.15\00:16:32.31 the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud." 00:16:32.34\00:16:37.26 It's a cloud of His presence. 00:16:37.29\00:16:39.51 "So that the priests could not continue ministering 00:16:39.54\00:16:44.36 because of the cloud for the glory of the Lord 00:16:44.39\00:16:48.94 filled the house of God." 00:16:48.97\00:16:53.46 Oh, that our times of worship both private and corporate 00:16:53.49\00:16:59.15 will be filled with glory as praise 00:16:59.18\00:17:02.34 and graced with His presence in such a way. 00:17:02.37\00:17:06.90 You know the cloud of God's presence 00:17:06.93\00:17:08.45 is spoken up often in the Old Testament. 00:17:08.48\00:17:11.10 This cloud led the Israelites through the wilderness. 00:17:11.13\00:17:14.81 This cloud descended on the tabernacle 00:17:14.84\00:17:17.93 to enable Moses to speak to God face to face. 00:17:17.96\00:17:21.77 Well, God covered Himself with the cloud. 00:17:21.80\00:17:24.18 Moses didn't actually see His face 00:17:24.21\00:17:27.56 because no man can see His face and live. 00:17:27.59\00:17:30.32 But in 1 Corinthians 10:1-14, 00:17:30.35\00:17:36.52 Paul speaks of the cloud of God's presence 00:17:36.55\00:17:40.19 and our need for holy living to remain under its protection. 00:17:40.22\00:17:48.11 This may sound a little strange, 00:17:48.14\00:17:51.67 there was a little strange but at the age of 19 00:17:51.70\00:17:55.80 I believe it's possible that I might have witnessed 00:17:55.83\00:17:59.39 the cloud of His presence. 00:17:59.42\00:18:02.09 I was delayed by work so I arrived late 00:18:02.12\00:18:06.04 to a Friday night Bible study 00:18:06.07\00:18:08.40 at the south main church of Christ. 00:18:08.43\00:18:11.17 And our pastor had been studying about the person 00:18:11.20\00:18:15.47 of the Holy Spirit and His role in our lives. 00:18:15.50\00:18:19.44 And he was introducing these wonderful truths 00:18:19.47\00:18:23.80 that he had learned to those who are opened to receive it. 00:18:23.83\00:18:27.78 You know that the topic of God's Spirit had been greatly 00:18:27.81\00:18:32.20 I guess overlooked in the past by this congregation. 00:18:32.23\00:18:36.01 But God had also been teaching us 00:18:36.04\00:18:39.36 this small number of people they gathered about 30 of us 00:18:39.39\00:18:43.60 the importance of opening our study with worship and praise. 00:18:43.63\00:18:48.62 So over a period of a few months 00:18:48.65\00:18:51.26 our time of praise had continued to link them, 00:18:51.29\00:18:56.22 in here I was this Friday night arriving 40 minutes late 00:18:56.25\00:19:01.36 and when I walked in the building 00:19:01.39\00:19:02.89 I heard revered singing. 00:19:02.92\00:19:04.96 So not wanting to disrupt this worship 00:19:04.99\00:19:08.67 I stood outside of the door until the song had ended. 00:19:08.70\00:19:13.20 And just as I entered into the sanctuary 00:19:13.23\00:19:16.01 the pastor began praying. 00:19:16.04\00:19:17.90 So I immediately bowed my head 00:19:17.93\00:19:20.31 to just participate in the prayer of praise to God. 00:19:20.34\00:19:25.02 And after the pastor said amen, I looked up 00:19:25.05\00:19:29.10 and this small group always met down 00:19:29.13\00:19:31.52 toward the right front pews about 30 people sitting there 00:19:31.55\00:19:35.78 and when I looked up right there 00:19:35.81\00:19:39.06 over those right front pews hovered a curious cloud. 00:19:39.09\00:19:45.62 It rested directly above the people 00:19:45.65\00:19:48.85 and it wasn't present in any other part of the sanctuary. 00:19:48.88\00:19:53.16 I quietly slipped into pew behind the others 00:19:53.19\00:19:58.07 and I was awestruck by the probable presence of God. 00:19:58.10\00:20:03.21 Years later as I read that verse in 2 Corinthians 5:13-14, 00:20:03.24\00:20:08.83 I finally understood the visual phenomenon 00:20:08.86\00:20:12.07 that I saw that evening. 00:20:12.10\00:20:15.82 Do you want God to leave you through this wilderness 00:20:15.85\00:20:19.44 of this sin sick world by His presence? 00:20:19.47\00:20:22.60 Press in to His presence with praise. 00:20:22.63\00:20:26.13 But how can we learn to truly praise the Lord? 00:20:26.16\00:20:31.91 When the Lord was first teaching me to begin my prayer 00:20:31.94\00:20:36.04 by entering into His gates with thanksgiving 00:20:36.07\00:20:39.45 and into His courts with praise, 00:20:39.48\00:20:42.50 I admit I wasn't all that good at praising the Lord. 00:20:42.53\00:20:46.75 You might recall that I was journaling my prayers, 00:20:46.78\00:20:50.31 writing them out His letters to God's 00:20:50.34\00:20:51.88 so that I could stay focused during my hours of prayer. 