1 00:00:00,429 --> 00:00:03,750 My name is Marcel Hall and with my wife Karina, we have the honor and 2 00:00:03,750 --> 00:00:06,850 privilege of being able to serve full time in the ministry here. 3 00:00:07,149 --> 00:00:11,239 As usual, it's humbling to to be able to preach God's Word, but we're 4 00:00:11,239 --> 00:00:12,869 going to get into God's Word today. 5 00:00:13,209 --> 00:00:17,080 And so we're going to conclude a sermon series that we started in the 6 00:00:17,080 --> 00:00:18,990 summer called Psalms of the Summer. 7 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:21,770 I'm not sure if we're still technically in summer. 8 00:00:22,250 --> 00:00:24,090 In fact, I don't know what season we're in. 9 00:00:25,090 --> 00:00:26,310 Because it's been raining. 10 00:00:26,310 --> 00:00:28,550 We've had tropical storms in Southern California. 11 00:00:28,550 --> 00:00:29,910 I guess that was a tropical storm. 12 00:00:29,910 --> 00:00:33,350 That looked like it was just a storm, but we've had something weird going on. 13 00:00:33,719 --> 00:00:36,550 And so we are going to conclude our sermon series. 14 00:00:36,845 --> 00:00:39,715 In which we're taking, there's 150 psalms. 15 00:00:39,725 --> 00:00:42,535 So there's no way we were able to look at 150 psalms. 16 00:00:42,775 --> 00:00:45,975 But we've been going through the psalms and studying them out. 17 00:00:45,975 --> 00:00:48,955 And so, there actually, if you have our church app, and again, if you 18 00:00:48,955 --> 00:00:52,844 want to get a little more depth and context for the book of psalms, 19 00:00:52,844 --> 00:00:54,515 you can do that on our church app. 20 00:00:54,784 --> 00:01:00,024 But just to remind us that the psalms are really a collection of poems and songs 21 00:01:00,294 --> 00:01:06,765 that express devotion and really reveal an honest, personal, Relationship with God. 22 00:01:07,605 --> 00:01:10,975 And so they show us how to have a deeper relationship with God. 23 00:01:10,995 --> 00:01:15,545 The Psalms also reveal the nature of God as well. 24 00:01:15,745 --> 00:01:20,975 And they also serve as a great template for us as well in our relationship 25 00:01:20,975 --> 00:01:25,115 with God as we go through ups and downs in our faith and in our lives. 26 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:31,500 We've studied out Psalm 1, Psalm 18, 23, 51, and last week, 73, and 27 00:01:31,500 --> 00:01:36,229 so we're going to go to the end today at Psalm 150, and the title 28 00:01:36,229 --> 00:01:38,220 of the sermon today is Hallelujah. 29 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:40,400 Hallelujah. 30 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:41,840 We just sang that right there, huh? 31 00:01:42,970 --> 00:01:44,509 And so that's the title of the sermon today. 32 00:01:44,509 --> 00:01:46,479 If you can go to God with me in prayer, let's pray. 33 00:01:46,479 --> 00:01:50,580 Father in heaven, it's exciting to be here with my brothers and sisters. 34 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:56,680 It's exciting to worship you in spirit and truth as Jesus said that we will 35 00:01:57,039 --> 00:02:01,220 in John four and God We're grateful for this opportunity to connect with 36 00:02:01,220 --> 00:02:06,380 you and build encourage and strengthen one another in the faith father I pray 37 00:02:06,380 --> 00:02:10,710 right now that your word may be spoken I pray that you minister to our hearts 38 00:02:10,710 --> 00:02:14,930 you reveal more of yourself and God allow us to draw closer to you that we 39 00:02:14,930 --> 00:02:21,920 can Be in all of you and that we can in turn pour forth Praise in your name. 40 00:02:22,230 --> 00:02:23,280 It's in Jesus name. 41 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:29,000 Amen So we're gonna look here at the actually the we usually preach out of the 42 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:34,260 NIV But we're gonna look here at someone 50 through the H CSB home and Christian 43 00:02:34,260 --> 00:02:39,090 Standard Bible and so in Psalm 150, let's go ahead and let's read it together. 44 00:02:39,090 --> 00:02:45,600 It says hallelujah Praise God in his sanctuary Praise him in his mighty 45 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:50,800 heavens praise him for his powerful acts Praise Him for His abundant greatness. 46 00:02:51,130 --> 00:02:52,990 Praise Him with trumpet blasts. 47 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:54,750 Praise Him with the harp and the lyre. 48 00:02:55,270 --> 00:02:57,010 Praise Him with tambourine and dance. 49 00:02:57,020 --> 00:02:59,140 Praise Him with flute and strings. 50 00:02:59,510 --> 00:03:01,480 Praise Him with resounding cymbals. 51 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:03,190 Praise Him with clashing cymbals. 52 00:03:03,420 --> 00:03:07,590 Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. 53 00:03:07,970 --> 00:03:08,740 Hallelujah. 54 00:03:10,005 --> 00:03:13,835 And so we're going to go ahead here and break this psalm down. 55 00:03:13,845 --> 00:03:16,195 Now what is the message of the psalm? 