THE FORCE OF THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE - Pastor David Abioye

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. Psa 100.1-4.

Praise ought to be a lifestyle, not a now-and-then indulgence and all the benefits go to us solely. In Psalm 114 verses 1-5, we see every obstacle in the path of Israel was cleared by praise. Also, levels change as our praises go up.  In Acts 2.47, the church increased as they praised God. We should let not even a single day pass without praising God – any day without thanksgiving is a wasted one.

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34.1

David loved to praise God, and it was always in his hear; Jesus was an addicted thanks-giver as well (see: Luke 10.21, John 6.11, John 11.41); every epistle of Paul began with thanksgiving. Likewise, we too should FIND REASONS to thank God for every single thing. If you’ve ever lost anything, thank God that it wasn’t everything that was lost.

What is thanksgiving?

1)      Thanksgiving is an acknowledgement of God’s hand on our life. When we do not give God the glory due to him, our blessings may become cursed (Malachi 2.2).

2)      Thanksgiving is appreciation in anticipation. We thank Him not for what we’ve got, but also what we are looking to: Jesus thanked God for the five loaves and two fish made available, despite it being ‘mathematically insufficient’ for the present need (John 6.10-11); again, he thanked God at Lazarus’ tomb, at a situation where death seemed to have already had its way (John 11.41-43).

What is praise?

1)      Praise is focus on God’s person and on His Word. We need both - His person to go with us, and His power to manifest for us. While thanksgiving provokes the power of God to work for us, praise invites the person of God to come with us. Praise celebrates God’s faithfulness, unchangeability and constancy (Mal 4.6).

2)      Praise is celebrating the integrity of God’s Word (see Psalm 56, verses 4 & 10). We praise Him and celebrate His Word. As you continually praise God, your faith becomes unmoveable (Romans 4.20).

Specifically, when you live a lifestyle of thanksgiving and praise:

Ø  We become entitled to obtain EVERY promise of God. It is God’s will that everyone in Christ gives thanks for everything (1Thessalonians 5.18). After doing His will (which is thanksgiving) you qualify to receive – Hebrews 10.36. In the feeding of the 5,000 Jesus received fulfilment of God’s promise when he had given thanks (John 6.11).

Ø  Thanksgiving and praise facilitate returns on our labour in the kingdom, and everything we do in life because there is a connection between the work of our hands and the words of our mouth. Many destroy the works of their hands with the utterances of their mouths (Proverbs 12.14). The fruit of the lips is seen in Hebrews 13.15 – offer praise continually to His name when things are working, and when they seem to not be. It should not be conditional.

Ø  It grants us access to revelation that changes us from glory to glory. The apostle Paul was a man of abundant revelation (Galatians 2.2, and 2Corinthinans 12.7), but he was also full of thanksgiving and praise. Psalm 16.11 shows us that the path of life is shown (revelation) in God’s presence. When Jesus was to feed the five thousand, John 6.6 states that ‘he knew what to do’. Thanks-givers are never short of insight and revelation. David was so deep with God that he was given revelation of Christ. In 2Kings 3.14-15 Elisha received insight when the minstrel ministered. Isa 30.29 tells us that our voice in praise releases God’s voice in revelation.

Ø  It’s our access to God’s presence where we go from strength to strength (Psalm 84.7). Thanks-givers are never weak, because strength and vitality are their lot. We enter God’s presence with thanksgiving and praise (Psalm 100.4); without it we cannot appear before Him, and without Him we cannot go from strength to strength. Health and countenance (and indeed everything around us) change in response to our thanksgiving and praise (Psalm 42.5 and 43.5).

Ø  Praise ushers the force of a new dawn into our lives (read: Habakkuk 3.17-19). Things can give happiness, which is conditional. But with God is joy, which lifts us up and is unconditional. To get to high places, give God high praises, and on a continual basis (Psalm 149.6). Paul and Silas switched gears from prayer to praises and the response came suddenly, loosening everyone’s bounds (Acts 16.25-26).

MEDIA OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

1)      Clapping hands. (Psalm 47.1) - Applaud God for His extraordinary performance in our lives.

2)      Shouting. (Again, Psalm 47.1). Shouting cheers God to do more. As with sports, cheering spurs on athletes. Psalm 47.5 – with every shout, God goes up.

3)      Testimonies. Every time we share testimonies, we glorify God. Psalm 92.1-2.

Watch teaching link on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1vW-wJIRnU