This is part five of our series Dream Bigger. In 2018 we are celebrating 75 years since King's Church International was founded and it is a time to dream bigger dreams for what God is going to do.
Part 5 of the series is New Praise & Worship, and you can listen to the podcast or read the summary below.
Key Scripture
"Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.
When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”
The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God...”
...and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”
The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household."
Recap
We need to understand that we need to see the victory by entering a new level of consistent and powerful praise & worship in every season of life.
The main points this week were:
- A people that praise God in all circumstances
- Praise that releases the supernatural and opens prison doors
- Praise that impacts lives and families
Application
We were made to worship! God has called us to be joyful in all seasons. Think about the situation Paul and Silas were in. They were stripped, beaten, mocked and thrown in prison but they still sang songs of praise to God.
1 Thessalonians 5:18; "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
If you are facing a tough situation this week, worship and give thanks to God. Focus your mind fully on the majesty of God. Start by thanking God for everything He has done, and every blessing, and allow praise to overflow from your heart.
Be encouraged by these passages and declare them over your life this week.
Zephaniah 3:17; "The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Proverbs 18:21; "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."
Psalm 34:1; "I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips."
Declaration
I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
Prayer
Thank you Lord for every blessing you have given me. Thank you that you go ahead of me and promise to always be with me. Help me to praise you this week, in all circumstances.