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The Bible on Praise and Worship of God    (Pg.1)
Did you know that there is a difference between Praise and Worship of the Lord our God?

— In the Bible there are many verses about what PRAISE is… For example:

Psalm 18:3 ESV  I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

Luke 19:37-40 ESV  As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen,  (38)  saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”  (39)  And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”  (40)  He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

I read an interesting comment on praise, this quote is borrowed from Got Questions.org…
— {“Praise is the joyful recounting of all God has done for us. It is closely intertwined with thanksgiving as we offer back to God appreciation for His mighty works on our behalf. Praise can be a feature of other relationships as well. We can praise our family, friends, boss, or paperboy. Praise does not require anything of us. It is merely the truthful acknowledgment of the righteous acts of another. Since God has done many wonderful deeds, He is worthy of praise…” END OF QUOTE}

– (See footnote #1) – Then mark your answer(s) to these…

Q1. Looking back at Psalm 18:3… Why is David praising God?

 ☐ He is thanking God for His ability to save…   
 ☐ David is displaying his surrender to God…

Q2. Now see Luke 19:37-40… Why would even the stones have to cry out in praise to Jesus?

 ☐ Because the ‘Messiah’ had finally come to save His creation (from Satan’s power)…
 ☐ To display their surrender to Jesus…
(The point is that Praise centers on thanksgiving, we will find Worship centers on surrender.)

Q3. Can you understand that the concept PRAISE doesn’t ask any ‘material thing’ from us?

  ☐ Yes…     ☐  No…  

Q4. Mark the things of our ‘human nature’ we must sometimes surrender to praise others?

☐ animosity…     ☐ pride…     ☐ ego…     ☐ rewards…     ☐ reputation…
*NOTE* You can, and should, praise even those with whom you have a dispute, if they do or say anything worthy of praise.
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The Bible on Praise and Worship of God    (Pg.2)
— Our Praise is to be valued, and should lead us to proper humility and worship of God
(Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).

As we understand what PRAISE is… Now let’s look at what WORSHIP is…

SEE, Luke 4:5-8 ESV  And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time,  (6)  and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.  (7)  If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”  (8)  And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”

Q5. In Vs.8, Jesus states a Bible truth about what WORSHIP requires of us… What is it?

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– (See footnote #2)– Then mark your answer(s) to these…

Q6. What did Satan want from Jesus in asking for His worship?

☐ surrender…     ☐ service…     ☐ glory…     ☐ faithfulness…     ☐ submission…

Now SEE, John 4:21-26 ESV  Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.  (22)  You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.  (23)  But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.  (24)  God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”  (25)  The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” (26) Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

–In verse 23, Jesus tells us that the only worship God accepts is ‘worship in spirit and truth’.

Q7. What does God require from us in TRUE worship in our spirit?

☐ surrender…     ☐ service…     ☐ glory…     ☐ faithfulness…     ☐ submission…

(Other comments) ______________________________________________________________

*A question in closing…*
— Can our “worship in spirit and truth” be shared with any other than God alone?

(Comments) ___________________________________________________________________

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— If we do a quick check of the songs we sing to see if they are ‘worship songs’ or ‘praise songs’, I find it helps me value each better, and both should be part of our services. (KRK)

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(Footnote #1)
From Psalm 18:3 the word ‘praise’ is from the Hebrew word… hâlal – (haw-lal) ‘ – meaning… to make a show of; to boast of; to (clamorously) celebrate; to commend; to give glory to; shine.

In Luke 19:37-40  – The English word ‘praise’ is from Greek aineō (ahee-neh’-o) to praise (God).

‘How Great Thou Art’ is a classic example of a Praise song; as is ‘You are God alone’.

— See lyrics below of ‘You are God alone’

‘You are God alone’ …written by Billy James Foote, Cindy Foote.
As sung by Craig & Dean Phillips

You are not a God created by human hands… You are not a God dependent on any mortal man.
You are not a God in need of anything we can give… By Your plan, that’s just the way it is.

You are not a God created by human hands… You are not a God dependent on any mortal man.
You are not a God in need of anything we can give… By Your plan, that’s just the way it is.

You are God alone from before time began… You were on Your throne, You were God alone.
And right now, in the good times and bad… You are on Your throne and You are God alone.

You’re the only God whose power none can contend…
You’re the only God whose name and praise will never end…
You’re the only God who’s worthy of everything we can give…
You are God, that’s just the way it is.

You are God alone from before time began,
And You were on Your throne, and You are God alone.
And right now, in the good times and bad… You are on Your throne and You are God alone.

Unchangeable… Unshakable… Unstoppable… That’s what You are.
Unchangeable… Unshakable… Unstoppable… That’s what You are.

You are God alone from before time began…
And You were on Your throne, You are God alone…
Right now, in the good times and bad… You are on Your throne, You are God alone.

Unchangeable… Unshakable… Unstoppable… That’s what You are.

 

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(Footnote #2)

Jesus said, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”
– What does ‘service to God’ look like to you?
— Does it include: Humbling yourself; Serving OTHERS; or resisting sin?

(Comments) ___________________________________________________________________

From these verses in Luke 4:5-8… We see that Satan asks Jesus to worship him.

— Here the English word ‘worship’ is translated from the Greek word… proskuneō (pros-koo-neh’-o) meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand; or, to fawn or crouch to; (literally or figuratively) to prostrate oneself in homage to; to adore.
— CAN YOU BELIEVE THE ARROGANCE OF SATAN IN ASKING THIS OF JESUS?

— When we put our will first, and refuse God’s will in our lives, are we not behaving like Satan?
*When we do this, we put ourselves above our Creator God just as Satan thought of himself.*

— Instead, we are to sing songs of Worship like – ‘I surrender All’…

All to Jesus, I surrender… All to Him, I freely give.
I will ever love and trust Him… In his presence daily live.

I surrender all.. I surrender all.
All to Thee, my blessed Savior… I surrender all

All to Jesus I surrender… Make me, Savior, wholly Thine.
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit… Truly know that Thou art mine.

I surrender all… I surrender all.
All to Thee, my blessed Savior… I surrender all.