If you want God to like what he sees when he looks at you, just give him praise because praise looks good on his people. We live in a world where folks are walking around damning God and cursing God and denying God's existence. But when he sees his child worshiping him and praising him, it looks good on you. You want to make over? Just get into praise.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, rejoice. That's Philippians 4:4, and this is Destined for Victory with Pastor Paul Shepard.
Well, the Bible is filled with verses about praising God. We're encouraged to do it. We're commanded to do it. In triumph and in trials, we're told to praise Him for all He does, and more importantly, to praise Him for who He is. The question is, why is praise so important?
Answers come your way over the next few minutes, but before we get there, this quick reminder: visit pastorpaul.net to listen to Destin for Victory on Demand anytime. That's pastorpaul.net. You can also subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, at Spotify, or wherever you enjoy your podcasts.
Now, here's today's Destined for Victory message, Discovering the Power of Praise. Number six, why should I discover the power of praise? Because it is beautiful for God's people to praise Him. Psalm thirty three one, here's what it says Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous. For praise from the upright is beautiful.
That's Psalm 33, verse 1. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, for praise from the upright is beautiful.
Now, it's beautiful from God's perspective, and He is the object of our praise. You want to bring a smile to the face of God, so to speak, then praise Him. Because praise from the upright is beautiful. God loves looking at you when you're praising Him. Here's the way the original King James puts it: praise is comely for the upright.
What's comely mean? It means it's fitting, it's appropriate. Or here's a better way to see it: praise looks good on you. I don't know about you, but I want to look good when God looks at me. I want him to like what he sees.
And if you want God to like what he sees when he looks at you, just give him praise because praise looks good on his people. You got to understand, we live in a world where folks are walking around damning God and cursing God and denying God's existence. But when he sees his child worshiping him and praising him, it looks good on you. You want to make over, just get into praise. Get into praise, get into worship.
You look better, not only to God, I think you look better to other folk when you have a countenance that's been made radiant by the praises of God. I know that's true because when you look sad, none of us want to look at you. Come on, let's just be honest. Don't you know those folk when you see them coming? You already said, Oh, Lord.
Do you know the type of people I'm talking about? You see them, their face, their very face. Oh, Lord, really? It can't be that bad. Whatever you're going through, it can't be that bad.
Your face is all messed up. You know, those people, you hardly want to ask them how they are. Do you know the type there, folk? I try not to ask how they are because I really don't want to hear their response. Because they're complainers.
They constantly look at the wrong side of everything. Oh, you know, I'm really going through. And they start in on their sad song. And you need to learn: no, no, put on the garment of praise. Get that depression up off of you.
Depression is a very real thing, but the way to combat it is not just let the doctors help regulate your hormones, that's important, and all that. But you need to regulate your lifestyle with praise. Because, yes, you've gone through some difficult times. I'm not discounting that. But if it wasn't for God, it'd have been worse than it was.
And if you want to come out, praise is what's going to help you get out. And so you look best when you are praising God. And all of us are getting older, we need to look as good as we can. I told you, you done hit your prime. You're on the other side of that, most of us now.
There's still some of these young, cute folks. I love y'all. I'm not hating on all you young, beautiful people. I love to see your beauty. God bless you.
Old folk, be like me. Don't get mad when you see other good-looking folk younger and more spry than you. Rejoice with them, celebrate with them. Don't be some old cranky somebody who's always down on the young folk, always down on these people. No, no.
Or you're bigger than you used to be and they all fit and stuff like that. Don't worry about it. Don't worry about it. I see these young men, they all got that nice 32-inch waist and all that. And I see them: go ahead, brother.
I used to have one. I used to have one. Glory to God, and I'm not going to unsave you because you got one. You can look real good and all of that in your shirts, and they all cut, and you buffed, and you got pecs and stuff. Go ahead.
Not hating on you at all. I love these young folks. Sisters, y'all join in. Stop getting mad at these little cute girls, all foxy and stuff like that. They save and a four, you save and something else.
Okay. Both y'all saved. That's all I'm saying. Y'all going to the same heaven you going to? When the chariot come get me, they got a seat just my size.
Don't get mad at these cute people. You used to be it, now you're on the other side of that. But I tell you how you can improve your looks getting older, like I am. Just be a praiser. Just be somebody who gives God all the time: His praise, His glory, His honor, His worship.
