Are We Any Different Than One In Prison?

In Acts 12, an angel is sent to release Peter from prison. The first thing the angel had to do was see Peter as a man who happened to be in prison. If he had seen Peter as a bound and hopeless case instead of a person who happened to be in prison and who could otherwise be doing great things in future ministry; there would have been no incentive to get him out.

In the same way, there are people in your life who are not saved. They might be unpleasant, miserable, or even evil. But if that's the only way you see them, you're consigning them to the darkness. If you see them as people who happened to be inside a prison of rottenness by those things, it's a different story.

We were all confined to a prison of sin at one time. One's sin is no lesser or greater than another. We are all sinners in the eyes of our Father. Yet we look upon other people on the wrong path as though they are beneath us. We say things like, "I'm a good person, I've never done that before,"or "Well I've never killed someone, so I'm not bad." The lines of good and bad, right and wrong have been quite construed in today's society. We say, "This person did this or that so they only deserve punishment." What do you think would have happened to all of us if our Heavenly Father had that mindset? No one would be saved.

We were given a second chance; and a third, fourth, fifth, and so on. How many times have you had to ask for forgiveness? How many times has He forgiven you? So we must look at everyone through the eyes of Christ. Because without His vision, we will never see what that person can become. We will only see the sin. But there's hope for a prison break. Then they become those with the potential to become children of God. By faith and the blood of the Messiah, see the person separate from their prison. And by the grace and power of God, help arrange their prison break!

Today, practice separating people from their sins. See them as those made to become children of God, but they have to first break free of their prison.

The Ultimate Sacrifice

Today as we remember all those that payed the ultimate price to protect our freedom; I am remind by all the stories of persecuted Christians. Those like our beloved family members that sacrificed their lives for what they believed in. For without the sacrifice of our loved ones, we would not have the safety to worship when and where we wanted.

While you go about your daily festivities, remember what the freedoms you take for granted really cost. Only then can you truly be grateful of the cost someone else paid, so you wouldn't have too.

"I feel as if one of my arms has been cut off," said Dr.Job. It was the most difficult sermon of his life: the funeral for his son. His voice was heavy with emotion. "But with whatever I have left, I will continue to serve Christ's kingdom."

Dr. Job directs the Voice of the Martyrs' work in India and often risks his life traveling to encourage Christians in restricted nations. He also preaches at large crusades in India and has seen thousands come to Christ. His work has angered radical Hindus in his homeland.

In June 1999, a rock hurled through his car window hit Dr. Job in the forehead, leaving a bloody gash. A week later Dr. Job's youngest son, Michael, was walking near the medical school where he was studying to become a doctor. A Fiat driving full speed crashed into Michael and then drove off. The perpetrator was never found. Michael, with massive injuries, fell into a coma and died days later.

As he promised, the loss of his son has not stopped Dr. Job's ministry. Since Michael's death, Dr. Job has preached more crusades, winning thousands to Christ. The cost for Dr. Job's ministry has been high: his own son. But he is not alone. God also knows what it is like to lose a son so that others may see salvation.

The road ahead for the persecuted church is steep and may be long. For over two thousand years, many have been motivated by evil in their opposition to the gospel of Christ. As Christians we must be willing to pay a price-even if we are never required to do so. This is the lesson of Abraham's life. He was willing to sacrifice Isaac-through whom the blessing was going to come. Being willing to sacrifice for our commitment to Christ makes us stronger.

The idea of sacrifice clarifies our goals. Sacrifice solidifies our character. Commitments that cost us something change our family, our neighborhood, and our world for Christ. We learn how strong we really can be. Although we don't wish to lose that which we hold dear-we strive to remain undeterred in our devotion, despite any circumstances.

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for all the families that have lost someone so that we could have the freedom to worship you without fear. Lord I pray that Christians here in America do not take this for granted. I pray that we don't become lazy in our net of safety worship. Most here have not had the fear and sacrifice like so many around the world have paid to just worship you. I pray that we will all be filled with your Spirit, and ignited with a new fire to take the full blessings of our freedoms and share your love with all without fear. Lord your grace is sufficient enough. Thank you for the ability to worship you without fear. So many will likely never say that Your grace is all they need, until Your grace is all they have. I pray that all the families of fallen soldiers will find peace in You, and I pray for all our persecuted brothers and sisters throughout the world, that continue to praise you with only your grace to hold them in their time of sacrifice. I pray this in Your name, Amen.

