In our previous sessions, we saw how worship is not for few and a religious act. We saw how we all owe God praise as far as we are breathing. We also discussed some of the stumbling blocks that are denying us from entering into a life of worship. We specifically dealt how we should not feel  condemned, which is a roadblock that keep us from living a praiseful life. I would like to emphasis the latter issue one more time.

It is scriptural that we are not condemned. There are no condemnation for those "who takes refuge in Him" (Psalm 34: 22). There is no also condemnation for those "who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8: 1). As far as we believe in Him, we are taking refuge under His wings and we are free from condemnations of any kind.

Regardless of the above truth, however, it is sad to know that there are many Christians who feel condemned for the mistake they committed years or even decades ago. Most of them dropped serving God and reluctant to attend weekly church services for the same reason. Most of them confessed their sins and they should have felt relieved but they never felt they were forgiven. These people are God loving and they are sincere about their fearing God but we know that there is always a chance to be sincere but still wrong.

The sad thing about such people is that they made there mind as if He won't forgive them and they are defensive when others are trying to encourage and reconcile them. It is a mystery why they preferred to alienate themselves from God and think that that is the right decision and wise thing to do, especially considering eternity in view. I couldn't figure out whether they fallen into the tricks of the devil who wants to distance them from God and keep them in bondage or that is a personality flaw. The challenge is more tough because they know the scriptures that talk about His forgiveness but they know more of scriptures that describe how He is serious about sins. This issue may be more complicated when the teachings such people listen are full of fear mongering. Therefore, I would like to emphasis this condemnation issue a little further as I believe is one of the strongest reasons people are living praise-less life.

For those who are bombarded with teachings that are sarcastic about God's mercy, please take a private walk and deal the issue by yourself or with friends who are well aware of God's unwavering love for His kids than dying condemned. I encourage you to dare and engage with God Himself and privately. We know that God is open for reasoning including a debate that may guarantee us the emission of sin. Here is the case in point: "Come now, let us reason together; though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." (Isaiah 1: 18)

David was a smart person who exploited such royal offers. He jumped into such a privilege to debate with the Most High, who has all the Veto power but generous at the same time to cancel all of our debts right away as far as we dare to engage with Him in debate and reasoning. I like how David argued with God when he said, "What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness?" (Psalm 30: 9) Take time and think about what David was doing!

David should have mourned for his going down and should have called for a pity party but rather he brought excellent, logical, and convincing arguments before the One who could turn around everything in his favor. Yes, David won and claimed his victory on the same chapter: "You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever." (Psalms 30: 11 - 12) We don’t need to argue the same argument as David already did; we just quote that scripture and petition to the Judge who is not happy with our condemnation as that doesn’t bring Him praise (Don’t forget that we have a lawyer in the Universe's Court room! Jesus is in our side). God rather prefers to rescue us from what brought condemnation in our life so that our mourning and bowing down of our head turns into dancing and praising.

In this edition, I encourage you to believe with me and enter into a life of praise to benefit all of its advantages. If you are already in that orbit, let’s make a quantum jump to the next level of praise to bring down Heaven on earth. Though we praise God for what He has already done, it encourages and motivates us if we know more about the attached gains from praiseful life. The following are some of the advantages of praise:

• Praise saves and rescues us from our enemies: "I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies." (Psalm 18: 3). We know that as David sang to the LORD, he was delivered from the hand of all his enemies including King Saul. David was a man who touched the very heart of God. Let's see the reaction of God against David’s foes as dramatized by David himself: "The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind....he reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemies." (Psalms 18 7 -17) Friends, there is no need to waste time in forging alliances on earth and forming weapons that cannot affect spiritual forces. There is no guarantee to hide behind human made shields. The secure and guaranteed option for any form of enemy is our praise, which brings down the Mighty One from whose Hand no one will escape. Enter into your season of praise and sign the contract with God who can save you from all of your enemies.

• With praise we inherit our portion: God has many ways to help us possess our inheritances. Some of the avenues are sound of shouting, music, and trumpet, and praise. Joshua 6: 20 "When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city." For a war its end result known, why crying; we are just expected to praise God which unlock our inheritance. While God plus you are the majority regardless of who are the other end, why complaining and shaking. Put your head up and shout- a shout of victory, and enter your season of possession.

