March 31, 2007- April 14, 2007

CHAPTER 2                         EXPLOSIVE PRAISE

2 Chronicles 20:2-9

² Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom,^[a] from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). ³Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. ⁴ And Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

 ⁵ And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, ⁶ and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. ⁷ Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? ⁸ And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, ⁹ ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment,^[b] or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’

2 Chronicles 20:21-29

   for his steadfast love endures forever.”

²¹ And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say,

   “Give thanks to the LORD, 

 ²² And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. ²³For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.

The LORD Delivers Judah

 ²⁴ When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the horde, and behold, there^[a] were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped. ²⁵ When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found among them, in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much. ²⁶ On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah,^[b] for there they blessed the LORD. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Beracah to this day. ²⁷ Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies. ²⁸ They came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of the LORD. ²⁹ And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.

-       When we, God’s people come into His presence with thanksgiving and praise, warfare is waged against our enemies, and our battles are won by the Supernatural power of God.

-       In the face of challenge and persecution, Gods’ people are to unite and praise Him.

-       The enemy has no chance of winning against people who are consumed with praising God.

-       There is no victory against those who rejoice in God’s great glory

-       It wasn’t the harmony that defeated their enemy, it was the presence of God mightily power that warred on their behalf and won their battles.

PRAISE -  Is not a “happy-clappy” song

1. -                                               - not the fast songs before the nice slow worship songs
2. -                                              -  is a DECLARATION, a VICTORY CRY, and PROCLAIMING FAITH TO STAND       
3.                          FIRM IN THE PLACE GOD HAS GIVEN YOU.
4. -                                            - PROCLAMATION that the enemy’s intent to plunder you will not rock you
5. -                                           - DECLARES that you will not be moved by the enemy’s attempt to snatch away.
6. -                                          - POWERFUL WAR CRY declaring that you will stand strong and you will PRAISE          
7.                        GOD AT ALL TIMES THROUGH ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.
8. -                                        AN EXPLOSION OF FAITH that allows you to run straight into that loving arms of Jesus

I. GOD INHABITS OUR PRAISES

Psalm 22:3

 ³ Yet you are holy, 

   enthroned on the praises^[a] of Israel.

-       God in all His fullness, inhabits and dwells in OUR praises of Him

-       God is found in our praises in every situation

-       He occupies our praise and with His presence/ he brings His love, His healing, His forgiveness, His grace and His mercy

Every time you worship Him and praise Him, He is PRESENT to meet Your needs. As you praise and worship Him, name your needs and watch Jess answer your need. HE IS ALL YOU NEED.

We should not think of practical level, like we need food, air to breathe, etc.. But WITHOUT JESUS, we don’t need anything else, because WITHOUT JESUS- LIFE IS NOT WORTH LIVING.

OUR PRAISE IS IRRESTIBLE TO JESUS.

II. THE POWER OF PRAISE

• -       Praise and worship breaks through all boundaries of talent and ability. Praise invades hell and excites heaven.
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• -       When we praise God, we must think beyond notes, form or technique.
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• -       Praise and worship is a powerful expression of love that transcend the possibilities of music
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• -       A weapon of warfare or as a warm blanket on a cold night.
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• -       Praise is a supernatural way of expressing our thanks to our ever-loving God.

We must never underestimate the gift and the power of praise and worship. as we obediently bring to Him the little we an odder Him through praise, He is always faithful to respond with the greatness He has to return.

Psalm 8:2

 ² Out of the mouth of babies and infants,  you have established strength because of your foes,     to still the enemy and the avenger.

-       Even our babies have been ordained by the Lord Most High to silence the enemy with praise.

-       Silence the foe and rebuke the avenger with your praise

-       When we sing, praise, dance and rejoice in the face of opposition, you’re using spiritual warfare against the devil.

2 Corinthians 10:4

⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

-       No matter what you are facing, your answer is in the arms of God.

Psalm 138:2

² I bow down toward your holy temple 
   and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, 
   for you have exalted above all things 
   your name and your word.^[a]    and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,     for you have exalted above all things     your name and your word.^[a]

-       He is exalted above anything that you face- above any disappointment, above any brokenness, above anything that tries to exalt itself higher than the Name of Jesus

Psalm 138:3

³ On the day I called, you answered me; 
   my strength of soul you increased.^[a]    my strength of soul you increased.^[a]

-       He has promised us His Name and His Word.

III. ENTER HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING

Psalm 100:4

 ⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving,     and his courts with praise!     Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Psalm 50:23

²³ The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
   to one who orders his way rightly
   I will show the salvation of God!”
   to one who orders his way rightly     I will show the salvation of God!”

There is a tremendous power in bringing an offering of thanksgiving to God.

