Hello I'm Shelley Quinn. 00:00:01.00\00:00:02.70 Did you know that praising God will change 00:00:02.73\00:00:06.13 your mental prayer posture and increase your faith? 00:00:06.17\00:00:09.34 Please join us today on "Pressing in to His Presence" 00:00:09.37\00:00:12.61 to learn how this amazing principle works. 00:00:12.64\00:00:17.28 Welcome to Pressing in to His Presence. 00:00:38.33\00:00:40.64 This is a series on prayer that is teaching us 00:00:40.67\00:00:45.07 how to approach the throne of God boldly but humbly. 00:00:45.11\00:00:51.01 As we are seeking intimate communication with God 00:00:51.05\00:00:56.15 we need to learn how to do this. 00:00:56.18\00:00:59.79 We're so glad that you're joining us today. 00:00:59.82\00:01:02.36 On our last program we concentrated on the first part 00:01:02.39\00:01:06.09 of the verse from Psalm 104 00:01:06.13\00:01:08.96 for focusing on entering 00:01:09.00\00:01:11.63 into His heavenly gates with thanksgiving. 00:01:11.67\00:01:15.27 Today we'll focus on the second half of that verse which reads, 00:01:15.30\00:01:19.77 "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, 00:01:19.81\00:01:22.94 and into His courts with praise." 00:01:22.98\00:01:27.25 Today's presentation will prove that praise can take us 00:01:27.28\00:01:32.09 from a down in the mouth attitude to one spiritual joy. 00:01:32.12\00:01:37.29 It's an amazing way to increase our faith. 00:01:37.33\00:01:40.93 And in this series we're using a book 00:01:40.96\00:01:43.87 that I was privileged to write, 00:01:43.90\00:01:45.80 titled "Pressing in to His Presence." 00:01:45.83\00:01:48.04 If you're following along in the book 00:01:48.07\00:01:50.21 today we're beginning on page 40. 00:01:50.24\00:01:54.61 Thanksgiving is our way of passing 00:01:54.64\00:01:58.38 through the heavenly portal of His heavenly temple. 00:01:58.41\00:02:02.25 We're now ready to enter into His courts with praise. 00:02:02.28\00:02:07.49 What is the difference between thanksgiving and praise? 00:02:07.52\00:02:12.09 In our last program we saw that thanksgiving 00:02:12.13\00:02:15.76 is a form of praise, a somewhat self focus platform of praise 00:02:15.80\00:02:21.54 but as we make a joyful expression of gratitude to God 00:02:21.57\00:02:25.61 for His goodness toward us, that's thanksgiving. 00:02:25.64\00:02:29.31 And having thus begun, we're now ready 00:02:29.34\00:02:32.31 to graduate to a higher form of praise. 00:02:32.35\00:02:36.15 You know, in the Hebrew the word for praise is "Halal." 00:02:36.18\00:02:40.82 And it means to boast about, to celebrate. 00:02:40.86\00:02:45.19 Nearly every language on earth 00:02:45.23\00:02:48.13 uses the expression, Hallelujah. 00:02:48.16\00:02:51.70 Sometimes the "H" is silent and they say alleluia. 00:02:51.73\00:02:55.70 But this is derived from the Hebrew halal 00:02:55.74\00:02:59.47 and it's generally translated praise Lord. 00:02:59.51\00:03:03.78 So every time you say Hallelujah 00:03:03.81\00:03:06.88 you're saying praise the Lord. 00:03:06.92\00:03:09.32 Did you know that praise 00:03:09.35\00:03:10.82 is the official worship language of Heaven? 00:03:10.85\00:03:15.29 It is how created beings give God 00:03:15.32\00:03:18.99 all inspired respect for His character traits 00:03:19.03\00:03:23.26 and all of His magnificent undertakings. 00:03:23.30\00:03:26.60 In fact, it is the first command 00:03:26.63\00:03:30.31 of the three angels messages found in Revelation 14. 00:03:30.34\00:03:34.84 Let's look at verses 6 and 7 00:03:34.88\00:03:38.38 and we're gonna read this from the amplified version. 