Raise A Halleluiah

Part 1

There’s the story of a church in an old town that was very sophisticated, dignified, and quiet. One day a visitor showed up in worship. When the preacher began to preach and say something like God is a good God, the visitor would shout, “Praise the Lord,” and everybody would turn around and look at brother John.

The preacher also paused and looked in amazement that someone responded to something she said. The preacher went on to say that God has provided for us, and the visitor shouted, “Amen! Praise the Lord!’” Again, everyone would turn around and look at him. This occurred for several times during the service. Finally someone tapped him on the shoulder and whispered, “Please stop that “praise the Lord stuff”, we don’t do that in this church.”

Doxology Video

Today we raise a hallelujah…but what is a hallelujah anyway?

Hallelujah is a Hebrew word which is translated in English as “Praise ye Jehovah” or more often “Praise The Lord”

Hallelujah is the response of a spirit that is satisfied in the Lord.

Hallelujah is the moment when we realize that God has met our every need.

Hallelujah is a heart full of worship for the creator of the world.

Psalm 113 (ESV)

Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised! The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!

Today we are intentionally gathering in this place and pausing to lift hallelujahs to our God.

This world is dark and broken and there is so much pain and hurt that we can often be overwhelmed in the bad and miss out of the things that should drive us to praise.

Even our own church services can be this way. We shares joys and concerns and usually the concerns outweigh the joys.

We call friends and family; start the church prayer chain, post on our social media feeds, when something is wrong when we need prayer; but oftentimes remain silent when those same prayers are answered.

As a pastor I get dozens- yes dozens- of calls and texts each week when people ask me to pray- and I love it and pray- but oh how my heart would rejoice to get half as many calls with people calling to say “Can I tell you what God has done?”

So today we intentionally celebrate what God has done.

You see, friends, the work of God is not just for us. In John 9 Jesus heals a man born blind- and do you remember what he told his disciples that day when they asked why the man was born blind? He told them is was so that the glory of God could be revealed. Part of the reason he was fighting the battle of blindness was so that the world around his- his family, his friends, his community- could see the glory of God!

I firmly believe that this still stands true for us today. That God allows certain trials and certain seasons in our life for something bigger than us- he allows them so that others can see his glory through our deliverance.

But if we do not tell the story, if we do not raise a hallelujah- the world will not see, they will not hear.

But what if our praise was like fireworks- the whole neighborhood sees and stops to pay attention....

Video and writing on the poster boards

Part 2

Praise Him when the sun is shining,

When the winds of trouble blow,

When you see no silver lining,

On the clouds that hand so low.

Praise illumines clouds of sorrow,

Turns the gray skies into gold,

Giving promise of a ‘morrow

Bright with blessings manifold.

Praise Him when the load is heavy,

And the day no comfort brings.

Then your burden God will carry,

Bear you as on eagle’s wings.

God delights to have us praise Him;

And believe His Holy Word

And He knoweth them that trust Him,

For they always praise the Lord.

Psalm 22:1–3 ESV

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

This Psalm is not necessarily a song of praise. But I am not using it because of it’s tone or intention, but because of what it says- specifically what it says in one verse- 3,.

This is one of the most powerful pieces of Scripture in my life-

The Bible tells that God is enthroned in the praises of his people-

A literal interpretation is “God sits down on the praise of his people”

Think of it this way- when we lift praises to God we build a spiritual throne for his presence to sit on. As we praise God- each praise “God you are worthy” “God you are good” “I praise you for your faithfulness” puts another piece of the throne in place in our hearts and our lives.

Need more of the presence of God in your life? Then praise. Lift a hallelujah.

This same things goes for us as a congregation.

Do we want more of God’s presence in this world? This country? This community? Then we should praise, we should lift a hallelujah.

Where do you want God to “Sit Down” in your life?