00:20:51.91\00:20:55.34 Well, that's certainly provided the evidence 00:20:55.37\00:20:57.77 of my lack of ability to praise. 00:20:57.80\00:21:00.60 Several weeks into my prayer experience I had-- 00:21:00.63\00:21:03.87 I was prompted to review the praise sections 00:21:03.90\00:21:07.19 of my written journals and it was pretty sad 00:21:07.22\00:21:10.33 disappointment to read my pitiful attempts 00:21:10.36\00:21:13.56 giving God the glory due His name. 00:21:13.59\00:21:16.23 My praise portions played out like a broken record, 00:21:16.26\00:21:19.56 they were heartfelt but repetitious 00:21:19.59\00:21:22.73 and I cried out oh, Lord, teach me 00:21:22.76\00:21:26.38 to give You the glory due Your name. 00:21:26.41\00:21:28.91 Teach me how to praise You. 00:21:28.94\00:21:31.60 And I remembered what I had studied 00:21:31.63\00:21:34.03 about the last supper of Jesus. 00:21:34.06\00:21:36.86 When Jesus instituted the Lord supper 00:21:36.89\00:21:39.88 He and the disciples afterwards sang a hymn 00:21:39.91\00:21:42.67 before they went out the Mount of Olives. 00:21:42.70\00:21:45.54 And most Bible scholars believe they sang 00:21:45.57\00:21:48.55 from one of the Psalms recorded in Psalms 115 to 118 00:21:48.58\00:21:53.88 which would traditionally sung 00:21:53.91\00:21:56.43 at the close of the pass over meal. 00:21:56.46\00:21:59.79 You know, oftenly familiar name 00:21:59.82\00:22:02.81 for the Bible book Psalms comes from the Greek. 00:22:02.84\00:22:07.21 It carries the meaning of singing 00:22:07.24\00:22:11.45 with a stringed instrument for accompaniment. 00:22:11.48\00:22:14.68 However, the Hebrew name 00:22:14.71\00:22:16.76 for the Book of Psalms means praises. 00:22:16.79\00:22:20.98 This book contains more than half the occurrences 00:22:21.01\00:22:25.12 in the Old Testament of the word "Halal" 00:22:25.15\00:22:29.00 the Hebrew word for praise. 00:22:29.03\00:22:31.21 So I was impressed to look to the Psalms 00:22:31.24\00:22:35.35 the next day to learn how to praise. 00:22:35.38\00:22:38.94 After all if you think about it 00:22:38.97\00:22:41.91 the Psalms could be continued a written prayer journal. 00:22:41.94\00:22:46.92 David's prayers to God that were so filled with intimacy, 00:22:46.95\00:22:52.46 so filled with passion which indicated 00:22:52.49\00:22:56.05 how close He was to God's heart. 00:22:56.08\00:22:59.25 The passion for God's presence 00:22:59.28\00:23:01.62 was something that I wanted to share. 00:23:01.65\00:23:04.14 So the next day I began reading a Psalm out loud 00:23:04.17\00:23:09.04 and then praying it back to the Lord in my own words 00:23:09.07\00:23:12.42 from my praise segment. 00:23:12.45\00:23:14.59 And I was creating a personal testimony 00:23:14.62\00:23:18.12 of what the Lord had done or would do in my life. 00:23:18.15\00:23:22.03 So going through all the Psalms in this manner 00:23:22.06\00:23:24.49 I grew in spontaneous praise of the joy of the Lord 00:23:24.52\00:23:29.31 and praise helped me to press into His presence. 00:23:29.34\00:23:33.77 What I would like to do right now is share a sample 00:23:33.80\00:23:37.76 from my prayer journal inspired by Psalms 1 00:23:37.79\00:23:42.84 and what I'll do is we're gonna put up-- 00:23:42.87\00:23:46.75 have the scripture on the screen 00:23:46.78\00:23:49.76 then I'll read to you how I paraphrase that. 00:23:49.79\00:23:52.94 So Psalms 1:3 reads, excuse me let's start with Psalms 1:1. 00:23:52.97\00:24:00.89 Psalms 1:1 reads this, 1 and 2, 00:24:00.92\00:24:04.80 "Blessed is the man who talks not in the counsel 00:24:04.83\00:24:08.73 of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, 00:24:08.76\00:24:12.31 nor sits in the seat of the scornful. 00:24:12.34\00:24:14.95 But His delight is in the law of the Lord, 00:24:14.98\00:24:16.83 and in His law he meditates day and night." 00:24:16.86\00:24:19.82 Now here's how I paraphrase that, 00:24:19.85\00:24:22.67 "I said oh, father God, I thank You for godly counsel. 00:24:22.70\00:24:26.25 I thank You for blessing me as I follow Your counsel. 00:24:26.28\00:24:29.58 I praise You from making Your love loved by delight. 