Can You Be An Angel?

Angela Cazacu was just an ordinary woman living in Romania during World War II when the Nazis invaded. All too quickly, life for Jews and Christians became a living terror. Angela kept busy rescuing Jewish children from the ghettos and smuggling food and clothing to female Christian prisoners in the prisons around her city.

Later, when the Nazis were driven out of her country and the Soviet army invaded, Angela was still busy spreading the message of God's love by handing out Russian bibles and new testaments in train stations full of Soviet soldiers.

When Pastor Richard Wurmbrand was a prisoner in the Tirgul-Ocna jail in the winter of 1951, he was severely ill. His skeletal body shivered from the constant cold of the worst winter on record. Each prisoner was allowed only one blanket, and food was scarce because no one was able to get to the prison through the heavy snow.

It was during this bleak moment when Pastor Wurmbrand received a package containing desperately needed food and warm clothing that the pastor gladly shared with others. The package that he thought must have been delivered by an angel probably saved his life.

Once again, Sister Angela (meaning "angel" in Romanian) was busily going about her Father's business. Ordinary? Maybe. But God delights in using ordinary people as his angels of mercy.

Years ago, in response to the increasing news coverage of random acts of violence, a bumper sticker began to appear that suggested practicing "random acts of kindness." An act of kindness or mercy to a stranger may be as seemingly insignificant as giving up a prime parking place at a shopping center or taking the time to make eye contact with the clerk at the store. However, God can use you to transform even the most ordinary act of kindness into a powerful gift of grace in someone else's life.

It's not hard to look around and see how evil is spreading across our country and world. Everyday there are more stories of atrocities committed against one another. People's hearts are hardened more and more each day. So many people are hurting and dying in silence within their minds. Now more than ever, people need someone to just seem like they care. They need someone to be kind to them and make them feel as though they actually do have a reason to exist.

Ask God to help you commit a random act of kindness in His name today. You may never know it, but you might be someone's "angel."

My Empire of Dirt

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:46-49 (ESV)

I spent many years of my life believing in God, hearing and knowing the truth, but never living out what the Bible taught. I would say, “I believe in God and I’m ‘saved’.”, then turn around and party, get drunk, fill my mind with trashy movies and music, spout out filthy language, have sex outside of marriage. Do everything the world says is ok and everything that God wanted to protect me from. I never took the step of obedience. It's not enough to just believe. The Bible says in James 2:19 (NLT), “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror”.

In Luke, Jesus compares those who are not obedient to His Word to a house with no foundation. For me, these are like castles built of sand. Tell me if this sounds like your life. You're sitting on a beach building a beautiful castle, you have spent endless hours in construction, when suddenly a wave comes crashing in and destroys all your hard work. Devastated you get up determined to keep going. Nothing is going to get you down. So you move to another spot and start building your sand castle again. And again, a wave comes crashing in and wipes out your castle. Yet you will not let life defeat you, so you get up, move somewhere else and start rebuilding. We all know what happens next.

Is that how your life feels? Do you keep getting knocked down and get back up only to have everything knocked down again? My biggest question to you right now would be: what or who is your foundation? What are you building with?

Jesus says that the man who is obedient to His Word builds a house on a firm foundation that will withstand the crushing elements. These aren't our own personal kingdoms of dirt and sand but Gods solid kingdom built up in our lives. If you really think about it, God knows all, sees all and understands all. His Word is our guide book on how to live life. Our rules for life. He knows what is best for us, so it makes sense to do what He says to do. When you begin to be obedient to His rules for life, your life won’t fall apart with every trial. God doesn’t promise that we won’t have hard times in life, but you may find that as you follow God’s path for your life that you spend less time struggling, less time falling flat on your face, less time digging yourself out of difficulties.

If you are tired of having your life falling apart or getting beat down when difficult times come, then stop and evaluate your foundation. Are you being obedient to God’s Word or are you merely believing in it and hearing it?

The Bible says in ‭‭James‬ ‭1:22-25‬ to "be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." James compares a person who only hears the Word but doesn't obey it like someone who forgets what he looks like. But the one who obeys God’s Word "will be blessed in his doing.”
The Greek word for blessed is Makarios. Makarios means satisfaction from experiencing the fullness of something and refers to the believer in Christ who is satisfied and secure in the midst of life's hardships because of the indwelling fullness of the Spirit.

