April 26, 2015

Hebrews 13:15 AMP - Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.

Prophecy is not simply a revelation of the future; Prophecy is to speak forth “the Heart and Mind of the Eternal God” into this Veil of Time and Space.  It is the “deep” of God’s Heart penetrating the “deep” of our Vessel of Clay, and being declared back to the Throne of God, piercing the Darkness and DECLARING the Honor of Christ in this Age of Rebellion and Fear.  It is to hear of the Eternal, declaring those words into the Temporal, and impacting the Spiritual. In this sense, the Sacrifice of Praise is a uniquely Prophetic Utterance and Declaration!

The Sacrifice of Praise is a PROPHETIC, and POWERFUL flow of worship that is beyond the limits or range of thought, of categories, or even of experiences.  It is when the Spirit reveals to us the great love and mercy of God in a way that transcends our circumstances in such a way that simply causes our own Hearts to cry out: 

Psalm 57:11 NIV – Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

BE EXALTED O GOD, ABOVE THE HEAVENS!  LET YOUR GLORY BE OVER ALL THE EARTH!  This is transcendent and transformational worship, but it is also very COSTLY.  Yes, Jesus paid everything for our redemption, but this is a Fallen World and the Sacrifice of Praise is when we find ourselves at the intersection of Eternity and Calamity, of Glory and Suffering, when Life is Bitter and not Sweet, in that moment, the Spirit of God comes near and asks:  “Will You Worship, will you believe, do you love me?”

These are not the Grand questions of Philosophical Theology or the beautiful Angelic strands of music sung by a Choir, nor are these the glorious declarations of a Congregation in Triumphant Song on Easter Sunday.  Oh no, Beloved, this is the heart-felt, gut wrenching, moments of Sacrifice…AND IT IS PERSONAL.  No one can offer this sacrifice for you. No one can sing this song for you. No Choir member can sing your part.  No orchestra can drown out your tears.  This is YOUR SACRIFICE… YOUR GIFT… The Fruit of YOUR Lips.  It is uniquely Yours, uniquely transformational, and it is profoundly PERSONAL.