Abounding Love Podcast with Former ”Tex” Watson

193 - The High Praises of God

In Psalm 149, the Psalmist praises God for His salvation and judgment, singing: "Praise the LORD! [Hallelujah!] 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" (vs. 1-3, NKJV). It is a good thing to praise God; to praise Him in songs and even in dance; and to praise Him with musical instruments. Why? "For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation" (v. 4, NKJV). We experience beautification through our humble praises of the Lord, our God. The Lord takes pleasure in praise. 
The Psalmist continues: "Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds" (v. 5, NKJV). There is no time when we can't praise God, even while in bed. "Let the high praises of God be in their mouth . . ." (v. 6a, NKJV). Notice the text says to let the "high praises of God" be spoken by the believer, but then the Psalmist goes in a different direction. "And a two-edged sword in their hand" (v. 6b, NKJV). "To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the people; To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute on them the written judgment -- This honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD!" (vs. 7-9, NKJV).
What is this two-edged sword? It's the Word of God: "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intent of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12, NKJV). The word, "discerner" in this verse means "judge" and we, as believers are to judge the intents of the heart, but be careful, for this sword is two-edged -- it cuts two ways. This is a form of the high praises of God. Join me as we explore how judgment based on God's Word can be the highest form of praise to God. For "this honor have all His saints" (Psalm 149:9:b, NKJV).
Let me hear from you - Charles
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066 - Be Ye Thankful

Thanksgiving is an American holiday that began in 1621, when the Pilgrims came over to flee religious persecution in Europe. They worked with the native people to survive the harsh weather and the conditions they found. They had a celebration together to give God thanks for the abundance of food they had been able to store for the coming winter. Likewise, we need to get back to thanking God, back to His Word and back to a strong relationship with Him, recognizing that He provides all our blessings. How is your relationship with God this Thanksgiving? How much do you depend on Him, recognizing that God supplies all?
Thanksgiving didn't begin with the Pilgrims. It starts in the beginning of the Scriptures. All great people of the Bible gave thanks to God for what He had done for them, especially delivering them from trouble. They encouraged us to remember all God's wondrous works. That is, to be mindful of the covenants He established with us. To remember and be thankful for the blood that Jesus shed on Calvary, freeing us from sin. Remember, Jesus ". . . took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body which is given for you, do this in remembrance of Me.' Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you'" (Luke 22:19-20, NKJV).
We were heading for eternal damnation like a run-away train with the brakes off, but God rescued us. That is something to be thankful for today, which is often expressed in tearful worship. "Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name" (2 Samuel 22:50, NKJV). Declare his glory and give praise to Him. Listen to David praise the LORD for His love and faithfulness. "It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your loving kindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night, on an instrument of ten strings, on the lute, and on a harp, with harmonious sounds" (Psalm 92:1-3, NKJV). The hope of this message is for you to acknowledge the need for thanksgiving in your Spiritual walk, not only as a holiday. The need for us to thank God and to sing His praise at all times, not just at Thanksgiving. Selah!
Let me hear from you - Charles
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192 - Why We Should Praise God

When you come into the realization of the eternal life you've received from God, and all that gives you; you will want to praise God. "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32, NKJV). All things -- all good things. ". . . as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue . . ." (2 Peter 1:3, NKJV). That's something to praise God about! PRAISE HIM, saying, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ . . ." (Ephesians 1:3, NKJV).
When Jesus rose from the dead, He gave us "every Spiritual blessing" and all the good things of God. He has even given us the desires of our heart in Christ. Jesus tells us: "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10, NKJV). More abundantly than what? What the world, the flesh and the Devil [the thief] gives us. Prior to having Christ in your life, you may have believed your life was "abundant," but actually it was built on a lie, on sinking sand, and not on the eternal life that Jesus promised you.
In this message, we're going to look at twelve (12) addition Scriptures to give us a foundation of why we should praise God. For example, #1: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7, NKJV). In Hebrew, the word for peace [shalom] means far more than just a lack of conflict. It means "wholeness" -- health and prosperity, nothing broken nor missing, and a life guarded from conflict. We should praise God because we have peace with God, which exceeds all our understanding. Peace is the "soil" where the Word of God is planted, so we can produce the fruit of God. Join me as we look into these verses, building our faith so we can produce Godly fruit. Selah! 
Let me hear from you - Charles
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182 - God Responds to Our Praises

