CGMI ADULTS SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL DATE: 1ST DECEMBER, 2024 | Topic: SUPERNATURAL POWER IN PRAISE
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CGMI ADULTS SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL
CENTRAL THOUGHT:
God inhabits the praises of
His people.
DATE: 1ST DECEMBER, 2024
HYMN: S. S & S 22. Holy, holy, Lord God Almighty.
TOPIC: SUPERNATURAL POWER IN PRAISE
TEXT: 2Chron.20: 1 -24; Ps.149:1-9.
INTRODUCTION:
Praises and Worship are the main activities in the kingdom of God. It is the eternal duty of the Angels and other hosts of Heaven to render praises to God continually. (Rev.4:8; 5:9-13). When genuine praises are offered to God by men, a common platform is provided for Heaven and Earth to relate cordially. The true nature and power of Heaven is brought to bear on Earth through praises to God.
Much of the power of Godliness in the lives of believers come from
making God our chief joy, and our faith in Christ is made clear and manifest by our level of thankful
rejoicing in Him. Praise therefore, is of cardinal centrality in our Christian race. By it we give glory to God for the triumphs already received, and through it we receive
further recompense for being truly thankful to God.
In this study, we shall examine the various scriptural basis for praising God and the numerous
benefits that follow.
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of this lesson shall be:-
- to explain the meaning of praise in the context of the Christian faith:
- explain why we should praise God;
- list the features ofan acceptable praise;
- give seriptural examples of people that praised God and identify the result ofsuch; and
- outline the benefits we get through praising God.
BIBLE TRUTH:
Q1. SCRIPTURALLY, WHAT
IS PRAISE ? Heb.13:15, Jonah 2:9.
Praises are communicated
expressions of reverence for,
confidence in and gratitude to God for His majestic power and His benevolence towards us. It is a vertical ministration [or upward ministration] expressing our acknowledgement and submission to the rule of God. it is an organized and joyful noise made to honour God. Gratitude is the basic index of praise to God.
The use of musical instruments to praise God is very scriptural. King David raised a choir of 4,000 men and 284 instrumentalists whose life duty was to praise God continually on behalf of the king and the kingdom of Israel. [1 Chron.
23:5; 25:1, 6-7]
Q2. WHY SHOULD WE PRAISE GOD ?
The reasons for praising God are numerous. Some of them are as follows:
a. We are the works of His hands,
created for His glory. [Ps. 100:3]
b. He is to be praised as the
supreme authority, whose pleasure and delight is the praises of His people.[Ps. 22:3]
c. For the salvation of our souls.
[Rom 5:8]
d. For diverse benefits and blessings. [Ps. 103:1-5]
e. For answers to our prayers.
[Ps.50: 15]
f. We praise God for the divine
health and healing, He has given
to us. [Isa. 53:5, Ex. 15:26]
g. We praise God for making us
fruitful and resourceful.(Deut. 8: I8)
h. For qualifying us to be joint heirs of the kinggdom with our Lord Jesus Christ. [Rom 8:17
I. For His loving discipline and
chastisement on us when we
deviate [Heb. 12:6).
J. For His abiding presence and guidance [Jn. 14:16]
K. We must not forget to praise
Him for His grace. Which is
beyond understanding? (Eph. I:6)
Q3. DISCUSS THE FEATURES OF AN ACCEPTABLE PRAISE
Today, many things go on in the name of praises among
Christians, Some have come to
regard any song in church as
praise. This is not true. Some songs are motivational or
exhortational; others are call to
prayers or positive confessions.
Praise songs are determined by their component words. Their words ascribe glory, power and honour to God and represent the depth of our gratitude to Him. In praises we exalt God and humble ourselves before Him. In praise we
visualize His presence with us
and this visualization influences our posture sit, kneel, lie down, lift up our hands, bow our heads or lift up Our eyes. This is the
demonstration of faith in praises.
To the best of our ability. praises
should be offered in a state of
grace [humble, unworthy attitude] which results in deep gratitude with joy and gladness.
