TERC Friday Series #1

THE POWER OF PRAISE

Hello folks, how're y'all doing? All i can say is TGIF (Thank God It's Friday! Woohoo!!!). Today marks the beginning of my week long Spring Break and i'm so excited to be sitting my behind in my zones to catch up on school work. Okay, on to today's business. I've been promising since forever to always do a recap on what's discussed at TERC on my blog, so that we can all share in the message together. Boy-Oh-Boy!!! Did we have an Hallellujah good time today or what??? It was fantastic, infact fantastic doesn't even begin to describe it, it was just AWESOME. Seven people called in today including someone from Canada. It was just beautiful fellowshipping in the presence of the most high God together with like minded folks.

A lil' som'n i thot i'd share. I've been going thru some stressful times lately. Trying to set the ball rolling on my next step after graduation, plus some family drama has been brewing, which i've been trying my best to avoid 'cos when all's said and done, i don't want to hear "Cherub said shokolokobangoshe." Anyway, in the midst of all these, i realized i haven't been having my quiet time as often as i ought to, even when i pick up my bible to read a passage or even to pray, my mind just drifts away. Last night i didn't go to bed until 3 a.m. tryna get some schoolwork done and i wasn't too sure if i'd be able to wake up at 4.55 a.m. for TERC, but by some miraculous som'n som'n i woke up o, not even feeling tired sef. I was just too happy for not missing out today 'cos i know the message was just for me.

So Miguel, with contributions from all present, gave us some insight on Praise and how effective it can be. The scripture was taken from Acts 16: 25 - 29. The story in Acts is about Paul and Silas' prison experience after they were thrown in jail for commanding demons out of the slave girl fortune-teller. While singing hymns to God and praying, the chains that bound them were loosened.

LESSONS TO LEARN FROM THE STORY.

Praise draws people to God. It broke the shackles for Paul and Silas so much that the guard was drawn to know more about the God that delivered them (v. 29). The other prisoners experienced their breakthrough from 2 men's act of worship and were drawn to know the God of Paul and Silas.

Points to Ponder

King David, who wrote most of the Psalms, was called a man after God's heart (1 Samuel 13:14). Inspite of the sins he committed, stole a man's wife and had him killed, God still described him as that, 'cos he was always offering praises to God. His worship reflects the depth of the relationship he shared with his God - joy, tears, dancing (2 Samuel 6:14), and song. In most, if not all of the chapters in the Psalms, David added "I will praise you, Oh Lord."

Praising God thru songs and prayer should go hand in hand.

Giving praise to God is an act of worship in and of itself. Even in the midst of troubles, we ought to praise God. The angels are busy praising God 24/7 how much more we his children?

Praise truly does draw people to God and can be used as a tool for evangelism. Miguel gave an example of always singing praise songs to God in Yoruba, that the Chinese girl living next door to him wanted to know why he was always so happy to do just that every morning.

Acts of true worship really does draw people to you, they'll want to know who your God is and why u think so highly of him. Worship is a way of life.

We were made to worship him. Everything that has breath has to praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6 & I Peter 2: 9

Our praise moves God and he delights in it. You don't have to know many "church songs" to praise him, it's ur own personal spiritual act of worship. Even if it involves singing the ABC's God looks into the heart and knows if it's genuine praise or not.

Even when you can't form the words to describe your situation and can't wrap ur head around all the drama unfolding in ur life, just sing praises unto God and worship him. Surrender it all to him in worship.

Lastly, even if u think and have been told that u have a horrible voice and as soon as u open ur mouth windows'll shatter, u can just cover ur head under a blanket and sing all u want, or if u're like me, sing in the shower. Afterall, u're singing for God and not to win an award :)

It is our prayer that just as praising God broke the shackles for Paul and Silas so much that the guard and other prisoners were forced to know about their God, i pray that whatever it is that may have us bound will be broken as we lift our praises to the most high God, creator of the universe and everything therein-- Amen.

SOME OF THE WORSHIP SONGS SHARED.

You Deserve The Glory

You deserve the glory and the honor
Lord, we lift our hands in worship as we lift Your holy name (Repeat)

Chorus: For You are great! You do miracles so great!
There is no one else like You, There is no one else like You! (Repeat)


Create in me a Clean Heart

Create in me a clean heart oh God,
And renew a right spirit within me (Repeat)
Cast me not away from Thy presence oh Lord,
Take not Thy Holy Spirit from me
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation,
And renew a right spirit within me.

TERC attendees: If there's anything i omitted, please feel free to post in the comments section, and i'll include them in the post.

Others: If you have anything to share relating to the subject matter, please drop your comments and i'll be sure to post them.

Have a blessed weekend people. For those in the US, feel free to join us for another exciting time next Friday 5a.m. EST, God willing as we share in THE WORD.