Be obedient to God’s Word. Don’t just merely hear and believe, but DO…and experience the fullness of life.
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The Seven Greatest Words Spoken

While talking with a co-worker on Sunday, these seven words came up and I realized nothing else said in your life carries more importance.

We all can remember important things we yearn to hear in our lives. Whether it be: "I love you", "You're Hired", or "I'm Pregnant." But as wonderful as the words said to us in our lives, nothing compares to the seven greatest words. The seven words that will encompass your entire existence. They can either be the seven greatest words or the seven most horrific words ever spoken.

And what are the seven words of either greatness or doom? When you stand before our Creator on that Day of Judgment, one of two sayings will be pronounced. Either our Heavenly Father will say; "Welcome Home, my good and faithful servant," or "Depart from Me I never knew you." I find it even more profound that both would contain seven words. You see, the number seven is one of the most significant numbers of the Bible because it is the number of spiritual perfection. It is the number which is stamped on every work of God. It denotes spiritual perfection and completion. So whether He states, "Welcome Home", or "Depart", it will be said with His stamp of completion.

So how can I avoid hearing those horrific words? It's the easiest of decisions, but the hardest of paths. You believe and allow Christ into your heart. Then you begin on the narrow path of conforming yourself to Christ. It's a path few will take; but it's the path that leads to hearing "Welcome Home".
My father used to sing a song when I was little called The Apple Tree Song. It has a spoken part that I think really encompasses the love of our Father.

There was a Minister that had just closed a revival in a huge Midwestern city. He stepped on the train on his way home, and found himself seated beside a young man. With nothing better to do, he tried to start up a conversation, just something about the weather, just to kinda help the time as they traveled.
He noticed he didn't receive an answer, so he turned to the young man and saw the tears streaming down his cheek. He told him, "Son I'm a minister, I'll be glad to help you any way I can."The young man through his tears proceeded to tell his story.

He said, "Preacher, two years ago, I got so mean and my heart was so hardened, that my mom and dad couldn't do anything with me. I wasn't anything but a source of embarrassment to them. Things got so bad that I even went so far as to hit my father one day. He told me then, Son, I hate to do it, it's gonna break your Momma's heart, but I'm gonna have to ask you to leave. Just get away, we don't want to see you anymore. Preacher I wandered all over this country for the past two years. I've done so many unspeakable things. Then about two weeks ago, I gave my heart and life to Jesus. I told my Mom and Dad what had happened. I told them I'd be on this old train."

"I told them I was coming home." The Preacher said, "That is all well and good, but how do you know you're going to be welcomed? How do you know everything's forgiven?" He said, "Preacher, I told my Dad in the letter, that if everything was all right and they could forgive me for all the pain that I'd caused them, then hang a white rag in the top of that old apple tree. I could see it from this old train, and I'd know it would be alright for me to come home. Preacher, would you look out there and tell me what you see, I want to go home so bad. I'm so sorry for all the heartache I've caused, would you look, and see if you see one little rag in the top of that tree?"

Well, the old preacher, not knowing what to expect, not knowing the circumstances, dusted the window of that old train and looked out. He turned around with a big smile and said, "Son, you can relax. That tree is in full bloom. I've never seen so many white rags tied on anything in all my life. That's not all, because standing out there under that tree is your old mom and dad. They're wave a big white bedsheet that says "'Come On Home Son, Welcome Home."'

To this day, even now as I'm typing this; I'm brought to overwhelming tears. But you know, that's just like our Heavenly Father. No matter how far in sin we've sunk. No matter how we've wasted our lives; all we have to do is say, "Forgive me of my sin, I want to live for you." And you know, He's ready to welcome each and everyone of us Home!! Don't wait till it's to late. Being told your Welcome Home is far greater than being departed from our Father's love.

Head First Into the Deep End

For many people, like myself, I believe that God uses the lyrics of songs to speak to us. Recently, the lyrics to the Matthew West song “All In” have really spoken to a place in my heart.

My feet are frozen on this middle ground
The waters warm here the fires gone out
Played it safe for so long the passion left
Turns out safe is just another word for regret

In Revelation 3:15-17, the church at Laodicea is criticized for being lukewarm: “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”

Laodicea was wealthy, and they grew content in their wealth, dependent on it. Because of this, they didn’t see their spiritual poverty, and so the church grew useless for the Kingdom. They were lukewarm.

