Message - POP Rocks - 05/01/16

 Few things feel better than receiving heartfelt praise and appreciation from someone else. God loves it too. He smiles when we express our adoration, gratitude and praise to Him. What is praise? Praise is thanking God for who and what He is. It means to value Him, to esteem Him. It means bragging on him: "God, You are good! There's no one as good as you!" Why should I praise God? Because it gets my focus off myself and onto God -- so I can talk to Him and not at him. And, an amazing thing happens when we offer praise and thanksgiving to God. When we give God enjoyment, our own hearts are filled with joy! That's why praise is essential. (Rick Warren)

 My people, the ones whom I chose and created for My own, will sing My praise.  (Isaiah 43:21 – Voice)

 Even though the fig trees are all destroyed, and there is neither blossom left nor fruit; though the olive crops all fail, and the fields lie barren; even if the flocks die in the fields and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will be happy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; he will give me the speed of a deer and bring me safely over the mountains. (Habakkuk 3:17-19 - LB)

 Fig trees may not grow figs, and there may be no grapes on the vines. There may be no olives growing and no food growing in the fields. There may be no sheep in the pens and no cattle in the barns.  But I will still be glad in the Lord;   I will rejoice in God my Savior. The Lord God is my strength. He makes me like a deer that does not stumble so I can walk on the steep mountains. (Habakkuk 3:17-19 - NCV)

 POP PRINCIPLE

 When I praise God, it gives me a new __________________________________!

 The result: __________________________  &   ____________________________

 POP PASSAGE 2

 Always be full of joy in the Lord; I say it again, rejoice! . . . Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers.  If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.  And now, brothers, as I close this letter, let me say this one more thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about.  Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.   (Philippians 4:4-9 – LB)

 POP PRINCIPLE

 When I praise God, it gives me a new __________________________________!

 The result: __________________________  &  ____________________________

 POP PASSAGE 3

 Sing to the Lord, declare each day that he is the one who saves! Show his glory to the nations! Tell everyone about his miracles. For the Lord is great and should be highly praised; He is to be held in awe above all gods. Majesty and honor march before him, Strength and gladness walk beside him.  O people of all nations of the earth, Ascribe great strength and glory to his name!  Yes, ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name! Bring an offering and come before him; Worship the Lord when clothed with holiness! Tremble before him, all the earth! The world stands unmoved.  Let the heavens be glad, the earth rejoice; Let all the nations say, ‘It is the Lord who reigns.’ Let the vast seas roar, Let the countryside and everything in it rejoice!  Let the trees in the woods sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.  Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love and his kindness go on forever.  (1Chronicles 16:23-35 – LB)

POP PRINCIPLE

 When I praise God, it gives me a new __________________________________!

 The result: ____________________________    ____________________________

 Living a life of praise is not only the most enjoyable way to live, but it’s also one of the most powerful ways to change your life. Praise isn’t like the caboose that just follows what happens, but it’s more like the engine of a train that makes things happen. Your faith isn’t complete without praise. Praise is not the inevitable byproduct that comes when everything is going right in our lives; it is the driving force. Praise will get our focus where it needs to be—on God. If we start praising God in the middle of our problems, our problems will shrink so much that we’ll hardly remember to bring them to God! We’ll be so busy praising Him and thanking Him for His blessings that our problems will be an afterthought. (Andrew Womack)