Tag: sacrifice of praise

The Voice of PRAISE

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD5 Comments

The voice we use to cry to the Father is the voice He gave us to talk to Him and praise Him. More are the references in God’s Word of praise than of crying.

In fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, (1 Jn. 1:3; Phil. 2:1) our voices are changed because our heart, spirit, and mind are changed. No longer do we need to cry to our Father but the remainder of our time in the wilderness is used to praise Him, to pray for others and cry out to them with news of the blessings of His kingdom, inviting them to join our family.

“He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the Lord your God, just as He has spoken.” Deuteronomy 26:19

We are brought through the ages and stages of this wilderness life as His people to praise Him. His people in the Old Testament were delivered from their enemies to be His people, to worship and serve Him.

The Voice and the Choice

Our voice is obedient to our hearts and minds. Before we knew our Father and were brought to live in His fellowship, our voices were speaking the things we saw and heard in the world. Before the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in Christ is shined in our hearts, the god of this world blinds and prevents people from knowing God. (2 Cor. 4: 3-6) We naturally spoke the things he put in our minds. From our physical birth, the spirit of oppression ruled our heart and spirit. All we knew was to complain, cry, to lash out in anger and violence. Our voices indicate the state of the heart — whether of fury or grace. 

The stony heart was chiseled with the nature of rebellion and disobedience. Sin was the voice of the world since the beginning — until Jesus came, set up His kingdom and changed us. With the “new heart and the new spirit” (Eze. 36:16) we have a new tablet on which our Father writes, by the Holy Spirit impressing upon us His nature and the life of Christ. (2 Cor. 3:3) This new heart is the eternal heart given us in Christ. (Jn. 17:3;6:68) The Holy Spirit speaks through our spirit to renew and transform our minds and lives in preparation for eternity with Him. (Roms. 8:15-17; 12:1-2)

His voice through His Spirit and His Word presents a new way – a new path that is irresistible. Pride sometimes presents the thought that a person is able to make this choice on his own. But just as we did not choose to be born physically, we are unable to turn away from the Father who loved us before creation – before He sent Jesus as sacrifice for us. Because He loved us before the world was (Jn. 17;5), He sent His Son to reconcile us to Himself and make us His own. (2 Cor. 18-19)

Those who refuse or doubt and spurn His love proves they do not belong to Him. These will continue in their rebellion, crying and complaining through the remainder of their wilderness experience and for eternity.

Our voice is the indicator of our destiny for eternity.

Quite different is the voice of God’s people from the world – the voice of continual praise. Just as He chose the nation of Israel in the Old Testament, He, in Christ, has chosen us for His eternal nation.

In Simon Peter’s first letter he describes us “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices (of praise) acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Pet. 2:4-5)

Here is His creating a people out of this world to “offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Him through Jesus Christ.” (see also Heb. 13:15)

After explaining the difference in those who are of this holy priesthood and those who refused Christ (“They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.”) he describes the house of our Father and His Son.

“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; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. (1 Pet. 2:9-10)

How can we not praise Him if we remember the darkness of this wilderness from which He has delivered us. But more so, the thought of His qualifying us “to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light, (eternal fellowship with Him) delivering us from the power of darkness and conveying us to the kingdom of His Son. (Col. 1:12-14)

We live and praise Him because we are His children here, now, and forever.

 Imagine what might happen if all God’s people joined in one voice of praise, across this land and around the world. Would not heaven be opened to pour out His blessings upon us.

Gracious Father, we praise you because you are worthy to be praised and you bring your own praise through us to yourself. You will not fail to bring your children up in your own nurture and admonition. Enable us to spend our energy not for our cries and complaints but for praises, thanksgivings, and witness to others of your great love and care. Draw others to yourself through us. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Fran

(Chapter from OUR FATHER HEARS ~The Voice of Daughters Crying in the Wilderness in progress)

Suggested Reading: Presription for Praise,  God is Our Goal

Image: Google

What is a Sacrifice?

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD, TRUTH15 Comments

When the Holy Spirit waters the Word planted in fertile soil, fruit comes from and of itself. Such is the case for this article, an inspiration from the same Word, 1 Peter 2:9-10, preached last night from two different ministers, two different pulpits, and two different countries.*

“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 marvellous light;
Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10

These words brought to memory other references to sacrifices. From the Old Covenant, that spoke of the shadows and types concerned with the physical realm, to the New Covenant and the fulfilling of the promises in a spiritual realm, I could see the evolving of another book (this is usually the overwhelming of the Spirit using the Word).

