### Summary

Good morning, everyone! Today, we continued our series "More Than a Song" with a fun game to distinguish between Disney and worship lyrics. This light-hearted activity led us into a deeper discussion about the importance of understanding the words we sing in worship. We emphasized that worship is not just about melodies or feelings but about truly understanding and meaning the words we sing to God.

We explored the concept that praise is our native language, much like how a bilingual person naturally speaks their first language. Our spirit's native language is praise, and we were created to declare God's goodness, mercy, and love. We delved into the meaning of praise, which goes beyond mere admiration to adoration and worship of God. Praise answers the questions of when, who, and why we praise. We praise God at all times, in all circumstances, because He is unchanging, faithful, and sovereign.

We discussed the importance of praising God even in difficult times, drawing from personal experiences and biblical examples. Praise is not limited to our feelings or circumstances; it is a discipline and an act of obedience. We also clarified that our enemies are not people but spiritual forces that seek to rob us of our purpose and relationship with God. Therefore, we praise to drown out fear, anxiety, depression, and sin.

Finally, we emphasized that praise should be loud, joyful, and celebratory. It involves our whole being—our voices, our bodies, and our instruments. We are called to praise God with everything we have because He is worthy. We concluded with a challenge to step out of our comfort zones in worship and a reminder from Psalm 150 that everything that has breath should praise the Lord.

### Key Takeaways

1. **Understanding the Words We Sing**: It's crucial to know the meaning behind the lyrics we sing in worship. This understanding allows us to sing with conviction and not just out of habit or emotion. When we grasp the depth of the words, our worship becomes more meaningful and impactful. [34:16]

2. **Praise as Our Native Language**: Just as a bilingual person naturally speaks their first language, our spirit's native language is praise. We were created to declare God's goodness and love. This means that praise should come naturally to us, flowing from a deep understanding of who God is. [37:09]

3. **Praising in All Circumstances**: We are called to praise God at all times, whether we are on the mountaintop or in the valley. Our circumstances may change, but God's character and faithfulness remain constant. Therefore, our praise should not be dependent on how we feel but on who God is. [41:40]

4. **Spiritual Warfare Through Praise**: Our enemies are not people but spiritual forces that seek to rob us of our purpose and relationship with God. When we praise, we are engaging in spiritual warfare, drowning out fear, anxiety, depression, and sin. Praise is a powerful weapon against the enemy. [48:19]

5. **Praise Involves Our Whole Being**: True praise is loud, joyful, and involves our entire being. It is not just about singing quietly in our hearts but about fully expressing our adoration for God with our voices, bodies, and instruments. We are called to praise God with everything we have because He is worthy. [53:30]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[31:22] - Disney or Worship Game
[34:16] - Importance of Understanding Worship Lyrics
[35:45] - Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving
[37:09] - Praise as Our Native Language
[38:37] - Meaning of Praise
[41:40] - Praising in All Circumstances
[43:19] - Personal Struggles and Praise
[44:51] - God's Presence in Praise
[46:30] - Praise Beyond Feelings
[48:19] - Spiritual Warfare Through Praise
[49:50] - Story of the Red Sea
[51:19] - Enemies of Our Soul
[52:53] - Who We Praise
[53:30] - Loud and Joyful Praise
[55:03] - Using Our Bodies to Praise
[57:17] - Reasons to Praise God
[59:24] - Prayer and Challenge
[01:00:57] - Psalm 150: Call to Praise

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 150:1-6 (ESV)

Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!


2. Psalm 34:1 (ESV)

I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.


3. Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.


#### Observation Questions
1. According to Psalm 150, what are some of the ways we are instructed to praise God?
2. In Psalm 34:1, when does the psalmist say we should bless the Lord?
3. What does Ephesians 6:12 say about the nature of our enemies? How does this relate to the sermon’s discussion on spiritual warfare through praise? [48:19]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding the meaning behind worship lyrics enhance our worship experience? [34:16]
2. What does it mean for praise to be our "native language," and how should this affect our daily lives? [37:09]
3. Why is it important to praise God in all circumstances, and how can this practice impact our faith during difficult times? [41:40]
4. How can praise serve as a form of spiritual warfare against fear, anxiety, and other negative forces? [48:19]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you sang worship songs without fully understanding the lyrics. How did this sermon challenge you to approach worship differently? [34:16]
2. Think about your daily routine. How can you incorporate praise as a natural part of your day, similar to how a bilingual person naturally speaks their first language? [37:09]
3. Share a personal experience where praising God in a difficult situation helped you. How can you encourage others to do the same? [41:40]
4. Identify a specific fear, anxiety, or negative thought that you struggle with. How can you use praise as a weapon against it this week? [48:19]
5. The sermon emphasized that praise should be loud, joyful, and involve our whole being. What is one practical step you can take to express your praise more fully during worship? [53:30]
6. How can you remind yourself to praise God even when you don't feel like it? What strategies can you use to make praise a discipline rather than an option? [46:30]
7. Psalm 150 calls for everything that has breath to praise the Lord. How can you encourage those around you to join in praising God, especially those who may not be familiar with worship? [01:00:57]

