Our Church Needs To Praise God

A reprinted sermon preached by

Dr. Greg R. Wrigley

Orange Avenue Baptist Church

Acts 2: 47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. 1. The WHYS to praise God:

• Psalms 21:13 Be Thou exalted, O Lord, in Thy strength; We will sing and praise Thy Power.
• Psalms 150 Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse. Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him according to his excellent greatness. Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre. Praise Him with timbrel (tambourine) and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.

2. The WAYS to praise God:

• Psalms 66:2,8 Sing the glory of His name, make His praise glorious. Say to God, “How awesome are thy works! Because of the greatness of Thy power Thine enemies will give feigned obedience to Thee. “All the earth will worship Thee, And will sing praises to Thee. They will sing praises to Thy Name.” Come and see the works of God, who is awesome in His deeds towards the sons of men. He turned the sea into dry land; They passed through the river on foot; There let us rejoice in Him! He rules by His might forever; His eyes keep watch on the nations; Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Bless our God, O peoples, and sound His praise abroad.
• Psalms 98:4 Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises.
• Psalms 145:21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord; And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.
• Acts 3:8-9 And with a leap, he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God.
• Ephesians 1:12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

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Rewards in Heaven

A Bible Study by Adam Osborne, Jr.

reward: Misthos: wages, hire, reward to be received hereafter.

1 Corinthians 3:13-15 Every man’s work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall test every man’s work of what sort it is. (14) If any man’s work abide which he hath built upon it, he shall receive a reward. (15) If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet as by fire.

New Scofield Reference Edition Bible, 1967.

“God in the New Testament Scriptures, offers to the lost, salvation; and for the faithful service of the saved, He offers rewards. The passages are easily distinguished by remembering that salvation is invariably spoken of as a free gift (e.g. John 4:10; Rom 6:23; Eph 2:8-9), whereas rewards are earned by works (Mt 10:42; Lk 19:17; 1 Cor 9:24-25; 2 Tim 4:7-8; Rev 2:10; 22:12). A further distinction is that salvation is a present possession (Lk 7:50; Jn 3:36; 5:24; 6:47), whereas rewards are a future attainment, to be given at the rapture (2 Tim 4:8; Rev 22:12).”

Hebrew Greek Key Study Bible, Spiros Zodhiates, 1988.

“1 Corinthians 3:15 A Christian may suffer the loss of worthless works and character, but not his life. It is like one who escapes from a burning building; he has suffered a loss, but he is still alive. So Paul is teaching that there will be a judgment for Christians, but it is not a judgment that consigns people to hell.”

Matthew Henry’s Commentary,1991

“And such a builder shall not, cannot fail of a reward. He will have praise and honour in that day, and eternal recompense after it. Note, Fidelity in the ministers of Christ will meet with a full and ample reward in a future life. Those who spread true and pure religion in all branches of it, and whose work will abide in the great day, shall receive a reward.”

Mt 10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no way lose his reward.

Mt 16:27 (Jesus speaking) For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary, 1991.

“Observe, First, Jesus Christ will come as a Judge, to dispense rewards and punishments,…. Secondly, Men will then be rewarded, not according to their gains in this world, but according to their works, according to what they were and did. Thirdly, The best preparative for that day is to deny ourselves, and take up our cross, and follow Christ. Fourthly, The rewarding of men according to their works is deferred till that day.”

Mat 25:21 (Jesus speaking) His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary, 1991

“He rewards them. The faithful servants of Christ shall not be put off with bare commendation; no, all their work and labour of love shall be rewarded….Christ has honour in store for those that honour him – a crown (2 Tim 4:8), a thrown (Rev 3:21), a kingdom, (Mt 25:34).

Lk 19:17 (Jesus telling a parable) And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over 10 cities.

1 Cor 9:24-25 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. (25) And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

2 Tim 4:7-8 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: (8) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Rev 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Rev 22:12 (Jesus speaking) And, behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

MUSIC/VIDEOS/TV

A Bible Study for the youth by Adam Osborne, Jr.

Adam’s Comments:

Today’s youth frequently aren’t taught what is biblically correct or incorrect. They often are just placed in front of a TV or given whatever music they ask for so that the parent’s have free time to go and do whatever that pleases them. TV and Music have been incorporated into babysitters for today’s youth. Consequently, various un-churched people or groups have become the youth’s role models. They are taught what to think and how to handle love/sex/relationships through music and television.

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Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) and be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

Colossians 3:8 But now also put these things out of your life; sexual sinning, doing evil, letting evil thoughts control you, wanting things that are evil, and greed.

Romans 6:12 So, do not let sin control your life here on the earth so that you do what your sinful self wants to do. Offer the parts of your body to God to be used in doing good.

