Transforming Our Lives Through the Posture of Praise
Summary
### Summary
In our ongoing series, "Crossover," we have been exploring the different postures we need to adopt to step into the next phase of our lives. Today, we focused on the posture of praise. We often find ourselves stuck in negative postures—selfishness, anger, or hopelessness—that keep us from experiencing the fullness of God's blessings. God's blessings are constant, like a waterfall, but we need to change our posture to receive them.
We discussed how praise is not just about thanking God for what He does but recognizing and exalting who He is. Praise involves declaring God's character over our circumstances, whether we are in joy or sorrow. We looked at Isaiah 25:1, which reminds us that God is our God, not our depression, anger, or addictions. We must exalt God above all else, acknowledging His character and allowing it to transform our lives.
We also examined how praise is a supernatural expression of our divine relationship with God. It involves putting God above our feelings and circumstances, declaring His character, and thanking Him for the impact of His character on our lives. This kind of praise is constant and at all times, as described in Hebrews 13:15.
Finally, we identified four key areas of praise: God's goodness (He is for us), God's presence (He is with us), God's forgiveness (He forgives us), and God's power (He can do anything). By adopting these postures, we align ourselves with God's character and allow His transformative power to work in our lives.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Blessings are Constant: God's blessings are like a waterfall, always flowing. Our posture determines whether we receive these blessings. If we remain in negative postures like selfishness or anger, we miss out on the abundance God has for us. Changing our posture to one of gratitude and praise positions us to receive His blessings. [01:03]
2. Praise is About Who God Is: True praise is not just thanking God for what He does but exalting who He is. Isaiah 25:1 reminds us that God is our God, not our circumstances. By declaring God's character over our lives, we allow His nature to transform us, making us more like Him. [07:13]
3. Praise is a Supernatural Expression: Genuine praise is a supernatural expression of our divine relationship with God. It involves putting God above our feelings and circumstances, declaring His character, and thanking Him for the impact of His character on our lives. This kind of praise is constant and at all times, as described in Hebrews 13:15. [12:49]
4. Living Forgiven: God removes our sins completely and immediately. We often carry unnecessary guilt and spend our lives scrubbing at stains that God has already blotted out. Living forgiven means changing our heart's affection and our life's direction, aligning ourselves with God's character of forgiveness. [52:52]
5. God Can and Will: We must believe not only that God can do anything but that He will act on our behalf. Jeremiah 32:17 and 1 Samuel 17:45-47 remind us of God's power and willingness to intervene in our lives. This belief transforms our posture from one of doubt to one of confident expectation. [56:11]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:03] - God's Constant Blessings
[02:05] - The Posture of Praise
[03:08] - Spurgeon's Question on Praise
[04:27] - Embracing Life's Moments
[06:29] - Refusing to Be Silent
[07:13] - Praising God's Character
[08:47] - Declaring God Over Circumstances
[09:30] - Exalting Jesus
[11:04] - Understanding Praise
[12:49] - Constant Sacrifice of Praise
[14:05] - Conquering Circumstances with Praise
[15:11] - God's Character in Our Lives
[16:29] - Praising Who God Is
[17:06] - Entering God's Presence
[19:26] - The Richness of God's Character
[21:44] - Impact of God's Character
[22:27] - God's Enduring Love
[23:39] - Calling on God's Name
[24:25] - Exuding God's Character
[25:05] - Overcoming Negative Thoughts
[26:20] - God's Faithfulness
[27:21] - God's Character Disciplines Us
[28:29] - Aligning with God's Character
[29:36] - Obedience as Praise
[30:49] - God's Jealousy for Us
[31:17] - Forgiving Like God
[32:55] - Modeling Our Lives After God
[34:19] - Catching All of God's Characteristics
[34:51] - Genuine Praise
[35:30] - Worshiping in Spirit and Truth
[36:43] - Four Elements of Praise
[37:14] - God's Goodness
[38:34] - God's Presence
[39:14] - God's Forgiveness
[41:22] - Living from God's Approval
[42:33] - Divine Appreciation
[43:07] - Talking to God Authentically
[45:06] - Listening to God
[46:20] - Receiving from God
[47:00] - Enjoying God's Presence
[48:22] - God's Guidance
[50:47] - Living Forgiven
[52:52] - God Removes Our Sins
[55:40] - God's Power
[56:11] - God Can and Will
[56:50] - David and Goliath
[57:21] - Recap of Praise Elements
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Isaiah 25:1 - "O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago."
2. Hebrews 13:15 - "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name."
3. Jeremiah 32:17 - "Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Isaiah 25:1, what are the reasons given for exalting and praising God?