Amen. Just let it become you. That's what the psalmist said. It becomes the righteous. It is fitting.
It is appropriate for us to be people who constantly give God praise and worship. For he is certainly worthy of that. Number seven, praise is a spiritual sacrifice that pleases God.
Now let me help you understand. Every now and then I hear people say, you know, I didn't feel like coming to church today, but I'm going to give God a sacrifice of praise. I said, no, darling, that's not what that means. I know we're using me, I don't feel like it, but I'm a sacrifice and give God praise. That's not what the Bible says.
That's a misuse of the term in the scriptures. Sacrifice in the scripture means offering. Remember what the Old Testament priests did? They came and brought God the goats and the bullocks and all that were required under the Old Testament, and they brought the offering for the people. Sacrifice is offering.
Sacrifice is not, I don't feel like it, but. I just want to clear you up.
So never again say, I don't feel like it, but I'm gonna give God praise. No, no, that's not the sacrifice he's looking for. Because that's driven by your emotions. You should never let your emotions drive the car.
So the sacrifice he's looking for is: I give him the offering of praise. I'm giving him an offering. See, in the Old Testament, the priests had to come offer the sin offering for the people. They had no ability to approach God for themselves. You've got to understand what God did for you in Christ is absolutely amazing.
In Christ, nobody has to go to God on your behalf. Because Christ already offered the sacrifice for all of us.
So now, because He made your sin sacrifice once for all, the Bible says on the day that Jesus died on that cross, the veil in the Old Testament temple was rent from top to bottom. Meaning, man didn't try to tear his way into God's presence. God from the top tore it down because the sacrifice of Jesus was so perfect. There's never any other barrier to keep you from God. Because of what Jesus did, you can walk right into the Holy of Holies.
You could walk into the place where only the high priest could go under the law. And if he wasn't right, he'd go in there and drop dead. You better be glad for Jesus. Because if it wasn't for Jesus, none of us would belong in the Holy of Holies. But because He made the sacrifice, you and I can walk right up into God's presence and say, Father, in the name of Jesus, and He hears you.
And so, what's the offering? Since Jesus offered the sacrifice for my sins, what's the offering that will matter to God? What do you give the one who has everything? I got the answer for you. You give him praise.
You give him worship. That's the one thing he wants from you. He doesn't need your, well, you know, I don't feel like it, but here I come. No, no, he's looking for you to come in there and say, God, you did so much for me in Christ. I am so complete in Christ that I come to just tell you, thank you.
I love you, I worship you, I honor you for who you are. What do you give the one who has everything? You give him praise. Remember what Jesus said to the woman at the well when she started talking about, well, you know, our fathers created this space. This is our place of worship.
And Jesus said, the hour is coming. In fact, it's here now when it won't matter where you worship, it will matter that you worship God in spirit and in truth. That's what God's looking for, people who will give Him worship and praise. God loves it when we love Him just because He is God. Yes, we appreciate all that he does, but you've got to learn to just love him for who he is.
He does what he does because he is who he is. That's a great reminder for all of us. Appreciate the gifts, but give praise and adoration to the giver.
Now don't go away, the rest of today's Destined for Victory message featuring Pastor Paul Shepherd is coming right up. Jesus said that if we follow His teaching, we would know the truth, and the truth would set us free. That's why Destined for Victory is here and why we're committed to continuing the ministry that Pastor Paul started over a decade ago. You can help make that happen and be a great blessing in seeing to it that we finish the year financially strong. Visit our website, pastorpaul.net, to make a safe and secure donation online.
That's pastorpaul.net or call 855-339-5500.
Now, let me ask you a question. Do you shower God with praise because of what He does, or do you do it because of who He is? Think about that as we bring you the second half of today's message: discovering the power of praise. You gotta learn to be Mother Brazil. The late Mother Brazil told us years ago, she said, I was at the home of a noted missionary, American missionary, and I was at his home when he came back from a long trip.
And there were some of us gathered there to fellowship with him and greet him. And he came back with a couple of suitcases, and one of them had gifts for various ones, loved ones, and he opened it up and began giving out the gifts. She said, But I was struck by the fact that while others were excited about the little souvenirs and gifts that he was bringing them, and they're unwrapping them and saying, Oh, this is so beautiful. Thank you. And all that.
