Sacrifice of Praise

 

In the Bible we read that we were created for God’s pleasure and to praise Him.  He takes much pleasure from his people that fear Him and those who hope in Him.  He is Father to all those who believe and who accept His Son Jesus.  God created humanity to have fellowship and relationship with us.  We were created to praise Him and to bring Glory to Him through our lives!  In this lesson we will learn some of what it means to offer the sacrifice of praise to God.  He is worthy of all.

 

Handout : Sacrifice of Praise

Teacher's Guide: Sacrifice of Praise

 

Hebrews 13:15 “By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.”

 

The last five chapters of the Psalms we find how important it is to praise God.

 

Psalm 145:3 “Great is The LORD, and greatly to be Praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.”

 

Psalm 145:17 “The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and Holy in all His works.”

 

Psalm 147:1 “Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and Praise is comely.”

 

We are to praise God because He is worthy to be praised!  We praise Him because of His great works in all the earth and in our own lives.  We are to lift up the name of Jesus and praise the God who created us and who keeps us everyday. 

 

In the book of 1 Chronicles 23:30 we read that it was the responsibility of the Levitical Priesthood to offer up animal sacrifices for the sins of all the people and to stand every morning and evening and offer praises to God.  King David had also we find in

2 Chronicles chapter 8 that the Levites had been appointed to lead in praise and minister before the priests as the everyday duty.  Whole families were set apart and chosen to praise God in the Temple through singing and playing musical instruments.

 

We know that we are called to be a kingdom of holy priests in Christ Jesus.  2 Peter tell us that.

 

1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light:

 

1 Peter 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”

 

It is our duty to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices, and to offer up a sacrifice of praise in all that we do.  What does Colossians 3:17 and 23 tell us?

 

Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”

 

Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”

 

When we offer a spiritual sacrifice of praise to God we must do it with sincerity with a willingness to submit to God and to obey Him.  Genesis 8:20 and Amos 5 show the importance of this.  God sees our hearts and He knows our motives.  We must offer a sacrifice of praise to Him with all humility and reverence to how Great and Awesome He is!  He is most worthy!

 

In all things that we do we can offer it up as a sacrifice of Praise to God to bring Him glory and honor.  We should do this in our work, in our play, in all of our activities.  I think of the beasts full of eyes written about in the book of revelation that praise God with every breath!  What a beautiful and amazing sight that must be. 

 

Revelation 4:8 “And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, LORD GOD Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”

 

Revelation 4:9-11 “And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to Him that sat on the throne, who liveth forever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O LORD, to receive Glory and Honour and Power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

 

It blesses the heart of God when we His children give Him praise.  We cannot do as these do, but in our hearts, continually we can be offering up sacrifices of praise to our Father who is all powerful.  With every breathe we take we should do so in praise and in honor of our God who loves us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die for us so that we could have intimacy with Him! 

 

In ALL things!  Sometimes we get it into our minds that we should only praise God in Church.  This is so wrong.  If we only do it the one or few times we are in a church service per week, how spiritually weak we would be!  God wants us to have praise for Him in our hearts at all times.  We are to be a living sacrifice to God, living holy and acceptable.  That is just our reasonable service.  It is our Holy display of worship to God who created us! 

 

God has been teaching me more and more to offer a sacrifice of praise in all that I do.  When we seek Him about these things He will show us how by His Holy Spirit that lives in us.

 

You may be thinking how can I possibly be expected to Praise and worship God continually in my heart in everything I do?  Here is an example of how God has helped me to do this.  During the week, I stop at a walking track and I walk for exercise.  God has taught me to praise Him while I’m doing this.  While I’m walking I thank Him for giving me legs and strength to walk without pain.  It wasn’t so many years ago that I could not do this.  I thank Him as I walk for healing my body and for giving me the ability to walk.  Sometimes it is hard and even painful after I’ve walked a long distance, because my body is still gaining strength from a back injury that God healed some time ago, but I find that if I keep my mind on Him and do it as a sacrifice of praise to Him, knowing that my body is a temple for His Holy Spirit, and that I am doing this for glory to Him in taking care of my body, it gives me strength to continue.  I find myself saying to God, Father with every step I praise You; I offer this a sacrifice of praise to You for Your Glory.  When I do this, I am empowered and I am blessed!  You can do this too in all the tasks and activities that you do in your life.  You will find that you will be blessed if you will do this.