Day 1: Understanding the Words We Sing
Understanding the words we sing in worship is crucial for meaningful praise. When we grasp the depth and significance of the lyrics, our worship transcends mere habit or emotion and becomes a heartfelt expression of our faith. Singing with conviction allows us to connect more deeply with God, making our worship more impactful and sincere. This understanding transforms our worship from a routine activity into a powerful declaration of God's truth and love.

Knowing the meaning behind the lyrics helps us to align our hearts and minds with the truths we are proclaiming. It ensures that our worship is not just an emotional response to a melody but a deliberate act of adoration and reverence. By understanding the words we sing, we can fully engage in worship, allowing it to shape our thoughts, attitudes, and actions. [34:16]

Psalm 47:7 (ESV): "For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!"

Reflection: Think about a worship song you often sing. Do you understand the meaning of its lyrics? How can you deepen your understanding of the words to make your worship more meaningful?


Day 2: Praise as Our Native Language
Praise is our spirit's native language, much like how a bilingual person naturally speaks their first language. We were created to declare God's goodness, mercy, and love. This means that praise should come naturally to us, flowing from a deep understanding of who God is. When we recognize that our primary purpose is to glorify God, praise becomes an instinctive response to His greatness and love.

Understanding that praise is our native language helps us to see it as an integral part of our identity as believers. It is not something we do only in church or during specific times but a continuous expression of our relationship with God. This perspective encourages us to cultivate a lifestyle of praise, where our words, actions, and attitudes consistently reflect our adoration for God. [37:09]

Psalm 34:1 (ESV): "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth."

Reflection: How can you incorporate praise into your daily routine, making it a natural and continuous expression of your faith?


Day 3: Praising in All Circumstances
We are called to praise God at all times, whether we are on the mountaintop or in the valley. Our circumstances may change, but God's character and faithfulness remain constant. Therefore, our praise should not be dependent on how we feel but on who God is. Praising God in all circumstances is a discipline that requires us to focus on His unchanging nature rather than our fluctuating emotions or situations.

Praising God during difficult times can be challenging, but it is a powerful act of faith and obedience. It shifts our perspective from our problems to God's sovereignty and goodness. By choosing to praise God regardless of our circumstances, we acknowledge His control over our lives and trust in His plans. This act of praise can bring peace, strength, and hope, even in the midst of trials. [41:40]

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV): "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."

Reflection: Think of a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you choose to praise God in the midst of it, focusing on His unchanging character?


Day 4: Spiritual Warfare Through Praise
Our enemies are not people but spiritual forces that seek to rob us of our purpose and relationship with God. When we praise, we are engaging in spiritual warfare, drowning out fear, anxiety, depression, and sin. Praise is a powerful weapon against the enemy, as it shifts our focus from our struggles to God's power and victory. It reminds us of God's sovereignty and His ability to overcome any obstacle we face.

Engaging in spiritual warfare through praise involves recognizing the spiritual battles we face and intentionally choosing to praise God despite them. This act of praise can break the chains of fear and despair, filling us with God's peace and joy. By praising God, we declare His authority over our lives and invite His presence to work in our situations, bringing transformation and deliverance. [48:19]

2 Chronicles 20:22 (ESV): "And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed."

Reflection: Identify a specific area in your life where you feel under spiritual attack. How can you use praise as a weapon to combat these spiritual forces and invite God's victory?


Day 5: Praise Involves Our Whole Being
True praise is loud, joyful, and involves our entire being. It is not just about singing quietly in our hearts but about fully expressing our adoration for God with our voices, bodies, and instruments. We are called to praise God with everything we have because He is worthy. This means that our praise should be enthusiastic and wholehearted, reflecting the greatness of the God we worship.

