Lord, Teach Us To Pray : Praise and Worship
We have been learning how to pray effectively. We saw the confidence that Elijah had in approaching God. His prayers were powerful and effective. We saw how skillful Daniel was in prayer. Paul says that he did not waste his punches, he was like a skillful boxer. Jesus taught his disciples to pray, but he also demonstrated a lifestyle of prayer. He prayed using various kinds of prayers depending on the situation.
Whilst in other kinds of prayers we focus on our needs and the needs of others, Praise and worship is a kind of prayer that makes us to concentrate and focus on God. When we praise and worship God, our attention is taken away from everything else including our problems. God becomes the center of our focus. We become aware how great our God is compared to our problems.
Habakkuk 3:17-19 | NKJV
17 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls—18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.
Psalms 30:11-12 | NKJV
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
Isaiah 61:3 | NKJV
3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
Praise to get victory. Praise your way out of trouble. Praise your way to victory.
2 Chronicles 20:21-22 | NKJV
21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.” 22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.
Acts 16:23-26 | KJV
23 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.
Praise and worship is a lifestyle- it doesn’t matter what circumstances we are facing.
Start singing praises even when things are still difficult. God will manifest Himself and deliver you as you praise Him. Sing praises even in your midnight hour. When we praise God and magnify Him, He manifests Himself. He shows Himself strong on our behalf. Even the walls of Jericho fell while the children of Israel were praising the Lord.
We approach Him as a King. He sits on a Throne
Isaiah 6:1-3 | NKJV
1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”
When we worship, we join the heavenly hosts in honoring the Lord our King.
Revelation 4:8-11 | NKJV
8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”
We are a royal priesthood, we are priests, we offer sacrifices of praise and worship.
1 Peter 2:9 | NKJV
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Hebrews 13:15 | NKJV
15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
Whenever we approach God, we need to approach Him with praise and thanksgiving.
Psalms 100:4 | NKJV
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
Psalms 95:1-7 | NKJV
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. 3 For the Lord is the great God, And the great King above all gods. 4 In His hand are the deep places of the earth; The heights of the hills are His also. 5 The sea is His, for He made it; And His hands formed the dry land. 6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. 7 For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And
the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice:
We approach the Lord with jubilant shouts of praise.
Our praise should be followed with worship where we kneel and bow before the Lord. When we worship, it’s time to be still before the Lord and listen to His voice.
The Tabernacle depicts a form of prayer, praise and worship that pleases God.
Hebrews 8:5 | NLT
5 They serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: “Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.”
According to the Hebrew Bible the tabernacle (Hebrew: mishkān, meaning “residence” or “dwelling place”), also known as the Tent of the Congregation ( ‘ōhel mō’êḏ, also Tent of Meeting, etc.), was the portable earthly dwelling place of Yahweh (the God of Israel) used by the children of Israel …
Exodus 27:9-16 | AMP
9 And you shall make the court of the tabernacle. On the south side the court shall have hangings of fine twined linen, a hundred cubits long for one side;10 Their pillars shall be twenty and their sockets twenty, of bronze, but the hooks of the pillars and their joinings shall be of silver;11 Likewise for the north side hangings, a hundred cubits long, and their twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of bronze, but the hooks of the pillars and their joinings shall be of silver.12 And for the breadth of the court on the west side there shall be
hangings of fifty cubits, with ten pillars and ten sockets.13 The breadth of the court to the front, the east side, shall be fifty cubits.14 The hangings for one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits, with three pillars and three sockets.15 On the other side the hangings shall be fifteen cubits, with three pillars and three sockets.16 And for the gate of the court there shall be a hanging [for a screen] twenty cubits long, of blue, purple, and scarlet [stuff] and fine twined linen, embroidered. It shall have four pillars and four sockets for them.