• Praise is a medicine to our Heart: The Bible says, "A cheerful heart is a good medicine; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones." (Proverbs 17:22) I cannot figure out a thing than continual praise that could fill our heart with joy. I know one thing, there are no medical prescriptions we can provide for our spirit and soul to feel joyful. Therefore, without doubt, praise evaporates broken spiritedness (broken heartedness) and feel our heart with cheer. While we have a choice to make praise our life style and do it continually that develops a merry heart, why we should settle for a broken spirit and harvest dry bones? That was why, I believe, David proclaimed, "I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth" (Psalms 34:1). Paul the Apostle advises us to give praise in continual pattern. "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." (Hebrews 13:15) Praise is the engine fuel for our 'heart'. Praise daily and lubricate your heart before it breaks Once it is broken, there is no insurance that can regain its function. Once it is malfunctioning, there is no remedy except praise. Prevention is a best policy in the Kingdom; thus, prevent heart break by continually praising God who dwells in our Heart as a majestic King who deserves unfailing praise!!!!!

• Praise unchains us from any kind of bondage: Paul and Silas were praising while the jail was shaken and their chains set loose. Not only you, people who are around you will be set free of any bondage as you are a person of praise. "Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly, there was an earthquake so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken. All the doors immediately flew open, and everyone's chains were unfastened." (Acts 16:25- 26) This days, we may not be chained because of Christ. However, we may be encircled by our enemies from all directions. It just takes praise to enjoy a breakthrough that we may not get from earthly realm. Challenges, enemies, situations might encamp around us and we may feel we are chained and there seems no sign that help is coming from man kind or from those close to us. The easiest and short antidote is to praise the Most High and get deliverance. "As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated." (2 Chronicles 20:22).

• Praise detonates evil spirit and routs the devil: We know that King Saul disobeyed God and as a result an evil spirit would sometimes troubled him. A King by the size of Saul could not help it but surrender for depression as the evil spirit tormented him. He might have waged big time war and maneuvered thousands of his army if this was the Philistines or David but such an enemy didn’t have any respect for any size of army. However, a simple praise chased it away when a little boy came and played. It took David who knew how to play harp to soothe Saul when the evil spirit tormented him. "Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him." (1 Samuel 16:14-23 ) Depression in our life may not always be from evil spirit but the antidote for whatever might be the cause of depression is praise. Praise is a gateway for depression free zone! Praise disinfect any feeling of uneasiness and depression!

• Praise releases us into the future and the unknown: In addition to repelling evil spirits, praise can invite the Holy Spirit for the purpose of prophecy and predicting the future. The principle behind this truth is simple. It is not a religious promise or a doctrine. Whenever there is praise, as we have seen from the Bible, God dwells among His people. Whenever He- who is Alpha and Omega who knows the end from the beginning- is around, the future is an open book for His servants. When Elisha was asked prophecy to get deliverance from the invading Moabites, he asked for someone who could play harp. He knew that he could tune into the heavenly realms and download the will of God and how to achieve it from the Most High. A musician came, and as he began to play, the prophet was inspired to unleash what they should do. He told the strategies to follow and victory was inevitable. While the harpist was playing, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha and he said, ‘This is what the LORD says: Make this valley full of ditches...’ (2 Kings 3: 16). Friend, don't spend your resources by going to fortune tellers or allow your head for parking lot prophets to lay their hand on you and prophecy about your future. Praise the Most High and He unveils the strategies you should follow to chase your enemies and how to achieve your short and long term milestones.

In the past two sessions, we have seen how God is worthy of praise. Emphasizing the fact that praise is not a religious act but a demonstration of our affection and honor to God. We saw that, even if we don’t have any special thing happen on us for the day, God deserves our full gear praise for who He is and what He has already done and would possibly do based on His righteousness.

We encourage you to meditate on the following scriptures that reaffirm to our soul and inner most being that God is worthy of praise regardless of what is going on within and around us before we discuss some of the stumbling blocks that hinder our sense of praise in persistent way:

• "For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods" (Psalm 96:4).

• "Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom" (Psalm 145:3).

• "I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies" (2 Samuel 22:4).

• "You are worthy, our LORD and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being" (Revelation 4:11).