00:03:38.41\00:03:41.72 That's Revelation 14:6, 7 which reads, 00:03:41.75\00:03:47.52 "Then I saw another angel flying in midair, 00:03:47.56\00:03:51.59 with an eternal Gospel with good news 00:03:51.63\00:03:55.53 to tell to the inhabitants of the earth. 00:03:55.56\00:03:58.13 He cried with a mighty voice, 00:03:58.17\00:04:00.30 Revere God and give Him glory, 00:04:00.34\00:04:03.87 honor and praise in worship, 00:04:03.91\00:04:07.31 for the hour of His judgment has arrived. 00:04:07.34\00:04:11.18 Fall down before Him, pay Him homage and adoration 00:04:11.21\00:04:18.09 and worship Him Who created heaven and earth, 00:04:18.12\00:04:22.66 the sea and the springs, the fountains of water." 00:04:22.69\00:04:28.36 If that's the first commandment of the three angels messages 00:04:28.40\00:04:33.67 to an in time people let me ask you this, how are we doing? 00:04:33.70\00:04:40.78 Does our conversation with man 00:04:40.81\00:04:44.18 and our prayer to God reflect a true attitude of praise? 00:04:44.21\00:04:50.45 Why would God want us to praise Him anyway? 00:04:50.49\00:04:54.39 As we consider whom we approach in prayer is-- 00:04:54.42\00:04:59.73 if we consider Him as the creator 00:04:59.76\00:05:03.33 and as we offer Him the glory due His name. 00:05:03.37\00:05:08.30 Our expression of praise erodes our own pride for condition. 00:05:08.34\00:05:14.94 Coming into His quotes we praise causes us 00:05:14.98\00:05:18.91 to recognize our absolute dependency upon Him 00:05:18.95\00:05:24.09 and it teaches us to worship the Lord 00:05:24.12\00:05:27.49 in the beauty of holiness. 00:05:27.52\00:05:30.46 I love what Psalm 96 says, 00:05:30.49\00:05:34.96 we'll read verses 4, 6, 8 and 9, 00:05:35.00\00:05:39.00 and David wrote, 00:05:39.03\00:05:40.77 "For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised. 00:05:40.80\00:05:46.14 Honor and majesty are set before Him, 00:05:46.17\00:05:49.78 strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. 00:05:49.81\00:05:54.42 Give to the Lord the glory due His name, bring an offering, 00:05:54.45\00:06:00.96 and offering and praise and come into His courts. 00:06:00.99\00:06:05.09 Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!" 00:06:05.13\00:06:12.97 Do we? 00:06:13.00\00:06:14.97 You know He is a loving God 00:06:15.00\00:06:17.97 who created us for personal worship. 00:06:18.01\00:06:21.21 And if we truly understand all that He is 00:06:21.24\00:06:25.81 and all that He is done for us 00:06:25.85\00:06:27.62 and all that He has in store for us 00:06:27.65\00:06:30.75 we would declare His praises. 00:06:30.79\00:06:33.76 That's what God expects. 00:06:33.79\00:06:36.02 In fact, in Isaiah 42 and excuse me-- 00:06:36.06\00:06:41.06 Isaiah 43:21 here's what He says. 00:06:41.10\00:06:46.87 This is God speaking, He says, "This people I have formed 00:06:46.90\00:06:51.21 for Myself, they shall declare My praise." 00:06:51.24\00:06:55.94 The Bible has much to say about our acts of praise. 00:06:55.98\00:07:00.32 It says, we were formed, chosen and commanded to praise God. 00:07:00.35\00:07:06.96 The Apostle Peter puts it this way in 1 Peter 2:9, 00:07:06.99\00:07:12.56 he says, "You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood 00:07:12.59\00:07:18.70 that you may proclaim the praises of Him 00:07:18.73\00:07:22.67 who called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light." 00:07:22.70\00:07:29.28 For which I say praise the Lord. 00:07:29.31\00:07:32.45 The temple priests of old 00:07:32.48\00:07:35.22 entered into the gates with thanksgiving. 