Involving our whole being in praise allows us to experience the fullness of worship. It engages our emotions, thoughts, and physical actions, creating a holistic expression of our love for God. This type of praise can be transformative, as it aligns our entire selves with God's presence and purposes. By stepping out of our comfort zones and embracing a more expressive form of worship, we can deepen our connection with God and inspire others to do the same. [53:30]

Psalm 150:3-6 (ESV): "Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!"

Reflection: How can you step out of your comfort zone in worship and involve your whole being in praising God? What specific actions can you take to make your praise more expressive and joyful?

1. "When we praise God, we are positioning ourselves in the natural for whatever he wants to do in the supernatural and that positioning cannot be this it has to be this because you are positioning your body for what God is wanting to do in the supernatural our praise is not limited to our feelings because our feelings change we should not rely on our feelings ever we should just be obedient and disciplined to do what God is calling us to do so we need to remember that we praise at all times all the time continuously." [46:30] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


2. "Our spirit has a native language and that is praise we were created to declare the goodness of god we were created to speak of his mercy and his love we were supposed to just be speaking in our native language to him saying how good he is how amazing he is declaring the goodness of god everywhere we go so if that is gonna be our natural language to me our spirit has a native language and that is praise we were created to language then we need to really understand what praise means." [37:09] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


3. "When we praise God, we cannot be quiet. The Bible says in 1 Chronicles, Have you ever heard a quiet trumpet? I haven't. Because praise is supposed to be loud. You cannot fully praise God and be silent at the same time. It just doesn't work that way. Praise is not. It's about what makes us comfortable. It is about us fully displaying the glory of God and talking about how good He is. We are praising Him and only Him, right?" [54:11] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


4. "We praise God no matter how we feel because praise is not optional it is not one of those like man I'm tired today you know I didn't sleep good last night so I'm just I just don't feel like praising you know or maybe you're saying yeah I feel overwhelmed and I just I'm just gonna skip it today like all together I'm not even gonna try let's just let's just skip it all right or maybe you're saying it will be hypocritical of me to praise because I don't feel it but let me tell you that as christians it is more hypocritical for us to do only the things that we feel like doing." [46:30] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


5. "We praise the drown anxiety we are praising to drown fear we are pressing to drown a depression we are pricing to drown hopelessness we are praising to dry to drown sin we are praising to drown sin number one and also because we need to cry we want to die you're all in our goings and줄s says in God through us in the Trinity Church we are praising to drown this sin give with us are waiting for only God and see this God that kita? sexual confusion. We are praising to drown sickness. We are praising to drown what is trying to rob us from the purpose that God has placed in our lives." [51:19] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


6. "We praise because you're sovereign. I praise because you reign. I praise because you rose and defeated the grave. I praise because you're God and God alone. Because you're the one that is in control. Because you're the one that has my tomorrow in your hands. Because you're the only one that knows the beginning from the end. You are sovereign. I praise you because you reign. Because you're the one on the throne. Because you are the king of kings. And you're the Lord of lords. Because you have done everything. Because you're the Lord of our lives." [57:17] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


7. "We praise God and don't allow your circumstances to rob you of your praise maybe you are like us like red and i and just saying god i don't know how this story is gonna end i don't know what you're actually writing i know that i want this to be done but while i am in this situation i'm still gonna push myself to put my hope in you and praise you again and then the more words i will praise when i feel it and i praise when i don't i'll praise because i know that you're still in control because my praise is a weapon it is more than a sound oh my praise is a shout that brings jericho down." [44:51] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


8. "We praise God above. And God alone, he's the only one who deserves our adoration and our devotion and our worship. We praise God. The Bible says in Isaiah 25, oh, Lord, you are my God. I will exalt you. I will praise your name for you have done wonderful things. Plans form of all faithful and sure. I will praise your name. Sing praises to God and to his name. Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the Lord. Rejoice in his presence. We praise God and God alone. Nobody else, nothing else. We praise only God." [52:53] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


9. "Because when I praise you are by my side when you are praising God is right there with you you might be the only one in the room physically but he is with you when you're praising he is near when you're praising him you feel his comfort and his joy and his strength he is with you so we need to praise God and don't allow your circumstances to rob you of your praise maybe you are like us like red and i and just saying god i don't know how this story is gonna end i don't know what you're actually writing i know that i want this to be done but while i am in this situation i'm still gonna push myself to put my hope in you and praise you again." [44:51] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


10. "We need to understand the things that we are singing we need to understand what we are saying because then the words will actually have meaning and we can sing with more conviction not just out of feelings not just out of a good melody but understanding what we are saying they are not just empty words we are singing to God so we need to understand what we are saying right when we praise God when we sing and worship we are taking the focus off of ourselves and putting it on God and that's why we start every Sunday with praise and worship." [34:16] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Well, good morning, everybody.