2. In Hebrews 13:15, what does it mean to offer a "sacrifice of praise" continually?
3. How does Jeremiah 32:17 describe God's power and capability?
4. What are the four key areas of praise identified in the sermon? ([37:14])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does recognizing God as our God, as stated in Isaiah 25:1, help us overcome negative emotions like depression or anger? ([08:47])
2. What does it mean to offer a "sacrifice of praise" in difficult times, as described in Hebrews 13:15? How can this be a constant practice? ([12:49])
3. How does the belief that "nothing is too hard for God" (Jeremiah 32:17) influence our posture of praise and our expectations of God's intervention in our lives? ([56:11])
4. How does living forgiven, as discussed in the sermon, change our heart's affection and life's direction? ([52:52])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt stuck in a negative posture like anger or hopelessness. How did it affect your ability to receive God's blessings? What steps can you take to change your posture to one of praise? ([01:03])
2. Think about a current situation where you are struggling. How can you declare God's character over this circumstance and praise Him for who He is, not just for what He does? ([07:13])
3. How can you make praise a constant part of your life, even when you don't feel like it? What practical steps can you take to remind yourself to praise God continually? ([12:49])
4. Identify an area in your life where you need to live forgiven. What guilt or past mistake are you holding onto that God has already forgiven? How can you change your heart's affection and life's direction to align with God's forgiveness? ([52:52])
5. Do you believe that God can and will act on your behalf in your current challenges? How can you shift your posture from doubt to confident expectation? ([56:11])
6. How can you practically embrace and enjoy God's presence in your daily life? What changes can you make to ensure you are receiving and living from God's approval rather than striving for it? ([48:22])
7. Reflect on the four key areas of praise: God's goodness, presence, forgiveness, and power. Which area do you find most challenging to praise God for, and why? How can you grow in this area? ([37:14])
Devotional
Day 1: Aligning with God's Constant Blessings
God's blessings are like a waterfall, always flowing. Our posture determines whether we receive these blessings. If we remain in negative postures like selfishness or anger, we miss out on the abundance God has for us. Changing our posture to one of gratitude and praise positions us to receive His blessings. When we focus on the negative, we block the flow of God's blessings in our lives. However, by shifting our focus to gratitude and praise, we open ourselves up to the constant stream of blessings that God has for us. This shift in posture allows us to experience the fullness of God's love and provision.
By adopting a posture of praise, we align ourselves with God's character and allow His transformative power to work in our lives. This means actively choosing to focus on God's goodness, even in difficult circumstances. It involves recognizing that God's blessings are always available to us, but we must be in the right posture to receive them. [01:03]
Psalm 68:19 (ESV): "Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation."
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt stuck in a negative posture. How can you shift your focus to gratitude and praise to align yourself with God's constant blessings today?
Day 2: Exalting God's Character Over Circumstances
True praise is not just thanking God for what He does but exalting who He is. Isaiah 25:1 reminds us that God is our God, not our circumstances. By declaring God's character over our lives, we allow His nature to transform us, making us more like Him. This means that in both joy and sorrow, we should focus on who God is—His goodness, faithfulness, and love—rather than our current situation. When we exalt God's character, we acknowledge His sovereignty and trust in His plan for our lives.
This kind of praise requires us to look beyond our immediate circumstances and see the bigger picture of God's work in our lives. It involves a deep trust in God's character and His promises. By doing so, we allow His nature to shape our responses and attitudes, leading to a more Christ-like life. [07:13]
Isaiah 25:1 (ESV): "O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure."
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you allowing circumstances to overshadow God's character? How can you begin to declare God's attributes over these areas today?
Day 3: Praise as a Supernatural Expression
Genuine praise is a supernatural expression of our divine relationship with God. It involves putting God above our feelings and circumstances, declaring His character, and thanking Him for the impact of His character on our lives. This kind of praise is constant and at all times, as described in Hebrews 13:15. Praise is not dependent on our emotions or situations but is a continuous act of worship that acknowledges God's unchanging nature.
By engaging in this supernatural expression of praise, we align ourselves with God's will and invite His presence into our lives. This constant praise helps us to maintain a heavenly perspective, even in the midst of earthly challenges. It strengthens our faith and deepens our relationship with God, allowing us to experience His peace and joy regardless of our circumstances. [12:49]
Hebrews 13:15 (ESV): "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name."
Reflection: How can you incorporate a constant sacrifice of praise into your daily routine, regardless of your current feelings or circumstances?
Day 4: Living Forgiven
God removes our sins completely and immediately. We often carry unnecessary guilt and spend our lives scrubbing at stains that God has already blotted out. Living forgiven means changing our heart's affection and our life's direction, aligning ourselves with God's character of forgiveness. This involves accepting God's forgiveness and letting go of past mistakes, trusting that He has truly cleansed us from all unrighteousness.
Living forgiven also means extending the same grace to others that God has extended to us. It requires a heart transformation that reflects God's love and mercy. By doing so, we free ourselves from the burden of guilt and shame and walk in the freedom that Christ has provided. [52:52]
Micah 7:19 (ESV): "He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea."
Reflection: Is there a past mistake or sin that you are still holding onto? How can you fully embrace God's forgiveness and live in the freedom He offers?