A session of praises should be
undertaken with a focused
attention, under the influence of
the Holy Spirit and not the
intoxicating influence of wine
and drugs. The words that make
up a praise song should be in
harmony with the scriptures, and
could be in any intelligent language of the participants.
Musical instruments are necessary part of praises but the words we speak are kernels [the real thing]. There must be a harmonious balance between both. Dancing is also part of the package of praises, but such should not be distractive,
immodest, immoral, competitive
or occultic in congregational
service.
In a praise session, songs must be carefully selected that actually glorify God. Praise leaders must be humble, Spirit-filled, modest and moderate in appearance.
Q4. GIVE SCRITPTURAL EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WHO PRAISED GOD ACCEPTABLY AND THE RESULT OF SUCH.
In the days of the Bible, there were many individuals who understood the place of praises in relating with God. Among then we have the following:
A. Moses and the children of Israel after crossing the Red Sea [Ex.I5:1|
They sang of the might and
majesty of God. Thereafter God did more for them for a span of 40 years
B. Joshua and the children of
Israel, at the wall of Jericho.
(Joshua 6:8, 20|: The great
impregnable wall collapsed at the praise to God for six days and the joyful shout of the children of God, and Jericho was conquered.
C. David at the relocation of the Ark of God (2Sam.6:14-23):This resulted in great blessing for David and Israel as a nation. It also brought a curse to Michal, David’s wife, for her arrogance and criticism.
D. King Solomon at the Dedication of the Temple.(Kings.9:1-5): Solomon and the nation of Israel offered much in praises and materials to God. In response, God blessed Israel and reaffirmed His covenant with the generation of Solomon.
E. Jehoshaphat in battle.
(2Chron.20:22):Against tension and against logic, Jehoshaphat mustered singers with musical instruments in place of soldiers. As they sang the praises of God, their enemies were defeated and utterly destroyed.
F. Paul and Silas in Jail.
(Acts.I6:25-26): Their praises at
midnight resulted in freedom and
refreshment for them and
salvation for the warder’s houschold.
In conclusion, this same package of praise is available to every believer for exploits in battles of life; in our prayers and in our quest to live holy lives in line with the word of God. Praise is the most exciting thing to do in the face of
contrary physical evidence. The
results are sure.
Q5. WHAT BENEFITS DO WE DERIVE THROUGH PRAISING GOD?
Praises bring us into the realm of true fellowship with God. By it we experience the atmosphere of heaven. Our God consciousness is renewed and reinforced leading to personal edification. Genuine praises will move God more than any form of alarm. Our victory over the enemy is thus accelerated by supernatural intervention of Heaven.
Withheld blessings are released,
obstacles are cleared away and
captivating forces of our lives are
put to flhght by genuine praise to
God. When praises go up, God
comes down Spiritual gifts and the fruit of the Spirit begin to manifest in abundance in a community of praise. When we give God His praise, He makes Himself fully known to us, we begin to abide under His plcasure and our battles become His.
Finally, there are hcalth benefits
medically associated with a
proper praise session. Laughter, cheerfulness, dancing, singing. clapping and shouting with
demonstrations, are known to
relieve tension, soothe nerves, heal and reinvigorate organs of the body, while also helping to
eliminate organic waste of the entire body.
DALLY LIVING APPLICATION:
Praising God is an outward
expression of inner gratitude to
God for whom He is, what He has made of us and what He has
made for us. It is the primary duty
of every man to praise God
because we were created for His
glory. Praise is speaking or singing about God’s great acts and mercies towards us, with a joyful, merry and thankful heart. It is the sweet savor and great delight of God from His children. Praise must be rendered in holiness, faith, obedience, and submission to the will of God.
Let us learn to praise God, so that
His glory can come down.
Obstacles and opposition
crumble in an atmosphere of acceptable praise.
MEMORY VERSE:
Ps. 135:3
“Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praises unto His name for it is pleasant.”
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