Psalm 34:1-2a (NKJV) I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord.
The anointing, or the presence of God, breaks every yoke and removes every burden on us. There is tremendous power in praise and worship to lift the oppression off our lives. Therefore, let us be encouraged to enter the presence of God through praise and thanksgiving, both privately and corporately. David understood the importance of this wonderful habit and experienced God through it. Out of the abundance of his heart, David spoke about the need to praise and bless God despite his challenges.
The fact that David was living out God’s calling for his life while being hunted down by King Saul shows us that life may not be plain sailing even when we are living under God’s perfect will. Perhaps life hasn’t been easy for you, and you are not in the mood to praise and worship God. However, the more we suppress our feelings or dwell in sadness, the more oppressed we will be. Therefore, we need to choose to praise God despite our circumstances.
2 Chronicles 20:21-22 (NKJV) And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.” Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.
King Jehoshaphat is another Bible character who chose to praise God when faced with immense pressure. He sought the Lord and reminded God of His covenant with His people. He chose to seek God rather than crumble under the news of the overwhelming invasion by his enemies. It doesn’t make logical sense to send worshippers ahead of the army, but the worshippers were not human shields against the enemy. Rather, they were a form of declaration to express that their faith was in God and not in their human abilities. Faith pleases God.
Also, when Jehoshaphat and his people sought the face of God, they received a Word from God, ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15). We too can receive a Word of assurance, or a personal Word from God during worship. The promises of God help us to anchor our faith in Him. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Because the Lord had spoken to them, they believed in their deliverance.
Praise is declaring the goodness, the victory, the faithfulness, and the greatness of the Lord. Use your voice as a trumpet sounding forth the blessings of the Lord. Praise and worship not only help us to shift our focus away from the problem and divert it towards God, it is also a declaration of faith and a form of prayer. Faith will rise up within us to take hold of God’s promises despite the circumstances.
Sermon Series: Great Adventures and Great Exploits
信心的宣告
诗篇34:1-2a 我要时时称颂耶和华，赞美他的话必常在我口中。我的心必因耶和华夸耀.
神的恩膏或神的同在能打破一切的枷锁，除去压在我们身上的一切重担。赞美和敬拜有巨大的能力，可以解除我们生命中的压迫。因此，我们应该以赞美和感恩进入神的同在，不管是在私底下或是在团体中。大卫明白赞美和感恩这一美好习惯的重要性，并借此经历了上帝。大卫心中充满赞美，尽管面对重重挑战，他却用口说出赞美称颂上帝的需要。
大卫在扫罗穷凶极恶的追杀之下仍然活出神对他生命的呼召，这表明即便我们活在神的完美旨意中，生活也不一定会是一帆风顺的。或许你的生活历尽坎坷，你没有心情赞美和敬拜上帝。然而我们越是压抑自己的感情或沉浸在悲伤之中，就越会受到压迫。因此，我们需要选择赞美神，无论环境如何。
历代记下20:21-22 约沙法既与民商议了，就设立歌唱的人颂赞耶和华，使他们穿上圣洁的礼服，走在军前赞美耶和华说：“当称谢耶和华，因他的慈爱永远长存！”众人方唱歌赞美的时候，耶和华就派伏兵击杀那来攻击犹大人的亚扪人、摩押人和西珥山人，他们就被打败了。
约沙法王是圣经里的另一位在巨大的压力下选择赞美神的人物。他寻求耶和华，提醒祂与祂子民所立之约。他选择寻求上帝，而不是在敌人大举入侵的消息面前崩溃。差派敬拜者走在军前在逻辑上是说不通的。阵前的敬拜者不是抵御敌人的人肉盾牌，而是一种宣告，表明他们的信心在于神而非自己作为人的能力。信心讨神的喜悦。
当约沙法和众人寻求上帝的面时，他们领受了从神而来的一句话 不要因这多人惧怕、也不要惊惶、因为争战的不是你们的、乃是神的。’（历代志下20：15）我们也可以在敬拜中从神领受保证的话或对你个人的话语。神的应许帮助我们锚定对祂的信心。信心是所望之事的实底，是未见之事的确据。因为主已经对他们说话，他们就相信主的救恩。
赞美是宣告上帝的良善，得胜，信实和伟大。用你的声音如号角发出对上帝的称颂。赞美敬拜不仅帮助我们将注意力从问题上转移到上帝身上，赞美和敬拜同时也是一种信仰的宣言，一种祷告的形式。我们里面的信心将会扬升，抓住上帝的应许，无论环境如何。
讲章系列：历经涉险，刚强行事
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