Praise – Page 3 – Prince Chimaobim

RENDER ACCEPTABLE PRAISE (1): BY LIVING IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH

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Sunday June 25, 2023

RENDER ACCEPTABLE PRAISE (1): BY LIVING IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
John 4.24 (KJV)

For praise to be acceptable, it must be offered by the living. The dead cannot praise Yahweh. ‘The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.’ (Isaiah 38:19). But then there is a problem. Yahweh told Adam in Genesis 2:17, ‘for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.’ Guess what? Adam actually ate that fruit and died. From that day, humanity ceases to be qualified to praise Yahweh because only the living can praise Yahweh. Man died and became separated from Yahweh. Goodnews! Yahushua came, died, was buried, rose on the third day and ascended to heaven where He is interceding for us now. If anyone surrenders to Yahushua HaMashiach he/she is quickened by the Spirit of HaMashiach and recreated. This experience we call being ‘born again’ is the only way man can be alive towards Yahweh and therefore, qualified to praise Him. Until you are quickened back to life and recreated by the Holy Spirit, you cannot praise Yahweh; you are dead in trespasses (see Ephesian 2:1-4). Why do you need Yahushua HaMashiach? The problem is not just the act of sin, but the nature of sin. Even if you claim that you have not sinned, you are still dead in sin because you inherited the nature of sin from Adam. When the Spirit of HaMashiach recreates you, you come alive with a new nature of righteousness not because of what you have done but because of the price Yahushua HaMashiach paid for sin.

OBSTACLES TO ACCEPTABLE PRAISE (6): NEGATIVE PAST

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Saturday June 24, 2023

OBSTACLES TO ACCEPTABLE PRAISE (6): NEGATIVE PAST

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

Isaiah 43:18 (KJV)

Negative past talks about events in your past that when you remember them, you are full of hurt, resentment, hate, vengeful, bitter and depressed. The habit of looking back at past failures is an enemy of praise. You can’t live a life of praise until you let go of the negative past. For instance, if you are driving a car forward, and rather than facing your front, you concentrate on looking backward, you know of course that you are heading for a ghastly motor accident. Lay all the troubles of the past to rest! If you have lost anything, He is the reason why you have not lost everything. You can’t praise Him with burdens. Looking at your negative past all the time will make things negative in your life. Let them go! The Bible says anyone who puts his hand on the plough and looks back, is not worthy of the kingdom (see Luke. 9:62). That means he is not fit for the blessings of the kingdom.

OBSTACLES TO ACCEPTABLE PRAISE (5): SORROW

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Friday June 23, 2023

OBSTACLES TO ACCEPTABLE PRAISE (5): SORROW

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Proverbs 15:13 (KJV)

Whatever breaks your spirit-man breaks your praise. Sorrow is an enemy of praise, and whatsoever stops your praise is an enemy of your destiny. Praises in the mouth of an unhappy man are like songs in the mouth of a pig; it’s a nuisance in the ears of Yahweh. Sorrow does not only break the spirit, it also blocks your access to Yahweh. Many ailments people suffer today are as a result of sorrow of heart. When your heart is broken, your body will soon fall apart. Your physical body is in danger at the instance of prolonged sorrow of heart (depression). There are two basic causes of sorrow in the lives of people:

OBSTACLES TO ACCEPTABLE PRAISE (4): HIGH-MINDEDNESS

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Thursday June 22, 2023

OBSTACLES TO ACCEPTABLE PRAISE (4): HIGH-MINDEDNESS

Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Romans 11:20 (KJV)

Highmindedness is one of the greatest enemies of praise. It is a condition where an individual sees everything as below his expectation. He sees himself as too much for where he is and hardly appreciates the acts of Yahweh in his life. As a matter of fact, Yahweh is too slow for him. This is nothing but a device of the enemy to turn one against Yahweh, by portraying Him as unfaithful and slow. The Bible says that in the last days, men shall be high-minded, lovers of pleasures and of self more than lovers of Yahweh (see 2 Timothy.3:2-5). They are never satisfied and they celebrate their qualifications and expertise at the expense of their relationship with Yahweh. At the end of the day, Yahweh leaves them to themselves. But 1 Timothy 6:17 says, ‘Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.‘ Life is in phases! Until you accept the reality of that statement, you may be phased out. You must appreciate the fact that you are where you are now, by the faithfulness of Yahweh. So, whatever you possess is not as a result of your expertise, but the hand of Yahweh upon your life.

