LET US OFFER THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE
HEBREWS 13:15
Introduction:
The Apostle Paul admonishes to offer the sacrifice of praise. Praise is the attitude of a person who is intimate with the person being praised. The whole Bible is punctuated with outbursts of praise. They rise spontaneously from the basic mood of joy, which marks the life of the people of God.
The OT uses 3 words to describe “praise” and one of the NT means “to give thanks.”
I. MEN SHOULD PRAISE GOD FOR HIS GREAT WORKS.
A. God takes pleasure in His works and we should also.
1. The Lord rejoices in His work, Genesis 1:31, “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”
2. Man is to praise the Lord for what he has created for man, Psalm 104:31-34, “The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works. 32-He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke. 33-I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. 34-My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.”
B. Man was created to rejoice in God’s works, Psalm 90:14-16, “O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15-Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. 16-Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.”
C. Man fulfills God’s purpose by rejoicing in the Lord, Philippians 4:4, 8, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 8-Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
1. Rejoicing is praise to the Lord, v. 4.
2. God’s list for rejoicing: v. 8,
a. Whatsoever things are true…
b. Whatsoever things are honest…
c. Whatsoever things are just…
d. Whatsoever things are pure…
e. Whatsoever things are lovely…
f. Whatsoever things are of good report…
g. If there be any praise, think on these things.”
II. MAN SHOULD PRAISE GOD FOR HIS GRACE.
A. We were a people walking in darkness, Isaiah 9:2, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”
1. We who walked in darkness have seen a great light, the Gospel of Christ, Luke 1:77, “To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
2. We dwelled in the shadow of death, but that light shinned on us, Luke 2:32, “A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”
B. We should praise the Lord for His coming, Psalm 96:11,13 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice 13-Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.”
C. We should praise the Lord for the redemption we have in Christ, Revelation 5:9, “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”
D. We should praise the Lord for the opportunity to serve Him, Psalm 100:2, “Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.”
1. To praise the Lord is to be consecrated to the Lord, i.e., “to fill your hands” with His service, 2 Chronicles 29:31a, “Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated [ to fill your hand ] yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD.”
2. To praise the Lord is to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, Colossenses 3:17, And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
2. To praise the Lord is to offer up spiritual sacrifices, 1 Peter 2:5, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”
a. You are built up a spiritual house…
b. An holy priesthood…
c. To offer up spiritual sacrifices.
CONCLUSION
Praise the Lord! He has been so good to us in that He has given us the BETTER THINGS of the New Covenant. The least that you and I can do is to love Him and praise Him for His goodness to us.