00:07:35.25\00:07:39.85 If they had to enter this gate to reach the outer court 00:07:39.89\00:07:43.49 then as they were walking through the outer court 00:07:43.53\00:07:47.86 pressing in if you'll to the presence of God 00:07:47.86\00:07:50.40 they're approaching closure to God. 00:07:50.43\00:07:53.50 As they walk through His courts they did so with praise. 00:07:53.54\00:07:58.34 If this is how the priest approached 00:07:58.37\00:08:01.68 to his earthly sanctuary should we, 00:08:01.71\00:08:05.48 as a role up priesthood not do so, 00:08:05.51\00:08:08.28 as we approach His heavenly sanctuary? 00:08:08.32\00:08:12.12 Why does God command us to praise Him? 00:08:12.15\00:08:16.59 Does He require our praises to feel good about Himself? 00:08:16.62\00:08:20.56 Do our praises change Him? Certainly not. 00:08:20.60\00:08:26.23 He has spoken in Malachi 3:6 00:08:26.27\00:08:28.97 and "I'm the Lord, I change not." 00:08:29.00\00:08:33.81 And again it is written in Hebrews 13:8, 00:08:33.84\00:08:38.05 that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. 00:08:38.08\00:08:44.72 Praise does not change God. Praise changes us. 00:08:44.75\00:08:51.63 It changes our mental prayer posture 00:08:51.66\00:08:55.30 making us more respectful as we realize 00:08:55.33\00:08:59.07 it is our Holy and righteous Father 00:08:59.10\00:09:02.27 whom we're addressing. 00:09:02.30\00:09:04.51 And as we offer up a sacrifice praise 00:09:04.54\00:09:09.51 God's authority as Master of our life 00:09:09.54\00:09:13.75 and destiny is magnified in our minds. 00:09:13.78\00:09:17.85 Let's consider David's words, he wrote these before 00:09:17.89\00:09:22.32 as he was speaking actually before the assembly. 00:09:22.36\00:09:25.79 As he blessed the Lord 00:09:25.83\00:09:27.60 found in 1 Chronicles 29:11-13. 00:09:27.60\00:09:34.57 This-- you talk about a beautiful praise. 00:09:34.60\00:09:38.14 David says, "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, 00:09:38.17\00:09:42.91 the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty, 00:09:42.94\00:09:48.25 for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours. 00:09:48.28\00:09:52.19 Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, 00:09:52.22\00:09:55.16 and you are exalted as head over all. 00:09:55.19\00:09:58.49 Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. 00:09:58.53\00:10:04.17 In Your hand is power and might, in Your hand 00:10:04.20\00:10:08.70 it is to make great and to give strength to all. 00:10:08.74\00:10:13.51 Now therefore, our God, we thank You 00:10:13.54\00:10:17.25 and praise Your glorious name." 00:10:17.28\00:10:23.45 What a prayer praise. 00:10:23.49\00:10:26.25 When is the last time you approached the Lord 00:10:26.29\00:10:29.69 with a heart filled with awe and respect like David did? 00:10:29.72\00:10:37.33 Can you see our praise could change him into prayer pastor? 00:10:37.37\00:10:42.24 David wrote in Psalm 42:11 00:10:42.27\00:10:49.58 excuse me Psalm 21:13. 00:10:49.61\00:10:52.98 He wrote, "Be exalted, O Lord, in Your own strength! 00:10:53.01\00:10:58.69 We will sing and praise Your power." 00:10:58.72\00:11:02.79 Praise causes us to recognize the power of God 00:11:02.82\00:11:08.10 and to remember that nothing is impossible for Him. 00:11:08.13\00:11:12.50 We should praise God whether we feel like it or not. 00:11:12.53\00:11:16.77 Praise changes our frame of reference 00:11:16.81\00:11:20.48 and it increases our faith. 