Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

THE PRAYER OF PRAISE

1. Our prayer life is not complete until and unless it includes the prayer of praise:
   1. All prayers border on human selfishness unless they include the prayer of thanksgiving and praise.
   2. This becomes very clear to the thoughtful student of the Bible when one analyzes the substance of most prayers.
2. The Bible is full of instances when praise was the very life of the prayers of God's servants:
   1. Of the Son of God it is written, "I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee . . . My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation." - Ps. 22:22, 23
   2. "Rejoice in the Lord, O ye saints of his: for praise is comely for the upright." - Ps. 33:1
   3. "My tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all day long." - Ps. 35:28
   4. "I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with the multitude that kept holy day." - Ps. 42:4

1. What it is:
   1. It is not an outburst of human emotions, as some would have us believe, although there are sanctified emotions connected with praise.
   2. Praise is the sincere expression of our recognition of the benevolence of God.
   3. It is the outflow of heartfelt gratitude to God for His goodness to us.
   4. Praise is the result of our intelligent appraisal of what is manifest of the goodness of our God.
2. When we consider the prayer of praise in the light of these facts:
   1. We will recognize the reasonableness of the prayer of praise.
   2. We will make it a part of our prayers all day long, regardless of our environment or circumstances that lead to prayer.

1. The goodness of the Lord is a wonderful motive for filling our heart with praise:
   1. "Because thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live" - Ps. 63:3, 4
   2. "My tongue shall speak of the righteousness and of thy praise all the day long." - Ps. 35:28
   3. "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me." - Ps. 50:23
2. Our appreciation of all the benefits received from God is still another good motive for the prayer of praise:
   1. "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies." - Ps. 103:1-4
   2. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." - Eph. 1:3
3. Praise and thanksgiving is one of the very elements of our spiritual nature:
   1. Angels and all heavenly beings live and move in the atmosphere of praise -
      1. Think of the vision of Isaiah - Isa. 6:1-9
      2. Think of the scene near Bethlehem when the Son of God was born - Luke 2:13, 14
   2. The Psalmist urges all creation to praise the Lord - Ps. 148:3-9
   3. The chorus of praise is heard from the redeemed standing on Mount Zion - Compare Rev. 4:8 with chapters 5:9, 10-14; 7:10; 11:16; 14:2; 15:3; 19:1, 3-7
4. The prayer of praise is indicative of:
   1. Our love and affections for God.
   2. Our ability to rationalize the benefits we receive daily from the Lord.
   3. The spirit of gratitude controlling our lives.
5. When praise is absent, discontent takes over and darkness rules.