“By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
Hebrews 13:15-16
What does it mean when scripture says to offer a sacrifice of Praise? It may sound strange to call Praise a sacrifice. Many times it’s not a sacrifice to praise God. We may be filled with joy and begin praising God out of an abundance of joy and thankfulness. However, there are times when circumstances arise that seem discouraging or can cause fear and concern. In our spirit, we are not shaken. We have the fruits of the spirit in operation. However, our soul (our mind, will, emotions) can be affected by the circumstances of the day and as a result cause us to become fearful, depressed, sorrowful and many other emotions that do not line up with what God’s word says about the situation. At these times it is an actual sacrifice to praise God. These are the times, when we least feel like praising God, that we most need to PRAISE HIM.
You see, as we praise God, we are actually engaging in unseen warfare. Praise is so powerful that it can win battles we never need to fight. You may have heard the term, “The praise precedes the victory”. In 2 Chronicles 20, it recounts the time Jehoshaphat went into battle against seemingly insurmountable odds. There was no way in the natural that his army could defeat the enemy’s army. They were grossly outnumbered. Yet, the Lord instructed Him to go into battle. Jehoshaphat knew the importance of Praise and Worship. Therefore, he put the Praise and Worshippers at the front of the battle lines, leading the troops to battle! It sounds outrageous, but as a result, he never even had to go into battle. The Lord fought the battle for him. Not one Israelite was lost. The enemy became confused and actually attacked and killed each other in their confusion. It says when they came to the camp, that the entire enemy troop was destroyed. It took Jehoshaphat and his people three days to gather in the spoil.
Acts 16 recounts when Paul and Silas were thrown into prison. Yet they chose to praise God instead of complain. In their darkest hour they sang praises to God from the midst of a dungeon. It literally moved heaven and earth. There was an earthquake and not only were they and all the prisoners freed from their bonds, but the prison guard was saved along with his entire household. I am sure that after being beaten and thrown into a cold dark cell, that Paul and Silas may not have felt like praising God. Yet they still praised Him, and did so loudly that the other prisoners heard them. They received their victory. How different the outcome may have been if they had complained instead of praised.
When David was being hunted down by Saul and was running for His life, he wrote the Psalms and Praised God. One of these beautiful Psalms of Praise is Psalm 57, which he wrote when he fled from Saul in the cave. Yet, in his darkest hour, he praised God and gave God glory. In the end, David not only got the victory and became King, but the savior of the world would be descended through David. He knew how to praise God in the midst of darkness.
There are numerable other accounts in the bible of those who Praised God against all odds. They stood fast on the promises of God and used Praise and Worship as a weapon against the enemy. This is how Praise and worship works. It is un-leashing power in the unseen realm of the spirit that is winning the battle on our behalf.
There is something else you may have noticed in the above examples: all three actually praised God in Song, and/or in Music. When the Israelites crossed the Red Sea safely, Genesis 15 records that they sang praises to God. Over and over we find there is something very powerful about worshipping God in song and singing praises to Him. When you bring your sacrifice of praise, do not hold back. Praise God whether in word or in song, with instruments or even in dance, with everything you have. Then trust Him that He is faithful and just and will provide the victory over the situation. No matter what, continue to praise God!
Psalm 100
“MAKE a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
Psalm 67:5-7
“Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.”
Psalm 150
“PRAISE ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet; praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”
Psalm 107:21
“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”
Psalm 22:3
But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
Psalm 117
“O PRAISE the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.”
Psalm 18:3
“I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved form mine enemies.”
Psalm 9:1-2
“I WILL praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.”
Psalm 40:1-4
“I WAITED patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.”
Psalm 42:5-8
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.”
PSALM 50:23
“Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.”
Psalm 70:4
“Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.”
Psalm 71:14-15
“But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day…”
Psalm 106:1
“PRAISE ye the LORD, O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”
Psalm 57:7-11
“My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.”