Welcome to week two of More Than a Song.

But before we actually dive into the song that we're going to have today, I want you to just indulge me for a moment, okay?

So growing up, I always thought that I would make a great game show host. Like, you know, you just see these things on TV and you're like, "I can totally do that. I would be so good at it."

So today, we're going to be playing a game together that I would like to call, "Is it Disney or is it worship?" Okay? So we all are going to play together.

I'm going to be giving you just a line, and you're going to have to tell me, is that lyric from a Disney song or from a worship song? Are you ready to play? Yes? Okay, I want to hear you, okay?

So, "I don't believe in fairy tales. I guess I've outgrown them." Is it worship or is it Disney?

Worship. Good job. It is worship.

"Sometimes they only pay off for having any faith is when it's tested again and again every day." Is it worship or is it Disney?

That's a lot of guessing. I'm like, a lot of quietness. Let's find out.

It is Disney. Pat yourself on the back; you did a good job. Online, type it in the chat. Guess your answers before I say it. Don't cheat.

"Like a bolt out of the blue, faith steps in and sees you through." Is it worship or is it Disney?

You said worship somewhere. Worship.

Next, "The day is brighter here with you. The night is lighter than its hue." Is that Disney or is it worship?

Worship. That sounds Disney, but it is worship.

Yes.

Next, "I have often dreamed of a far-off place where a great warm welcome will be waiting for me." Is that Disney or is it worship?

Disney. It is Disney.

"I see your face in every sunrise, the colors of the morning right inside of your eyes." Is that worship or is it Disney?

It is worship.

It's split. This is a split. That was a good split. It is worship.

What about "trials and tribulations? I've had my share. There ain't nothing going to stop me because I'm almost there."

I can snap my fingers to it. Yes.

"People think I'm crazy for the way I'm acting lately." That's true. "I'm crazy about you." Is that Disney or is it worship?

Yes. Yes. Can you see yourself singing this to Jesus?

Yes. Well, yes, because it is worship.

"What can I say of your love that has not already been said?" Is that worship or is it Disney?

It is worship. It is worship.

Yes. Yes.

All right. And so you know this, "The peace that evening brings the world for once in perfect harmony." Is that Disney or is it worship?

You knew it already, huh? That is, "Can you feel the love tonight?" It's Lion King.

Yes. We should all know this one.

So that was fun, right? So like, if you know somebody in show business, let them know that you have somebody that would be awesome as a game show host.

You know I'll give you a card later.

But no, honestly, the thing that we need to understand is that we need to know the word of God and what it says. Because if we are not familiar with the word of God, we can be singing "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" and call it worship.

We need to understand the things that we are singing. We need to understand what we are saying because then the words will actually have meaning, and we can sing with more conviction—not just out of feelings, not just out of a good melody, but understanding what we are saying.

They are not just empty words; we are singing to God. So we need to understand what we are saying, right?

When we praise God, when we sing and worship, we are taking the focus off of ourselves and putting it on God. And that's why we start every Sunday with praise and worship.

We are not just trying to make the service longer. You know, we're not just trying to make buffer time so that everybody is here for the word. No, we are singing because first and foremost, our focus is God, and we want to be able to put our focus on the most important thing, which is Him.

I grew up singing this song in Spanish, and I'm going to try it in English. You probably know it; I hope that some of you do.

But every single Sunday—well, almost—we were singing the song that goes, "I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart. I will enter His courts with praise. I will sing, 'This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and give my yes.'"

So we sing because we are coming into His house with praise, with thanksgiving. There is something that happens when that is the very first thing that we do.

So it is not that we do praise and worship just to do praise and worship.

So praise is the song that we're going to be talking about today by Elevation Worship. So I don't know if this song is one of your favorites or not, but it is one of mine, and I listen to it all the time.

And I think that after today, it probably will become one of your favorites too.

Praise is more than a song because it is our native language.

How many of you here are bilingual? Anybody here bilingual?