Philippians 4:6

⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

As worshippers, we are a people who know the power of thanksgiving, and who welcome His praise. The Bible says that we can ‘enter His gates with His throne and His courts with thanksgiving”.  It is a powerful opportunity!

Thanksgiving paves a way for us to go straight into that awesome throne room of the King of kings.

Praise and Worship – is a prayer, it is intimates, it is intercessory and it is powerful. After we present our requests to God with thanksgiving, the Word says

Philippians 4:7

⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
 

Explosive praise is about understanding the power of bringing thanksgiving into your worship.

Psalm 118:1-23

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever ¹ Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;     for his steadfast love endures forever! ² Let Israel say,     “His steadfast love endures forever.” ³ Let the house of Aaron say,     “His steadfast love endures forever.” ⁴ Let those who fear the LORD say,     “His steadfast love endures forever.” ⁵ Out of my distress I called on the LORD;     the LORD answered me and set me free. ⁶ The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.     What can man do to me? ⁷ The LORD is on my side as my helper;     I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
 ⁸ It is better to take refuge in the LORD     than to trust in man. ⁹ It is better to take refuge in the LORD     than to trust in princes. ¹⁰ All nations surrounded me;     in the name of the LORD I cut them off! ¹¹ They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;     in the name of the LORD I cut them off! ¹² They surrounded me like bees;     they went out like a fire among thorns;     in the name of the LORD I cut them off! ¹³ I was pushed hard,^[a] so that I was falling,     but the LORD helped me. ¹⁴ The LORD is my strength and my song;     he has become my salvation. ¹⁵ Glad songs of salvation     are in the tents of the righteous:  “The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,   ¹⁶ the right hand of the LORD exalts,     the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!”
 ¹⁷ I shall not die, but I shall live,     and recount the deeds of the LORD. ¹⁸ The LORD has disciplined me severely,     but he has not given me over to death. ¹⁹ Open to me the gates of righteousness,     that I may enter through them     and give thanks to the LORD. ²⁰ This is the gate of the LORD;     the righteous shall enter through it. ²¹ I thank you that you have answered me     and have become my salvation. ²² The stone that the builders rejected     has become the cornerstone.^[b] 23 This is the LORD's doing;     it is marvelous in our eyes.

·         Understand the power of explosive praise when you are facing a trial and be tenacious in your praise when you face difficulties.

Psalm 41:5-13

⁵ My enemies say of me in malice, 
   “When will he die, and his name perish?” 
⁶ And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, 
   while his heart gathers iniquity; 
   when he goes out, he tells it abroad. 
⁷ All who hate me whisper together about me; 
   they imagine the worst for me.^[a]    “When will he die, and his name perish?” ⁶ And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words,     while his heart gathers iniquity;     when he goes out, he tells it abroad. ⁷ All who hate me whisper together about me;     they imagine the worst for me.^[a] 8 They say, “A deadly thing is poured out^[b] on him;     he will not rise again from where he lies.” ⁹ Even my close friend in whom I trusted,     who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. ¹⁰ But you, O LORD, be gracious to me,     and raise me up, that I may repay them! ¹¹ By this I know that you delight in me:     my enemy will not shout in triumph over me. ¹² But you have upheld me because of my integrity,     and set me in your presence forever.
 ¹³ Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,     from everlasting to everlasting!              Amen and Amen.

David committed adultery, and then plotted a man’s death, God was not pleased with David.

2 Samuel 12:13

¹³ David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.

David repented and was forgiven. Through God’s forgiveness, David was able to stand and say “in my integrity You uphold me.”

David understood the power of praising and worshiping God when his world was falling apart. He understood the power o forgiveness, and so he sang of his love for the Lord who would deliver Him.

IV. THE POWER OF A SHOUT

Psalm 95:1

Let Us Sing Songs of Praise ¹ Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; 
   let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
   let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

There is a great power in a shout.

1. -       A shout commands attention.
2. -       A shout is prophetic and faith building.
3. -       A shout demonstrates enthusiasm, confidence and determination.
4. -       A shout releases energy, boldness and passion
5. -       A shout changes the atmosphere.

God’s word tells us to shout

Psalm 47:1

 ¹ Clap your hands, all peoples! 
   Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
   Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

Psalm 98:4

 ⁴ Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
   break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
   break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

Isaiah 26:19

¹⁹ Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise.
   You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy!
For your dew is a dew of light,
   and the earth will give birth to the dead.
   You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy!  For your dew is a dew of light,     and the earth will give birth to the dead.

