Theme: CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY [Part I]

Focus: Praise is my Responsibility

Text: Gen 29:35; Ps 7:17; 9:1; 2 Chron 20:18 – 25 

Introduction

God has called us to be responsible Christians; and as responsible Christians, we must distinguish our parts from God’s part. The problem of today’s church is that believers think everything is about God, and they do not have a part to play. Brethren, we must not be too foolish in the body of Christ that we become oblivious of our responsibilities. It is important for a believer to ask himself/herself that: if God performs the miracles, brings open doors and uplifts me, what should I do or what part do I have to play?

Today, our eyes shall be opened to one aspect of our responsibility which we must perform whether or not things or situations are favourable to us. This aspect is called PRAISE. In the beginning, man was created to praise God because God will not praise Himself. Scriptures tell us that God inhabits the praises of His people. Note that the keyword here is “His people” and not the world. Our God is under no obligation to inhabit the praises of the world. Thus, God will not inhabit the songs of secular musicians even if they put “god” in it. In essence, God inhabits the praises of only those that are sanctified and bought by the blood of Jesus, and so He receives our praises whenever we render our special preserved praises to Him. He then begins to do some things for us because of our praises.

In the Bible, Leah gave birth to a son and called his name Judah because she said “now will I praise the Lord” [Gen 29:35]. It simply means that she found a responsibility of praise; and it was by virtue of that name – Judah, that Our Lord Jesus Christ arose from Judah’s lineage and called Himself the Lion of the Tribe of Judah [which means ‘Praise’]. Jesus is the Lion that roars when our praises go up to him; He appears when praises are released. Herein lies the mystery that as believers, we join the tribe of Judah each time we praise God, and in return God reveals the Lion dimension of Himself [i.e. He roars]. Beloved, show me that problem that will stand when the Lion of Judah roars.The Psalmist said “I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in my heart.” In other words, start with praise and not complaints. The entrance into His presence should be with thanksgiving, after which you enter His Courts with praise. It is our duty to praise God [Ps 7:17, 9:1], and we must understand the power of praise. Drawing an inference from marriages, you notice that many husbands harden their heart when their wives only nag, grumble and complain. But once the women switch from complains to praise, they soften up and you may even find such husbands in the kitchen doing the dishes. Furthermore, when the man Jehoshaphat was confronted by three [3] nations, he bowed his head with Judah [praise] and all Jerusalem and began to praise God. Then God set an ambush against all those nations, and none escaped for they were all destroyed. Israel spent three days gathering the spoils at the valley of Berachah for they were much, and Jehoshaphat’s reign was quiet because the Lord gave him rest. [2 Chron 20:18 – 25] The lesson learnt herein is that the enemies cannot overcome a man that knows how to praise God no matter

their numbers. Jehoshaphat’s enemies turned against one another and killed themselves; the power of praise is such that your enemies will take pleasure in killing themselves.

Brethren, never underestimate a believer that dances a lot in the place of praise. Michal despised David for dancing and rejoicing before God, and she was the only woman in the Bible that died barren because God shut her womb. Despising those that are praising God can attract curse and judgment to such a person.

Once you come to the reality of your praise responsibility, you will no longer consider your problem. In fact, it is an act of irresponsibility to tell God to do something for you before you praise Him. God is ever faithful; and if you trust God, you will praise Him. There is no inconsistency with God because God cannot lie. Instead it is man that is inconsistent in his relationship with God.

FACTS TO KNOW ABOUT PRAISE DUTY

• We have a responsibility to praise God, and God has a responsibility to bless us.

• We are called to praise God as long as we are living – Brethren, praise God even if you are about to breathe your last. Bishop T.D. Jakes told the story of a woman that always praised God with a loud shout because that was how she knew how to praise. Even on her sick bed, she rendered a loud noise as a triumphant Christian unto God and gave up the ghost. The devil hates praises, and we must terrorize him by praising God as long as we live. Devil cannot stand the fact that man is qualified to praise God while he has been relegated.

• Do not give your responsibility over to another due to challenges and situations. Note that whatever you are going through must not keep you away from the House of God.

• No matter how fierce the battle is or can be, praise is a requirement for your victory. For instance, you can declare seven days of praises if you are facing a very tough battle, and you will be shocked by the tremendous results.

• The devil is afraid of praise and those who praise God. In the year 2006, we tried to deliver a girl possessed with a demon during one of our school missions. We commanded the demon to come out, spoke in tongues and prayed to no avail. Then the spirit of God said “begin to praise.” As we began to sing praises, the confidence of the wicked was broken, and all of a sudden the demon jumped out by itself. Demons hate praises because God lives inside praises that are genuine, and not bastardized praises.

• Praise God to ensure your divine restoration. Remember it is our year of divine restoration at the House of Revival. We saw earlier that the children of Israel spent three days recovering all that was stolen from them and others. This is the magnitude of blessings that God can give to us when we praise Him.

WHY MEN DO NOT PRAISE GOD?

• Ignorance – Some people do not know that it is important to praise God. This is why some believers start their morning devotions by commanding their attackers to die. What an absurd way to start prayers! Brethren, no matter the attacks that came at night or the demon that fought you, please praise God first. Do not be too scared of the devil that you neglect your responsibility to God and start binding the devil, because it is what the devil wants. Many people do not praise God because they are ignorant of the power and capacity of God. The truth is that if you know how big your God is, then you will know how small the devil is; and this is the reason the devil is plaguing believers with ignorance. Paul in attempt to burst this ignorance began to pray “that I may know you.”

• Fear – Are you fearful? Praise God fearfully, and you will discover that fear itself will be afraid of you praising God. The devil brings fear to stop you from praising God, because he is aware that stopping you from praising God will stop what God wants to do in your life.

• Traumatic Experiences – Many people have passed through traumatic situations and decide not to praise God as a result. Do not be discouraged. David went through a lot and yet he authored the book of Psalms. Spending thirteen years in the wilderness, being betrayed by his son and so on, is not a joke. Be encouraged to praise God no matter the traumatic experiences around you.

• Strong battles – People decide not to praise God due to the strong battles they face. Little do they know that praising God is a weapon in the battlefield.

• Pride – Some Christians are too proud to praise God. They feel they have everything and so they do not need to praise God because praising God is for the poor.

• We are to praise God even in sickness. We should praise Him regardless of our challenges and environmental conflicts surrounding us.

WHY SHOULD WE PRAISE GOD?

When you praise God, you experience – 

• Deliverance
• Restoration of losses
• You have abundant provisions
• You have victory over sin, death and sickness
• Your enemies will be destroyed
• You have dominion over your vicinity physically and spiritually

PRAYER: Father, give me the garment of praise in all conditions and in all situations in the name of Jesus