password: p r a i s e
Pastor Mark Carrillo – Posture of Praise [part_1]
What’s the password?
Whether it’s a kid’s clubhouse or your email you need to know the password.
You can pass through his open gates with the password of praise. Come right into his presence with thanksgiving. Come bring your thank offering to him and affectionately bless his beautiful name! (Psalms 100:4 TPT)
If the gates are open why do we need a password?
Praise doesn’t open His gates, it opens our hearts. (Not works but faith)
Praise keeps us conscious of the fact that heaven’s gates are open!
Coming into the presence of an omnipresent God – a spiritual, not physical, reality.
Posture of Praise = not a physical posture but spiritual one
Inclined Toward or Leaning Toward Something
“An attitude or way of behaving”
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16, ESV)
Why do we need to have a Posture of Praise?
Eternity Minded vs Temporal Minded:
People’s normal tendency is to be self-centered and self-conscious.
We stop asking, “What do I want?” and start asking, “What does God want?”
How Do we Develop a Posture of Praise?
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ESV)
In all situations find the thing you can thank God for.
It’s a fight to focus on what’s right.
Be more focused on what God has done for you than on what the devil’s done to you!
Greek verbs in this passage are in command form: keep on rejoicing, praying, giving thanks.
The words carry the idea of commitment to a longterm way of doing something, make it a general habit or life-style.
Paul isn’t encouraging us to disregard difficulty but to maintain an awareness of God’s presence in “all circumstances.”
If you’re praising before the battle, you know something the enemy doesn’t!
“Shaken, Jehoshaphat prayed. He went to God for help and ordered a nationwide fast. The country of Judah united in seeking God’s help—they came from all the cities of Judah to pray to God. “ (2 Chronicles 20:3-4, MSG)
When shaken, I _____________.
“And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.”” (2 Chronicles 20:15-17, ESV)
“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.” (2 Chronicles 20:22, ESV)
Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus
“So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”” (John 11:41-42, ESV)
Thank you that you have heard me: you hear me, you always will hear me
no begging; no working up of faith; no wondering if I’m holy enough . . .
“Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it. I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.” (Psalms 118:19-21, ESV)
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15, ESV)
“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6, ESV)
USE THE PASSWORD!
If we hold our Posture of Praise we will ultimately see the victory!
(Psalms 89:15-16 MSG)