The Power of Praise & Worship

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Acts 16:23-26 “And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
(24) Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
(25) And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
(26) And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed."

It starts with the arrest of Paul and Silas. Because they had cast a spirit of divination out of a girl, the local Philippian authorities beat them and then threw them into jail. Along with the trauma of the severe beating, they were fastened in stocks which clamped their arms and legs in an immobile position, causing cramps and loss of circulation. The atmosphere there was depressing. According to the standards of that day, a prison was more like the resemblance of a dungeon. A dark, damp, stench-ridden place, with no facility for waste or comforts of any kind.

Yet, in spite of the throbbing pain in their bodies and the disheartening atmosphere, at midnight Paul and Silas were heard praying and singing praise worship to God! What a strange sound this must have been to the other prisoners, who were used to only hearing the groans or cursings of those who had been beaten.

Then suddenly, there was an earthquake that shook the prison! The doors flung open, and amazingly, the bonds of Paul, Silas, and every other prisoner were released! What caused this mighty discharge of power?
Praise Worship brings us into God's Powerful Presence

Paul and Silas knew the secret of how to lift their hearts above their troubles and enter into God's powerful presence. Through praise worship their hearts were raised into the joyous presence and peace of God, and provided God a channel for his power to operate in their circumstances.

The Bible says that God inhabits in the praise of His people (Psalms 22:3). In other words, God “dwells” in the atmosphere of His praise. This means that praise is not merely a reaction from coming into His presence - Praise is a vehicle of faith which brings us into the presence and power of God! Praise worship is the “gate-pass” which allows us to enter the sacredness of His glory. The psalmist writes, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Psalms 100:4).

This corresponds with Jesus' teaching, that His presence will inhabit the gathering of believers who congregate in His name: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). A “gathering in His name” means that Jesus must be the focus, the center of the assemblage. He must be the one preached about, sung about — the one praised worshiped. “I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee” (Hebrews 2:12). Consequently, Christ's presence, along with His virtue and anointing, is manifested in this type of gathering.

Have you ever noticed when “gifts of the Spirit” operate in a church service? The power and anointing of the Holy Spirit usually becomes evident, subsequent to a time of praise worship. Some think that worship is a response after the Holy Spirit moves upon them. However, it's the other way around. God's presence responds when we move upon Him with praise worship! Lifting up Jesus Christ through praise worship invokes the Lord's presence and power to flow in our midst.
What is Praise?

Praise means “to commend, to applaud or magnify.” For the Christian, praise to God is an expression of worship, lifting-up and glorifying the Lord. It is an expression of humbling ourselves and centering our attention upon the Lord with heart-felt expressions of love, adoration and thanksgiving. High praises bring our spirit into a pinnacle of fellowship and intimacy between ourselves and God — it magnifies our awareness of our spiritual union with the most high God. Praise transports us into the realm of the supernatural and into the power of God. “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance” (Psalms 89:15).

There are many actions involved with praise to God — verbal expressions of adoration and thanksgiving, singing, playing instruments, shouting, dancing, lifting or clapping our hands. But true praise is not “merely” going through these motions. Jesus spoke about the hypocrisy of the pharisees, whose worship was only an outward show and not from the heart. “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me” (Matthew 15:8). Genuine praise to God is a matter of humility and sincere devotion to the Lord from within.

Unpretentious praise and worship pleases the Lord. He delights in the love and devotion of His children. According to the scriptures, the various expressions of praise bring blessing to the Lord. He eagerly awaits the fragrance of our affections, desiring to manifest His sweet presence and power in our midst. “...the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him” (John 4:23).
Praise to God is a Lifestyle

All too often, praise to God is something that many people leave at church, an event that happens only when they come together with other Christians. However, praise should be a part of a believers lifestyle, inter-mingled as a part of their daily prayer-life. At work, in the car, at home in bed, or anywhere; praise to the Lord brings the refreshing of the Lord's presence, along with His power and anointing. “...I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalms 34:1).

Praise is an expression of faith, and a declaration of victory! It declares that we believe God is with us and is in control of the outcome of all our circumstances (Romans 8:28). Praise is a “sacrifice,” something that we give to God sacrificially, not just because we feel like it, but because we believe in Him and wish to please Him. “By him therefore let us give the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Hebrews 13:15).
Praise Sends the Enemy Running

Since praise manifests God's presence, we also realize that praise repels the presence of the enemy, Satan. An atmosphere which is filled with sincere worship and praise to God by humble and contrite hearts is disgusting to the Devil. He fears the power in the name of Jesus, and flees from the Lord's habitation in praise. “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God” (Psalms 50:23).

When the children of Judah found themselves outnumbered by the hostile armies of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, King Jehoshophat and all the people sought the Lord for His help. The Lord assured the people that this would be His battle. He told them to go out against them, and He would do the fighting for them. So what did the children of Judah do? Being the people of “praise” (Judah actually means Praise), and knowing that God manifests His power through praise, they sent their army against their enemies, led by the praisers!

