Title What is the benefit of praise?
What are the benefits of praise?
Text/ Psalm 108:1-5
1. Introduction
Music has great power. You can't talk about youth culture without music. Music is central to the lives of young people. Also, many middle-aged intellectuals devote themselves to studying classical music such as Bach, Telemann, Vivaldi, Connelly, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Mahler, etc. Because we know that music ennobles a person's character and heart, and gives great comfort to life.
In particular, sacred religious music has an indescribable power. How often do you hear the holy praises of the choir or sing fervently at a revival meeting and then receive grace and become a person of greater faith, or a person without faith is transformed by listening to holy music to receive Jesus and be saved? In this sense, today, once again, I would like to share grace while meditating on the greatness of music and the benefits of praise (Reference: Fountain of the Word No. 12).
2. Correlation between music and the Word
The Bible testifies that the Word and music are two and one, and one and two, like a double rope in Psalms, Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16, and Revelation 5:9.
Since then, this relationship has been evident in every field where the Gospel is preached.
Martin Luther the Reformer and my lord is a strong city (Hymns 384)
Billy Graham and The Truth Is Marching On (Hymns 388)
Martin Luther King and We Shall Over Come
And can you think of worship without praise? Can you think of a revival without praise, a retreat without praise, or a prayer meeting without praise? Likewise, in our church, the Word and praise are two and one, one and two at the same time.
3. What are the benefits of religious music and praise?
first. Praise has the power to unite people's hearts. As you can see through the classic illustration of Spring Water No. 209 in this verse, music has the power to unite people's hearts. In particular, praise unites all saints. Music has an amazing and terrifying power to unite people of different languages, cultures, and expressions of will.
second. Praise enriches people's hearts emotionally.
Humans are beings with intelligence, emotions, and will. Intellect alone is not enough, emotion alone is not enough, and will is not enough. I may be the only one thinking, but I think that our reality today in the church, society, and family is too full of intellect and will, while the static aspect is too devastated.
For example, in 2000, the number of marriages was 334,000, the lowest in 30 years, and the number of divorces was 120,000, which is the highest for three consecutive years. The causes of divorce were 75% of divorce between husband and wife, father-in-law and family, 10.8% financial problems and 14.2% other reasons. Why do you think divorce is so explosive? Is it because you don't have enough intelligence? Is it because of lack of will? The problem is that the placenta is thought to be caused by a lack of emotion.
I don't think there has ever been a time when it is absolutely necessary to listen to and sing holy praises like today. Praise enriches a person's heart. It warms people's hearts. It has the ability to open people's hearts wide open.
third. Praise has the power to dispel sadness, despair, sighs, fears, and discouragement.
Like the countless evidences in the book of Acts, praise has the power to dispel all kinds of negative emotions that oppress a person, just like sunlight dispels a mist. When Paul and Silas, who were imprisoned in the Philippian prison, were praising and praying in prison, a great earthquake suddenly occurred, the building moved, the prison doors opened, and the iron collars were removed (Acts 16:19-34).
Do you have concerns at home? Are there any problems with the church? Are you physically in trouble? Are you feeling frustrated and anxious? Have you encountered something you fear? Praise. The way to live in praise is opened.
4. How to praise?
first. Praise while meditating deeply on the meaning of praise. You can praise multiple songs. However, you can receive greater grace when praising a song that is blessed over and over again so that the content of the praise melts into your soul.
second. There are people who are not in the mood to praise, but how do you praise them? The dead are the dead and the living must live. If you said you would praise when you are in a good mood, when would you feel? life is hard Therefore, praise it by force. That is the way to live. Amen!
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