Hebrews 9:1-8 | AMPC
1 NOW EVEN the first covenant had its own rules and regulations for divine worship, and it had a sanctuary [but one] of this world. 2 For a tabernacle (tent) was erected, in the outer division or compartment of which were the lampstand and the table with [its loaves of] the showbread set forth. [This portion] is called the Holy Place. 3 But [inside] beyond the second curtain or veil, [there stood another] tabernacle [division] known as the Holy of Holies. 4 It had the golden altar of incense and the ark (chest) of the covenant, covered over with wrought gold. This [ark] contained a golden jar which held the manna and the rod of Aaron that sprouted and the [two stone] slabs of the covenant [bearing the Ten Commandments]. 5 Above [the ark] and overshadowing the mercy seat were the representations of the cherubim [winged creatures which were the symbols] of glory. We cannot now go into detail about these things.6 These arrangements having thus been made, the priests enter [habitually] into the outer division of the tabernacle in performance of their ritual acts of worship.7 But into the second [division of the tabernacle] none but the high priest goes, and he only once a year, and never without taking a sacrifice of blood with him, which he offers for himself and for the errors and sins of ignorance and thoughtlessness which the people have committed. 8 By this the Holy Spirit points out that the way into the [true Holy of] Holies is not yet thrown open as long as the former [the outer portion of the] tabernacle remains a recognized institution and is still standing,
Revelation 5:8 | AMP
8 And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty four elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin] prostrated themselves before the Lamb. Each was holding a harp (lute or guitar), and they had golden bowls full of incense (fragrant spices and gums for burning), which are the prayers of God’s people (the saints).
Exodus 33:7 | AMP
7 Now Moses used to take [his own] tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting [of God with His own people]. And everyone who sought the Lord went out to [that temporary] tent of meeting which was outside the camp.
Be spiritually sensitive during worship. As you minister to the Lord, allow Him to minister to you.
Psalms 46:10 Be still and know that I am God. There are times when you should be quiet before the Lord. Listen to what He tells you.
Lord, teach us to pray. Lord, teach us to praise and worship:
“Let’s praise and worship the Lord” – How?
There are various ways to praise the Lord as depicted by 7 Hebrew words for Praise
7 Hebrew words for praise:
1. Tehillah: to sing praises (Psalm – Tehillim)
Psalms 96:1-2 | NKJV
Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
2 Chronicles 20:21-22 | KJV
21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. 22 And 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.
Victory came as they were singing praises – sing your way to your victory
Acts 16:25-26 | KJV
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.
Paul and Silas sang praises even when they were still facing a serious challenge. Sing praises to get your deliverance. Sing praises for your doors to open and to be set free from any bondage.
2. Zamar : to touch strings, to praise with instruments
Psalms 33:2 | NKJV
2 Praise the Lord with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
Psalms 150:1-6 | NKJV
Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! 2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! 3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! 4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! 5 Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Praise using various types of musical instruments.
Exodus 15:20-21 | KJV
20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 21 And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
Psalms 47:1 | KJV
1 O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
Your team is winning – Shout of victory
4. Halal : To boast, to celebrate, to make a show of it, to shine
3 Shout “Hallelujah!” because God’s so good, sing anthems to his beautiful name.
Hallelujah (Halal + Jah)
Psalms 68:4 | KJV
4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.
Matthew 21:9 | NKJV
9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David!‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’Hosanna in the highest!”
5. Towdah: Extending hands, acting out thanksgiving
6. Yadah: extending hands vigorously, to lift or throw arms upward in praise and surrender
7. Barak : to kneel, to bow down
Psalms 95:6 | NKJV
6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker
PRAYER, THANKSGIVING, PRAISE & WORSHIP
Ephesians 3:14-21 | AMP
14 For this reason [seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,15 For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name].16 May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].17 May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,18 That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];19 [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]–21 To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 | AMP
2 We are ever giving thanks to God for all of you, continually mentioning [you when engaged] in our prayers,3 Recalling unceasingly before our God and Father your work energized by faith and service motivated by love and unwavering hope in [the return of] our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). [I Thess. 1 :10 .]
2 Thessalonians 1:3 | AMP
3 We ought and indeed are obligated [as those in debt] to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, as is fitting, because your faith is growing exceedingly and the love of every one of you each toward the others is increasing and abounds.
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 | AMP
11 With this in view we constantly pray for you, that our God may deem and count you worthy of [your] calling and [His] every gracious purpose of goodness, and with power may complete in [your] every particular work of faith (faith which is that leaning of the whole human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness).12 Thus may the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be glorified and become more glorious through and in you, and may you [also be glorified] in Him according to the grace (favor and blessing) of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).