He said, I was struck because his little two- or three-year-old girl, when she knew her daddy was home, she ran in the room and she wrapped her arm around his leg. And she held on to him and she said, I heard her saying, I got my daddy. I got my daddy. Everybody else is happy because they're getting a souvenir and getting a little something that he thought of them. She said, I got my daddy.
Do you know that little child can have anything she wants? Especially when you love on a a parent like that. Oh man, I'm telling you, when you love on a parent like that, you render them weak. Come on, those little children. I'm talking about that love of those little children.
When you are not mad and spoiled and bratty and give me this and give me that, and you just learn how to love on them, and I'm sure it happens with grand. See, I'm not in the grand family yet. We are believing God for that. When that happens, I'm sure I'll be able to relate.
Some of y'all say, oh, it's gonna be worse than when your kids were little because you just spoiled. I've heard the rationale.
Some of them say, see, with the grands, you can spoil them as much as you want because you don't have to have them in your house all the time. Is that true?
Some of you grandparents spoil them all you want, and then when you tide them, send them on back home. And leave your kids to say, What have you done? You can say it's payback. Peace. You work my nerves.
Let me... Make your life interesting now. But nothing like being loved on. By your child. Just loved on, just nothing quite like it.
And then it's worse with the gender thing. Daughters can really get to a dad in a special way, and sons can really get to their mama in a special way. I've noticed, I've seen those dynamics, and it's just amazing. But you've got to learn that there is a release of blessing that just comes from being loved well. Being loved well, nothing quite like it.
And I tell you, when it comes to the spiritual, if you just learn to love God and give Him that sacrifice, that offering of praise and worship, He'll do so many things to bless your life. Nothing quite like it. And so we got to learn to give him the spiritual sacrifice. Let me give you a Bible for this. Hebrews 13:15.
Therefore, by him, let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God. What is that sacrifice? In this case, he says, the fruit of your lips, giving thanks to his name. Fruit of your lips. Make a sacrifice include what you say to God.
Not only worship it with the giving of your tithes and offering, and worship with being in the service, but give him the fruit of your lips. Give him, say it to him that I love you. I appreciate you. Lord, I reverence you. Lord, I give you praise.
There's no one like you. He says, make that a continual offering of praise, the fruit of your lips, giving thanks to his name. That's Hebrews 13:15. And then 1 Peter 2:5 says this. And you, as lively stones, are being built up into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood.
Watch this, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Jesus paid the price, but we still have a sacrifice to give. It's the sacrifice of praise. And we want to give him that every chance we get. That's why I say, don't wait till you get to church.
Church ought to be the overflow of a lifestyle of praise. You see just how we worshiped and praised earlier here today. I could tell some of y'all been praising him before you got here. Because you don't want church to be the one and only time you say something to God. Church ought to be the overflow.
I've been talking to him all week. I've been worshiping, I've been adoring, I've been praising him, thanking him for the answered prayers, trusting him for those I'm still waiting on. And when I get among God's people, see, David said, Oh, magnify the Lord with me. I can do it by myself now. I don't need you because I can't get through without you.
But it's just a dynamic that's released when all of us collectively give God praise. And I don't know about you, but I want to be on the praising side for the rest of my life. I want to worship more than I do anything else, praise more than I do anything else, glorify God more than I do anything else. And so you want to get good at being a priest, a New Testament priest, who offers to the Lord your sacrifice of praise every chance you get. Three more things.
Number eight, praise is a prelude to victory. Oh, let me park here for a little bit.
Some of us need some victories. Why? Because we're in spiritual warfare. The enemy of your soul hates you, trying to take you out, trying to make your life miserable, trying to keep you. See, the enemy loves to mock God by making somebody who ought to be praising God start cursing God.
That's what the enemy wants. If you don't believe that, look at Job. Read the Old Testament book of Job, and you'll see that here was a man who was upright, and the enemy came into God's presence and said, Well, you know, the only reason why he's upright and living so well is because you haven't let me get to him. And so the enemy said, Let me touch his life, and then you'll see that his worship isn't genuine. And the Lord allowed it to happen.
And you know the story. You've read the book of Job. The man lost 10 children in one day. Ten children die. And he loses his wealth.
