HOW TO GIVE PRAISE TO GOD

TEXT- PSALM 150:1-6

INTRODUCTION

AN ELDERLY WOMAN WHO PRAYED TO GOD DAILY TO MEET HER NEEDS, LIVED IN A TOWN WHERE THERE WERE TWO MEN WHO DIDN'T BELIEVE IN PRAYER.  ONE DAY THEY HEARD THE WOMAN PRAYING OUT LOUD AND DECIDED THEY WOULD GET SOME FOOD AND PUT IT AT HER FRONT DOOR.  AFTER A WHILE THE WOMAN WENT TO THE DOOR AND FOUND THE FOOD AND SAID, "PRAISE THE LORD, PRAISE THE LORD! HE HAS ANSWERED MY PRAYER AND SUPPLIED MY NEED."  ABOUT THAT TIME THE TWO MEN CAME TO HER AND SAID, "LADY, THE LORD DIDN'T PUT THAT FOOD THERE, WE DID.  WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?"  AGAIN THE OLD WOMAN SAID, "PRAISE THE LORD, PRAISE THE LORD!  IF GOD COULD FEED ELIJAH WITH A RAVEN, HE CAN USE TWO BUZZARDS TO FEED ME."

THIS MORNING OUR CHURCH IS CELEBRATING WITH PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING THE WAY HE HAS TAKEN CARE OF US AS A CHURCH AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS, THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR AND OUR ENTIRE LIFE.

THIS COMING THURSDAY WILL BE THANKSGIVING DAY, BUT LET US GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE TO GOD EVERY DAY FOR ALL HE HAS DONE FOR US.

INGRATITUDE HAS NO PLACE IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD OF GOD.

A FARMER WENT TO TOWN ONE DAY AND DECIDED TO GO TO A RESTAURANT FOR A HAMBURGER AND FRIES.  WHEN HE WAS SERVED, HE QUIETLY BOWED HIS HEAD AND THANKED THE LORD FOR THE FOOD.  SOME PEOPLE AT THE NEXT TABLE SAW HIM AND THOUGHT THEY WOULD GIVE HIM A HARD TIME.  ONE OF THEM CALLED OUT, "HEY FARMER, DOES EVERYONE DO THAT WHERE YOU COME FROM?"  TO WHICH THE FARMER REPLIED, "NO, THE PIGS AND DONKEYS DON'T."

THIS MORNING OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN THE LAST PSALM, PSALM 150:1-6 AND THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "HOW TO GIVE PRAISE TO GOD."

IN THIS PSALM DAVID USES THE WORD "PRAISE" THIRTEEN TIMES.

THAT WORD IN THE HEBREW LANGUAGE IS A VERY FAMILIAR WORD TO MANY OF YOU.

IN FACT, YOU MAY HAVE SAID IT AT SOME TIME OR ANOTHER AND NEVER EVEN KNEW THAT YOU WERE SPEAKING HEBREW.

IT IS THE HEBREW WORD, "HALLELUJAH."

I’D LIKE YOU TO SAY THAT WORD WITH ME IN AN ENERGETIC AND EXCITING WAY.  “HALLELUJAH!”

IT IS A JOYOUS WORD, THAT IS TO BE SAID IN AN EXCITING WAY NOT IN A MOURNFUL WAY.

PSALM 147:1  "PRAISE THE LORD! FOR IT IS GOOD TO SING PRAISES TO OUR GOD; FOR IT IS PLEASANT AND PRAISE IS BECOMING."

AS WE EXAMINE OUR TEXT TODAY I’D LIKE US TO LOOK AT THREE WAYS WE CAN PRAISE GOD THIS THANKSGIVING.