Hope Thou In God
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. Psalm 42:11
For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:3
No matter how we feel or what negative situation that we find ourselves in, when we praise God we give Him the fuel to lead us from glory to glory even if His paths will lead us into the Red Sea where nothing but a miracle will save us! Faith still is the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). In spiritual combats praise makes us a lion that cannot be stopped. Praise is God's natural habitat; whereas the devil naturally inhabits sorrow. When we are praising God, we are exalting Him, and He will in turn exalt us; if we honor Him, He will honor us. When we give God His proper place then He promotes us to our proper place just like He did for King David and King Solomon. David continually praised God (Psalm 34:1) and God delivered him from all his enemies. And Solomon went to Gibeon where he offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar. As a result God said to Solomon, "Ask! What shall I give you?" (1 Kings 3:4-5). As a result Solomon became one of the richest kings of his day.
We were created to praise God. We are created as an instrument of praise unto God. And when we step in this purpose, then God true purposes for our lives become a reality. And His best for our lives becomes not just a dream. There is no weeping, sickness and lack in heaven. So when our life becomes one of praises it puts us into reality of the heavenly places. It moves us from the superficial to the deep things of God where earth’s poverty, sickness and lack are replaced by heaven’s riches, health and abundance.
In any situation where we do not know what else to do, we can just sing praises unto the Lord, fixing our eyes on Him. And then we enjoy dramatic triumphs in praise, because God is there. We also execute judgment, produce vengeance and eradicate mourning (Psalm 149: 7), as we put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:1-3). Praise brings God on the scene and all our enemies will be scattered!
Because God is alive and well and a great miracle working God, at all times we can praise and give him thanks especially as we have hope and faith of the great and wonderful things that He will do for us. His word is unchanging:
Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalm 103:1-5
…and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. Ephesians 1:19-21
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, … Ephesians 3:20
We can serve the Lord our God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart for the abundance of all things that He has done for us and is doing for us. The devil is a liar and the truth is that God still forgives all our iniquities, heals all our diseases, and redeems our life from destruction. The truth is there is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places. The truth is God able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us including the power of hope and faith. When we put our hope in God and praise Him, He rides the heaven in our help. Praise brings down the power of God our life, because it provokes the release of fresh oil which endues with power. Nothing forces our enemy to surrender like power. When we engage in genuine praise, we are anointed with fresh oil and endowed with power; that is when we begin to see our desires upon our enemies. God’s word is unchanging:
Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious. Say to God,"How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. Psalm 66:1-2
But my horn You have exalted like a wild ox; I have been anointed with fresh oil. My eye also has seen my desire on my enemies; My ears hear my desire on the wicked Who rise up against me. Psalm. 92:10-11
Praise not only fertilizes our hope and keeps it going strong but it brings us from a prison to a palace just like God did for Joseph who was unjustly locked up. As a result he would rule over his brothers that sold him into slavery. As a result Joseph would give his testimony, "For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction." (Genesis. 41:52). God is inside praise, so everything that bows to God will bow to praise. When faced with any conflict of life, we can destroy the obstacles by switching to praise; and watch all the walls of Jericho (hedging us in) be brought down! Yes, when we praise God He will increase us, bless us and prosper us. His word is true:
"Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? Exodus 15:11
Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously, And govern the nations on earth. Selah Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us, And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him. Psalm 67:3-7
Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert. The beast of the field will honor Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I give waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My people, My chosen. This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise. Isaiah 43:19-21
So the ransomed of the LORD shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness; Sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Isaiah 51:11
The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17
Just like Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness so can we believe God? Abraham staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God (Romans 4:20) and so can we! No matter the storm we will find ourselves in, we can be sure of what God has promised. He has promised to bless and prosper us and to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask pray or thing. God’s word is unchanging:
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness." Romans 4:20-22
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,… 1 Peter 1:6-8
The righteousness of God in Jesus Christ is the driving force behind our faith, causing us to triumph in His Name. Jesus triumphed over Satan in three areas. First, during His earthly ministry, He spoke to Satan and said, “It is written...” (Matthew 4:4,7,10), and Satan had to obey the Word of God. Secondly, at the cross and resurrection, Jesus stripped Satan of his power and took the keys of hell and death. However, the third and most important area of Jesus’ triumph over Satan is His victory in the new birth. It was impossible in Satan’s thinking for God to take a man in sin, turn him into righteousness, give him the armor of God and enable him to triumph as Jesus did. This is victory of the highest order! Sin turned into righteousness! Death
Almighty God is our very own Father! We are bone of His bone, spirit of His Spirit, a joint-heir with Jesus Christ, and living in the kingdom of God. As we realize these things in our life, weu become God-inside-minded. We no longer think of God as being a million miles away. He is residing inside us! Righteousness then becomes a force in the life of a believer which under girds his faith. The reality of righteousness enables a believer to do the impossible. Jesus approached the tomb of Lazarus and said, “Take ye away the stone...” (John 11:39). He never wavered in His faith.
Righteousness is our gateway to enjoying any benefit from God. Since He won't behold iniquity, our praises to Him in iniquity won't be acceptable before Him. He couldn't even behold His only begotten Son on the cross when He bore the sins of the whole world upon Himself, how then would He listen to us when him you praise Him in sin? Every grace of God thrives on righteousness. Praise provides an access into the presence and blessings of God; but it is righteousness that secures it. Every blessing from God requires righteousness to be released. Similarly, every principle of God produces on the platform of righteousness, which is God's foundation (2 Timothy.2:19). Every blessing requires that we abide in the vine. God’s word is unchanging:
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:1-8
Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. Psalm 149:1-4
What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 1 Corinthians 14:15
WALTER KAMBULOW
VICTORY MINISTRIES
Gordon Williams http://gordwilliams.com/
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