1. notice  I have removed from this presentation any pictures that may still be under copyright.  As far as I know all the pictures that remain are in the public domain.  If you find a copyright picture, please let me know, and I will remove it. Thank you.  I have removed from this presentation any pictures that may still be under copyright.  As far as I know all the pictures that remain are in the public domain.  If you find a copyright picture, please let me know, and I will remove it. Thank you.

2. 2 Sacrifice of Praise a study in joyful living by Ken Chant Ken Chant a study in joyful living by Ken Chant Ken Chant

3. 3 Introduction Text: Hosea 14:2 – Text: Hosea 14:2 – “Come back to the Lord, and bring words with you... Making him an offering of the calves of your lips!” Text: Hosea 14:2 – Text: Hosea 14:2 – “Come back to the Lord, and bring words with you... Making him an offering of the calves of your lips!”

4. 4 Notice the importance of words ! Notice the importance of words ! What you say and how you say it can effect your destiny for ever! What you say and how you say it can effect your destiny for ever! Notice the importance of words ! Notice the importance of words ! What you say and how you say it can effect your destiny for ever! What you say and how you say it can effect your destiny for ever!

5. 5 Because the Spirit of the Lord has filled the world, and that which holds all things together knows what is said; Because the Spirit of the Lord has filled the world, and that which holds all things together knows what is said; 8 therefore no one who utters unrighteous things will escape notice, and justice, when it punishes, will not pass him by. (Wis 1:7-8) 8 therefore no one who utters unrighteous things will escape notice, and justice, when it punishes, will not pass him by. (Wis 1:7-8) Because the Spirit of the Lord has filled the world, and that which holds all things together knows what is said; Because the Spirit of the Lord has filled the world, and that which holds all things together knows what is said; 8 therefore no one who utters unrighteous things will escape notice, and justice, when it punishes, will not pass him by. (Wis 1:7-8) 8 therefore no one who utters unrighteous things will escape notice, and justice, when it punishes, will not pass him by. (Wis 1:7-8)

6. 6 Notice too that the most acceptable sacrifice we can offer God is our praise! Notice too that the most acceptable sacrifice we can offer God is our praise! But when is praise a sacrifice?But when is praise a sacrifice? Notice too that the most acceptable sacrifice we can offer God is our praise! Notice too that the most acceptable sacrifice we can offer God is our praise! But when is praise a sacrifice?But when is praise a sacrifice?

7. 7 When it is Offered Continually See Hebrews 13:15 − See Hebrews 13:15 − “Through Jesus, let us offer to God continually a sacrifice of praise – that is, the fruit of lips that rejoice in his name.” See Hebrews 13:15 − See Hebrews 13:15 − “Through Jesus, let us offer to God continually a sacrifice of praise – that is, the fruit of lips that rejoice in his name.”

8. 8 Shall we praise God only when the sun is shining, or when worship makes us happy? Shall we praise God only when the sun is shining, or when worship makes us happy? But that leads to sadly spasmodic praise – which in the end is no praise at all!But that leads to sadly spasmodic praise – which in the end is no praise at all! Shall we praise God only when the sun is shining, or when worship makes us happy? Shall we praise God only when the sun is shining, or when worship makes us happy? But that leads to sadly spasmodic praise – which in the end is no praise at all!But that leads to sadly spasmodic praise – which in the end is no praise at all!

9. 9 The best time to praise God is when you least feel like it! The best time to praise God is when you least feel like it! Praise gains its greatest power when it hurts.Praise gains its greatest power when it hurts. The best time to praise God is when you least feel like it! The best time to praise God is when you least feel like it! Praise gains its greatest power when it hurts.Praise gains its greatest power when it hurts.

10. 10  But mark the difference between praising God “in” or “for” all things.   So we can always praise God for such realities as –  But mark the difference between praising God “in” or “for” all things.   So we can always praise God for such realities as –

11. 11 the opportunity to experience a miracle of answered prayer the opportunity to experience a miracle of answered prayer the unchanged reality of the victory that is ours in Christthe unchanged reality of the victory that is ours in Christ the Father’s unwavering love, which we know will not fail us in our time of need the Father’s unwavering love, which we know will not fail us in our time of need the opportunity to experience a miracle of answered prayer the opportunity to experience a miracle of answered prayer the unchanged reality of the victory that is ours in Christthe unchanged reality of the victory that is ours in Christ the Father’s unwavering love, which we know will not fail us in our time of need the Father’s unwavering love, which we know will not fail us in our time of need

12. 12 the certainty that you can rise up in the power of the Holy Spirit and crush your enemy underfoot the certainty that you can rise up in the power of the Holy Spirit and crush your enemy underfoot the knowledge that you are still indwelt by Christ, the hope of all glorythe knowledge that you are still indwelt by Christ, the hope of all glory and perhaps best of all – and perhaps best of all – the certainty that you can rise up in the power of the Holy Spirit and crush your enemy underfoot the certainty that you can rise up in the power of the Holy Spirit and crush your enemy underfoot the knowledge that you are still indwelt by Christ, the hope of all glorythe knowledge that you are still indwelt by Christ, the hope of all glory and perhaps best of all – and perhaps best of all –

13. 13 the assurance that our defeat or failure on earth cannot affect the righteousness and authority that remain safely ours in the heavenlies, in Christ! the assurance that our defeat or failure on earth cannot affect the righteousness and authority that remain safely ours in the heavenlies, in Christ!

