Part 8 – Enter His Courts with Praise

Deepening Your Relationship

[Introduction]

Timmy and Sarah: The Power of Praise

It was a rainy Sunday afternoon, and Timmy and Sarah were stuck indoors. They had planned on going to the park, but the weather ruined their day, leaving them grumpy and bored. Timmy sat on the couch with his arms crossed, staring at the gloomy sky. Sarah was flipping through channels, but nothing seemed to cheer them up.

“I don’t know why it has to rain today,” Timmy muttered. “This is the worst.”

Sarah sighed. “Yeah, it’s pretty boring. Nothing fun to do, and it’s so dark outside.”

Just then, their mom came into the room, humming one of her favorite worship songs. She looked at the two sulking siblings and smiled. “You know, I think I have just the thing to turn this mood around,” she said.

Timmy raised an eyebrow. “What, magic powers?”

“Nope, even better,” their mom said, grabbing her phone. She tapped a few buttons, and soon the living room was filled with the sound of lively praise music. “How about we praise God together? It always lifts our spirits.”

Timmy and Sarah exchanged skeptical glances. “Praise music?” Timmy said. “Isn’t that for church?”

“Not just for church,” their mom replied. “Praise is for any time! When we start praising God, it helps us focus on Him instead of what’s bothering us.”

At first, Timmy wasn’t sure, but then Sarah started tapping her feet. The upbeat rhythm was contagious, and soon she was smiling. “This song is actually kind of fun,” she said.

Their mom laughed and started clapping along. “See? Praise changes everything.”

Before long, even Timmy couldn’t resist. He got up and started singing along with the chorus. The more they sang, the more the heavy feeling in the room lifted. The rain was still pouring outside, but inside, their hearts were filled with joy.

By the end of the song, Timmy and Sarah were laughing and dancing around the room. “Okay, this is way better than moping around,” Timmy admitted. “I guess praise really does change your mood.”

Their mom nodded. “Exactly. Praise helps us remember how good God is, no matter what’s going on around us. It changes our perspective.”

Later that evening, as they sat around the dinner table, Timmy said, “Maybe next time I feel grumpy, I’ll try praising God instead. It’s way better than being upset.”

Sarah agreed. “Yeah, praise makes everything better.”

Their mom smiled, thankful that Timmy and Sarah had learned an important lesson—that even in difficult or disappointing times, praise lifts our spirits and turns our hearts toward God’s goodness.

theme

worship as the key to entering God’s presence,

Psalm 100:4 NASB95

4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.

Scripture Reading

Psalm 100:1–5 NASB95

1 Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. 3 Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.

Hebrews 13:15 NASB95

15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

I. The Purpose of Praise

Praise Invites God's Presence:

Psalm 22:3 NASB95

3 Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

God is enthroned on the praises of His people.

Application:

Praise shifts our focus from problems to God’s greatness, inviting His presence into our lives.

Praise Aligns Our Hearts with God's Will:

When we praise, we acknowledge God’s sovereignty and goodness,

surrendering our worries and desires to Him

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NASB95

18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Application:

The Story of How Joshua Conquered Jericho with Praise

After the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land, they faced a massive challenge.

The first city standing in their way was Jericho, a fortress with towering walls so thick that no army could break through.

Joshua, the leader of the Israelites, knew the battle would be difficult, but God had promised victory.

However, God’s plan was unlike any military strategy Joshua had ever heard.

One day, God spoke to Joshua:

Joshua 6:2–5 (NASB95)

2 The Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the valiant warriors.

3 “You shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days.

4 “Also seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.

5 “It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead.”

Joshua must have wondered how marching and praising would help conquer such a strong city, but he obeyed God without hesitation.

He gathered the Israelites and explained the unusual battle plan.

Instead of sending soldiers first, Joshua instructed the priests and the worshippers to go ahead, carrying the Ark of the Covenant, which symbolized God’s presence, and blowing trumpets of praise.

For six days, the Israelites marched around Jericho in complete silence.

The people of Jericho must have been confused, wondering what kind of strategy this was.

Surely, no city had ever been conquered with trumpets and worshippers at the front!

But on the seventh day, everything changed.

Joshua told the people to march around the city seven times.

On the seventh lap, when the priests blew a long blast on their trumpets,

Joshua commanded the people to shout at the top of their lungs:

Joshua 6:16 NASB95

16 At the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city.

The people let out a loud cry of praise and, in that very moment, something incredible happened.

The mighty walls of Jericho—those walls that seemed impenetrable—began to shake and crumble.

Right before their eyes, the walls collapsed into ruins, and the Israelites rushed into the city, claiming the victory that God had promised.

Through their praise and obedience,

God delivered Jericho into the hands of the Israelites without them having to lift a sword against the walls.

It wasn’t their strength or military might that brought down the walls,

but their faith in God’s power and their willingness to lead the charge with praise.

This story reminds us that when we face walls that seem too big to overcome, trusting in God’s plan and praising Him can bring victories that go beyond what we can achieve in our own strength.

II. How Praise Transforms Us

Praise Changes Our Perspective:

Philippians 4:6–7 NASB95

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

these verses teach that when we bring our requests with thanksgiving,

God's peace guards our hearts and minds.

Application:

The Story of Paul and Silas in Prison

One of the most powerful stories in the Bible about how praise can help us see God’s hand at work, even in challenging circumstances, is found in the book of

Acts 16:16-34

Paul and Silas, two missionaries spreading the gospel of Jesus, found themselves in a difficult situation.