00:11:20.51\00:11:23.31 At one of his lowest times 00:11:23.35\00:11:25.58 when David was actually hiding as if-- 00:11:25.61\00:11:30.15 he was a hunting fugitive Saul always hunting him. 00:11:30.19\00:11:34.26 He was finding refuge in the rocks 00:11:34.29\00:11:36.86 and caves of the wilderness 00:11:36.89\00:11:38.86 and here's what he wrote in Psalm 42:11, 00:11:38.89\00:11:43.97 "Why are you cast down, O my soul? 00:11:44.00\00:11:47.64 And why are you disquieted within me? 00:11:47.67\00:11:51.54 Hope in God for I shall yet praise Him. 00:11:51.57\00:11:55.98 The help of my countenance and my God." 00:11:56.01\00:11:59.95 We see here that David encouraged himself 00:12:00.05\00:12:04.42 through praising God. 00:12:04.45\00:12:06.69 As we recall the wondrous works 00:12:06.72\00:12:09.69 of our Creator and sustained God. 00:12:09.72\00:12:12.86 Praise increases the level of our expectations 00:12:12.89\00:12:17.33 and it heightens the hope that's in our hearts. 00:12:17.37\00:12:21.17 In short, praise takes us 00:12:21.20\00:12:23.74 from that down in the mouth attitude 00:12:23.77\00:12:26.41 to one of spiritual joy. 00:12:26.44\00:12:29.11 And as we boast about our loving God 00:12:29.14\00:12:32.45 we begin to celebrate in our hearts. 00:12:32.48\00:12:35.88 God prescribed praise for the benefit of our faith. 00:12:35.92\00:12:41.12 Hallelujah. 00:12:41.16\00:12:42.72 We can praise our Lord for more than His glory, His power. 00:12:42.76\00:12:48.43 Praise God for His name. Praise God for His Word. 00:12:48.46\00:12:54.77 His name represents His character and-- 00:12:54.80\00:12:58.11 these are symbolic His name and His word are symbolic 00:12:58.14\00:13:02.28 of His loving nature and His faithfulness. 00:13:02.31\00:13:06.41 Here are three examples of that 00:13:06.45\00:13:09.45 how we can praise God for His word. 00:13:09.48\00:13:13.42 The first is Isaiah 25:1 and it says, 00:13:13.46\00:13:18.99 "O Lord, You are my God, I will exalt You, 00:13:19.03\00:13:24.43 I will praise Your name, 00:13:24.47\00:13:26.57 for you have done wonderful things, 00:13:26.60\00:13:29.64 Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth." 00:13:29.67\00:13:35.18 And then in Psalms 56:10-11 David says, 00:13:35.21\00:13:40.68 "In God I will praise His word, 00:13:40.72\00:13:44.09 in the Lord I will praise His word, 00:13:44.12\00:13:47.06 in God I have put my trust, I will not be afraid. 00:13:47.09\00:13:53.56 What can man do to me?" 00:13:53.60\00:13:56.53 And then our final example is Psalm 138:2 00:13:56.56\00:14:01.10 where David prayed, 00:14:01.14\00:14:03.37 "I will worship toward Your heavenly holy temple, 00:14:03.41\00:14:06.11 and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth, 00:14:06.14\00:14:10.98 For You have magnified Your word above Your name." 00:14:11.01\00:14:18.05 Actually I claimed that for sometime 00:14:18.09\00:14:20.89 as the promise over my ministry, 00:14:20.92\00:14:24.26 word over your ministry that God exalts 00:14:24.29\00:14:27.60 His word even above His name 00:14:27.66\00:14:30.47 because Jesus Christ is the living word. 00:14:30.50\00:14:33.87 There is no limit to the number of things 00:14:33.90\00:14:36.91 for which we can praise the Lord. 00:14:36.94\00:14:39.14 And as we consider His power 00:14:39.17\00:14:42.28 and the pure beauty of holiness of His character 00:14:42.31\00:14:45.55 praise will just naturally dwell up in our hearts 00:14:45.58\00:14:48.68 and it will just pour forth from our mouth. 00:14:48.72\00:14:52.09 The Book of Revelation unveils the scene that is taking 00:14:52.12\00:14:57.83 in place in heaven, right now as all creatures there 00:14:57.86\00:15:02.10 live in constant praise of the Lord 00:15:02.13\00:15:05.80 enthroned in this atmosphere of praise and worship 00:15:05.83\00:15:09.74 our God is still inclined to condescend 00:15:09.77\00:15:13.58 to those who praise Him on earth. 