If you are bilingual, you probably can attest to this: your primary language is your native language.

And that is your native language.

It's an ayahuasca. You're going to have to teach your mother to pronounce the ayahuasca for the rest of my life.

And I think that my family was born in Mexico, and I feel just as happy because my family was born in Mexico. Everything, right? Everything in Spanish.

So for me, thinking in Spanish is fast. I can speak fast in Spanish. I am more eloquent in Spanish. I don't have to take the extra second to figure out how to say things or worry about if I am pronouncing it correctly because it is just what comes to me naturally, right?

There are so many people that I see sometimes, and my brain is just like, "We're just gonna do what we know how to do." And people are saying, "Hey, how are you doing?" And I just go in Spanish, and they're just giving me this look. I'm like, "What?"

And then that's when I realize, "Oh yes, not Spanish," because Spanish just comes natural to me.

Our spirit has a native language, and that is praise. We were created to declare the goodness of God. We were created to speak of His mercy and His love.

We were supposed to just be speaking in our native language to Him, saying how good He is, how amazing He is, declaring the goodness of God everywhere we go.

So if that is going to be our natural language, then we need to really understand what praise means.

So according to Google, praise is to express warm approval or admiration for something or someone.

Have you ever praised somebody because of the job that they did? You know, maybe you say, "Hey, you know what? What you did today was awesome."

Like my barista at Starbucks, right? She gives me my coffee, I test it, and I'm like, "Girl, this is amazing! You did it again! This is great!"

Or you might enter your kid's bedroom, and you can actually see the floor, and you're like, "What? You had a floor under all of that? You did such a good job! We can actually see it!"

Or what about an object? You praise an object because of the function that it has, right?

A few months ago, I brought my coffee maker and I showed you how awesome it was and how great of a coffee mix and all of that stuff.

My son Bennett is in a new junior high, and it is a very brand new building. They are still finishing the details on the building because it's just brand new. They are the very first class ever going into this school.

So they were giving us a tour of the building, and I kid you not, every single classroom has this amazing TV that is touchscreen, and you can actually aircast things to it, and it has like a pen you can write on it.

And every single time that we went to a new classroom, I was like, "Oh, look at that TV! It is so cool!" I took so many pictures of the TV because I was like, "I want one of those!"

We are familiar when we walk into the clubhouse and the chair pinches us when we take a coffee.

So when we sit down for a morning speak and say, "Oh God, you get that," and he has this amazing, amazing...

Or he lives in the state of MS, and shortly after he describes it, he has two boys. A two-boy there are literally four of them.

One of them is...

God, you can see it. You can see it, right?

A lot of world, guys. I'm gonna place the team under you on here so that way we can all come together.

You know, let's see what we can show you guys.

So I ported Edgar. You remember when you're an elder? You need to play with the music. Keep your hug place style, the one that we use when we...

But it is a little bit deeper.

So we have different words that are translating from Hebrew and Greek into praise, and it gives us this idea of more intentionality.

It is not just saying praises, but it is giving thanks. It is confessing. It is singing. It is honoring, commanding, celebrating, rejoicing.

It is so much deeper than just, "Attaboy, God, you did good today."

It just goes so much beyond all of that.

Praise is to not just express admiration but adoration to God.

Praise is more than a song because it answers three questions for us: the when, the who, and the why we praise.

So are you ready to dive in?

Okay, let's start with the when.

I praise in the valley. I praise on the mountain. I'll praise when I'm sure, and I praise when I'm doubting.

I'll praise when surrounded.

So we praise in the valley and in the mountain, and when we're sure, when we're doubting, without number, when we surround us.

So when do we praise? All the time.

And that is not just a clever thing for this song, but it is actually what the Bible says.

It says in Psalms 34, "I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak His praises."

We are supposed to praise constantly, no matter what is happening.

Because see, praising God when we are on the mountaintop, when we are being successful, when things are going well, it comes out easy, right?

When we are like, "Hashtag blessed! Let me tell you all about what God is doing! I have testimony time!"

And it is just great. We can do that because we already feel like doing it.

But what happens when you're in the valley? What happens when life is not going the way that you expected it to go?

What happens when there is pain, when you are suffering, when you are truly feeling surrounded and outnumbered?

When there are so many problems, and you feel like, "I cannot even get out of this one problem when I have five more on top of me," and I feel like I am not winning the battle?

