PREACHING OF NOVEMBER 24, 2024:

Pastor Antonio Russo

THE POWER OF PRAISE

As mentioned last time, after addressing the theme of worship, today we will delve into the subject titled “the power of praise,” which resides on our lips, exploring its importance and meaning together. This is a reality that today’s Church must fully understand, as it has not yet completely experienced the power of God that manifests through praise. Let us begin right away with a scripture from the Psalms to delve into this powerful truth.

Psalm 89:15; 15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.

This verse teaches us that praise is not just an expression of joy but a proclamation of victory. Praising means declaring who God is and what He is about to do, opening the door to His power in our lives. When we begin to praise God with all our hearts, He hears our cry, intervenes in our situation, and brings supernatural changes. Many think that praise is merely a moment of worship, but it is instead central, along with the Word. Praise prepares our hearts to receive the Word of God, and through it, we enter into worship that culminates with the revelation of the Word in our lives. Praise, an essential element for the Church and our homes, is not an obligation but the desire to step into God's promises, breaking down spiritual walls and shattering chains that hinder our freedom in Christ. Praise to God, as taught in the Psalms, is not a human invention but a divine creation.

Psalm 149:1; 1 Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.

When we say “Hallelujah,” we invite those around us to join in praising God, so that this song resonates in the assembly of the saints, that is, among us gathered together. The Bible does not merely suggest praising God; it commands us to do so, as this command carries with it a marvelous and extraordinary benefit.

Psalm 149:2-3; 2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

Praise is an expression of joy and celebration in the presence of God, and praising with dance means leaping, rejoicing, and celebrating before our King. We should not fear the judgment of others but remember that what truly matters is what God thinks of us as we praise and exalt Him; if we are willing to dance in other contexts, how much more should we do so before the King of kings! When we praise, we do not make God greater, for He is already infinite, but we ourselves experience His power, freedom, and the blessing He wants to pour into our lives. Praise bursts forth from our hearts and brings us into a dimension of victory and blessing, allowing the presence of God to manifest powerfully. We praise God because He delights in His people, as the psalmist reminds us:

Psalm 149:4; 4 For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

By praising God, we bring joy to His heart, and when, as His children, we lift up our praise, the Lord rejoices, delights, and proclaims how wonderful we are in His eyes. Our praise moves Him to do good in our lives, opening the heavens and manifesting His presence and power simply because He loves us. The Bible teaches us that God also rejoices in the face of our enemies, such as this present evil age, the flesh, and the devil, because when we praise Him, He mocks them, knowing that we will experience victory.

Psalm 149:5-6; 5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;

Even when we face difficulties, illness, or discouragement, praise has the power to lift us up and set us free. With praises on our lips and the Word of God in our hearts, we equip ourselves to declare and proclaim who God is and what He will do in our lives. Praising with the Word means turning praise into a double-edged sword, full of faith and power, capable of breaking chains, tearing down spiritual walls, and transforming both the spiritual and natural realms, bringing healing, deliverance, and miracles. This power of praise in our lives is revealed and confirmed in the following verses as well.

Psalm 149:7-9; 7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord.

The spiritual entities that oppose us are rendered powerless as we declare the Word with our mouths. Praise is not something we can do silently; we must raise our voices and allow our praise to move spiritual mountains. Living in sadness will change nothing, but praising God brings a movement that opens the doors to joy and gladness. In the context of battle, as shown in Jehoshaphat’s story in the Second Book of Chronicles, chapter 20, praise becomes the most effective weapon.

2 Chronicles 20:1; 1 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.

When bad news comes or we face moments of tribulation, we know what to do: we rise up and move to praise our wonderful King, without holding back, because God manifests Himself in the midst of His people. He delights in collective praise, and when we are united in worship, something supernatural happens: His power begins to manifest, and even if we feel weak, sick, or oppressed, we know that the Word is clear.

Verse 9; 9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.

God is not deaf; He hears us and comes to our aid. In fact:

Verse 15; 15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

We are not alone, because whoever goes against a child of God goes against God Himself, as He fights for us, defends us, and always moves in our favor. Jehoshaphat and the people of Israel found themselves surrounded by enemy armies, but instead of relying on warriors or weapons, they placed singers and musicians at the forefront.

Verse 21; 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever.

This seemingly irrational choice triggered divine intervention: as soon as they began to sing, God set an ambush against the enemies, causing them to destroy one another, and the following verses clearly explain what happened.

Verses 22-23; 22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. 23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.

As a result, we witness how the enemies began to fight each other until their total destruction, and this occurred when the people started praising God. This remarkable event teaches us that praise not only honors God but also activates His power, serving as a divine strategy to face our battles and live in victory. No evil force, crisis, or sickness can withstand the glory of God that descends upon our lives through praise.

Hebrews 13:15; 15 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.

