DCLM Higher Everyday 8 December 2023 — Praise Generates Power
Topic: Praise Generates Power
Text: 2 Chronicles 20:20-24
20And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
22And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
23For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.
24And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
Key Verse: “And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushment against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten” (2 Chronicles 20:22).
Message
Praise is like telling God that we don’t care about our problems because He is there for us. King Jehoshaphat, the godly king of Judah, was confronted with a distressing and disturbing situation. He faced a real threat to himself and to his nation. The risk of a bloodbath or even annihilation was staring him in the face. But rather than give in to despair and despondency, he decided to try yet another key that opened significant doors – the key of praise. And it worked! He got the victory.
There is as much power in praises as in prayers. Of course, praise is a form of prayer. Praise works wonders because it brings the power of God down. It gets the focus off ourselves and directs them on God. It brings us to a place of humility and utter dependence on God. Praise leaves no room for complaining, murmuring and negative confessions. It opens the gate of God’s power, invites God’s presence and paves way for God’s blessings. Have other keys appeared to have failed you? Try the key of praise. It will never fail.
Quote: Praise is a form of prayer
Challenge: Arena of praise is arena of power.
Prayer for today: Oh God, keep me holy to praise you worthily.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
