Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Jul 14th, 2018 I Will Sing Praises – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Reading: Psalms 146 through 150

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.” (Psalm 146:1-2)

Good morning. Do you love Jesus? Do you love your church? Do you love singing praises to God? Yes? Then tell your face. When leading the congregational singing, if I’m not looking at the words, I’m looking around. I see a lot of people, especially the youth, not singing. Then there are adults who haven’t learned to smile while the think about what they are singing, and to Whom they are singing. Some even have their arms folded as if to say bless me, I dare you. It can be scary, but I always pray that I will be a blessing, and not screw things up. I don’t understand why some people don’t sing praises to God. David even writes here that he will sing praises to God as long as he lives. Maybe you can’t sing. What does the Bible say?

“To the chief Musician, A Song or Psalm. Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.” (Psalm 66:1-2)

“To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.” (Psalm 81:1)

“O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.” (Psalm 95:1-2)

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.” (Psalm 98:4-6)

“A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” (Psalm 100:1-2)

So make a joyful noise. You are praising God. You are singing to Him with the voice He gave you. Realizing that should put a smile on your face.

1) Sing praises because you are alive…

“While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.” (Psalm 146:2)

2) Sing praises because it is good…

“Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.” (Psalm 147:1)

3) Sing praises because of what He has done…

“Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.” (Psalm 147:7-9)

4) Sing praises with a new song of praise…

“Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.” (Psalm 149:1-5)

5) Sing praises along with the musical instruments for as long as you have breath…

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.” (Psalm 150)

I hope to see you smiling, and singing tomorrow at church. Amen?

Peace.