1 Corin 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain

Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

1 Thess 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Psalms 100:2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing

Psalms 89:1 I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

Galations 5:16 So I tell you: live by following the Spirit. Then you will not do what your sinful selves want.

1 Corinthians 10:31-32 The answer is, if you eat or drink, or if you do anything, do it all for the glory of God. Never do anything that might hurt others.

Romans 1:24-32 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: (25) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (26) For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: (27) And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. (28) And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (29) Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, (30) Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, (31) Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: (32) Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Romans 8:13 If you use your lives to do the wrong things your sinful selves want, you will die spiritually.

Titus 3:12 It teaches us not to live against God nor do the evil things the world wants us to do. Instead, grace teaches us to live now in a wise and right way and in a way that shows we serve God.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

Colossians 3:16 Let the work of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

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LORD’S PRAYER

A Bible Study by Adam Osborne, Jr.

• Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever, Amen. 
  

  Because we didn’t know what to pray for, here Jesus is trying to help us. So many corrupt things had been placed in prayers by the Jews and their numerous laws that Jesus saw it necessary to give a new instruction or directory for prayer. This is not the only way to pray, it was just an example. It explains how we should talk to God.

  Our Father who art in heaven

  • Our – He is everyone’s father. Not just the jews, nor just the gentiles, but everyone. This means black, white, red, ALL RACES. God made everyone, not just a select race. RACISM is wrong and God will judge the guilty.
  • Father – We are taught to pray to God only, not to saints or anyone else, only God. We only honor God in our prayers.
    He is a common Father to all mankind by creation.
    Christ, when he prayed, mostly called God Father.
    Since he is our Father, he will deny us nothing that is good for us..he will pity us in our weaknesses,, he will make the best of our performances.
  • In heaven – God is everywhere, but in heaven is where his throne is. Jesus, our intercessor, is also in heaven sitting on the right hand side of the father.
    Heaven: A place we can look forward to. Streets of Gold, no pain or suffering. Just permanent love and worship. A place of eternal satisfaction; happiness.

  Hallowed

  We must give glory to God, we are here showing adoration. We must begin our prayers with praising God if we are to expect to receive mercy and grace from Him.?

  be

  Not was, or has, but BE. Present tense. God is alive, here with us NOW. Do not think he is not here or far away, he is HERE.

  thy name

  Thy name: no one else’s. God is the only true, living God. There never has been another, nor ever will be. He is the ONLY one.

  Thy kingdom come

  Christ promised to return. We as Christians, should surely desire to live with God in heaven. What God has promised, we must pray for and truly desire.

  Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven

  We pray that earth may be made more like heaven by the observance of God’s will, and that we may be made more like holy angels in their devotion and obedience. Christ prayed “not my will, but thine be done.” Let God’s will be done, let earth appear as it is in heaven,,, peaceful, reverent, Holy..

  Give us this day our daily bread

  Because our bodies require food and nutrients to survive, in order to worship and serve God we must have food. We ask for bread, not riches. We must be humble and show temperance. Bread is wholesome, but it is not nice.

  We ask for daily bread, which teaches us to pray every day, and also not to worry about tomorrow.

• Matt 6:34 We must constantly depend upon God’s divine providence. We ask to give US, not me. This teaches us charity, concern for others, the poor and needy. It suggests also that we should pray with our families (US).

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors

Debts are sins. We must pray daily for the forgiveness of our sins because if we do not ask forgiveness of our sins, then we face the wrath of God. When we pray for forgiveness, then the punishment for the sin will be canceled.We must forgive others for their sins against us. This is mentioned time and time again by Jesus. This would include all types of sins.. if they hurt us,, if they owe us money and can not repay,,

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

God never leads his people into temptation for the purpose of causing anyone to fall, but for the purpose of proving the sufficiency of his presence. When God is the One who leads His people into temptation, it is for the purpose of proving to His child that when God leads to temptation, He does not abandon him, but He is with him to give him the victory and to make him more experienced in warfare against the devil. However, when one allows Satan or his own lusts to tempt him, he should never say that he is tempted of God.

• James 1:13-14 Lord, do not leave us to ourselves. Do not let Satan loose against us. But deliver us from evil, the evil one. The tempter. From the evil sin.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, for ever, Amen

Meant to excite us in the faith. Make us think of God’s Glory and of heaven. Praises and gives thanksgiving. The best way of pleading with God is praising him. We give him praise and Glory not because he needs it, but deserves it!

A true saint never thinks he can speak honorably enough of God.

End with Amen. Amen has always been used to sum up a prayer or request of God. It is a good, warm way to sum up a prayer.

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  Bibliography:

  • Matthew Henry’s Commentary, Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody Massachusetts?
  • Spiros Zodhiates Hebrew-Greek Study Bible, World Bible Publishers, Inc., Iowa Falls, Iowa.

Last review 2025.04.21