We find the Bible as saying that God inhabits in the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3). That means, praise sets the atmosphere of dwelling for the Most High. You can imagine what is going to happen when He dwells! We also know that God’s power and might are unleashed through praise and worship. David- our hero about praise- said: "Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might." (Psalm 21: 13) Therefore, if our desire is God to dwell in our life and in the midst of us, we should maintain an atmosphere of praise and anything less than that is a roadblock to enjoy the utmost sequel of having Him in our midst. If we expect to His indefinite and mighty power exercised in our favor, we should exalt His name. Anything short of praising and exalting Him, whatever you may call such a situation or circumstance; it is a barrier and should be bulldozed.

There are many stumbling blocks that are the creations of ourselves either out of ignorance or misinformation or misunderstandings. Most importantly, there are deep rooted religious mentalities and/or cultural/traditional believes that have been denying us from enjoying the life of praise to its full. In this session, we will try to bulldoze some of the barriers, and enter into our inheritance as the Israelites entered into their inheritance- Jericho- without labor and sweating but by just praising Him. We will praise, regardless of where we are in terms of human measure like Paul and his prison partner Silas, to watch in our very eyes the shattering down of things that have constrained our progress.

Among many awkward reasons why we are not standing before God to praise Him on daily basis and enjoy His power, love, and compassion is the attitude that praise is for some who are ministers, choirs, who have the gift of singing and who are endowed with smooth throat, those who are rich, healthy or those who got something special from God, those who are king like David and the list continues. The Bible doesn’t exempt any one from praising as far as he is breathing. "Let everything that has breathes praise the LORD. Praise the LORD," states Psalm 150:6. We all breathe as far as we are on earth; praise is our act of proof that we live. Of course, the duty is exponential when it comes to us who are His servants- Christians, who are called to be priests of His Kingdom: "Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD" (Psalm 134:1-2). Therefore, no one is exceptional, whether a believer or not, to praise God as far as he is in taking the unpaid oxygen.

Another roadblock to have a life of praise is the feeling of condemnation; the feeling of unworthiness. While we are feeling condemned, we cannot expect ourselves to praise Him. While we are hesitant on whether He accepts our praise and while we are still uncertain about whether the whole of His Angels and Hosts dwell as we lift up His Holy Name and recount His mercy, love, gifts, and compassions, there is no appropriate praise and worship that amounts to the class of the Most High. We may still feel condemned and unworthy and praise but it takes quality sacrifice of praise to provoke the intervention of the Most High and His army. It is a futile attempt to think that God who searches the heart accepts and consumes sacrifice of praise that doesn’t come from a ‘pure’ and full of gratitude heart.

In most cases, we don’t present a gift to someone we think doesn’t deserve. We may not also feel comfortable to do so for people whom we think we are unworthy to give one. But once we determine to give while hesitant, someone can tell it by just seeing how we present the gift. It is pretty easy to figure out whether you are enjoying doing so or you are just doing it superficially. In most cases, recipients are more interested on our emotion and the way we present it than the amount of it. The ways we present a gift to someone equals and even sometimes overtakes the value of the gift itself. On earth and in the world filled with hypocrisy and short of perfection, we want to make sure, if we revere and respect the recipient of our gift that our present stands of good quality. It must be wrapped up with excellent cover that appeals for the sense of the prospect recipient. We must show lots of gesture and bright countenance to add up more than the actual worth of our main gift.

Will you be excited to open a gift presented with unpleasant face or from a person whose approach shows you that he is not sure whether you would love his gift? If that is the case down here and among us, what about the Divine recipient of praise who dwells in heavenly and perfect places? Can we, while down, fearful, condemned, and at the same time offer praise to the King and draw His attention while He enjoys heavenly praises every fraction of seconds, all day long, and from holy creatures? Can we compete with these heavenly choirs and lure the LORD to leave theirs and dwell among our praise while we are in such attitude and mood? Think about it!

David was well aware of how his Father was delighted on him. David said, "He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he DELIGHTED in me." (Psalms 18: 19) I can imagine how David approached God when he praised and worshiped Him. I sympathize now how he made the heavenly hosts jealous when they had been seeing the Most High turned His face to accept the sacrifices of praise each time David, just a mere man who was far from perfection, offered sweet smelling flavor praise down here from the earth. David knew that he was not always perfect but believed that God was delighted in him and rewarded him of His attention because he was found righteous (Psalms 18: 20). David did not trust by his ability to be righteous but in God who could: "He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake." (Psalm 23: 3) He was humble enough to ask God to guide Him in His paths: "Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." (Psalm 25: 4 - 5)

David also knew that God is pleasant and good who was not in the business of pursuing those whom He punish and curse: "Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praise to his name" (Psalm 135:3). We should believe that He is good and not interested to condemn us. But that doesn't mean that He loves sin and encourages those who do sin but rather than condemning, He guides them into His ways: "Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways." (Psalm 25: 8) He paid the highest price to free us from feeling rejected, condemned, and went long way to ignore our transgression at the point where He won’t bring it against us because His beauty, power, and right hand-Jesus was the price. As far as we are in Christ, there is no condemnation at all: "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit" (Romans 8:1).