And what does he do? He keeps on worshiping. The enemy said, Well, see, all right, but there's one more thing. You got to let me touch his body. If you let me touch his body, he'll curse you to your face.
And the Lord allowed it to happen. And he was smitten with afflictions that were horrible. But the Bible says on this worst time in his life, Job said, the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Let me help you understand something.
That proves that your worship doesn't have to come from your emotions. There's no doubt in my mind that Job would have been crying as he said that. Tears flowing, heart filled with grief. But you can worship through grief. You can worship through heartache.
You can worship when times are tough. Why? Because worship isn't driven by your emotion. Your worship's driven by your spirit. And my spirit is connected to God.
The Lord gave, Job said, and the Lord has taken away.
Now, Job didn't understand the theology. You know, all the faith folks say, well, see, that's not right. The Lord didn't take it, the devil took it. A.M. God still allowed it.
Why would you make such a distinction? As if somehow if he were living better, the devil couldn't have done it. No, the devil did it because he had a one-on-one with God, and God said, Let me make a test case out of this man, and I'm gonna show you that he's worshiping me for real. And so don't mess up your theology. The fact of the matter is, sometimes you don't understand why something happens in your life.
Now, see, stop playing. How many of y'all will be honest enough to say there have been times when you said, Lord, why did you let this happen? And you did not get an answer? You don't get all the answers. I'm so tired of these people who keep trying to get an answer to every question here on earth.
We know in part, we prophesy in part. There's some things you won't understand on this side of heaven. That's why you got to walk by faith and not by sight. Because there's some stuff, if you let sight control things, you're going to be messed up. We all have things we don't get.
All of your famous faith-walking leaders, all of them have mysteries. They just, some of them are too prideful to tell you about them. But I've met some of these same people. And in the green room, before we go out and have the big meeting. You hear what really happens.
And the fact of the matter is we all have mysteries. Anybody who doesn't have any mysteries, my grandmama would say, keep on living. Just keep on living. You got some mysteries coming. There are gonna be some things you just say, I don't get it.
It's in the Bible, so you're not by yourself. The folk who walked with God in the scriptures had times where they say, really? You gotta be kidding. And you don't always get the answer right away. See, we love it when, and I had, and I beseeched the Lord as to why he allowed this to happen.
And at two in the morning, he woke me up and he told me.
Okay, every now and then you might get one of those. I promise you, nine times out of a ten, at two in the morning, you're gonna be laying there and talking about, I don't get it.
Okay. You know, if you could completely understand God, who He is and why He does what He does, if you have total comprehension of His power and nature and character. He wouldn't be God at all. But he is. As we're told in Isaiah fifty-five, verse eight, My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, says the LORD.
Well, as followers of Christ, one of the things we learn early on is that everything we have belongs to God. In fact, the earth and everything in it belongs solely to Him.
So our money, our talent, even our very lives are not our own. During the final year of his life, just before being called home to be with the Lord, Pastor Paul Shepard preached an excellent series on this very subject. He spent several months talking about the importance of stewardship in every area of life. And today, we're pleased to announce that we've put these messages together for the first time in a hardcover book. Or, if you prefer, we have a Kindle version available.
And we'd love for you to have your very own copies our thank you for your best year-end gift of $25 or more today. Your generous giving will enable us to carry out the vision Pastor Paul had for continuing this ministry long after the Lord called him home. Again, the book is called Becoming an Excellent Steward, available in hardcover, and it's yours today as you make your best gift of $25 or more to Destined for Victory. You can give by phone by calling 855-339-5500. That's 855-339-5500.
Or visiting pastorpaul.net to make a safe and secure donation online. You can also mail your gift to Destined for Victory, post office box 1767, Fremont, California, 94538. Do you need prayer today? If so, you're invited to use the contact feature at the top of our homepage, pastorpaul.net, and share your request with us. Our ministry team is always happy to join you in prayer.
That's pastorpaul.net. God can be as silent as anybody you know. He doesn't give you all the information. You gotta learn to walk by faith. And not by sight.
But if you need a breakthrough because the enemy is coming against you, one of the ways you get a spiritual breakthrough in spiritual warfare is you praise. And that's next time in our continuing message, Discovering the Power of Praise. I hope you'll join us. Until then, remember, he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. In Christ, you are destined for victory.
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