I’m sure you’ve noticed it in your own life, when life is great and everything is going your way, you don’t see your need for God. You say, “I’ve got this”. But the moment that trouble strikes: your marriage fails, a loved one dies, you lose your job. Then you cry out to God. But God doesn’t just want us sometimes. He says right here that He either wants us Hot or Cold. Not lukewarm. He truly wants us “All In”.

I’m going all in
Headfirst into the deep end
I hear you calling
And this time the fear won’t win

When we remain lukewarm, we become stagnant. The “fire goes out”. We begin to “play it safe”. In many ways, it’s easier to live a lukewarm life. If we’re not all in, we have less to lose. Going all in requires vulnerability and it requires faith. You can live a life without either of these, but is that the life Christ intended for us?

Walking the Christian life isn’t easy, and at many times it is uncomfortable. God loves to push us beyond our comfort zone, because that is where we need Him the most. It is in those times that we have to completely rest and trust in Him to get us through.

If you are lukewarm, God says right here that He will “spit you out”. With God you’re either all in, or, all out. Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad” (Matt. 12:30). There is no middle ground when it comes to following Christ. You are either following Him, or you are following something, or someone, else.

Jesus was so all in that He gave his life for us. Everything we could ever do will pale in comparison to the price that Jesus paid. He never gave up and stayed committed to the mission the Father had given him. He died for us and we cannot forget that we owe Him all that we are. That means being All In, not lukewarm, but on fire to pursue the mission that was given us by the One who gave His All for us.

My prayer today is that you choose to be All In for Christ. He promises in John 10:10 that He came to give us a life that is full, rich, abundant. Give Him your All and take hold of the promise.

The Seven Words Of Praise: TEHILLAH

Halah is speaking your praise to the Father. Tehillah is to sing Halah. If you express great and extravagant adoration to the point of foolishness in the eyes of the non-praiser or non-Christian, loudly in song, you are giving Tehillah to the Father. This is the kind of praise that God inhabits, dwells or lives in. Psalm 22:3.
"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving (Towdah) and into His courts with praise (Tehillah)" Psalm 100:4.

The entrance into the court or His presence is through the gate, Towdah - confession. But the perceived manifested presence of the Father is in the court - Tehillah.
When Solomon completed all the work for the house of the Lord, the singers and musicians "...were as one to make one sound to be heard in praising (Halah) and thanking (Yadah) the Lord, and when they lifted their voice with the trumpets and symbols and instruments of music, and praise (Halah) the Lord, ... the glory of the Lord filled the house of God." 2 Chronicles 5:1,13,14.
In other words when they gave Tehillah, which means to sing Halah, the presence of God manifested and filled the Temple. It was while they were ministering; singing and playing music in praise, that God manifested Himself through His glory.

The glory of the Lord is the Holy Spirit. For "...Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Lord." Romans 6:4. And Romans 8:11 says that it was "...the spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead." So we understand that the glory of the Lord is the Holy Spirit. If you are a Christian then the Holy Spirit, the glory of God, is in you. Romans 8:9. Jesus said He would give us the Spirit to abide with us forever. That He would never leave or forsake us. John 14:16,17; Hebrews 13:5. Again we are told that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I Corinthians 3:16; 6:19.  Could it be that if we give Tehillah to the Father that He will reveal or manifest Himself so that we perceive His presence? YES! Tehillah is about the manifested presence of God through His Spirit in you and me.

The word Tehillah shows up 56 times in the Old Testament. A simple way to think of Simple for us is that Tehillah means a song or hymn of praise. Vocally, we express worship. While halal gave us the view of being in public and acting fooling, Tehillah specifically is describing us singing and vocalizing our praise. With halal, praise is seen. With Tehillah, it is heard! Praise is not only heard, but the idea is that we are louder for our God than we would be for ourselves. Our song declares the name and traits of the one we love and worship. In our culture, the celebrity is worshiped the same way the word Tehillah connotes. The screams of preteens at a Justin Beiber concert could be a cultural equivalent. Or, how about the crowds lined up to wave and call out to the Queen of England as her motorcade passes? 