To offer sweet smelling praise, we have to first come to the point where we acknowledge what God has done in favor by feeling we are righteous in Christ and clean as far as we are washed with the Blood of Jesus. Since Christ, the High Priest, stands at the right Hand of God, we have a reason to approach His Throne boldly and in confidence to offer our praise to the One who is always worthy (Hebrews 4: 16). Even if we loss everything we have had, feel life is not fair, and swimming against the tide, we should not forget the priceless and incalculable gift God offered for our redemption, Jesus Christ. That alone should be the reason to remain praiseful in the rest of our life because He demonstrated unwavering Holiness and Faithfulness to maintain His covenants to our forefathers. He gave us another chance, through acknowledging His greatest offer of pardon by accepting Christ as a savior, to dwell in His presence in the heavenly places filled with continual praise and worship throughout eternity.

Another roadblock is the mentality of praising God with a sense of bribing Him. Any gift, even in human senses, giving under the expectation of something back in return is no more a gift of love or respect but a bribe. Let alone the most Holy, Principled, and Righteous King who has everything and remains Alpha and Omega without any say from any of His creations and who lives in eternity as rich and glamorous without the addition of whatever possessions they might have, a principled mortal man won’t accept bribe.

The other issue is the feeling of abandonee. We may ask something and we don’t get it to assume that delay is denial. We might be inflicted with our enemies and felt we are left ignored like orphans. We might still be in sickness, debt, bareness, and warfare, and so on where we might be tempted to refrain from praising God while we are in these kind of setbacks and the likes. We might even feel God sided with our enemies and question His Holiness and trustworthiness. While we are in the doubt of God’s integrity, it is obvious we may not enter into His Holiest places to adore, exalt, and reassure Him that He is still in control of everything and whatever happens is for our good and He won’t fail to disappoint us in the end. David felt it when he said "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?" (Psalm 22: 1)

The above setback never prompted David to fail short of praise because God is Holy and righteous one. He never questioned the integrity of God. While he was in that troublesome situation and groaning, he adored the Mighty and Holy one when he said "Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel." (Psalm 22: 3) David rather used his praise as a bargain to bring more praise to God if delivered. He promised to multiply the praise by referring to his people and the congregation how God is worthy of praise regardless of his circumstances. He didn’t want to judge God because of what was going on his life; rather, he recounted how faithful God was for his ancestors when he said, "In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed." (Psalm 22: 4-5)

David was not only fighting with his situation as thorn that tried to deny him of praising the worthiness of God but people mocked him and multiplied the reason he should not praise God. "All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let Him deliver him, since he delights in him." (Psalm 22: 7 - 8) But for David it was not only God trustworthy for his ancestors but acknowledged Him as his God from the womb and told Him that there was no point to denounce God though he was in trouble and mocked. He made clear to God that he couldn’t come out of this trouble by his strength and there is no way to be offended and give his back against God because people made fun of him. He reduced himself as a worm and not a man.

What an outstanding integrity from a man who was in the midst of struggles but remained acknowledging the integrity of God regardless of the short term setbacks he was experiencing. Rather than feeling pity and murmur against God, David still envisioned praise once he was rescued. "Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen. I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you." (Psalm 22: 21- 22) He even didn’t wait till he was relieved from his distress to confess his vows, “You who fear the LORD, praise Him!....From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows." (Psalm 22: 23, 25)

This man left God with no option! Not only had he praised Him privately while he was still in his trouble but went to praise Him before the congregation. He was persistent! We have already read the blessings of God for David's unwavering integrity and persistent praise from the Bible. We also read how His Son Jesus too never turned back His face for those who press on even when the law didn’t favor some of the people out side of the covenant. We saw how Christ was surprised by the Samaritan lady who was persistent against His rejection for healing. We know how He finally gave her what she demanded regardless.

Let's bulldoze the barriers and be persistent in praising to enjoy its benefits! Remain tune to read the fourth part on the benefits of praiseful life and more.