Bat Cave : Sacrifice of Praise

I'm going to take you back a few years to a trip with Donald, Gina, Rhonda, and Brooke. These were friends of mine and we still keep in touch via Facebook. In 1996 we went on a trip to South Padre Island for Beach Reach in an attempt to reach people on Spring Break for Christ. We partnered with local churches and the Baptist Student Union. There was one night we went down on the beach apart from one another to pray. I can tell you more than once in my life God has said these words to me. I was on my knees praying and I clearly said "Lord I don't know what you want me to do I don't understand." I understood two words as clear as could be. "Praise me." I've heard at church Pastor Micah mention that some people show up only for the sermon just to avoid the music. Got a problem with singing because you shouldn't because God does it. In Zephaniah 3:17 God sings over his people. "For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness with his love, he will calm your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs." Also if you don't like praising God you really need to check your Bible because the Angels are continually doing so and we will be when we get to Heaven. I can tell you this God wants us to praise him. He deserves the Glory. Look around you all that you see in creation he made that. He chose to make you! Think of Jesus death on the cross. God did that because he loved you. It's not always easy to praise God either. Sometimes in scripture it's referred to as a sacrifice of praise. Psalm 116:17 "I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord." Psalm 107:22 "Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about his glorious acts." Psalm 50:14 "Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God and keep the vows you made to the Most High." Sacrifice implies giving up something. There's a game I love to play called Justice League Heroes and Wonder Woman has this phrase that has been coming back to me all week. "In order to pick something up; you have to put something down." If you don't catch what this means let me be more specific. Sacrifice of praise or thanksgiving requires you to surrender part or all of yourself and admit that God is more important than you are. You have to put down your pride, selfishness and desire to be important. Think of it in terms of a police officer arresting someone. The officer gives you a series of commands "Step away from the gun" Step away from what is drawing you away from God. Put it down.

Sometimes you're having a bad day and you don't want to praise God or be thankful or joyful. Do you know why you should? Hey a question from the audience good that means someone is paying attention. The reason you should praise God is you get your mind off of your frustration and back on God where it needs to be.

Another fact. We're commanded to praise God. Check out Ephesians 5:15-20. "So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing Psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God, the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

O Praise The Name (Anastasis) - Jeremy Riddle // Sunday Morning Worship April 16, 2017