I have often heard of the concept
of praise as means of releasing God's power. Israel toppled the walls of
Jericho by simply marching and praising, and Paul and Silas praised their way
to an earthquake that opened the prison doors (Acts 16:23-26). The offshoot for
servants is that we institute a rule for praising God when we need a
breakthrough and offer it as a sacrifice. I want to suggest two things: 1) we
are all terrible at keeping rules, and 2) praise should flow naturally from a
well that is much deeper than will power and sacrifice. Praise is the "heart
fruit" of seeing our glorious inheritance, not a legal obligation for being a
Christian.
To love
him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your
strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all
burnt offerings and sacrifices. Mark
12:33 NIV
We worship God when we understand
who God is. We express thanksgiving when we review the great things he has done
in the past. Praise has its roots in understanding what God is about to do. I'm
suggesting that it was no surprise that the Jericho walls fell, and no surprise
that Paul and Silas got out of prison. Everybody knew what was coming!
The Roots of Praise
Praise, action, and results flow
out of hearts that understand what God is doing. Fear, alarm, complaining, and
apathy naturally flow from hearts focused on what the enemy is doing. Both
exist at any given point in time, and both exist at the level of nations and at
the level of our personal lives. Servants without dreams or internal direction
seldom have a revelation of what God is doing or what they would like to do.
Kings and friends find out what God is doing and get excited about it. Seeing
the overlap between our heart and God's heart, playing a role in the Kingdom,
and having the authority to make things happen is Kingly. Praise flows very
naturally from such a relationship.
I no
longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's
business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned
from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father
will give you whatever you ask in my name. John
15:15-16 NIV
It is the
glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a
matter. Prov 25:2 NASU
Faith (Eyes on the Prize)
Servants coast through life not
really knowing the "master's business" and generally have no clear plan or
goals for their own life. They put their trust in trying to obey God's rules
and guidance because that's all servants know. They never quite connect with
their own heart's desires or with God's heart's desires, so they are very prone
to becoming religious, sacrificially living out of scripts and pseudo-Biblical
principles. They know the letter, but not the life.
He has
made us competent as ministers of a new covenant - not of the letter but of the
Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Cor 3:6 NIV
Friends and Kings live on an
entirely different plane of maturity. Competence describes it well. We
understand that God has written on their hearts some dreams that need to be
pursued. We give ourselves permission to pursue those desires and to find the heart
connection with the Father and what He's doing. The simple revelation that God
wants to grant the desire of our hearts opens a door of revelation to see and
do. Kings do have a written plan, goals, and cash flow that changes Kingdom
from spiritual to practical. We become holistic in the process, and lose the
distinction between vocation, ministry, and wealth creation. All three are Holy
expressions of God's Kingdom and our role in it. At last, our lives are
integrated in a way that works financially, spiritually and practically. Can
you see the connection between holy and holistic? Can you see the connection
between servants, rules and Pharisees?
The result of an integrated life
is praise from our own hearts and tangible faith that draws the presence and
the power of God to make dreams come true. We can ask "whatsoever."
But thou
art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Ps 22:3 KJV
Enter his
gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and
praise his name. Ps 100:4 NIV
Praise from God
When we connect with our hearts
and experience some success, praise begins to flow two ways. We start hearing
God say, "Well done" and "This is my beloved son in whom I'm well pleased." We
also begin to receive the attention and praise of men as we represent the Glory
of God, and we start receiving glory, fame, and notoriety. God even works to
make our names great. Servants won't generally allow this to happen. Kings
receive this fame and glory publicly, and privately give it to the Lord in
worship. That's a fun process when you really feel like you're making a Kingdom
contribution and you're on the same page with your Father. It feels like love;
tears, rejoicing, thanksgiving, praise and worship well up inside very
naturally. It's a great privilege to live in this hour with these
opportunities. We stand in awe of His love for us and we praise Him freely.
I have
given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one. John
17:22 NIV
Now if we
are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if
indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are
not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for
the sons of God to be revealed. Rom
8:17-20 NIV
He called
you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord
Jesus Christ. 2 Thess 2:14 NIV
The
nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their
splendor into it. On no day will its
gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be
brought into it. Rev 21:24-25 NIV
Are You Willing?
Many believers carry an attitude
that it would be immodest to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor,
glory and blessing. The reality is that if our work in the marketplace is
anointed and it blesses or ministers to people, we will receive glory from men
and God. It's part of God's plan to make our names great, as evidenced in the
life of Solomon. Can you break off the poverty and say yes to being a steward
of glory? First receiving it, then giving it back to God?
Wisdom
and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth,
and honor... 2Chron 1:12 KJV
"I will
make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing." Gen 12:2
"Let your
light (glory) shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matt 5:16 NASU
Want to See Your Future?
It's already written in the
desires of your heart. Faith is the substance of things hoped for. Until the
plan exists, all we have is hope. When the curtain is pulled back on your
destiny, praise will flow like a river...as a lifestyle. Seeing progress on the
dream in your personal plan is a source of life and vitality.
You will see battles for your
"Jericho" and you will get thrown in prison occasionally, but if you can see
the purpose of God, you will prevail. Praise will be one of your weapons.
John Garfield
Share this article:
Price: $16.99
Sale! $13.99