Fortress of Joy
  • Home
  • About
  • Schedule
  • Visitors
  • Childrens Church
  • Youth Outreach
  • Women's Ministry
  • 2021 Faith Family Camp
  • Life Words
  • Giving

bringing
the word
​to life

The Sacrifice of Praise

11/16/2015

0 Comments

 
When we praise we are offering up to the Lord our appreciation for all His goodness. Before the cross, most sacrifices were the blood and flesh of animals. Now we can offer those same type offerings with the words from our hearts. It is the condition of the heart that makes our sacrifices acceptable unto the Lord, not our predicaments. When Paul and Silas were arrested they were beaten on their backs and then put in maximum security.


Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God and the prisoners heard them.
Midnight is the darkest hour of the night and they were in the most secure part of the prison. There was no light. Paul and Silas began to pray and praise so loudly all the prisoners could hear them.


Could you and I pray if some tormentor beat the meat off our backs? Yes, if we chose to! Would we feel like it? No! Nothing the devil could do would discourage these two men from their commitment of Christ. I don’t know what they expected to happen when they praised, but the great earthquake shook the very foundation at the prison. All the shackles of the prisoners fell off and all the doors swung open. The prison guard and all his family were saved that night because two men in maximum security chose to praise the Lord.


Psalms 8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings You have ordained praise because of my enemy, that You might STILL the enemy and the avenger.
Still—cause to fail—cause to know lack—put away—get rid of—take away.



When the innocent and the righteous praise the Lord our enemies begin to fail in their purpose. I don’t think any of us had any idea of what our praise would accomplish. Being ignorant of these truths we didn’t invest much in time in praise. When I praise the Lord my focus is on what He had done to get my name in the Book of life. I don’t consider what He does to my enemies while I praise Him. I believe Paul and Silas were totally surprised over what the Lord did for them that night. I think God protects praisers because He doesn’t want anything to hinder their praise.


John 4:24 God is a Spirit; and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth.


By definition, worship is a position of the body, one could raise their arms or kneel. It’s what you do when your arms are raised or when you’re on your knees that defines your worship. A true worshipper must have some revelation of their Savior in order to worship in truth.
Man does not worship with his lips, he worships with his heart.
In light of this we don’t know when a man is worshipping and praising the Lord. The outward expression reveals nothing. Man looks on the outside, God looks on the heart. We can praise the Lord anytime we want to no matter the circumstances. Praise makes God glad and the devil mad. I’m glad God is glad.
 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    OFFERING DECLARATION
    Jesus Redeemed me from the curse, no poverty, no lack in my house.

    Wealth and riches in my home, the devil is rebuked for my sake.

    Father daily loads me with benefits, He takes pleasure in my increase.

    I love being redeemed,
    and I give my Lord all the glory.

    ​PRAYER FOCUS
    TAKING INVENTORY
     
    We are about to embark on the greatest adventure and outpouring of God’s Spirit! This month the Holy Spirit is asking us to examine ourselves/take           inventory so as God’s Vessels we can take our part and place in the Body of Christ!
     
    Scriptures to meditate on:
     
    Hebrews 12:1 Therefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

    Psalm 26:4 Lord you can scrutinize me. Refine my heart and probe my every thought. Put me to the test and you will find it is true.
     
    2 Cor 10:6 It is written, and having a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

    1 Peter 4:17 For judgement begins at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
     
    Psalm 139: 23, 24 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me of unbelief and lead me in the way everlasting.
     
    2 Timothy 2:4 No soldier when in service gets entangled in the enterprises of (civilian) life: his aim is to satisfy and please the one who enlisted him (God)! DO ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!

    RSS Feed

Contact Us
(406) 442-1819
support.fortress@aol.com
720 Faw Rd
Helena, Mt
59602
  • Home
  • About
  • Schedule
  • Visitors
  • Childrens Church
  • Youth Outreach
  • Women's Ministry
  • 2021 Faith Family Camp
  • Life Words
  • Giving