00:15:13.61\00:15:16.38 In the King James Version, 00:15:16.41\00:15:18.55 Psalms 22:3 reads like this. 00:15:18.58\00:15:24.55 "But thou art holy, O Lord, 00:15:24.59\00:15:28.39 O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel." 00:15:28.42\00:15:34.46 When we press into His presence with praise, 00:15:34.50\00:15:38.27 God draws nearer to us in a special way. 00:15:38.30\00:15:41.60 He dwells in our praises, He inhabits our praise. 00:15:41.64\00:15:47.21 Does it James 4:8 say, "Draw near to God 00:15:47.24\00:15:50.48 and He will draw near to you." 00:15:50.51\00:15:52.95 And just listen to this incredible passage. 00:15:52.98\00:15:56.65 This is 2 Chronicles 5:13, 14. 00:15:56.69\00:16:04.43 It says, "Indeed it came to pass, 00:16:04.46\00:16:08.13 when the trumpeters and the singers were as one, 00:16:08.16\00:16:12.00 to make one sound to be heard 00:16:12.03\00:16:14.44 in praising and thanking the Lord, 00:16:14.47\00:16:17.17 and when they lifted up their voice 00:16:17.21\00:16:19.27 with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, 00:16:19.31\00:16:22.88 and praised the Lord, saying, 00:16:22.91\00:16:24.75 'For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.'" 00:16:24.78\00:16:29.02 When this happened it says "That the house, 00:16:29.05\00:16:32.22 the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud." 00:16:32.25\00:16:37.16 It's a cloud of His presence. 00:16:37.19\00:16:39.43 "So that the priests could not continue ministering 00:16:39.46\00:16:44.23 because of the cloud for the glory of the Lord 00:16:44.27\00:16:48.84 filled the house of God." 00:16:48.87\00:16:53.34 Oh, that our times of worship both private and corporate 00:16:53.38\00:16:59.05 will be filled with glory as praise 00:16:59.08\00:17:02.25 and graced with His presence in such a way. 00:17:02.28\00:17:06.79 You know the cloud of God's presence 00:17:06.82\00:17:08.36 is spoken up often in the Old Testament. 00:17:08.39\00:17:10.99 This cloud led the Israelites through the wilderness. 00:17:11.03\00:17:14.73 This cloud descended on the tabernacle 00:17:14.73\00:17:17.80 to enable Moses to speak to God face to face. 00:17:17.83\00:17:21.67 Well, God covered Himself with the cloud. 00:17:21.70\00:17:24.07 Moses didn't actually see His face 00:17:24.11\00:17:27.44 because no man can see His face and live. 00:17:27.48\00:17:30.21 But in 1 Corinthians 10:1-14, 00:17:30.25\00:17:36.42 Paul speaks of the cloud of God's presence 00:17:36.45\00:17:40.09 and our need for holy living to remain under its protection. 00:17:40.12\00:17:48.00 This may sound a little strange, 00:17:48.03\00:17:51.57 there was a little strange but at the age of 19 00:17:51.60\00:17:55.67 I believe it's possible that I might have witnessed 00:17:55.70\00:17:59.27 the cloud of His presence. 00:17:59.31\00:18:01.98 I was delayed by work so I arrived late 00:18:02.01\00:18:05.95 to a Friday night Bible study 00:18:05.98\00:18:08.28 at the south main church of Christ. 00:18:08.32\00:18:11.09 And our pastor had been studying about the person 00:18:11.12\00:18:15.39 of the Holy Spirit and His role in our lives. 00:18:15.42\00:18:19.36 And he was introducing these wonderful truths 00:18:19.39\00:18:23.67 that he had learned to those who are opened to receive it. 00:18:23.70\00:18:27.67 You know that the topic of God's Spirit had been greatly 00:18:27.70\00:18:32.07 I guess overlooked in the past by this congregation. 00:18:32.11\00:18:35.91 But God had also been teaching us 00:18:35.94\00:18:39.25 this small number of people they gathered about 30 of us 00:18:39.28\00:18:43.49 the importance of opening our study with worship and praise. 