Day 5: Believing in God's Power and Willingness
We must believe not only that God can do anything but that He will act on our behalf. Jeremiah 32:17 and 1 Samuel 17:45-47 remind us of God's power and willingness to intervene in our lives. This belief transforms our posture from one of doubt to one of confident expectation. Trusting in God's power and His willingness to act on our behalf requires faith and a deep understanding of His character.
When we believe in God's power and willingness, we approach life's challenges with a sense of hope and assurance. We know that God is not only capable of performing miracles but is also eager to work in our lives for our good. This confidence in God's power and willingness helps us to face difficulties with courage and trust in His divine plan. [56:11]
Jeremiah 32:17 (ESV): "Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to trust in God's power and willingness to act? How can you begin to approach this area with confident expectation today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "How many of you realize that God's blessings don't change? He's not pouring out blessing or pouring out malediction on you, depending on your posture. It's like a waterfall is flowing and we're sitting at the side of the waterfall going, I'm so hot and dry. I'm so hot and dry. I wish the Lord would make water fall from heaven. And there's this incredible waterfall, an incredible amount of water that we could dive into and be, but I'm so hot and parched. Well, change your posture." [01:03] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I refuse. I refuse to be silent about praising the God who gave me life. I will praise Him when I lose, and I will praise Him when we win. There's a line from a movie, one of my favorite movies, Facing the Giants. Remember that movie? It's a bit of an oldie. But hey, when she was down, when he was down in the story, they decided that we will praise Him when I lose, and we will praise Him when we win. And we've got to have that posture that nothing that can be thrown at me can change my praise." [06:29] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We often praise God for what He does, not who He is. We praise God when we get from Him what we want. Oh, praise God, I got blessed this weekend. Oh, praise God, I was short $500. And you know what? Praise God. God, somebody just dropped an envelope on my door, and there was exactly $500. Oh, praise God. When we get what we want from God, we can praise God all day long. In fact, we even make it part of our point-snap-swoosh vocabulary. Oh, praise God. Oh, praise God. And we're not really knowing what we're praising." [07:13] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Enter the Lord's gates means to step in to the presence, the reputation, the impact of who God is in your life. Jesus is the only one who takes us to the right hand of the Father and places us in the heavens. But we can be in the presence of God, in the saturation of his character. His character is so rich with love and love was so tangible in his character that it burst forth in the flesh called Jesus Christ. His power was so tangible that he opened his mouth and said, let there be light. And there was light." [19:26] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We must never get caught in praising what God does before we praise who God is. Because you see, what God does is because of who he is. I hope you're getting this. Psalm 100 verse four to five might help you. You know it well. Enter the Lord's gates. Oh, stop. What does it mean to enter the Lord's gates? It's to be in his presence. Have you ever walked into a dark, dark room, no lights. There's a subtle glow from a full moon. The curtain is blowing slightly in the wind. Everyone go, ooh." [17:06] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "The fastest way to lose your authenticity is to get trapped in conformity. conform with the friends around us and we lose who we are. First Corinthians 1533 says like this, for those of you who have bad associations, you will lose good habits. And I say it like this, show me a man's friends, and I'll show you a man's future. If you think about it, the moment you start conforming to anything other than scriptural principles, you start losing the genuine you, and the genuine you is Christ in you." [02:05] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When you do life in the same way as God is, you praise God. It's right there in the scripture. When I forgive, I don't look at modeling my forgiveness. Look at me, I'm so good. You know what he did? He actually posted twice badly about me on Facebook. But you know what? I actually liked the comment because I thought, you know, people would see how I, I respond to bad publicity about myself. So I liked his comment. Just to say, hey, you know what? Props to you, bro. I see what you said about me and I'm kind of cool with it. I'm such a hero." [31:51] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Discipline comes from seeing who God is and then aligning ourselves with his character. So obedience to his character means that I need to operate our lives as an act of praise. If you want to be obedient, put God above your circumstance, honor who he is in your life, and then praise him for what that does, it changes it. That's obedience, isn't it? I'm not going to be obedient to depression. I'm going to be obedient to God because God says that he is the most high God, and this is why he calls himself a jealous God." [30:15] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We don't live this life anymore from a perspective of being for God's approval. We live life from God's approval. He's not punishing you for your past. He doesn't act like that. He doesn't behave like that. That's not his character. So why are you putting your circumstance above who God is? You can't change God's character because he doesn't fit into your circumstance. You change your circumstance to fit into God's character. We don't live for God's approval. We live from a place of being approved." [41:22] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "To live forgiven, I will change my heart's affection and change my life's direction. And here's the setup. The final one that we'll be opening and unpacking next week is a posture of praise that leads to a praise. A posture of hope. My God can do anything. My God can. And many of us know and think that my God can, and we're going to skip to my God will. My God will. You see, many of us know that he can, but sometimes we don't think he will. We can skip to my God will. My God can and my God will." [55:40] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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