While in the city of Philippi, they were arrested for casting a demon out of a slave girl.

Her owners were furious because they could no longer make money from her fortune-telling.

They dragged Paul and Silas before the authorities, accusing them of causing trouble.

Without a fair trial, Paul and Silas were beaten with rods and thrown into the inner part of the prison, their feet fastened in stocks.

Most people would have felt hopeless in such a situation—sitting in a cold, dark prison, having been wrongly accused, beaten, and locked up.

But Paul and Silas chose to respond differently.

Instead of complaining or despairing, they began to pray and sing to God.

Their praises echoed through the prison walls, and the other prisoners listened in amazement.

While Paul and Silas were praising God, something incredible happened.

Suddenly, a violent earthquake shook the prison.

The foundations of the prison were shaken, the doors flew open, and everyone’s chains fell off!

God had sent an unmistakable sign of His presence and power.

Through their praise, Paul and Silas witnessed God’s miraculous hand at work, even in a situation that seemed impossible.

But the story doesn’t end there.

The jailer, who had been guarding them, was terrified when he saw the prison doors open.

He feared that the prisoners had escaped, which would have meant his own punishment.

But Paul shouted to him, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

Overwhelmed by what had happened, the jailer fell trembling before Paul and Silas and asked,

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

Paul and Silas shared the gospel with him, and that very night, the jailer and his entire family came to believe in Jesus and were baptized.

This story shows that praise changes our perspective and opens the door for God to move powerfully.

Even in the darkest circumstances, Paul and Silas chose to focus on God’s goodness rather than their suffering.

Their praise brought peace and assurance, and God responded by working a miracle that not only set them free but also transformed the life of the jailer and his family.

Through praise, we invite God into our circumstances, and when He shows up, He brings peace, assurance, and deliverance, no matter how hopeless things might seem.

Praise Prepares Us to Receive from God:

In

2 Chronicles 20

King Jehoshaphat led the people in praise before their battle, and God fought for them.

Application:

The Story of King Jehoshaphat and the Power of Praise (2 Chronicles 20)

In 2 Chronicles 20, we find a powerful story of how praise can prepare us to receive victory and blessing from God, even in overwhelming situations.

King Jehoshaphat, the ruler of Judah, faced a terrifying crisis.

A vast army made up of the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites had come together to wage war against Judah.

The odds were overwhelmingly against Jehoshaphat and his people.

They had no chance of defeating such a large and powerful coalition by military strength alone.

When Jehoshaphat heard the news, he was afraid, but instead of panicking or immediately turning to battle strategies, he turned to God.

He called all of Judah to fast and pray, seeking God’s guidance and help.

The people of Judah came together to seek the Lord at the temple, and Jehoshaphat led them in a heartfelt prayer.

In his prayer, he acknowledged God’s greatness, remembered how God had helped them in the past, and humbly admitted that they had no power to face the enemy on their own. He ended the prayer by saying:

2 Chronicles 20:12 NASB95

12 “O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”

As they stood before the Lord in prayer, God spoke through a prophet named Jahaziel, who delivered a message of hope:

2 Chronicles 20:15–17 NASB95

15 and he said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s. 16 ‘Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 ‘You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.”

God promised that they wouldn’t even need to fight in the battle—He would take care of it for them. But they were instructed to go out and face the enemy with faith.

Early the next morning, Jehoshaphat put his trust in God’s word.

But he did something unusual for a king preparing for battle:

he appointed singers to lead the army!

Instead of sending the strongest warriors to the front lines, Jehoshaphat put worshippers there.

These singers were instructed to praise the Lord as they marched out ahead of the army, singing:

2 Chronicles 20:21 NASB95

21 When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the Lord and those who praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.”

As they began to sing and praise, something miraculous happened.

God caused confusion among the enemy armies, and they turned against each other.

By the time Jehoshaphat’s army arrived at the battlefield, the enemy was completely defeated!

The Israelites didn’t have to lift a sword—they simply watched as God fulfilled His promise and gave them the victory.

After the battle, the people of Judah gathered all the valuable goods and supplies left behind by their enemies.

It took them three days to collect everything, and they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, praising God for His deliverance.

III. Entering God's Presence Through Praise

Thanksgiving Opens the Gates:

Last week we focused on Thanksgiving openes the gates

Praise brings us into His courts

IV. Practical Ways to Incorporate Praise into Our Lives

Praise God Daily, Not Just on Sundays:

Praise is a lifestyle, not just an event

Psalm 34:1 NASB95

1 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Application:

Offer practical tips on integrating praise into daily routines—through music, prayer, and spoken words of worship.

Praise in Every Circumstance:

Even in trials, praise lifts our eyes to God’s faithfulness

V. The Power of Corporate Praise

Unified Praise Brings Breakthrough:

Acts 2,

where the early church was gathered in unified prayer and praise, leading to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Application:

Encourage a culture of corporate praise, highlighting the strength and encouragement that comes from praising God together.

Praise Breaks Chains and Opens Doors:

Conclusion

Recap the significance of entering God's courts with praise: it invites His presence, aligns our hearts, transforms us, and positions us to receive His blessings.Challenge the congregation to make praise a priority, both individually and corporately, as a means of drawing closer to God.

Closing Prayer

Pray for hearts that overflow with praise and gratitude, regardless of circumstances.Ask for God’s presence to fill the congregation as they continually offer Him praise and thanksgiving.