The power of Tehillah expresses itself vocally so that there is no doubt who the star in the room is. In our worship services, do our songs have this effect? Do they make it clear that our noise is about honoring our God? We can make noise, and it feels great, even at a rock concert. But, if praise is not directed to God, even our songs can potentially be idolatrous. Shouldn't our worship for the One who created and saved us be louder than that of a mere celebrity? Today in your own worship, begin to praise the only One deserving of it with more praise than some mere celebrity.

Has Mother's Day Lost It's Meaning?

 
Mother's Day 2018 will be celebrated across the world on May 13. It's a day to honor the mothers and express one's love and gratitude towards them. Many, however, started to feel that this day became commercialized, including the Mother's Day founder Anna Jarvis.

Mother's Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis, a US national, held a memorial for her mother at St Andrew's Methodist Church in Grafton in West Virginia. She campaigned to make Mother's Day a recognized holiday in the United States after her mother Ann Reeves Jarvis, a peace activist, died in 1905. Ann Jarvis cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War, and created Mother's Day Work Clubs to address people's health issues. To honor her mother by continuing the work she started, she campaigned to set aside a day to honor all the mothers as she believed a mother is "the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world".

Former US President Woodrow Wilson in 1914 signed a proclamation and designated Mother's Day, held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honor mothers. By the early 1920s, however, card companies started selling Mother's Day cards. Anna Jarvis believed that this exploited the idea of Mother's Day. "A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. And candy! You take a box to Mother-and then eat most of it yourself. A pretty sentiment," she had said.

After the commercialization of the day, Anna Jarvis organised boycotts of Mother's Day, and threatened to issue lawsuits against the companies involved. She also protested against this at various public meetings. While others profited from the day, Anna's efforts to hold on to the original meaning of the day led to her own economic hardship. Her committee supported her and helped to continue her movement during her declining health. She died on November 24, 1948.

There's a story about a man who stopped at a flower shop to order some flowers to be wired to his mother who lived two hundred miles away. As he got out of his car he noticed a young girl sitting on the curb sobbing. He asked her what was wrong and she replied, "I wanted to buy a red rose for my mother. But I only have seventy-five cents, and a rose costs two dollars." The man smiled and said, "Come on in with me. I'll buy you a rose." He bought the little girl her rose and ordered his own mother's flowers. As they were leaving he offered the girl a ride home. She said, "Yes, please! You can take me to my mother." She directed him to a cemetery, where she placed the rose on a freshly dug grave.

The man returned to the flower shop, canceled the wire order, picked up a bouquet and drove the two hundred miles to his mothers house.

Not just today, but everyday, be sure to show your mother what she means to you. One day the opportunity to show your love will be passed, and there will be no more time. She doesn't need a card, or candy, or fancy jewelry. What every mother wants at heart; is your time. Your time to love her. Your time to show her that she means the world to you. Your time to show her your love in you serving her. Call your mother. Go see and serve your mother. Tell her you love her. Remember, you're the only person who knows what her heart sounds like from the inside.

The Seven Words Of Praise: HALAH

Halah is to rave or boast upon the Lord. To be clamorously foolish. If we will give attention to the words in this definition we will have a more vivid understanding of Halah. Halah is to RAVE.
RAVE; "to talk wildly, as in delirium."Someone who is delirious is in "a state of violent excitement or emotion. Frenzy. A more or less temporary disorder of the mental faculties, as in intoxication, characterized by excitement..."

Paul, when he said to "be being filled with the Spirit," compared it to being intoxicated Eph. 5:18. Again, when the people saw the disciples after they were baptized in the Holy Spirit, they thought that they were intoxicated Acts 2:13-15.
RAVE: to express great [in an extreme degree] or extravagant [spending much more than is necessary; excessive; exceeding the bounds of reason; going beyond what is justifiable; unrestrained] admiration [to regard with wonder, pleasure, approval].

 Halah is to be CLAMOROUS.
CLAMOROUS: "A loud and continuous sound." Focused towards the Lord in raving, this would describe Halah. Halah is to be clamorously FOOLISH. The best way to understand this characteristic of Halah is in relationship to spirituality and non-spirituality. For the things of God are foolishness to the world read I Cor. 1:18-25]. Remember when David danced before the Lord? The non-praiser, Michal, saw David leaping and whirling before the Lord and thought he was foolish to the point of despising him in her heart. (II Sam. 6:14-16, 20-23) When we Halah, rave or boast upon the Lord, are clamorously foolish before the Lord, we will be foolish in the eyes of the Non-Praiser and the Non-Christian.