But I had to rein in my thoughts so as to present a succinct and concise meaning of sacrifice in the Christian life.

So, let’s look at the sacrifice (sacrificial system) in the Old Covenant as we consider the facets of sacrifice. For the Christian, all things originate with our Lord. He initiates and commands. He initiated the Covenant of Grace, promised it through Abraham and his seed, and fulfilled it in Jesus Christ and through His seed.

God Commands a Sacrifice from His People
He specified the object of sacrifice and how it was to be offered.
Sacrifices were commanded for different occasions in the Old Testament ~ the main blood sacrifice was to atone for the sins of His people through the killing of animals.

No other nation was required or privileged to offer these sacrifices. Sacrifices were the response of God’s people to His rule and authority over them.

We see the mercy of the Lord our God when we compare the sacrifices other nations made by offering their own children as sacrifices to their gods.

The people brought their sacrifice to be offered on the altar by the Levitical priests.   They were a shadow or type commanded and offered until the New Covenant was ratified in the sacrifice of His Son.

“But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever,
sat down on the right hand of God;”
Hebrews 10:12

A study of the book of Hebrews provides an overwhelming explanation of this brief review. Every believer needs this study under his belt of truth.

In these references. sacrifice is the main subject. Hebrews 5:1; Hebrews 7:27; Hebrews 8:3; Hebrews 9:9; Hebrews 9:23;Hebrews 9:26;Hebrews 10:1;Hebrews 10:3;Hebrews 10:5;Hebrews 10:6;Hebrews 10:8;Hebrews 10:11;Hebrews 11:4;Hebrews 13:15

The Point of Sacrifice for the Christian
Jesus was the last blood sacrifice ~ offering Himself willingly to fulfill the covenant of redemption on behalf of His people. The physical altars of sacrifice were shut down when Jesus hung on a cross, sacrificing Himself for those who would come in faith and repentance to Him as Lord and Savior.

His blood atoned forever and commands a response from us as His chosen generation, His blood-bought people.

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

What are these spiritual sacrifices?

 “ to show forth the praises of him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light.“

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
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.” Romans 12:1-2

“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.” Hebrews 13:15
“But to do good and to communicate forget not:
for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
Hebrews 13:16

 “And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Mark 12:33

All we have of His mercy, His goodness, and His love, are the results of His sacrifice for us. 

Mercy begets mercy

Sacrifice begets sacrifice

Goodness begets goodness

Love begets love

Gracious and glorious Father in heaven, send your Holy Spirit to quicken your Word spoken to us by your servants. Speak to us through your Word this week. Bring forth the praise that you command by your Spirit and your Word through us. Make us to know your presence and power as you prepare our hearts for your worship and Word next Lord’s Day ~ all for that glorious day when we shall praise you face to face. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Fran

*Chris Strevel,  Buford, Georgia: Exodus 40  From Slavery to Glory
*Ryan McKee, Northern Ireland: 1 Peter 2:9-10 Who We Are in Christ 

Image: Google

A Prescription for Praise

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD12 Comments

As a young mother of a four and a one-year-old, my life was ruled by migraine headaches. Nothing killed the pain, and after an x-ray showed a shadow on my brain, my doctor sent me from our small town in Georgia to Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. More x-rays (no CT scan or MRI in those days) and tests proved there was nothing physically wrong.

The doctor sent me home after a week, with a prescription for Triavil, an anti-depressant used also for headaches. He said that the medication would enable me to see through rose-colored glasses. When I look back, I realize that the time I spent in his counseling must have been a week of complaining about my life. Though I did not understand then what he meant by rose-colored glasses, I took the medication. In time, my headaches subsided. Triavil became my god because it got me through those days when I did not know who I was or my purpose in life.

During the ten years I took this medication, the Lord began to draw me to His Word. We attended church but there had been no connection for me with God. Reading the Bible became a new experience, one in which the Lord was speaking to my heart. In His timing, He brought a conviction that the medication was no longer needed; that He would be my God and do more for me than this medication had ever done. He was true to His Word and weaned me from the medication, continuing to teach me and lead me.