God responds to our praises because we are responding to His Love -- to what He has done for us  -- His forgiveness and salvation. We respond to His goodness, to His faithfulness and to His promises. We respond to Him as He responds to our praises and in so doing, He comes into our presence, into our souls and recreates our old nature into His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). The Psalmist David sang: "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabits the praises of Israel" (Psalm 22:3, KJV). God is a holy God and He inhabits the praises of His people. At Pentecost, the church was praising God and 3,000 people were added to their number. The word "inhabit" is translated in many ways. We could say that God "occupies" the praises of His people. He "dwells" in our praises. He "abides" in the praises of His children. He "lives, permeates, pervades, and manifests" Himself in the praises of His church.
When we are born of the Spirit, God enters us, inhabiting us and changing us into His Spiritual image. Then the Holy Spirit begins to flow out of us. This is a flow of praise. As we allow Him to flow and indwell our lives, our minds are renewed so we can be used by God through the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. If the devil can, he will try to stop the flow by grieving and quenching the Spirit through his devices, causing doubts and depression. But we have received power.
Luke recorded, "And they [the disciples] worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God" (Luke 24:52-53, KJV). This is a record of the early Christians, continually praising God, even though they had not yet received the Holy Spirit. In Acts, chapter 1 and 2, they received "power" (Acts 1:8). That is the manifestation of their praise. The Holy Spirit, like Jesus, came to destroy the works of the devil. Let's look deeper into these truths so that our praises can bring about the change that empowers us to defeat the works of the devil. "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8b, KJV). Selah!
Let me hear from you - Charles
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181 - Singing His Praises

A Psalm of the sons of Korah exhorts us to "Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing  praises to our King, sing praises!" (Psalm 47:6, NKJV). We are urged to sing praises to God, because praise is our language of faith. In this episode, we'll look at seven (7) reasons why we should praise God. I'll share four (4) here to wet your taste. 1) Because the Lord has put a new song in our heart; 2) Because we are commanded to come before His presence with singing; 3) Because God by continuous repetition urges us to praise Him by singing; and 4) Because singing his praises pleases God.
In the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 16:16-34, we read how Paul and Silas cast a demon out of a slave girl, who was bringing in profit for her owners. They had  Paul and Silas thrown in prison. They were beaten and locked in stocks. It says they were singing praises even in this terrible situation. The Lord, in response, causes the locks to open and the jailor ends up asking: "Sir, what must I do to be saved?" (16:30, NKJV). The jailer and his entire family were saved by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, which began with Paul and Silas singing praises to God.
Ephesians, chapter 5, tells us what Spirit-filled Christians do: " . . . speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (5:19, NKJV). Faith in God's grace brings changes in our lives, and one is we sing spiritual songs. The apostle Paul admonishes us: "Let the word 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" (Colossians 3:16, NKJV). This message expounds on these ideas, including the final three (3) reasons to sing praises to God. I encourage you to listen and sing along with me the chorus, "I've Been Redeemed By The Blood Of The Lamb!" with all your heart. Let us rejoice!
Let me hear from you - Charles
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180 - Lifting up Holy Hands