00:18:43.52\00:18:48.52 So over a period of a few months 00:18:48.56\00:18:51.16 our time of praise had continued to link them, 00:18:51.19\00:18:56.10 in here I was this Friday night arriving 40 minutes late 00:18:56.13\00:19:01.24 and when I walked in the building 00:19:01.27\00:19:02.77 I heard revered singing. 00:19:02.80\00:19:04.84 So not wanting to disrupt this worship 00:19:04.87\00:19:08.58 I stood outside of the door until the song had ended. 00:19:08.61\00:19:13.08 And just as I entered into the sanctuary 00:19:13.11\00:19:15.92 the pastor began praying. 00:19:15.95\00:19:17.79 So I immediately bowed my head 00:19:17.82\00:19:20.22 to just participate in the prayer of praise to God. 00:19:20.26\00:19:24.93 And after the pastor said amen, I looked up 00:19:24.96\00:19:28.96 and this small group always met down 00:19:29.00\00:19:31.40 toward the right front pews about 30 people sitting there 00:19:31.43\00:19:35.67 and when I looked up right there 00:19:35.70\00:19:38.94 over those right front pews hovered a curious cloud. 00:19:38.97\00:19:45.51 It rested directly above the people 00:19:45.55\00:19:48.75 and it wasn't present in any other part of the sanctuary. 00:19:48.78\00:19:53.05 I quietly slipped into pew behind the others 00:19:53.09\00:19:57.99 and I was awestruck by the probable presence of God. 00:19:58.03\00:20:03.10 Years later as I read that verse in 2 Corinthians 5:13-14, 00:20:03.13\00:20:08.70 I finally understood the visual phenomenon 00:20:08.74\00:20:11.97 that I saw that evening. 00:20:12.01\00:20:15.71 Do you want God to leave you through this wilderness 00:20:15.74\00:20:19.35 of this sin sick world by His presence? 00:20:19.38\00:20:22.48 Press in to His presence with praise. 00:20:22.52\00:20:26.02 But how can we learn to truly praise the Lord? 00:20:26.05\00:20:31.83 When the Lord was first teaching me to begin my prayer 00:20:31.86\00:20:35.93 by entering into His gates with thanksgiving 00:20:35.96\00:20:39.33 and into His courts with praise, 00:20:39.37\00:20:42.37 I admit I wasn't all that good at praising the Lord. 00:20:42.40\00:20:46.64 You might recall that I was journaling my prayers, 00:20:46.68\00:20:50.21 writing them out His letters to God's 00:20:50.25\00:20:51.78 so that I could stay focused during my hours of prayer. 00:20:51.81\00:20:55.25 Well, that's certainly provided the evidence 00:20:55.28\00:20:57.69 of my lack of ability to praise. 00:20:57.72\00:21:00.49 Several weeks into my prayer experience I had-- 00:21:00.52\00:21:03.79 I was prompted to review the praise sections 00:21:03.83\00:21:07.10 of my written journals and it was pretty sad 00:21:07.13\00:21:10.20 disappointment to read my pitiful attempts 00:21:10.23\00:21:13.44 giving God the glory due His name. 00:21:13.47\00:21:16.10 My praise portions played out like a broken record, 00:21:16.14\00:21:19.44 they were heartfelt but repetitious 00:21:19.47\00:21:22.61 and I cried out oh, Lord, teach me 00:21:22.64\00:21:26.28 to give You the glory due Your name. 00:21:26.31\00:21:28.82 Teach me how to praise You. 00:21:28.85\00:21:31.49 And I remembered what I had studied 00:21:31.52\00:21:33.92 about the last supper of Jesus. 00:21:33.96\00:21:36.76 When Jesus instituted the Lord supper 00:21:36.79\00:21:39.79 He and the disciples afterwards sang a hymn 00:21:39.83\00:21:42.56 before they went out the Mount of Olives. 