When you're saying, "God, I don't want to doubt, but are you even for me? Did you forget that I'm still here and that I'm still dealing with all of this stuff?"

See, Brandon and I have been struggling this season. We have just had so much heartbreak and a lot of pain in our personal lives.

And I can tell you that there are so many times that I try to praise, and it is so hard to even sing every other word because the pain is that deep.

And it is in those moments that you have to remind yourself to push yourself to praise.

It is in those moments when you realize that my praise is not limited to my circumstances.

It is in those moments when I have to go back to the word of God and remember what the psalmist said in Psalm 42: "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?"

And you might say, "Well, it's obvious. It's right there. It's all of your problems."

But it continues, and it says, "I will put my hope in God. I will praise Him again, my Savior and my God."

The psalmist is giving us gold. He's saying, "I know that your circumstances might not be great, but you have to put your hope in God and praise again."

You have to hold on to your hope and praise again.

You have to remember the promises that God has made you and praise again.

You have to go back to His word and praise again.

Elevation Worship had an article done by Air One Radio.

We're talking about this song, and this is what they said: "Praise reminds us that we should praise in all of those changing circumstances because of something that is unchanging—the character and the faithfulness of God."

You might be in the valley today and in the mountain tomorrow.

You might feel like you are free today and surrounded tomorrow.

Our circumstances change; our God doesn't.

So we praise Him regardless of what is happening in our lives.

This song is also in Spanish, which is my favorite because it just comes natural to me, right?

And this is what it says in this part: "Because when I praise, you are by my side."

When you are praising, God is right there with you.

You might be the only one in the room physically, but He is with you.

When you're praising, He is near.

When you're praising Him, you feel His comfort and His joy and His strength. He is with you.

So we need to praise God and don't allow your circumstances to rob you of your praise.

Maybe you are like us, like Brandon and I, and just saying, "God, I don't know how this story is gonna end. I don't know what you're actually writing. I know that I want this to be done, but while I am in this situation, I'm still gonna push myself to put my hope in You and praise You again."

And then the more words: "I will praise when I feel it, and I praise when I don't. I'll praise because I know that you're still in control."

Because my praise is a weapon. It is more than a sound.

Oh, my praise is a shout that brings Jericho down.

We praise God no matter how we feel because praise is not optional.

It is not one of those, "Man, I'm tired today. You know, I didn't sleep good last night, so I just don't feel like praising."

You know, or maybe you're saying, "Yeah, I feel overwhelmed, and I'm just gonna skip it today, like altogether. I'm not even gonna try. Let's just skip it."

Or maybe you're saying, "It would be hypocritical of me to praise because I don't feel it."

But let me tell you that as Christians, it is more hypocritical for us to do only the things that we feel like doing.

So we have to brush off this idea that we can just give God whatever we feel like giving God.

We have to praise Him. That is our native language. That's what we were created to do.

In your life, you do a lot of things that you don't feel like doing every single day.

You may not feel like going to work. You may not feel like going to school. You may not feel like getting healthy. You may not feel like working out.

You may not feel like doing a lot of things, but you still do them. You are committed to doing them no matter how you feel.

If we do that with things in the world that we don't feel like doing, how much more are we supposed to be committed to praise God no matter our feelings?

When we praise God, we are positioning ourselves in the natural for whatever He wants to do in the supernatural.

And that positioning cannot be this; it has to be this because you are positioning your body for what God is wanting to do in the supernatural.

Our praise is not limited to our feelings because our feelings change.

We should not rely on our feelings ever.

We should just be obedient and disciplined to do what God is calling us to do.

So we need to remember that we praise at all times, all the time, continuously.

And I don't know how many of you are familiar with this song, and maybe you realize that I skipped a part of the song. If you didn't, I did.

And it is the end of verse one, and I'm going to tell you why because I want to take a little bit more time to actually unpack that because it has been very controversial in the Christian world, this next phrase that we're going to go through.

So I'm going to give you how I interpret it, okay?

And it says, "Because my praise is the water my enemies drown in."

So this is a throwback to when God freed His people, Israel, from Egypt, from slavery.

So they were in slavery in Egypt for 430 years.

So God sends Moses to Egypt to free His people.

So after a long back and forth with Pharaoh and 10 plagues later, Pharaoh finally says, "Okay, just take your people. I don't want any of you here. Just leave."

And once the Israelites leave and they are in the desert and they are moving towards the promised land, Pharaoh changes his heart and he's like, "You know what? Nah, I want them back. I want them as slaves again."