 The word Hallelujah comes from "Halah to Yahweh." In the Bible we have what is known as the Hallelujah Psalms. They are called this because they either start or end with Hallelujah. Usually translated as "Praise the Lord." These Hallelujah Psalms divide into three groups:
Ps 104-106- speak of God's Attributes.
Ps. 111-117- were used for the Passover Feast.
Ps. 135,145-150 -were used in the Temple Worship.
As you read these Hallelujah Psalms keep the definition, description and characteristic of Halah in mind. For the composers are raving upon the Lord. They are being clamorously foolish before the Lord.

The word halal is the most prolific word translated as praise, appearing 96 times in the Old Testament. The connotation of “boasting” to the point of looking “foolish” frames the offering of praise. One lexicon defines halal this way: “to be clear, to be brilliant…to brightness of light; to make a show; to be foolish…” Imagine a gathering that makes it clear who we worship, shining the spotlight on our God in such away that we are actually a bit “foolish” while doing it.
Do we admire our God for who he is in our worship gatherings? Do we shine the light on him or our own personal experience? Are we willing to be emboldened enough in our public worship to “make a show” that displays our foolishness? "I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you."

This verse gives us the context of praising in public. In front of everyone, this praise occurs. There is nothing hidden about what I am feeling about God when I am in a “halal” moment. I start with my family–brothers, and sisters–and then take it even further to the whole church! The word halal is not shy. What is inside is seen, as is with all acts of praise. The choice for halal calls me to offer praise both to those closest to the crowd of worshipers and to me. It invites the varying connections in my life to experience with me and join in. With halal, praise is seen!

The Seven Words Of Praise: ZAMAR

Zamar is to make music accompanied by the voice. To celebrate and sing songs of praise with instruments. In giving praise to the Father we can either speak it or sing it. However, when expressing Yadah, Towdah, Shabach or Barauch in song, accompanied by instruments, it is described as ZAMAR.
Psalm 92:1-3 It is good to praise(Yadah) the Lord and make music(Zamar) to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.
Psalm 147:7 Sing to the Lord with grateful praise(Towdah); make music(Zamar) to our God on the harp.
Psalm 98:5-6 Make music(Zamar) to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—shout for joy before the Lord, the King.

 If you speak your praise to God it is not Zamar. You must sing accompanied by instruments to express this type of praise.
The third most prolific word for praise in the Old Testament is Zamar, which is used 44 times. Stringed instruments are described as being played when offering praise, which means a Fender guitar qualifies. The idea of accompanying our singing in worship with instrumentation can clearly be seen in the use of the word Zamar. It is defined as a “pluck” of a string. What is also important to note is that instrumental music all on its own can be praise! We already see in the Psalms that cymbals and trumpets are used as well. This word inspires our praise to be more than a vocalization at times. The praise of God is special enough when we gather that the creation and skill of instrumental music is valued in the Scriptures. Singing and vocalizing our praise with the added sounds and rhythms makes our praise even greater.

Zamar inspires synchronized and orderly singing–adding precision to our worship. We can sing the same melody better with the accompaniment of an instrument or group of instruments. The lyre is just an example of what they would have used. It took skill to play such an instrument, as how our guitar does today.

My prayer is that in our gatherings, angels will sing and we will all hear them. The whole neighborhood will hear them to the glory of our King Jesus. Whenever the song is coming from the throne of God, and not from a list, it lifts the hearts of the people. Even in our quiet time with the Lord or during our daily activities, God can wake us up with a song, and we can be hearing bands of angels singing and playing musical instruments, we just have to join them in their singing.

The Seven Words Of Praise: BARAUCH

Barauch is translated "to kneel or bow as an act of adoration." In other words, we kneel or bow as an expression of our fervent and devoted love for the Father.

When we kneel or bow we are humbling ourselves. James 4:6-7 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. When we humble ourselves we are submitting. To submit is to humble ourselves. 1 Peter 5:5-7 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
To humble myself is to cast all my cares upon the Father. To submit all my concerns to Him. Trusting that He will work out all things for good. Barauch then, is to express an attitude of love, submission and trust through the act of kneeling or bowing.

