Time to Praise

Introduction

My mom trusted the Lord no matter what she faced

I heard her spirit empowered prayers daily

I heard her sing and make melody in her heart to the Lord

Despite difficulties she always had the joy of the Lord

For her, it was always time to praise God

She modelled the power of praise in her life

She was a sojourner like Moses and the Israelites

She looked forward to the Promise Land - Heaven

Moses lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage (Exodus)

Pharaoh pursued them

The people were trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s vast army

God parted the Red Sea and they crossed on dry ground

God buried Pharaoh’s army in the sea

It was a day of miraculous victory

Moses lead the nation in a passionate hymn of praise

It reminds me of my mother’s contagious and joyful praise to the Lord

Variations of this song became something of a national anthem

Listen to the words

Exodus 15:1–18 NIV

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: “I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea. “The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea. The best of Pharaoh’s officers are drowned in the Red Sea. The deep waters have covered them; they sank to the depths like a stone. Your right hand, Lord, was majestic in power. Your right hand, Lord, shattered the enemy. “In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble. By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up. The surging waters stood up like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy boasted, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.’ But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? “You stretch out your right hand, and the earth swallows your enemies. In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the people of Philistia. The chiefs of Edom will be terrified, the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling, the people of Canaan will melt away; terror and dread will fall on them. By the power of your arm they will be as still as a stone— until your people pass by, Lord, until the people you bought pass by. You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance— the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established. “The Lord reigns for ever and ever.”

Prayer

This song teaches us to praise God for the overthrow of the enemy of our soul (as He overthrew Egypt)

To look forward to the final deliverance of God’s people when Jesus returns

This was their first and oldest song of praise

Sing unto the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously

What is the message of this beautiful hymn

It is always a good time to praise God who is your strength and salvation

When should we praise the Lord?

When we recognize God’s deliverance

God delivered them

Pharaoh would never attack them again

A time of praise because of God’s great salvation

...When should we praise the Lord?

When we realize the holiness of what God has done

As they crossed over on dry ground God consecrated the people

1 Corinthians 10:2 NIV

They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

It was their death, burial, and resurrection to a new life as a new people

They had reason to sing and praise

People that enjoy new life in Christ have ample reason to sing

...When should we praise the Lord?

When we witness God’s powerful hand at work

The entire nation witnessed God’s saving power

They had reason to sing with abandon

Do you recognize God’s power at work?

Are we looking for it?

Are we praying for it?

Let us pray for a fresh revival

Let us enter into all that God is doing

And sing with abandon to our saving God

Application

When should we praise the Lord?

It is always a good time to praise God

If you are free in Christ

If you look forward to eternity in the Lord’s presence

Regardless of the apparent obstacles in your way

Freedom through the sacrificial blood of Christ is reason to praise Him

Hope through His resurrection is reason

Adoption into the Body of Christ is reason

Transition: It’s always a good time, but what should our praise look like?

How should we praise God?

Put your whole heart into your praise

I will sing unto the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously

Authentic praise rises up from your belly!

God has rescued you from death and hopelessness

You have reason to sing and shout enthusiastically

When King David brought the Ark back to Jerusalem, He danced “with all his might”

...How should we praise God?

Praise God together as His people!

Moses began the song

Imagine all the men joining in with booming voices

Then Miriam the prophetess joined in (v. 21)

Sing to the Lord

for he is highly exalted

both horse and driver

he has hurled into the sea

Imagine the women and children joining in this massive choir of praise

…How should we praise the Lord?

Make your praise intensely personal

Moses began with “I will sing to the Lord”

He sang “The Lord is MY strength

“…He has become MY salvation”

“I will praise Him”

“I will exalt Him”

“Your right hand, Lord, was majestic in power” (v. 6)

Our praise should be corporate because we are His family

And intensely personal because He saved you on the day you believed

…How should we praise the Lord?

Praise the Lord for everything

What God has done

What He will do…the coming of the Promised Land

How can you not praise Him?

They ended with the highest praise (18)

The Lord shall reign forever and ever

…How should we praise the Lord?

Praise the Lord with overwhelming joy

Slaves now enjoyed liberty

Jesus came to set the captive free

We were all in bondage without Jesus

We have reason to be overjoyed if we know Jesus

A joy beyond our ability to explain

David said, “God is my exceeding joy”

Final Exhortation

What do you think?

When is it a good time to sing praises?

On wonderful days?

On challenging days?

It is always a good time to praise God...your strength and salvation

Here’s another question that we need to answer

How should we praise the Lord?

For everything

As the Body of Christ together

Individually and passionately

With Exceeding joy

God delivered them from death, slavery, and Pharaoh’s army at the Red Sea

They had much to be thankful for

They praised and sang

They still had far to go before they crossed over into the Promised Land

They would face many more tests along they way

God gave them the Covenant to enable them to follow His plan as they made their journey

God gave them the Passover feast to remind them of the blood on their doorposts that saved them from the death angel in Egypt

What has God given us to help us on as we journey toward our Heavenly Promised Land?

We have the New Covenant in Jesus’ shed blood

He willingly suffered beating, torture, and pouring out His life’s blood to part our Red Sea of sin and bondage

He gave His Promised Holy Spirit to feed, empower, lead, and guide us on our earthly sojourn

He defeated death, Hell and the grave so that all who follow Him will have eternal life

He gave us His Living Word to light our path

He gave us one another to walk together with a common vision and joy

It is always the right time to praise God

Let us now approach the Lord’s table