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.