00:21:42.60\00:21:45.43 And most Bible scholars believe they sang 00:21:45.47\00:21:48.44 from one of the Psalms recorded in Psalms 115 to 118 00:21:48.47\00:21:53.78 which would traditionally sung 00:21:53.81\00:21:56.31 at the close of the pass over meal. 00:21:56.34\00:21:59.68 You know, oftenly familiar name 00:21:59.71\00:22:02.72 for the Bible book Psalms comes from the Greek. 00:22:02.75\00:22:07.12 It carries the meaning of singing 00:22:07.16\00:22:11.36 with a stringed instrument for accompaniment. 00:22:11.39\00:22:14.56 However, the Hebrew name 00:22:14.60\00:22:16.63 for the Book of Psalms means praises. 00:22:16.67\00:22:20.87 This book contains more than half the occurrences 00:22:20.90\00:22:25.01 in the Old Testament of the word "Halal" 00:22:25.04\00:22:28.88 the Hebrew word for praise. 00:22:28.91\00:22:31.11 So I was impressed to look to the Psalms 00:22:31.15\00:22:35.25 the next day to learn how to praise. 00:22:35.28\00:22:38.85 After all if you think about it 00:22:38.89\00:22:41.82 the Psalms could be continued a written prayer journal. 00:22:41.86\00:22:46.83 David's prayers to God that were so filled with intimacy, 00:22:46.86\00:22:52.33 so filled with passion which indicated 00:22:52.37\00:22:55.94 how close He was to God's heart. 00:22:55.97\00:22:59.14 The passion for God's presence 00:22:59.17\00:23:01.51 was something that I wanted to share. 00:23:01.54\00:23:04.05 So the next day I began reading a Psalm out loud 00:23:04.08\00:23:08.95 and then praying it back to the Lord in my own words 00:23:08.98\00:23:12.32 from my praise segment. 00:23:12.35\00:23:14.49 And I was creating a personal testimony 00:23:14.52\00:23:18.03 of what the Lord had done or would do in my life. 00:23:18.06\00:23:21.90 So going through all the Psalms in this manner 00:23:21.93\00:23:24.37 I grew in spontaneous praise of the joy of the Lord 00:23:24.40\00:23:29.20 and praise helped me to press into His presence. 00:23:29.24\00:23:33.68 What I would like to do right now is share a sample 00:23:33.71\00:23:37.65 from my prayer journal inspired by Psalms 1 00:23:37.68\00:23:42.75 and what I'll do is we're gonna put up-- 00:23:42.78\00:23:46.65 have the scripture on the screen 00:23:46.69\00:23:49.66 then I'll read to you how I paraphrase that. 00:23:49.69\00:23:52.86 So Psalms 1:3 reads, excuse me let's start with Psalms 1:1. 00:23:52.89\00:24:00.77 Psalms 1:1 reads this, 1 and 2, 00:24:00.80\00:24:04.67 "Blessed is the man who talks not in the counsel 00:24:04.71\00:24:08.61 of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, 00:24:08.64\00:24:12.21 nor sits in the seat of the scornful. 00:24:12.25\00:24:14.85 But His delight is in the law of the Lord, 00:24:14.88\00:24:16.72 and in His law he meditates day and night." 00:24:16.75\00:24:19.72 Now here's how I paraphrase that, 00:24:19.75\00:24:22.59 "I said oh, father God, I thank You for godly counsel. 00:24:22.62\00:24:26.16 I thank You for blessing me as I follow Your counsel. 00:24:26.19\00:24:29.46 I praise You from making Your love loved by delight. 00:24:29.50\00:24:32.93 Give me an quench of the desire for Your word my Lord. 00:24:32.97\00:24:36.44 Cause me to meditate on a day and night 00:24:36.47\00:24:39.27 for Your word is inexhaustible. 00:24:39.31\00:24:41.48 Thank You Father, 00:24:41.51\00:24:42.78 from making it my habit to live in Your word." 00:24:42.81\00:24:45.88 Then Psalms 1:3 continues, 00:24:45.91\00:24:47.88 "He shall be like a tree planted 00:24:47.92\00:24:50.29 by the rivers of water." 00:24:50.32\00:24:52.15 I paraphrased that as praised by writing 00:24:52.19\00:24:55.52 "Father God, thank You for planting me. 00:24:55.56\00:24:58.56 I'm routed and grounded in Your love. 00:24:58.59\00:25:01.56 By Your grace I'm steadfast precious, Lord. 00:25:01.60\00:25:05.70 I praise You and I thank You for Your rivers of water. 