00:24:29.61\00:24:33.05 Give me an quench of the desire for Your word my Lord. 00:24:33.08\00:24:36.56 Cause me to meditate on a day and night 00:24:36.59\00:24:39.39 for Your word is inexhaustible. 00:24:39.42\00:24:41.59 Thank You Father, 00:24:41.62\00:24:42.90 from making it my habit to live in Your word." 00:24:42.93\00:24:46.00 Then Psalms 1:3 continues, 00:24:46.03\00:24:47.97 "He shall be like a tree planted 00:24:48.00\00:24:50.39 by the rivers of water." 00:24:50.42\00:24:52.25 I paraphrased that as praised by writing 00:24:52.28\00:24:55.62 "Father God, thank You for planting me. 00:24:55.65\00:24:58.64 I'm routed and grounded in Your love. 00:24:58.67\00:25:01.67 By Your grace I'm steadfast precious, Lord. 00:25:01.70\00:25:05.82 I praise You and I thank You for Your rivers of water. 00:25:05.85\00:25:09.34 I'm spiritually refreshed by Your living water." 00:25:09.37\00:25:13.11 Now Psalms 1:3 continues by saying, 00:25:13.14\00:25:16.24 "That brings forth its fruit in its season." 00:25:16.27\00:25:20.24 And I wrote "I thank You righteous Father, 00:25:20.27\00:25:23.65 that You caused me to bear fruit in Your timing. 00:25:23.68\00:25:26.94 Oh, Lord, cause me to remember 00:25:26.97\00:25:28.96 that by You word and Your spirit 00:25:28.99\00:25:30.74 You're doing a work in my heart 00:25:30.77\00:25:32.66 that You've promised to complete." 00:25:32.69\00:25:35.13 And then finally Psalms 1:3 continues, 00:25:35.16\00:25:38.12 "Whose leaf also shall not wither, 00:25:38.15\00:25:40.83 and whatever he does shall prosper." 00:25:40.86\00:25:43.44 My prayer paraphrase was this "Most gracious Lord, 00:25:43.47\00:25:48.74 I thank You that my vitality encourage shall not fade. 00:25:48.77\00:25:53.54 How I praised You for Your plan for my life. 00:25:53.57\00:25:56.93 In You and by Your grace, my purpose is ever brewing 00:25:56.96\00:26:00.97 and growing glory to Your Holy name." 00:26:01.00\00:26:04.11 Please note that I didn't use every verse 00:26:04.14\00:26:06.03 but only the verses 00:26:06.06\00:26:07.16 that I could easily turned into praise. 00:26:07.19\00:26:10.18 And as I proceeded through the Book of Psalms in this manner 00:26:10.21\00:26:13.85 I found that necessary at times to read more than one 00:26:13.88\00:26:16.72 to selecting verses which have the most meaning to me. 00:26:16.75\00:26:20.51 I encourage you to try this, it is a potent process 00:26:20.54\00:26:25.13 for developing the vocabulary and posture of praise. 00:26:25.16\00:26:30.58 As we enter into the Divine fellowship of prayer, 00:26:30.61\00:26:33.66 we're well advised to recall the honor and glory 00:26:33.69\00:26:37.22 that is to our redeemer God. 00:26:37.25\00:26:39.26 He invites us to approach His throne boldly, 00:26:39.29\00:26:42.35 but we should come humbly 00:26:42.38\00:26:44.38 realizing the privilege of prayer, 00:26:44.41\00:26:46.61 recognizing the holiness of the moment 00:26:46.64\00:26:49.78 and reverencing the omnipotent Creator 00:26:49.81\00:26:52.33 who is our adoptive all but father. 00:26:52.36\00:26:55.24 Psalms 150:6 says, 00:26:55.27\00:26:57.88 "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. 00:26:57.91\00:27:04.85 Praise the Lord." Hallelujah. 00:27:04.88\00:27:09.58 You know, I encourage you starting immediately 00:27:09.61\00:27:14.92 when you're praying enter into the courts of His sanctuary. 00:27:14.95\00:27:19.94 As you enter through the gates enter with thanksgiving. 00:27:19.97\00:27:25.26 As your approaches-- approaching His heavenly temple 00:27:25.29\00:27:28.38 give an offerings of thanksgiving and praise 00:27:28.41\00:27:32.27 and you'll find that God will change you as you do this. 00:27:32.30\00:27:39.34 Well, our time has slipped away. 00:27:39.37\00:27:41.11 Please join us on our next program 00:27:41.14\00:27:44.09 when we'll discuss the five steps of true repentance. 00:27:44.12\00:27:49.59 Be sure you've a pen and a paper to write these down 00:27:49.62\00:27:52.98 because these are beautiful and they're awesome. 00:27:53.01\00:27:57.74 Now, my prayer for you today 00:27:57.77\00:27:59.45 is that the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 00:27:59.48\00:28:03.20 the love of the Father and the fellowship 00:28:03.23\00:28:05.32 of the Holy Spirit will be with you always. 00:28:05.35\00:28:09.49 Thank you so much. 00:28:09.52\00:28:11.01