Intentional Praise: Journey from Confusion to Clarity

Today, the call is to become intentional praisers—people who choose to bless the Lord not just in moments of joy or when the music is playing, but in every circumstance, even in silence and chaos. Praise is not accidental; it is a decision rooted in memory and gratitude. If you are breathing and can remember what God has done, you have every reason to praise. This praise is not circumstantial; it is a prophetic declaration against whatever may come, anchored in the promise that no weapon formed against us will prosper.

God’s dealings with Abraham reveal a pattern for all who walk by faith. Abraham was called out of confusion—out of Babel, a place of disorder and instability—into a journey of faith, not knowing where he was going but trusting the voice of God. God’s call is never random; He is methodical and strategic, declaring the end from the beginning. Even when evidence suggests otherwise, God names us according to His promise, not our present reality. He calls us fruitful and blessed, even when we feel empty or barren.

Fruitfulness and multiplication are embedded in the DNA of God’s people. Yet, before multiplication, there must be fruitfulness, and sometimes God prunes and detaches things from our lives—not to punish, but to prepare us for greater increase. When God calls us out, it is to break cycles of confusion, addiction, and generational dysfunction, and to start something new in us and through us.

The journey from confusion to clarity is not instant. Like Abraham, we may walk a thousand miles by faith, not always knowing the next step, but every act of obedience takes us further from confusion and closer to divine encounter. God cannot lay His burden on us while we remain in confusion; He appears where there is order and a willingness to carry His burden for souls. The challenge is to stay the course, to resist the urge to turn back, and to separate from anything that delays or confuses our calling. God is inviting us to cross the threshold from measured obedience to multiplied encounters, to find ourselves in a city with foundations—order, stability, and the presence of God.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Praise is a deliberate act of the will, not dependent on circumstances or external stimuli. True praise flows from a heart that remembers God’s faithfulness and chooses gratitude, even in the absence of music or visible blessings. This kind of praise becomes a prophetic stand against future adversity, declaring trust in God’s promises before the evidence appears. [69:54]
• 2. God’s call is always purposeful and strategic, never random or coincidental. He declares the end from the beginning, embedding fruitfulness and multiplication into our spiritual DNA. Even when we feel empty or pruned, God is preparing us for greater increase, and every detachment is for our growth, not our punishment. [92:12]
• 3. Coming out of confusion is essential for spiritual progress and multiplied encounters with God. Babel represents disorder and instability, but God calls us out to establish us in a place of order, foundation, and clarity. We cannot carry God’s burden or experience His fullness while remaining entangled in confusion or dysfunctional systems. [101:03]
• 4. The journey of faith often involves walking without full understanding, trusting God’s directive even when direction is unclear. Like Abraham, we may travel a long distance—sometimes for years—without seeing the destination, but every step of obedience moves us further from confusion and closer to divine encounter and purpose. [117:58]
• 5. Separation from sources of confusion and delay is necessary for God’s healing and multiplication in our lives and families. Staying in confusion only prolongs delay, but stepping out in faith, even when it’s difficult or costly, positions us for God’s restoration and the breaking of generational cycles. The cost of going back is always greater than pressing forward into God’s promise. [125:04]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [69:54] - The Will to Praise
• [70:31] - Praise Beyond Circumstance
• [74:54] - Praise as Prophecy
• [77:10] - Confronting Unbelief
• [81:05] - Blessed to Be a Blessing
• [82:37] - Measured Obedience, Multiplied Encounters
• [84:08] - Abraham: Prototype of Faith
• [87:02] - God’s Promises vs. Present Reality
• [92:12] - Fruitfulness, Multiplication, and Pruning
• [96:44] - The Glitch of Confusion: Babel
• [101:03] - Called Out to Start Something New
• [106:01] - Walking by Faith Without Full Direction
• [108:51] - Foundations vs. Hype
• [112:50] - Disorder, Confusion, and the Sound Mind
• [114:29] - Shechem: The Place of Burden
• [117:58] - The Long Journey from Confusion
• [125:04] - Separation from Delay and Confusion
• [130:38] - Pressing Forward to Foundations

Bible Reading

Genesis 12:1-3, 6-7 (ESV) — > Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” ... Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

Isaiah 54:17 (ESV) — > No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.

Hebrews 11:8-10 (ESV) — > By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

Observation Questions

1. According to Genesis 12, what specific instructions did God give to Abram, and what promises did He attach to those instructions?
2. In the sermon, what two things did the pastor say are required to be a praiser? [[01:10:31]]
3. What does the name “Babel” mean, and why did God call Abraham out of that place? [[01:36:44]]
4. In Hebrews 11, what was Abraham looking for as he journeyed by faith? [[01:46:01]]

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that praise is a “prophetic declaration” and not just a reaction to good circumstances. What does it mean for praise to be prophetic, and how does this relate to Isaiah 54:17? [[01:14:54]]
2. Why do you think God sometimes prunes or detaches things from our lives before bringing increase or multiplication? How does this connect to the idea of fruitfulness before multiplication? [[01:33:07]]
3. The pastor described Abraham’s journey as moving from confusion (Babel) to a place of order and foundation. Why is it important to leave confusion behind before God can “lay His burden” on us? [[01:55:37]]
4. What does it look like in real life to “walk by faith, not knowing where you are going,” as Abraham did? [[01:46:01]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to praise God intentionally, even when there’s no music or visible blessing. When was the last time you chose to praise God in a difficult or silent moment? What helped you do it, or what held you back? [[01:10:31]]
2. The pastor said, “If you are breathing and can remember what God has done, you have every reason to praise.” What is one specific thing God has done for you that you can remember and thank Him for this week? [[01:10:31]]
3. Are there any areas of confusion, dysfunction, or “Babel” in your life right now that you sense God is calling you to leave behind? What would it look like to take a step away from that confusion? [[01:36:44]]
4. The sermon talked about God pruning or detaching things from our lives—not to punish, but to prepare us for more fruit. Is there something or someone God might be asking you to let go of so you can grow? How do you feel about that? [[01:33:07]]
5. Abraham’s journey was long and sometimes unclear, but every step of obedience moved him closer to God’s promise. Is there an area where you feel God is asking you to obey, even though you don’t see the full picture? What’s one small step you can take this week? [[01:57:58]]
6. The pastor said, “The cost of going back is always greater than pressing forward into God’s promise.” Have you ever been tempted to turn back to old patterns or relationships? What helped you keep moving forward, or what could help you now? [[02:08:14]]
7. The sermon described a “city with foundations” as a place of order, stability, and God’s presence. What practical steps can you take to build more spiritual order and stability in your life or family this month? [[01:46:01]]