Apostolic Praise and Worship

Welcome

Happy Birthday, Bro. March!

Buy New Life masks and mugs while you can!

Another awesome Sunday!

Prayer

Recap: Apostolic Identity, Apostolic Separation

Praise and Worship in Scripture

Question: When I say someone is praising or worshipping, what are the first physical movements that come to mind for you?

David: Old Testament Praise

David is an example of living a life of praise.

Personal praise, prayer, and commitment to God.

Psalms

1 Samuel 13:13–14 NKJV

13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

We need to be one after His heart...

God found one who truly was after His heart.

2 Samuel 6:15–23 NKJV

15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet. 16 Now as the ark of the Lord came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. 17 So they brought the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. 18 And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. 19 Then he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to his house. 20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” 21 So David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the Lord. 22 And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.” 23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

Critics of people of praise will always be there.

I find it interesting that he was worshipping before the ark (the presence of God) ever settled in Jerusalem.

Praise should come BEFORE the presence of God settles, not just during!

Psalm 100:4 NKJV

4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Bro. Charley MaHaney told a story once about how there was a man who though he “enjoyed watching” people praise. He then demonstrated how watching someone drink water won’t help your thirst!

Paul and Silas: New Testament Praise

Paul and Silas are found demonstrating the power of Apostolic worship and praise.

Acts 16:25–34 NKJV

25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” 29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

Initial takeaways from this biblical event...

PRAISE AND WORSHIP BREAK THE BONDS.

Colossians 3:16 NKJV

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:19 NKJV

19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

I fail to see how this scripture puts a ban on music or instruments in churches.

Psalm 150:1–6 NKJV

1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! 2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! 3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! 4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! 5 Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!

Current Praise and Worship

History

Old and New Testament: Open, sincere, expressive worship.

The Catholic Movement: Ritualistic group praise, far less expressive.

The Apostolic Movement: Expressive, sincere, revelatory!

Where We Are Now

Today, there are varying views on it, but we have nothing to believe except that God would desire HIGH PRAISE.

Psalm 30:11 NKJV

11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,

Also:

John 4:23 NKJV

23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

Many worship, but not all worship in truth!

We have the truth! We ought to worship in it!

Bro. Thomas is an inspiration of priase!

Your Unique Praise and Worship

Pride is something that needs to leave in our praise. It has to go! Because it causes us to hold back what belongs to God: all praise!

Closing

Ask God to blossom your praise!

“Let your praise ever be on my lips!”

“Take my pride!”