Everybody knows the power of praise. Yet few realise its power.

Praise is a vehicle of faith which brings us into the presence and power of God. Praise and worship is the “gate-pass” which allows us to enter the sacredness of His glory.

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Psalms 100:4).

It is where God lives. He inhabits in the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3). This means that praise is not merely a reaction from coming into His presence.

This corresponds with Jesus’ teaching that “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).

A “gathering in His name” means that Jesus must be the focus, the center of the assemblage. He must be the one preached about, sang about — the one praised and worshiped.

“I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee” (Hebrews 2:12). Consequently, Christ’s presence, along with His virtue and anointing, is manifested in this type of gathering.

Take the events in Acts 16:25-26 for example.

The local Philippian authorities beat Paul and Silas and threw them into a jail cell. According to the standards of that day, a prison was more like dungeons. A dark, damp, stench-ridden place, with no facility for waste or comforts of any kind.

They were fastened in stocks which clamped their arms and legs in an immobile position, causing cramps and loss of circulation. The atmosphere there was depressing.

 Yet, in spite of the throbbing pain in their bodies and the disheartening atmosphere, at midnight Paul and Silas were heard praying and singing praises to God! What a strange sound this must have been to the other prisoners, who were used to only hearing the groans or cursing of those who had been beaten.

 “At midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. (26) And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.”

Paul and Silas knew the secret.

Praise to God is a Lifestyle

Praise forms the theme of the 7^th edition of the Adom Praiz as the Multimedia Group celebrates its 20th anniversary. But the choice of the theme is not imposed on us because of the anniversary. Praise encapsulates the strong Christian and music tenets that underpin the very foundation of the Multimedia Group.

The philosophy that defines the Group is entrenched in praising God, even in the most difficult situation. It is not an imposition; we believe that it is the only way to go, prescribed by God as a prelude to see his mighty arm work salvation in times of great strife or struggle.

And for the current challenges Ghana is going through, a great moment of praise to shrug off the sense of hopelessness is what the nation needs.

All too often, praise to God is something that many people leave at church. But hear what the psalmist says “...I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalms 34:1).

Praise Sends the Enemy Running

Since praise manifests God’s presence, it automatically repels the presence of the enemy, Satan. An atmosphere which is filled with sincere worship and praise to God by humble and contrite hearts is disgusting to the Devil.

“Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God” (Psalms 50:23).

When the children of Judah (Judah actually means Praise) found themselves outnumbered by the hostile armies of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, King Jehoshophat and all the people sought the Lord for His help. The Lord assured the people that this would be His battle if they simply go out in battle to praise Him.

So, on they went, ahead of the army declaring, “Praise the Lord, for His mercy endureth forever!” And the scripture says, “...when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set an  ambush against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten” (2 Chronicles 20:22). 

So you see where your solution is? 

Zephaniah 3:17 states, "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

You cannot praise God without knowing Jesus. In John 4:23, He says "yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father In Spirit And Truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks."

You know who is the truth? –Jesus. "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." You need to have a relationship with Him and through praise you can do that.

The best way that we can praise and worship God is with our every thought and action. Romans 12:1-2 states, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship….

I challenge you to become a person of praise, and you will experience the release of the power of God! 

Be there at Adom Praiz on September 12

 

Praise the LORD!

Praise God in His sanctuary;

Praise Him in His mighty firmament!      

Praise Him for His mighty acts;….

Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!...

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.   

Praise the LORD! (Psalm 150:1-6 NKJ)