So on they went, ahead of the army declaring, “Praise the Lord, for His mercy endureth forever!” And the scripture says, “...when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten” (2 Chronicles 20:22).

When God's people begin to praise His name, it sends the enemy running! I challenge you to become a person of praise, and you will experience the release of the power of God!
Some Biblical Expressions of Praise Worship

Declaring of thanks (Heb. 13:15)
Clapping hands and shouting (Psalms 47:1)
Musical instruments and dancing (Psm. 150:4)
Singing praise songs (Psalms 9:11)
Psalms, hymns, & spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19-20)
Making a joyful noise (Psalms 98:4)
By lifting our hands (Psalms 134:2)
By being still (Psalms 4:3-5, 46:10)
By being loud (Psalms 33:3, 95:1-6)

Jewish Roots

Just Recently our family has found out that we have Jewish Roots, I have taken this news to heart, I have been trying to learn as much as I can, I have even started wearing a yamika, wear it reminds us that God is always over us and is looking out for us. I have found it has strengthened my Faith in Y'shua (Jesus). This past week, Friday, I was able to understand Yom Kippur, (Day of Atonement) which is when all Jewish people on this day was forgiven their sins, temporary, it only lasted one year. I rejoice, because of Jesus, the Messiah my sins are gone forever, permanent , not just for a year, but for good. He paid the price by the Cross, as an atonement for OUR sins.

In the months to come I hope to attend a Messianic Service to experiance a closer look into my roots. This is a short Blog, but I write more in a few days. God Bless

Ron

The Desk

Back in September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren,

a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock, AR,

did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with permission of the school superintendent,

the principal and the building supervisor.

she took all of the desks out of the classroom. The kids came into first period and there were

no desks. They obviously looked around and said, "Ms. Cothren, where's our desk?" And she said,

"You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn them." They thought, "Well, maybe it's our grades."

"No," she said. "Maybe it's our behavior." And she told them, "No, it's not even your behavior."

And so they came and went in the first period, still no desks in the classroom. Second period,

same thing, third period too. By early afternoon television news crews had gathered in Ms. Cothren's class

to find out about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of the classroom.

The last period of the day, Martha Cothren gathered her class They were at this time sitting on the floor

around the sides of the room. And she says,

"Throughout the day no one has really understood how you earn the

desks that sit in this classroom ordinarily." She said, "Now I'm going to tell you." Martha Cothren went over

to the door of her classroom and opened it, and as she did 27 U.S. veterans, wearing their uniforms,

walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. And they placed those school desks in rows,

and then they stood along the wall. And by the time they had finished placing those desks, those kids,

for the first time I think perhaps in their lives, understood how they earned those desks.

Martha said, "You don't have to earn those desks. These guys did it for you.

They put them out there for you, but it's up to you to sit here responsibly to learn,

to be good students and good citizens, because they paid a price for you to have that desk,

and don't ever forget it." Friends, I think sometimes we forget that the freedoms that we have are freedoms

not because of celebrities. The freedoms are because of ordinary people who did extraordinary things,

who loved this country more than life itself, and who not only earned a school desk for a kid at the

Robinson High School in Little Rock, but who earned a seat for you and me to enjoy

this great land we call home, this wonderful nation that we better love enough to protect and preserve

with the kind of conservative, solid values and principles that made us a great nation.

"We live in the Land of the Free because of the brave"

Please remember tp pray for our Troops.