 

Let’s look and see what the Apostle Paul wrote about spiritual sacrifices to God.

 

Romans 12:1 “I beseech ye therefore brethren by the mercies of God that present yourselves a living sacrifice Holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

 

Romans 12:2 “and be not conformed to this world:  but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

 

How are our minds renewed?  Our minds are renewed by the indwelling Holy Spirit of God.  We are empowered by Him to do exactly what Romans 12 verses 1 and 2 tells us to do!  When we keep our minds and our hearts focused on God, we are renewed day by day.  It brings blessing and pleasure to God, and it brings life, strength and peace to us! 

 

Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because He trusteth in thee.”

 

Don’t you want that perfect peace that comes from keeping our minds and hearts focused on CHRIST?  I do!  I want that peace that passes all understanding in my heart when life is reeling and rocking and the storm is raging and when all of hell is waging war against me, and these things are inevitable.  I want that peace at all times no matter what is happening in life!  I can have that and so can you Dear Believer, when we keep our minds on Him thus offering spiritual sacrifices of praise to our God who loves us to the utmost!  Thank You Father!

 

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “What?  Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price:  therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

 

Christ paid the greatest price on the cross when He died for our sins.  We have been purchased with that price and we are not our own anymore.  How arrogant for us to walk around with an attitude that we will only praise God in church.  That we will only serve and praise God when we “feel” like it!  God has so graciously given us eternal life, and free will of choice, and can we not life the rest of our life in thanksgiving and in praise to Him for all that He has done for us?  He is not asking too much of us at all.  He only asks that we love Him and when we love Him we will do that which is pleasing to Him.  When we truly love Him we will obey Him and do that which brings joy, blessing, and pleasure to His lovely heart.  What an honor and privilege to be able to bless God’s heart.  I want to do that with every breathe I take! 

 

John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

 

Deuteronomy 6:5 “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

 

Matthew 22:35-37 “Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked Him a question, tempting Him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.”

 

When we truly love the Lord our God as we should, it will not be hard for us to praise Him in everything that we do, it will be our great pleasure too, because we were created to do so.  When we love Him, we will place Him first in our lives.  When we place Him first, everything else will fall into place.  When we seek Him first, we will not have to worry about the cares of this life because He will put everything in its rightful placement.  When we put Him first, loving, praising Him and bringing Him honor with our lives, we do not have to worry about what we will eat, drink, wear, or where will live.  We will not have to take thought for tomorrow because we will understand that God holds us in His hands, let come what may, we are safe!

 

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

 

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 “Pray without ceasing.  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

 

Psalm 54:6 “I will freely sacrifice unto thee:  I will praise Thy Name, O LORD; for it is good.”

 

Psalm 145:2 “Every day I will bless thee; and I will Praise Thy Name for ever and ever.”

 

Dear Righteous, Holy FATHER,

 

Today I bow before You again in Praise and thanksgiving for Who and All that You are!  You are Most worthy of all Praise.  Father I thank You for all that You have done in my life and I want to live everyday in honor to You.  I want every breath that You give me, that I take, to be in Praise to You.  I want everything I do to be a living sacrifice of Praise to glorify Your name!  Lord help me, and show me how to Love You more and more, the way You want and deserve to be loved.  Father help me serve You and bless Your heart.  Please show me how to submit in all things to You and to always trust and hope in You.  You are all, and without You all things are vain.  Nothing matters without You.  You are life, You are breathe, You are peace, You are Joy and I worship You!  Thank You for all the things You do for me.  Today I offer up my heart, my life and all that I have to You as a sacrifice of Praise.  Take me and use me for Your glory and for Your honor in the name of Lovely Jesus I pray…Amen.  Thank You Father for hearing and answering the prayers of Your beloved children.  We love You so much.

 

~*Cindygirl*~

September 29, 2019