To The Praise of His Glorious Grace
(Eph 1:3-14)
God is the God of glory.
He is worthy to receive glory(Rev 4:11), and
He is enthroned on praises(Ps 22:3).
Faith is knowing His glory and grace, and
The life of this faith is praising His glorious grace, whether one is happy or sad, as long as he has breath.
Praise refers to lifting up
God's name, His attributes, His works and one's relationship with Him,
Throughout one's life, standing, mostly in the sanctuary
With psalms, lips, all instruments, clapping and dancing, for
God does not yield His glory, His praise to any other(Is 42:8).
God contained Lucifer, once an archangel in heaven, (Is 14:12-15) in
Hades, the universe, until the great day of judgment because
In spite of the fact that he was created to praise God(Eze 28:13),
He challenged the throne to receive praises from other angels.
Deceived by the devil, Adam sinned(Ge 3:4-6) and
All men became slaves of the devil, destined to go to hell(Mt 25:41).
Furthermore, they became heavily influenced by music(Ge 4:21)
Because of the spirits of music(Is 14:17).
God chose the people of Israel for the glory of God(Is 43:7) and
Had them praise Him for
They were delivered from Egypt and saved from the Red Sea(Ex 15:6, Ex 15:11).
The clouds that covered the sanctuary that God had them build(Ex 40:34),
The incense that filled up the Most Holy Place(Lev 16:13), and
The Ark of the Lord, the mercyseat(1Sa 4:22)
All reminded them of the glory of God.
As such, David gave the sacrifice of praise for about 40 years(1Ch 6:31).
In the tent that he pitched for the Ark(2Sa 6:16-22).
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days(Jn 2:19), Because through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would praise, not the name Jehovah, but the name Yeshua for He who is equal with God would
Die on the cross in the nature of a servant(Php 2:6-11).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Lowered Himself to the lowest point and became the praise of the Father's glorious grace(Php 2:11; He 1:2);
2. Judged the devil who left his proper position and attempted to lift himself up(Jude 1:6); and
3. With His blood redeemed all men(Eph 1:6) and brought together the angels in heaven and the created on earth who received grace to praise the name Yeshua(Eph 1:10).
He rose and sat on the glorious throne,
Receiving the praise of countless angels for
He is the Lamb who was slain(Rev 5:11-14).
The Holy Spirit came to
Those who, by the grace of Jesus Christ, have been saved from hell, and
Lets them give the praise that is
Different from the praise of angels or the Israelites.
The man of the Spirit praises
The glorious grace of Jesus Christ for
His sinless-ness, redemption and resurrection, and
Also about His being their King, their Father and their God, and
Thus, he is released from chains on earth(2Ch 20:3-23; Ac 16:25).
In the last day, he hopes to be taken up and
To praise Him before the throne forever(Eph 1:12).
O Lord,
Let me and all those You have given me
Never run dry of tears.
Let us be like the sinful woman who washed Your feet with her tears(Lk 7:36-48).
Let us cover the wounds of the Lamb with the incense of praise.
Amen.