This sacrifice doesn't depend on how we feel or our circumstances, but it is a deliberate choice to exalt God with our words. When we praise, we are declaring that Jesus is our Lord, that the Holy Spirit is our best friend, and that the Father cares for us. Furthermore, we proclaim that we do not depend on our circumstances, but on God, and even in adversity, we raise our voice to affirm with certainty that we know in whom we have believed. Our praise bears witness to our faith, declaring that sickness is defeated, poverty is conquered, the restoration of stolen blessings is certain, and the devil must return everything he has taken. Praise not only demonstrates our trust in God but also activates His supernatural movement, for with our lips we proclaim victory, and as we sing, His glory is revealed, bringing healing, deliverance, and blessing. This confirms that praise and worship are powerful spiritual tools that we should never neglect. Some people wonder if it is wrong to listen to secular music, but the music we choose reflects who we are: as children of God, we are naturally drawn to that which glorifies and worships His name. The devil, once a Worshipping Cherub, hates our praise and has perverted music after his fall to corrupt man, but music itself is neither good nor bad: it all depends on how we use it and the inspiration that guides it. One day Satan said to Jesus, "I will give you all the kingdoms of the earth if you fall down and worship me." He not only wanted to be worshiped, but he asked Jesus to bow down, recognizing the power that lies in praise. Satan knew that if Jesus had worshiped him, He would have received everything, but Jesus responded, "Worship the Lord your God and serve only Him." When we praise God, we proclaim our hope in Christ, strengthen our bond with Him, remain in His territory, while the influences and forces of Satan are bound and rendered powerless.

Jesus teaches us in Matthew 18:18, "Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven."

Our praise is not just an act of worship, but a declaration of victory that destroys the works of darkness, making it a strategic choice that brings change and deliverance. You see, sometimes our mistake is making the problems bigger than God, forgetting that He is the Almighty and the Eternal Savior; it is not the difficulties that are insurmountable, but our perception that magnifies them. Even though problems may not be immediately solved or the crisis persists, we can change, drawing wisdom and strength from heaven to face them. For this reason, we must always choose to praise our God, trusting in His power and His guidance, as this Psalm suggests.

Psalm 34:1; 1 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

In this scripture, we notice that praise to God does not depend on circumstances, but on our faith in Him. Even in times of suffering or difficulty, we are called to choose to praise Him, declaring that He is above every situation and that His power is at work. Through praise, we shift our focus from our problems and concentrate on God, allowing Him to transform our heart and mindset.

Verses 2-3; 2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

True humility is not only manifested in words, but in allowing God to work in our soul and shape our character. For this reason, the humble, having surrendered to Him, listen and rejoice in His work. Moreover, praise is not only a personal experience but a communal act, because when we praise God together, His presence is manifested in a tangible way, bringing unity, strength, and victory.

Verses 5-6; 5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. 6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

Praising God is also an invitation to liberation, because in the most difficult situations we can trust that He answers our cry and frees us from all oppression. By looking to Him with trust and praise, we receive light and revelation: shame turns into joy and our path is illuminated by His guidance. This is God’s promise for those who praise Him: He hears our cry, saves us from every difficulty, and teaches us to trust in Him rather than in our circumstances.

Verses 7-10; 7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 9 O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.

Our praise and fear of God attract His protection, for He encamps around us, defending us from every attack and bringing liberation. Through praise, we experience in a tangible way God's goodness, which fills our hearts with peace and joy. Thus, praising God is not only an act that glorifies His name, but an opening to His providence, connecting us to His faithfulness in meeting every need, never leaving us lacking.

Psalm 34:15-19, offers us further comfort: 15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

These verses confirm that God is always attentive to our prayers and that our praise attracts Him. Even in difficulties, we can trust that He is with us, hears our cry, and gives us strength and peace, reminding us that we are never alone. Praising God is much more than an act of worship: it is a declaration of hope. When we praise, we proclaim that our future is in His hands, and even when circumstances seem adverse, we choose to affirm that God is faithful and that His promises will come to pass. Praise not only glorifies God, but connects us to His power and His ability to deliver us. Even when the circumstances do not change, He transforms us. In times of pain and discouragement, praise lifts us up and draws us closer to God, who is near to those who sincerely seek Him, offering comfort and healing to the afflicted. This reminds us that, even though we go through trials and difficulties, God remains always faithful and works to deliver us. Finally, Verse 20 concludes with a promise of protection: He protects all His bones, and none of them will be broken. This symbolizes the total protection God offers to those who love and praise Him; therefore, praise is a declaration of faith, a proclamation of victory, and an act of trust in God's goodness. For this reason, we must praise God with all that we are and all that we have, knowing that our praise is a weapon, an act of faith, and an offering that brings glory to our wonderful King.

Let’s conclude by revealing one of the strategies that the devil often uses to distract us while we are praising, worshiping, or praying. When we are in difficulty, instead of focusing on God, we tend to get distracted by problems, such as a bill to pay or a conflict to resolve. The enemy tries to divert our attention from seeking God because he knows that only in Him can we find the solution. In fact, when we choose to seek God to praise Him and sing to Him, we gain victory. Let’s not allow the distractions of the enemy to overwhelm us: let’s begin to worship God with all our hearts.