OBSTACLES TO ACCEPTABLE PRAISE (3): OFFENCE

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Wednesday June 21, 2023

OBSTACLES TO ACCEPTABLE PRAISE (3): OFFENCE

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
Matthew 11:6 (KJV)

Offence is the natural tendency in the hour of difficulty and pressure. It is a negative reaction to unpleasant condition. Unfortunately, it’s a reaction against your helper, thereby rendering you completely helpless. The offended man says, “Why me? Where is Yahweh now? Is His Word still there? Can anyone really count on Him?” The answer to all offenses is patience. In the parable of the sower, Yahushua said: ‘But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.’ (Luke 8:15). No matter how good your heart is, patience is needed to enjoy the fullness of Yahweh’s plan for your life. You get offended easily, that’s why it looks as if things are not working for you. If the devil tells you, “If Yahweh was going to lift you, He should have done it by now.” Tell him, “Yahweh is never late. He created the entire would in six days, so whatever deadline is before me now is too much for Him to perfect all that concerns me.” Be determined, like Job, to wait till the time your change comes from the Lord, for there is no shame to them that wait for Yahweh (see Isaiah. 49:23).

OBSTACLES TO ACCEPTABLE PRAISE (2): COVETOUSNESS

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Tuesday June 20, 2023

OBSTACLES TO ACCEPTABLE PRAISE (2): COVETOUSNESS

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Luke 12:15 (KJV)

Covetousness is an attitude marked by inordinate desire for wealth or possessions or for another’s possessions. It is showing extreme cupidity (extreme greed for material wealth); painfully desirous of another’s advantages. Another obstacle to a life of praise is covetousness. Nothing is ever enough for the covetous. People are running helter-skelter daily, because they are under the plague of covetousness. Oh yes, it is a plague which wipes smiles off its victim’s face. The worth of a man is not in what he possesses. But what is the cure for covetousness? 1 Timothy 6:6-8 says, ‘But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content.’ Contentment is the answer to covetousness. The Holy Spirit makes us understand that everybody has what it takes to be contented. He said, “And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content.” Note that it says, “having food”, not “foods”; “and raiment”, not “raiments.” Godliness with contentment is great gain. That means contentment is your open door to great gains in life. Why? With contentment, you maintain a praiseful lifestyle, which would bring you outstanding liftings. It is impossible to maintain joy where contentment is absent.

OBSTACLES TO ACCEPTABLE PRAISE (1): THE SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS

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Monday June 19, 2023

OBSTACLES TO ACCEPTABLE PRAISE (1): THE SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS

Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
Psalms 69:20 (KJV)

The spirit of heaviness is an enemy of praise. It is not a state of the mind, neither is it an attitude. It is a spirit – a force in the realm of the unseen. Its victim is not down because of any negative thing that has happened to him; he is depressed most times without even knowing why! He wonders what life is all about. I believe that was the spirit that came upon Elijah when he fled from Jezebel. He said, “… It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” (1 Kings 19:4.). Until the spirit of heaviness goes, praise, which is your guarantee to the high places in life, cannot flow. But Isaiah 61:1,3 says, ‘The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to… appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…’

DIVIDENDS OF PRAISE (10): DESTRUCTION OF PRIDE

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Sunday June 18, 2023

DIVIDENDS OF PRAISE (10): DESTRUCTION OF PRIDE

And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
Acts 12:23 (KJV)