In Genesis, chapter 14, Abram returned from his victory over the king of Sodom. "Then Melchizedek the king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him [Abram] and said: 'Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hands.' And he [Abram] gave him [Melchizedek] a tithe of all [spoils]. Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, 'Give me the persons [captives],  and take the goods for yourself.' But Abram said to the king of Sodom, 'I have raised my hands to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you say, 'I have made Abram rich'" (Genesis 14:17-23, NKJV).
Melchizedek's role is counterpoint to that of the king of Sodom, who represents the worldly, evil path. Abram states that he's lifted his hands to the LORD God and won't have anything to do with the king of Sodom. Abram acknowledged that all he has received is from God and he does this by lifting his hands to God. When you accept anything from the enemy, the enemy claims you as his.
In Exodus 17:8-16, we have another account in history: Amalek comes against Israel. Amalek represents our fleshly desires. Our desire to do it ourselves. Amalek brings fear, but Moses has been given authority. So he holds up his hands acknowledging the victory is the LORD's. When Moses acknowledged this, God granted victory over the works of the flesh. Our lifting of our hands is a way to acknowledge our faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ; and the victory this provides. At the end of this account we find; "Because the LORD has sworn: the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation" (Exodus 17:16, NKJV). Our battle with the flesh is ongoing; it doesn't end. We need to lift our hands in surrender to acknowledge all we have in Christ!
Let me hear from you - Charles
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198 - In Everything Give Thanks

There are many Scriptures regarding thanksgiving. As Christians, we are to be a thank-filled people. The apostle Paul exhorts, " . . . in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (I Thessalonians 5:18, NKJV). What is the will of God? That we give thanks in everything "in Christ Jesus." This is God's will concerning each of us. When we're "in Christ", we realize and believe all we've received from Christ and this causes us to give thanks for everything, no matter what kind of problem and no matter what the circumstances; we give thanks. Why? Because we know we're walking in the victory of Christ. 
We give thanks in the good and the bad. Fact is, if we're not thanking God in the good things; when the bad things come, we certainly won't be thanking Him then. Again, we praise God whether things are good or bad; in the pleasant things and in the undesirable things. "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful" (Colossians 3:15, NKJV). When the peace of God rules in our hearts, we become thankful. What does "thankful" mean? It literally means to be "full of thanks." In Christ, we have the victory! Jesus overcame the world, the flesh and the Devil; and in Christ, we overcome as well. 
This empowers us to be able to give thanks in everything. Knowing who we are in Christ is key. Understanding all we've received through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, gives us reason to rejoice with thanks. Paul tells us to be thankful, and tells us how: "Let the word 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. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Colossians 3:16-17, NKJV). The key is grace. It's the power of God for us to be thankful. Selah!
Let me hear from you - Charles
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179 - The Lifting Power of Praise

Jesus is "The Lion of the Tribe of Judah." Judah, in Hebrew is "Yehuda." It's root is the Hebrew word, "Yadah," which means to praise. It's also the root of the word, "Hallelujah," meaning, "Praise the LORD." God is pleased by our praise. We praise Him because He gave us the victory. He is worthy of our praise. He gave Jesus to take care of every need we could possibly have. Praise is the language of faith. God wants you to have faith in Him. It takes faith in God and what He has done to enable us to say: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13, NKJV). Faith in His Word strengthens us and removes fear: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalms 27:1, NKJV). These and so many other promises become real through our faith. When we praise God, we are demonstrating our faith in Him and the promises of His Word. We praise God in all sorts of ways. But praise is a celebration of all we have in Christ; of the victory we've received. “Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, And there be none to deliver . . ." (Psalms 50:22, NKJV). This verse is not a threat. It's reminding us that only God can deliver you from the world's trouble. The Scripture continues: "Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct a right I will show the salvation of God” (Psalms 50:23, NKJV). Only God can deliver us. We are lifted up spiritually due to our praise of God and the acknowledgement of all He has done for us through His son, Jesus. You want to glorify God? Offer Him your praise. Give Him glory and honor. Your praise brings forth the promises of God. The beginning of our praise is putting our conduct "a right." Satan and the world wants to keep us from praising God. Have no fear, the love of God overcomes all fear. Join me as we explore the many ways our praise can lift us up. 
Let me hear from you - Charles
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