King David exemplified Barauch when he wanted to build the temple. Read I Chronicles 28:1-29:20. In 28:2 he said "...I had it in my heart.. and had made preparations to build it.." Again in 29:2 he said "...I have prepared with all my might..." Verse 3, "...I have set my affection on..." These statements express his love towards the Father. When God told him, "you shall not build a house for My name...," David submitted and gave the plans to Solomon whom God had chosen for this work. I Chr. 28:3,6,10-1. Next David showed his absolute trust in God when he spoke to Solomon and said"'Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God - my God -will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord." I Chr. 28:20.

Then "David blessed (barauch) the Lord before all the assembly..." and ended his prayer by saying, "now bless (barauch) the Lord your God. So all the assembly blessed (barauch) the Lord God of there fathers, and bowed their heads and prostrated themselves before the Lord and the king." I Chr. 29:10-20. Another example is found in Genesis 24; 1-52 where the servant of Abraham sought a wife for Isaac. We see the love of the servant expressed in verses 26, 27, 48, 52. The word BLESSED in verses 27 and 48 is barauch. The servant's submission to his master Abraham was his submission to the will and purpose of God. Finally, we observe the servant's trust in that he PRAYED(12-14).

In the Psalms we are instructed to BLESS (Barauch) the Father: At all times Ps. 34:1, As Long as we Live Ps. 63:4, From Day to Day Ps. 96:2, From this time forth and forever Ps. 145:1,2, At night in the house of the Lord Ps. 134:1, Forever and ever, every day Ps. 115:18.
We are to grow and mature to the point that we continually give praise to the Father in every area of our life. We are to live a lifestyle of Barauch.

When we kneel or bow we are expressing our love, submission and trust to the Father. However, we cannot live life on our knees. But, we can demonstrate a lifestyle of Barauch through love for one another --- John 13:34. By being submissive to one another--- I Peter 5:5. By having a steadfast heart, trusting in the Lord ---Ps. 112:7; Prov. 3:5,6

  "...inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me." Mt. 25;37-40

The Seven Words Of Praise: SHABACH

A vassal is a person who owes homage to a superior. The Father is our superior to whom we owe homage. Homage is the public acknowledgment by which a vassal declares his faithfulness and loyalty to his lord. Adoration is fervent and devoted love; reverent homage.

 Shabach is to loudly give adoration to God in the form of testimony. Psalms 145:4; "one generation shall praise (Shabach) Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts." Verses 6, 7; "Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness. They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness." Verses 10-12; "All Your works shall praise (Yadah) You, 0 Lord, and Your saints shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, and talk of Your power, to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom." Spend some time reading and studying the level of praise in Psalm 145.

The Father's loving kindness is expressed in what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do so that we should say as the psalmist: "Because Your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise (Shabach) You," Psalm 63:3. Over and over again we are told to shout, to be loud.

Psalm 5:11; "But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You."
Psalm 32:11; "Be glad in the Lord and rejoice you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart."
Psalm 17:1; "Oh clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!"
Psalm 132:13-16; "For the Lord has chosen Zion (we, the church are Zion); He has desired it for His dwelling place: "This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall shout aloud for joy."

Do you understand why we should be loud?
 Ezra 3:10-13: "When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the ordinance of David King of Israel. And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord: For He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel. Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of the Father's houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes. Yet many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard afar off"

Consider this, we do not shout to receive joy, but because of what the Father has done we have joy and shout.

The Seven Words Of Praise: TOWDAH

Towdah is a Hebrew word for praise. The word comes from Yadah and means to extend the hands. To declare openly, freely, unreservedly and admit as real or true. It is a open confession of love to God.

In the Old Testament of the King James version of the Bible, every time you read confess, confessed, confesseth, confessing, confession, know that they are translated from the word Yadah except in two references which are translated from Towdah.
In the New Testament these same words are translated from Homologeo, Exomologeo or Homologia and mean "to speak the same thing." The implication is that we are to raise the hands as in a court of law swearing to speak the truth. In other words, say what God says. For example, II Cor. 5:17 says, "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation ". So I raise my hands and confess, I am in Christ and therefore I am a new creation. Verse 21, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." Therefore, I confess I am the righteousness of God in Christ. This is how we apply God's word to our life.