14. 14 When it is Offered Brokenly See Micah 7:8-10 – “Hah, my enemy! You rejoice too soon! I may have fallen, but I will stand up again. I may seem to be surrounded by darkness, but the Lord is still my light.... See Micah 7:8-10 – “Hah, my enemy! You rejoice too soon! I may have fallen, but I will stand up again. I may seem to be surrounded by darkness, but the Lord is still my light....

15. 15... I will bear with the anger of the Lord... and he will bring me out into the light and once again show me his righteousness!”

16. 16 How hard it is to praise God in the face of our own defeat! Such as – How hard it is to praise God in the face of our own defeat! Such as – when you have had a great miracle of healing, but then, some months later, the disease returns with greater ferocity than before How hard it is to praise God in the face of our own defeat! Such as – How hard it is to praise God in the face of our own defeat! Such as – when you have had a great miracle of healing, but then, some months later, the disease returns with greater ferocity than before

17. 17 when, against your expectation, you are dismissed from your job when, against your expectation, you are dismissed from your job when some cherished goal eludes youwhen some cherished goal eludes you when, against your own loathing of it, sin has overwhelmed you. when, against your own loathing of it, sin has overwhelmed you. when, against your expectation, you are dismissed from your job when, against your expectation, you are dismissed from your job when some cherished goal eludes youwhen some cherished goal eludes you when, against your own loathing of it, sin has overwhelmed you. when, against your own loathing of it, sin has overwhelmed you.

18. 18 But the prophet refused to capitulate to failure – he would not accept defeat as final – he refused to bow before his enemy’s scorn – he would not despair, even in the face of divine indignation! But the prophet refused to capitulate to failure – he would not accept defeat as final – he refused to bow before his enemy’s scorn – he would not despair, even in the face of divine indignation!

19. 19 The spiritual principle is this: do you believe what God says about you in Christ, or what you say about yourself in defeat?

20. 20 When it is Offered Confidently Praise is never so hard as when it seems that God himself has failed. Praise is never so hard as when it seems that God himself has failed. We sometimes feel like crying with Jeremiah –We sometimes feel like crying with Jeremiah – Praise is never so hard as when it seems that God himself has failed. Praise is never so hard as when it seems that God himself has failed. We sometimes feel like crying with Jeremiah –We sometimes feel like crying with Jeremiah –

21. 21 “Lord, why do you tell such terrible lies?... You have failed me when I most needed you!... You are like a desert mirage, or like a brook that promises abundant water, but then runs dry!” (15:17-18, based on the KJV; and also 12:1-2; 20:7; and cp. 4:10)

22. 22 What happens to the man who calls God a liar? What happens to the man who calls God a liar? Something terrible? Something terrible? No, the Lord answered words with words – but it was a stern reply –No, the Lord answered words with words – but it was a stern reply – What happens to the man who calls God a liar? What happens to the man who calls God a liar? Something terrible? Something terrible? No, the Lord answered words with words – but it was a stern reply –No, the Lord answered words with words – but it was a stern reply –

23. 23 “Stop talking such nonsense. Speak some sense instead! Only if you keep on trusting me will I let you stay my spokesman. You should make them turn around, and not let them turn you around!” (vs. 19)

24. 24 Next Steps “Bring words with you when you come to me!” – thus said the Lord through Hosea. “Bring words with you when you come to me!” – thus said the Lord through Hosea. This is a major key to ongoing victory in Christ – that is, setting ourselves to “offer a sacrifice of praise”.This is a major key to ongoing victory in Christ – that is, setting ourselves to “offer a sacrifice of praise”. “Bring words with you when you come to me!” – thus said the Lord through Hosea. “Bring words with you when you come to me!” – thus said the Lord through Hosea. This is a major key to ongoing victory in Christ – that is, setting ourselves to “offer a sacrifice of praise”.This is a major key to ongoing victory in Christ – that is, setting ourselves to “offer a sacrifice of praise”.

25. 25 God deserves our praise just because of who he is. God deserves our praise just because of who he is. So then, let our song never be silenced!So then, let our song never be silenced! God deserves our praise just because of who he is. God deserves our praise just because of who he is. So then, let our song never be silenced!So then, let our song never be silenced!