Langata Rd, Opposite Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi, Kenya.
The Power and Purpose of Praise and Worship: A Call to Intimate Fellowship with God
If I were to ask the over four hundred people gathered here this morning about their understanding of praise and worship, I wouldn’t be surprised if I got over 400 different perspectives. While we talk a lot about praise and worship and frequently engage in them, a proper understanding of these concepts is crucial for believers. This understanding allows us to fully reap the benefits associated with genuine praise and worship. By grasping the theology behind them, we don’t just gain personally—we become more effective in our God-given mission on earth. We live victorious Christian lives and can help free others from bondage, bringing them into the Kingdom of God.
For the Christian, praise is an expression of worship—an uplifting and glorifying of the Lord. It is the humble centering of our attention on Him with heartfelt expressions of love, adoration, and thanksgiving.
Psalms 34:1–3 reminds us:
“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 humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.”
Actions in Praise:
Praise is not passive—it involves action.
Singing
“Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation...” (Psalm 95:1–2)
“Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth...” (Psalm 98:4)
Dancing
“Let them praise his name in the dance...” (Psalm 149:1–3)
Playing Instruments
“Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet...with timbrel and dance...with stringed instruments...” (Psalm 150:3–5)
Clapping and Lifting Hands
“Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!” (Psalm 47:1)
“We lift up our hearts and hands toward God in Heaven;” (Lamentations 3:41)
Remember—it’s about lifting your heart first. If your heart is heavenward, your hands will follow.
Apply:
Some may hesitate to fully engage in praise because of their social status—whether CEO, MP, Women Rep, or C.S. But when we gather before God, Heaven is our audience. We don’t dance, sing, or lift hands for one another; we do it for the Lord. As King David demonstrated in 2 Samuel 6:14–15, he danced with all his might before the Lord, regardless of his royal status.
Warning: We are not endorsing sensual or lewd dancing. Any form that promotes lasciviousness is sinful.
The nature of praise is rooted in its essence—what it truly is at its core.
1. Praise Should Lift God Up
Praise shows reverence and awe. It elevates God's character and gives Him the position He deserves.
Psalm 145:1–3 captures this well:
“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.”
Songs that ignore God's greatness or focus on self-gratification are inappropriate. As Isaiah 46:5 asks:
"To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal?"
Psalm 8 also reflects on God’s transcendent excellence, affirming that God’s power and holiness are unmatched.
Apply:
God is not your "buddy" or "bazenga". He is not “Yule msee.” He is God—holy and sovereign.
2. Praise is a Posture of the Heart
Praise must come from a heart that is humble and in awe of God’s holiness.
When Isaiah saw the Lord, he cried:
"Woe is me, for I am undone!" (Isaiah 6:5–6)
This is the kind of heart that trembles in reverence before God.
Psalm 113:4–6 declares:
"The LORD is high above all nations...Who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth?"
John 4:23–24 reminds us:
"The true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth."
3. Praise Should Be a Lifestyle
Praise is not a Sunday-only activity. It should be constant—in your home, office, on Tuesday or Wednesday—everywhere.
Psalm 34:1–3
“I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth...”
Praise is not optional—it is essential for the believer.
1. Praise Helps You Sense God's Presence
God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). When you praise, you invite God into your circumstances.
2. Praise is Like a Password
Just as you need a password to unlock a device or access an account, praise grants you access to God’s presence.
Psalm 100:1–5 says:
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.”
3. Praise Releases God's Supernatural Power
Praise connects you to the Lord and acts as a form of spiritual warfare. It builds a protective wall and serves as your testimony.
Revelation 12:11
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony...”
Biblical Examples:
Paul & Silas
Acts 16:25–26 — Their midnight praise in prison triggered a divine earthquake and miraculous release.
Application:
Praise transfers your battle to the Lord—“The LORD is a man of war...” (Exodus 15:3). Victory becomes a sure reality.
Ephesians 1:22 — “God has put all things under the power of Christ...”
2 Corinthians 10:5 — “Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
King Jehoshaphat
2 Chronicles 20:18–24 — As they praised, the Lord set ambushments and destroyed their enemies. Their weapon? Worship!
Praise and worship—through singing, dancing, praying—create intimate fellowship with God. In that atmosphere, God speaks, hearts change, and miracles happen.
As we focus on this year’s theme, “Decorating the Crown of Rejoicing” by winning souls for Christ, let us embrace the divine pattern of fellowship through praise. Use this powerful weapon in spiritual warfare. Set men free from bondage and glorify God.
“Therefore, by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” (Hebrews 13:15)
Let your life be a melody of worship, a rhythm of reverence, and a continual song of praise to our Most High God.