00:25:05.73\00:25:09.24 I'm spiritually refreshed by Your living water." 00:25:09.27\00:25:13.01 Now Psalms 1:3 continues by saying, 00:25:13.04\00:25:16.14 "That brings forth its fruit in its season." 00:25:16.18\00:25:20.15 And I wrote "I thank You righteous Father, 00:25:20.18\00:25:23.55 that You caused me to bear fruit in Your timing. 00:25:23.59\00:25:26.86 Oh, Lord, cause me to remember 00:25:26.89\00:25:28.86 that by You word and Your spirit 00:25:28.89\00:25:30.66 You're doing a work in my heart 00:25:30.69\00:25:32.56 that You've promised to complete." 00:25:32.59\00:25:35.00 And then finally Psalms 1:3 continues, 00:25:35.03\00:25:38.00 "Whose leaf also shall not wither, 00:25:38.03\00:25:40.70 and whatever he does shall prosper." 00:25:40.74\00:25:43.34 My prayer paraphrase was this "Most gracious Lord, 00:25:43.37\00:25:48.64 I thank You that my vitality encourage shall not fade. 00:25:48.68\00:25:53.45 How I praised You for Your plan for my life. 00:25:53.48\00:25:56.82 In You and by Your grace, my purpose is ever brewing 00:25:56.85\00:26:00.89 and growing glory to Your Holy name." 00:26:00.92\00:26:04.03 Please note that I didn't use every verse 00:26:04.06\00:26:05.93 but only the verses 00:26:05.96\00:26:07.03 that I could easily turned into praise. 00:26:07.10\00:26:10.07 And as I proceeded through the Book of Psalms in this manner 00:26:10.10\00:26:13.74 I found that necessary at times to read more than one 00:26:13.77\00:26:16.60 to selecting verses which have the most meaning to me. 00:26:16.64\00:26:20.41 I encourage you to try this, it is a potent process 00:26:20.44\00:26:25.01 for developing the vocabulary and posture of praise. 00:26:25.05\00:26:30.49 As we enter into the Divine fellowship of prayer, 00:26:30.52\00:26:33.56 we're well advised to recall the honor and glory 00:26:33.59\00:26:37.13 that is to our redeemer God. 00:26:37.16\00:26:39.16 He invites us to approach His throne boldly, 00:26:39.19\00:26:42.23 but we should come humbly 00:26:42.26\00:26:44.27 realizing the privilege of prayer, 00:26:44.30\00:26:46.50 recognizing the holiness of the moment 00:26:46.53\00:26:49.67 and reverencing the omnipotent Creator 00:26:49.70\00:26:52.21 who is our adoptive all but father. 00:26:52.24\00:26:55.14 Psalms 150:6 says, 00:26:55.18\00:26:57.78 "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. 00:26:57.81\00:27:04.75 Praise the Lord." Hallelujah. 00:27:04.79\00:27:09.49 You know, I encourage you starting immediately 00:27:09.52\00:27:14.83 when you're praying enter into the courts of His sanctuary. 00:27:14.83\00:27:19.83 As you enter through the gates enter with thanksgiving. 00:27:19.87\00:27:25.14 As your approaches-- approaching His heavenly temple 00:27:25.17\00:27:28.28 give an offerings of thanksgiving and praise 00:27:28.31\00:27:32.18 and you'll find that God will change you as you do this. 00:27:32.21\00:27:39.25 Well, our time has slipped away. 00:27:39.29\00:27:41.02 Please join us on our next program 00:27:41.06\00:27:43.99 when we'll discuss the five steps of true repentance. 00:27:44.03\00:27:49.46 Be sure you've a pen and a paper to write these down 00:27:49.50\00:27:52.87 because these are beautiful and they're awesome. 00:27:52.90\00:27:57.64 Now, my prayer for you today 00:27:57.67\00:27:59.34 is that the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 00:27:59.37\00:28:03.08 the love of the Father and the fellowship 00:28:03.11\00:28:05.21 of the Holy Spirit will be with you always. 00:28:05.25\00:28:09.38 Thank you so much. 00:28:09.42\00:28:10.99