Pride is a trap of the enemy; it has destroyed many destinies. Most unusual liftings lead to pride; but the answer to pride is praise. If you must escape the trap of pride, then you must understand the mystery of praise. A personal life style of continuous praise is able to destroy the poison of pride. Worms ate up Herod because he did not give Yahweh the glory. That means that if he had given Yahweh the glory, he would have been preserved. That means that giving Yahweh the glory, kills pride. If you want pride to be eliminated from your life, then you must learn to promptly and honestly return the glory back to Yahweh. Pride is real and it goes before destruction (see Proverbs 16:18). Whenever pride appears, the next thing that you will see is shame (see Proverbs 11:2). So destroying pride must be the goal of everyone that wants to go far with Yahweh. With pride you don’t need the devil to attend to your case, it is Yahweh Himself that will destroy you because He resists the proud (see 1 Peter 5:5). There was a man called Ahithophel. He was David’s counsellor. When he gave counsel, it was like hearing from Yahweh. But he saw this as a personal achievement and became puffed up. So, when his counsel was rejected, he hanged himself (see 2 Samuel.17:23). He was cut down because of pride. Remember also the story of the rich fool? He said, “I have made enough wealth, I will pull down these barns, I will build bigger ones, and I will say to my soul…” (Luke. 12:16-19). He was too full of himself, thinking that his rich harvest was as a result of his expertise. But Yahweh said to him in verse 20 ‘…Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?’ Pride cut him down!

DIVIDENDS OF PRAISE (9): SUPERNATURAL LIFTING

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Saturday June 17, 2023

DIVIDENDS OF PRAISE (9): SUPERNATURAL LIFTING

1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. 7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
Psalms 113:1, 7 (KJV)

There is a lifting up; a raising up when praise goes up to the Lord. Psalms 134:2 says, ‘Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.’ The lifting up of the hands in praise is very symbolic. Just like a child when his father arrives from work or journey, is overjoyed to see him and runs to him, lifting up his/her hands gives the father an opportunity to lift the child up; lifting up our hands in praise is giving the Lord the opportunity to raise us up and that is exactly what our opening text is saying. As you praise the Lord, He lifts and raises you from any place that makes your life uncomfortable. Not just that, He places you in places that is humanly unimaginable, among the nobles of the earth (see Psalms 113:8). Psalms 141:2 says something striking, ‘Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.’ The lifting up of our hands in praise is as the evening sacrifice which produces sweet savour to the Lord, who in turn lifts you and places you where the mind of man cannot imagine. Yadah is praising Yahweh with extended hands in adoration. When you yadah the Lord, you give Him the opportunity to turn you into a wonder in your world. Sometimes, the lifting can be instant, other times, it can be in the process of time, you discover you are way beyond whatever efforts, connection and perspiration can achieve. Praising the Lord engenders a supernatural raise in life.

DIVIDENDS OF PRAISE (8): YAHWEH TAKES OVER YOUR BATTLES

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Friday June 16, 2023

DIVIDENDS OF PRAISE (8): YAHWEH TAKES OVER YOUR BATTLES

Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, …
2 Chronicles 20:17 (KJV)

‘You shall not need to fight in this battle.’ That is Yahweh taking over the battle from your hands. Praise is like tapping Yahweh to take over the battle while you step out of the ring and watch. That is how we emerge more than conquerors. We don’t fight, but we always win. Yahweh fights for us because in praise we hand over the battle to Him. In Second Chronicles 20, three kings came up against Judah. Three great armies with great multitude came against Jehoshaphat. King Jehoshaphat turned to the Lord and sought the Lord with prayer and fasting, then Yahweh told them that the battle is not theirs but His. How did they hand that battle over to the Lord? They set themselves to sing and praise the Lord. That is how to hand your battle over to the Lord, thank Him, sing and celebrate Him. It doesn’t matter who is against you, the battle is the Lord’s and you know if Yahweh is fighting for you, you have already won. You are more than a conqueror in HaMashiach (see Romans 8:37). All you need is to allow Yahweh to take over your battles and that is only possible in praise. Whatever cannot stand Yahweh cannot stand praise. That is the reason the greatest battles in your life will always bow to praise. When you become ‘a lion of praise’ roaring loud and clear from your heart to the Lord, you cannot be stopped. When you become valiant in praise, you become more than a conqueror in life.