This Story is True and Confirmed on

http://www.snopes.com/glurge/nodesks.asp

Three things in life that, once gone, never come back

Click the picture go to my web page

Three things in life that, once gone, never come back

1. Time 2. Words 3. Opportunity
Three things in life that can destroy a person -
1. Anger 2. Pride 3 Unforgiveness
Three things in life that you should never lose-
1. Hope 2. Peace 3. Honesty
Three things in life that are most valuable -
1. Love 2. Family & Friends 3. Kindness
Three things in life that are never certain -
1. Fortune 2. Success 3. Dreams
Three things that make a person -
1. Commitment
2. Sincerity 3. Hard work
Three things that are truly constant -
Father - Son - Holy Spirit
I ask the Lord to bless you, as I pray for you today; to guide you and protect you, as you go along your way. God's love is always with you, God's promises are true. And when you give God all your cares, you know God will see you through.
Pass this along to People you want God to Bless - I just did!
~~~***My God Reigns***~~~

The Secret

The Secret

"How is it that you are always so happy?
You have so much energy,
And you never seem to get down."

With her eyes smiling, she said,
"I know the Secret!"
"What secret is that?"
To which she replied,
"I'll tell you all about it,
But you have to promise to
Share the Secret with others."
"The Secret is this:
I have learned there is little I can do
In my life that will make me truly happy.
I must depend on God to make
Me happy and to meet my needs.
When a need arises in my life,
I have to trust God to supply
According to HIS riches.
I have learned most of the time
I don't need half of what I think I do.
He has never let me down.
Since I learned that 'Secret', I am happy."

The questioner's first thought was,
"That's too simple!"
But upon reflecting over her own life
She recalled how she thought a bigger house
Would make her happy, but it didn't!
She thought a better paying job
Would make her happy, but it hadn't.
When did she realize her greatest happiness?
Sitting on the floor with her grandchildren,
Playing games, eating pizza or reading a story,
a simple gift from God.

Now you know it too!
We can't depend on people to make us happy.
Only GOD in His infinite wisdom can do that.
Trust HIM!
And now I pass the Secret on to you!
So once you get it, what will you do?

YOU have to tell someone the Secret, too!
That GOD in His wisdom will take care of YOU!
But it's not really a secret...
We just have to believe it and do it...
Really trust God!

Why Bad things happen to God's people

Have you ever had something happen in your life, since you have become a Christian, that has caused you to say, "Lord, why is this happening to me?". We have all heard the saying, "Bad things happen to good people". We think that because we are Christians, we don't have to go through stuff like we did when we were in the world, but God uses situations in our life to build our faith, to learn to trust and lean on Him, and teach us to be steadfast in our faith. To praise Him at all times.

Do you think Job ever thought that he would go thru what he did? lets take a look at Job; Did you know that it was God who told Satan about Job? 7 And the Lord said to Satan, From where do you come?" So Satan answered the Lord and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it." 8 Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" 9 So Satan answered the Lord and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing" 10 Have you not made a hedge around him, around his household, around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 "But now, stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You and Your face!" 12 And the Lord said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Job 1: 7-12

The Lord said do what you want to his possessions but don't kill him; Job was considered rich in his day, he had a lot, he had seven sons and three daughters, he had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, he was well known in the east.

He feared God, he kept away from evil, Job was an upright man. Then one day a messenger came to him and said that his oxen were all taken and his servants were killed, and while that person was still talking another came and said to Job, all the sheep were burned up and your servants were killed, and another came and said your camels were taken away and all your servants were killed and still another came and said your sons and daughter were eating and the house fell on the and all are dead, one after another with bad news, all his possessions were gone and his children were killed; you or I would be devastated we would be Mad, start to hate, look for revenge, but notice what Job did in verse 1:20 - 22 : Then Job arose, tore his robe and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there.The Lord gave , and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord." 22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God wrong.

That's not even all that happened to Job, Satan attacks his health and the worst part is even Jobs wife gets in the act and says to Job in verse 2:9 Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!" But Job held up under all of this, there is even more to the story, read it some time. The point I am trying to make with this is, we need to hold fast in the storms and praise God during the bad times, God will allow things to come into our lives to test us, and we need to remain steadfast though it all, not get mad at God and turn from him, He is still God and the Good times and the Bad.

It's easy to praise God in the good times, everything is going along just fine, the car isn't breaking down, our check books are still in the black, there is food in the house, sure that's easy, but let the rains come, and the roof starts leaking, the "Check engine light" comes on, during rush hour on the expressway, you reach for the milk and it's 4 days past the spoil date, that's when we have to remember He is still God, He still sits on the throne, we maybe the one pacing the floor ringing our hand saying what am I going to do?, but God isn't doing that, He has the whole in His hands. Put you trust in God, His ways are not our ways, Thank you Jesus, I so glad of that, cause my ways don't always work out. Bless you all I pray that this has touched your heart and God Bless you. (Scripture ref. taken from NKJV) Ron

Never Give up

During this time of raising fund's for Jamaica, I have had a very hard time and it was really easy for me to feel as if I was never going to make it, the feeling of defeat was heavy on my mind, but because of the word's of my Pastor and the people of my church, their encouragement helped change my attitude and it's made me realize that I wasn't going to get there when I want to, but when God wants me to get there.

Even Moses felt defeat before he went to Pharaoh, in Exodus 3: 11-12 "But Moses said to God, Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the Children out of Egypt"? So He (God) said, "I shall certainly be with you and this shall be a sign to you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this Mountain." God Knows us better than we do, He made us.

We cannot allow our lives to be dictated by our feelings. Our feeling are fickle and deceptive. God will never do His deepest work in the shallowest part of our being. People who live by there feeling often live defeated lives. We cannot wait until we feel like trusting and obeying God, and we can't wait until a crisis hits to work up a strong belief system. Feeling and circumstances will change constantly, but God's word is SURE and He will never Change.

When we think of the hero's of the Bible, we think of people who were called by God to make a major impact in their day. That wasn't always the case, however;
In the Old Testament, for example, many of the prophets preached for years with little or no response. The nation of Israel ignored, and even mocked their warning. These prophets often saw little change in attitudes and actions, yet they continued to preach in obedience to the Lord. They didn't let their feeling stop them, can you imagine if they had? Wow, where this world would be now, if they had stopped.
I have learned a lot in the past few years, I have also spent more time in God's Word, I'll end today's Blog with this scripture:

1Cor. 15:58 So, my dear brother and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.