In 1992, years after He brought me to His Word, His Spirit did a marvelous work, giving me a new heart and a new life. A new life in the Spirit of Christ was His gift of grace that has worked until today for me to live in dependence upon Him. There is no place for me to complain about anything in my life; no reason to spend my time complaining about the world, the chaos, the evil, and the trials Jerry and I continue to experience.

The Lord, through His Word, has prescribed something more powerful than any medication can provide. His Word prescribes all that His children need in this world of degradation. We cannot change the world or our circumstances; only He can; and will, in His time.

His Spirit provides His grace within us to respond to all things according to His will; responses that prove who we are as His children – those that glorify Him.

His grace brings us to trust in Him for all things. Living in trust enables us to praise Him no matter the circumstances.

Consulting a physician usually results in some kind of treatment, a prescription that has proven in certain cases to solve the physical problem. God’s Word has been proven to solve spiritual, emotional, and sometimes physical cases. His commands are not to be taken lightly. We should, as willingly as we accept a prescription from a physical doctor, accept what God prescribes for us as His people. We not only trust the doctor but also the pharmacist who fills the written prescription.

We accept God’s Word as His plan for our well-being and take His prescriptions to the throne of grace where His Son sits at His right hand to fill all that we bring to Him through His Holy Spirit. In His timing, He fulfills every promise He makes to us through His Word.

In Psalm 107, the same verse is quoted in verses 8, 15, 21, 31.

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

.The Practice of Praise
From Psalm 113, we find reasons to praise and in these verses the command (prescription).

Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.

Rarely do we miss a dose of medication because we want to be well. We want to get over whatever ails us and so we take all medication that is prescribed every day. In the same way, we must begin and practice daily the habit of praise. We don’t just praise the Lord when all things are well. Especially when the difficult days come, we need this prescription more than at other times.

The beauty of praise is that it does not cost us anything. Our prescription plan was paid for on Calvary by the blood of Christ. He is the reason for the Spirit of praise that lives within us, working every day through the good days and the bad. Our circumstances change but God does not. Saying, “I praise you Lord” privately, or “Praise the Lord” where others hear, is one of the most blessed expressions the Holy Spirit works in us showing our trust in Him and to others.

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3

Why Should We Praise Him?
He is our God; Deuteronomy 10:21
Because of His righteousness:.Psalm 7:17
The Lord is worthy to be praised: Psalm 18:3
For God is the King of all the earth; Psalm 47:7
For the help of His countenance; Psalm 42:5
Praise glorifies God; Psalm 50:23
To honor His name; Psalm 66:2
Because of His word; Psalm 56:10
For His strength, and his wonderful works; Psalm 78:4
Praise is comely; Psalm 147:1
We are accepted in the beloved; Ephesians 1:6
We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people;  called out of darkness into his marvellous light; 1 Peter 2:9
His truth endures for ever; Psalm 117:2
For His power; Psalm 21:13
The Lord is my strength and my shield; Psalm 28:7.
For His mighty acts and excellent greatness; Psalm 150:2

Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Psalm 63:3

Where Should We Praise Him?
We should praise Him among the heathen Psalm 18:49 that others may see, fear and trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:3; to the ends of the earth; Psalm 48:10; among the people and nations; Psalm 57:9; in His sanctuary: Psalm 150:1

Who Can Praise Him?
The upright; Psalm 33:1 the poor and needy; Psalm 74:21; His people and sheep of His pasture; Psalm 79:13; the people He formed for Himself; Isaiah 43:21; the meek; Psalm 22:26; those who fear the Lord; Psalm 22:23

I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. Psalm 86:12

When Should We Praise Him?
We should praise at all times; Psalm 34:1; all the day long; Psalm 35:28; Psalm 44:8; continually; Psalm 71:6; Hebrews 13:15; every day; Psalm 145:2; when we have learned His righteous judgments ; Psalm 119:7

 Let us study what our Lord has written for us; the prescription for praise will change our hearts and minds during the times of trial. We can know His grace and peace when we learn to praise Him every day even in times of despair.

Dear heavenly Father, you have given us every reason to praise you. You have given us a proven prescription for all the earthly ills that plague us. By your Holy Spirit, work in us the power of your Word to thank you and to offer the sacrifice of praise to you; the fruit of our lips as we continue to trust you at all times. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Fran
Related Article: The Glad Rule