The first time Towdah appears in scripture is in connection with the peace offering (Lev. 7:11). When this sacrifice was offered it represented either a thanksgiving (Lev. 7:12) or service (Lev. 7:16) to God. With regard to the other offerings it was the last to be performed (Lev. 7:37) and signified Israel's fellowship and communion with God. This points to the fact that Jesus was our sacrifice through whom we have peace with the Father.  Romans 5:1; Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

God's portion was the fat. Fat surrounds the organs giving them some protection with the main purpose of supplying nutrition. This speaks that the health and vitality of our spiritual life are required by and belong to God. To the priest who offered the fat and the blood, the right thigh signified strength being given. The priest would receive the thigh and offer it to God as a heave offering. Then it would be his for food. As kings and priest to God, when we are called to a work, He gives us the strength to accomplish it. Furthermore, that is the place where our provisions are provided.

The children of the priest received the breast. The typology of the breast is affection and love. Jesus is the great High Priest. And the children of the Priest is the church. As Christians we have one law. The law of LOVE. When we talk like Jesus, act like Jesus and give like Jesus, we are offering the breast of the sacrifice -- the love of God which is Jesus.

Finally, the flesh belonged to the offerer. John 6:53; "Then Jesus said to them, most assuredly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you." And verse 56; "He who eats thr flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me and I in him." How do we eat His flesh and drink His blood that we may have eternal life and abide in Him?
"It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe" John 6:63,64. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God..., And the Word became flesh." John 1:1,14.

To eat the flesh is to feast upon the Word of God. To drink the blood is to partake of the new covenant by believing and acting upon His Word. One way to act upon the Word is to make confession of it. Say the same thing it says. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving (Towdah) and into His courts with praise (Tehillah) Ps. 100:4. The court is where the King is, His presence. The entrance into the court or His presence is through the gate. Jesus, the Word, is our entrance into the presence of God. This Psalm not only tells us the attitude in which we are to approach God, but that the confession of His Word is the entrance into His presence, His fellowship and communion.

The Seven Words Of Praise: YADAH

The English language does not begin to have the depth of meaning that words in Hebrew and Greek meant. There is not always an exact word in English to express every word in the ancient languages. The word praise is such an example. We have one word for praise, but the same word we use for praise, has seven meanings in Hebrew. One of those words is Yadah.

Yadah comes from two different root words. Yad, which means, with open hand. And AH, which refers to Jehovah. Yadah means hands to God. Or in other words lifting our hands to God in praise.

When we get beyond our circumstances, beyond ourselves, reaching hands to the Father with the attitude of love, and trust and awe, then we are giving Yadah to the Lord.
Psalm 134:2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD.

I can remember growing up in church and rarely if ever seeing someone raise their hands during worship. In fact, when I did see someone do it I thought it was weird or that they were trying to bring attention to themselves. But we see time and time again, it not only talks about raising your hands in worship, but it commands it. We should be filled with such praise that we automatically lift our hands to our Father.

The first time this word appears in Scripture is in Gen. 29:35. Jacob is married to Leah and Rachel. When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren (verse 31).
The first child born, a son, was named Reuben, for she said, "'the Lord has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me" (verse 32). This blessing caused her to believe God saw her circumstances. She brought forth a second son naming him Simeon. "Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved" (verse 33). Evidently there was no change in her relationship to Jacob and she may have been praying. The Father blessed her again (verse 34) and she said, "Now this time my husband will become attached to me.Therefore his name was called Levi." These three blessings caused her to believe that God saw the circumstances, heard the prayers, and gave an expectation that all would be well.

 A fourth time she conceived, bore a son and said, "Now I will YADAH the Lord. Therefore his name was called Judah - Praise - YADAH" (verse 35).

Our Heavenly Father has blessed us with His Holy Word. His Word reveals that He sees our circumstances and desires to show Himself strong on our behalf, and that He is watching and ready to perform His Word. We also know He hears our prayers when we pray according to His will. His Word is His will.

If we truly believe He sees and hears, we will have an expectation of victory. This expectation will cause us to get beyond our circumstances, and beyond ourselves, raising hands to the Father with an attitude of love proclaiming as Leah "Now I will YADAH the Lord".

If we think that it would be demeaning to praise by raising hands, or being fearful of what others may think, than either of these attitudes would be placing our love upon self and not God. 

Our attitude of love is determined from the value we place upon who God is. That value comes from understanding His Word. As we grow in understanding so will our YADAH to the Father.