Numbers 23:21

²¹ He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob,
   nor has he seen trouble in Israel.
The LORD their God is with them,
   and the shout of a king is among them.
   nor has he seen trouble in Israel.  The LORD their God is with them,     and the shout of a king is among them.

a) The walls are tumbling down

emotional walls prevent people from entering into the richness of worship. but the Name of Jesus pulls down walls. As we lift up His Name in worship and praise and let our hearts sing to our Maker, we will see confining walls in our lives comes trembling down.

A shout for joy is like a prophetic cry to break obstacles in your life. a shout of praise that comes form the core of who yu are and that believes in the divinity and sovereignty of our God will reap a harvest blessings. God can break through any size of wall in our life.

Psalm 66:1-4

 ¹ Shout for joy to God, all the earth;   ² sing the glory of his name;     give to him glorious praise! ³ Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!     So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. ⁴ All the earth worships you     and sings praises to you;     they sing praises to your name.”                           Selah

Isaiah 12:1-6

The LORD Is My Strength and My Song

 ¹ You^[a] will say in that day:  “I will give thanks to you, O LORD,     for though you were angry with me,  your anger turned away,     that you might comfort me. ² “Behold, God is my salvation;     I will trust, and will not be afraid;  for the LORD GOD^[b] is my strength and my song,     and he has become my salvation.” ³ With joy you^[c] will draw water from the wells of salvation. ⁴ And you will say in that day:   “Give thanks to the LORD,     call upon his name,  make known his deeds among the peoples,     proclaim that his name is exalted. ⁵ “Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously;     let this be made known^[d] in all the earth. ⁶ Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,     for great in your^[e] midst is the Holy One of Israel.”

IV. TENACIOUS PRAISE

Be tenacious in  your praise and worship especially when you are facing a trial.

Joshua 1:2-5

² “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. ³ Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. ⁴From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. ⁵ No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.

·         The wall that surrounded Jericho needed to come tumbling down

Joshua 1:6-8

⁶ Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. ⁷ Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success^[a] wherever you go. ⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

·         Instructed to break the wall and to take possessions of the Promised Land

Joshua 1:9-11

⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua Assumes Command ¹⁰ And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, ¹¹ “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.’”

·         When you bring an extravagant offering of worship to God, when you give a mighty victory cry of praise, the devil get nervous because he knows the power of our God , to pull down strongholds that keep us buried. He knows that we will be free as soon as “we” shout to the Lord in worship and praise.

Joshua 6:6-7

⁶ So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.” ⁷ And he said to the people, “Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the LORD.”
 

·         After Joshua has prepared all that God had told him t do, he advances toward his wall.

Joshua 6:1-20

The Fall of Jericho ¹ Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. ² And the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. ³ You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. ⁴ Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. ⁵ And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat,^[a] and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.” ⁶ So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.” ⁷ And he said to the people, “Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the LORD.” ⁸ And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the LORD went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD following them. ⁹ The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually. ¹⁰ But Joshua commanded the people, “You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.” ¹¹ So he caused the ark of the LORD to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp. ¹² Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. ¹³And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets blew continually. ¹⁴ And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days. ¹⁵ On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. ¹⁶ And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the LORD has given you the city. ¹⁷ And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction.^[b] Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent. ¹⁸But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it. ¹⁹ But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD.” ²⁰ So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.

·         The fall of Jericho

So it is with you. The presence of God goes with you as you  advance into the promises God has given you. It is powerful when you praise God and feel  a righteous anger bubble up within you toward your wall.

Sometimes crossing your finger and saying “please” is not enough to get you loosed and find your promised land.

Sometimes you need to hold on to God and give a victory shout.

So shout in His presence, and then, just stand back and watch the walls collapse. Praise down the big walls in your life. everyone is set free when God inhabits the praises of His people.

Psalm 23:5-6

 ⁵ You prepare a table before me     in the presence of my enemies;  you anoint my head with oil;     my cup overflows. ⁶ Surely^[a] goodness and mercy^[b] shall follow me     all the days of my life,  and I shall dwell^[c] in the house of the LORD     forever.^[d]

John 8:31-32

The Truth Will Set You Free ³¹ So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, ³² and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

There are friendships and possibilities of intimates, godly relations that are kept apart by walls of insecurity. There are great marriages that are locked behind walls of unforgiveness, walls of pride and walls of mistrust. There are awesome ministries locked behind walls of rebellion and ungodliness. There are healings, locked behind walls of fear. And there are the most glorious days of praise ahead of us as we learn to shake off our concern of what people will think and walk in the victory that is reserved for the people who praise God.

Walls are a waste of time. But the Word of God comes to release us, God’s presence in our lives brings power to break through to be liberated and forces us to enjoy who He is. Praise God who gives us big hearts and healthy emotions to receive His promises and to love a hurting generation without any wall holding us back.