So we're gonna chase after them and bring them back so that they can be our slaves again.

So they are chasing the people of God, and the Israelites are following God, and the Egyptians are following them to try to bring them back.

And they come to a stop because of the Red Sea.

They are just right in front of this massive body of water, and God does what only He can do and He parts the waters.

And the Bible says that it was like a wall of water on one side and a wall of water on the other side and dry land in the middle.

So all of the Israelites go through, and once they are on the other side, the Egyptians are like, "We can do that too!"

So they start going into the middle trying to get the Israelites back.

But at that point, God does what only He can do and brings the waters back down.

So it is literal enemies literally drowning as God is freeing His people.

Now, when we sing, "Because my praise is the water my enemies drown in," we are not talking about little Sally at the office, okay?

We are not praising God so that Sally chokes on her water when she is mean to us, okay?

We are not fighting people. Our enemies are not people.

So who are our enemies then?

For we are not fighting against flesh and blood but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Your enemy is not your co-worker. Your enemy is not your boss. Your enemy is not your teacher. The enemy is not the school bully or whoever you can put a name to.

That is not your enemy.

Your enemy is that which is after your soul.

You will seek, kill, love your love, your Dharma, and all the other sins you are filled from yourself.

The one who is trying to rob your purpose, the one that is trying to steal your relationship with God, the one that is trying to destroy you for eternity—that is our enemy.

So when we praise God for to drown our enemies, we are not talking about people.

We praise to drown anxiety. We are praising to drown fear.

We are praising to drown depression. We are praising to drown hopelessness.

We are praising to drown sin. We are praising to drown sin, number one.

And also because we need to cry. We want to die.

You're all in our goings, and Jules says in God through us in the Trinity Church, we are praising to drown this sin.

Give with us, waiting for only God.

And see this God that kita? Sexual confusion.

We are praising to drown sickness. We are praising to drown what is trying to rob us from the purpose that God has placed in our lives.

So yes, we praise God. And yes, we want our enemies to drown because we are not talking about people.

We are talking about the enemy of our soul.

So we praise all the time, but who are we going to praise?

Well, the song tells us, right? We praise the Lord. Oh my soul.

And it is not just the song that says this, but the Bible says it too.

We all praise something.

And I don't know if you have noticed this in your life or not, but you are always praising something.

You're always glorifying something.

And as disciples of Jesus, we don't lift anything up and nobody else up above God.

We praise God above and God alone.

He's the only one who deserves our adoration and our devotion and our worship.

We praise God.

The Bible says in Isaiah 25, "Oh 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."

I will praise your name.

Sing praises to God and to His name.

Sing loud praises to Him who rides the clouds.

His name is the Lord. Rejoice in His presence.

We praise God and God alone. Nobody else, nothing else.

We praise only God.

And the song continues, "I won't be quiet. My God is alive. So how could I keep it inside?"

Praise is loud. Praise is joyful. Praise is celebratory.

Praise should be something that completely overtakes us, right?

A lot of people say, "Well, you know, I don't lift my hands, and I don't jump or sing out loud. Just know my personality, you know. But God knows my heart. I'm praising on the inside."

No, we can't.

And a lot of people say, "But why is Leshawn always telling me, 'Everybody clap your hands,' right? Like, I don't want to clap my hands."

Or why is Kay always saying, "Just sing with me, sing with me"?

Because we're not supposed to be quiet.

We're not supposed to be quiet.

We're not supposed to be quiet.

When we praise God, we cannot be quiet.

The Bible says in 1 Chronicles, "Have you ever heard a quiet trumpet?"

I haven't.

Because praise is supposed to be loud.

You cannot fully praise God and be silent at the same time.

It just doesn't work that way.

Praise is not about what makes us comfortable.

It is about us fully displaying the glory of God and talking about how good He is.

We are praising Him and only Him, right?

So we need to use all kinds of instruments.

And you might say, "Well, I don't know how to play any instrument."

Don't worry, I got you.

Because you have the best instruments of praise, which is your body.

Oh, come let us worship and bow down.

Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker.

The Bible also says that we're supposed to clap and raise our hands and dance.

You have the best instrument in you to praise God.

You don't need to know how to do any of the other stuff.

You can praise with your body.

It requires movement. It is involved.

You cannot just praise and just not move.

Because when you truly are praising, it is going to take you to a different place.

It is going to take you to a moment where you just have to kneel, where you just have to bow, where you just have to raise your hands, where you just have to do the thing, right?

And like how big is the TV and all that stuff?

Like all of the different positions of worship, right?

So we need to be able to worship God with everything that is in us.

Because how could I keep it inside?

When I know my God, I can't.

I can't be silent. I cannot be quiet.

I cannot just do the little thing. I have to fully go for it.

But the Spanish version on this part, it says, "No me detengo."

I won't stop.

It is not just even saying, "I'm just going to do it loud."

And I am just going to use my body to worship.

But also, I refuse to stop praising.

I refuse to stop worshiping.

I refuse to allow anything else to stop me from giving God praise and honor.

Because that just comes natural to me.

Because it's my native language.

Like, it's just going to come out.

I am so sorry if you didn't like it, but it's just coming, right?

It is all about who we are directing our praise to.

And I believe that some people praise little because they know God little.

Because when you know your God and when you know what He has done for you, there is nothing that is going to stop you from praising God in a big way.

So this is why we praise.

Because if we don't know our God, we need to get to know who He is so that we can have more reasons to praise Him, right?

So I'll praise because you're sovereign.

I praise because you reign.

I praise because you rose and defeated the grave.

I praise because you're God and God alone.

Because you're the one that is in control.

Because you're the one that has my tomorrow in your hands.

Because you're the only one that knows the beginning from the end.

You are sovereign.

I praise you because you reign.

Because you're the one on the throne.

Because you are the King of kings and you're the Lord of lords.

Because you have done everything.

Because you're the Lord of our lives.

I'll praise you because you defeated the grave.

Because being God, you came to earth.

And you died a death that I was supposed to die.

And you didn't stay dead.

But you rose on the third day.

And you are sitting right now next to the Father interceding for me.

I praise because you're faithful.

I praise because you're true.

I praise because nobody is greater than you.

Because you were faithful yesterday.

And you're faithful today.

And you will be faithful tomorrow.

Because you're with me no matter what is happening in my life.

I praise because you are true.

And there is no lie in you.

Because whatever you say, it is done.

And your name is yes and amen.

I praise because nothing comes even close to how great my God is.

So I cannot give a little praise.

I have to give a big praise.

I have to give everything that I have in me.

I have to give everything that I have in me for Him.

We praise God because He is worth it.

So we praise because praise is our native language.

Because that's something that should come out of us so naturally that you don't even have to think about it.

That the thing that you speak the best is praise.

That the thing that comes naturally is praise.

That the thing that just like your mind immediately goes to it is praise.

Because that is our native language.

I'm going to ask you all to stand up.

I would like to pray for you and ask God to reveal to you every single day as you're opening scriptures, as you're going through life, new reasons to praise Him.

Because the more we know Him, the more we will praise Him.

Dear Jesus, we thank you for everybody in this place.

I ask, Lord, that you will give them a heart of praise.

Lord, that they will not praise little because they know you little.

But that they will praise big because we have a big God.

Lord, that every single day they will be brushing off on their native language, knowing that you have created us to praise you, to declare your goodness and your mercy.

We thank you, Lord, because we have the privilege to speak of your goodness.

Because we have the privilege of speaking of the great God that you are to us.

In your name we pray. Amen.

So in just a moment, we're going to be singing this.

But I want to challenge you to do something today that you have not done before.

Okay?

So for some of you, it may actually be to actually sing the lyrics instead of just reading them, right?

For some of us, it may be to clap our hands, to give that foot a tap, to kind of sway a little bit.

Wherever that might look like, I want you to do something that shows that you want to praise God fully.

But first, I want to let you know that there's something that...

That the song actually says in the very beginning and then at the end.

And it's telling us who is supposed to be praising God.

Are you ready?

So I'm going to read from Psalm 150.

And it says, "Praise the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary. Praise Him in His mighty heavens. Praise Him for His mighty deeds. Praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him with trumpet sound. Praise Him with lute and harp. Praise Him with tambourine and dance. Praise Him with strings and pipe. Praise Him with sounding cymbals. Praise Him with loud clashing cymbals."

They like all of the cymbals.

And this is who is supposed to be praising: "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."

So I want us to do a really quick check.

Okay?

I want you to grab your hand and put it right in front of your mouth.

Are you breathing?

Then that means that you are a part of the everything that has breath.

So let's praise together.