56 00:03:16,195 --> 00:03:19,335 What clearly is being communicated in this message? 57 00:03:20,315 --> 00:03:21,095 Praise! 58 00:03:21,565 --> 00:03:25,055 As my friend Rhys McNeely would say, you'd have to be a theologian to get that wrong. 59 00:03:25,105 --> 00:03:25,915 You know what I mean. 60 00:03:26,685 --> 00:03:30,875 It's clearly communicating a message of praise. 61 00:03:31,505 --> 00:03:36,095 Now it's interesting that this is the last psalm in the book of psalms. 62 00:03:36,095 --> 00:03:37,495 There's a hundred and fifty. 63 00:03:38,175 --> 00:03:45,355 Chapters in the book of Psalms and the last one ends off with praise To me 64 00:03:45,355 --> 00:03:50,715 that struck me that was interesting to me To think that the last one 65 00:03:50,905 --> 00:03:53,865 would end with praise because the Psalms are filled with triumph. 66 00:03:54,385 --> 00:04:00,985 They're filled with joy With praise they're filled with pain doubt anger 67 00:04:01,135 --> 00:04:09,420 sadness and It concludes with praise The Psalms reveal God's character, his 68 00:04:09,460 --> 00:04:15,480 attributes, his mighty acts for his people, and it concludes with praise. 69 00:04:17,750 --> 00:04:24,400 It shows us the depth of a relationship with God, and it concludes with praise. 70 00:04:25,350 --> 00:04:29,380 And I thought, you know, that's similar to our faith, and our 71 00:04:29,380 --> 00:04:31,730 journey, and our walk with God. 72 00:04:32,830 --> 00:04:37,570 Because as we have a relationship with God, when we go through trials and 73 00:04:37,570 --> 00:04:44,680 persevere, when we experience God's grace after we have blown it big time, 74 00:04:44,690 --> 00:04:51,750 but yet we repent and we experience His grace, as we struggle with doubt, 75 00:04:51,790 --> 00:04:55,690 as we struggle with things that happen in our lives, as we have great 76 00:04:55,690 --> 00:05:01,220 joys and highs, it leads us to pray. 77 00:05:03,505 --> 00:05:07,635 And so we can see this connection and I think that was divine order that God 78 00:05:07,635 --> 00:05:11,825 would have it that at the end of the Psalms as you sing out and you worship 79 00:05:11,825 --> 00:05:16,895 and you grow in your relationship with God, it will lead you to praise. 80 00:05:18,125 --> 00:05:20,585 And so let's break this down in Psalm 50. 81 00:05:20,585 --> 00:05:24,615 First off, it says, Hallelujah, which means praise the Lord. 82 00:05:26,605 --> 00:05:30,635 And so it starts off saying praise the Lord in his sanctuary. 83 00:05:30,975 --> 00:05:34,705 And so I said, you know what let's define that word praise a little bit. 84 00:05:35,045 --> 00:05:40,255 It means to express approval or admiration or a commend to extol. 85 00:05:40,575 --> 00:05:47,645 But in this context, to offer grateful homage to God as in words or song. 86 00:05:48,705 --> 00:05:53,705 And when you think about it, to praise God is the natural response 87 00:05:53,905 --> 00:05:57,475 when you recognize who God is and his wonderful acts in your life. 88 00:05:58,875 --> 00:06:04,615 It's the natural response When you begin to say who Wow who he is and 89 00:06:04,615 --> 00:06:11,955 what he's done in my life and in others lives and It says to praise him in the 90 00:06:11,965 --> 00:06:17,005 sanctuary to praise him in the mighty heavens You know when we have a worship 91 00:06:17,005 --> 00:06:20,315 service that's what it's referring to when the people of God get together. 92 00:06:20,405 --> 00:06:23,345 We praise them and that's what we've been doing this morning, hasn't it? 93 00:06:24,355 --> 00:06:28,835 Every song we sang has been about praising God Because that's why we 94 00:06:28,835 --> 00:06:33,935 gather, it's to connect and to praise him, it says in the mighty heaven. 95 00:06:33,935 --> 00:06:38,495 So even the heavenly beings are called to join in on this 96 00:06:38,495 --> 00:06:40,235 praise of our Heavenly Father. 97 00:06:41,405 --> 00:06:45,215 So not just us, but every being, whether it be being here on 98 00:06:45,215 --> 00:06:49,565 earth or in the heavenly realms, are called to praise as well. 99 00:06:50,435 --> 00:06:55,195 And then it says to praise him for his powerful acts, for his abundant greatness. 100 00:06:56,335 --> 00:07:00,295 Again, we serve a God who is worthy of praise. 101 00:07:01,525 --> 00:07:04,345 Some things are worthy of praise and some aren't. 102 00:07:05,275 --> 00:07:12,345 But our God, our good, our faithful, our omnipotent God, He is worthy of praise 103 00:07:13,295 --> 00:07:22,505 for His powerful acts and for His abundant greatness because of what He's done in 104 00:07:22,505 --> 00:07:24,965 your life, what He's done in my life. 105 00:07:26,605 --> 00:07:28,885 What he's done in the lives of those around you. 106 00:07:29,515 --> 00:07:33,284 What he's done from the beginning of creation until now. 107 00:07:33,645 --> 00:07:37,545 What he's done for all of his faithful children throughout history. 108 00:07:37,775 --> 00:07:39,445 God is worthy of praise. 109 00:07:39,445 --> 00:07:40,655 Can I get a hallelujah? 110 00:07:41,925 --> 00:07:42,965 That means praise the Lord. 111 00:07:44,575 --> 00:07:48,955 We praise him for his character, his wonderful attributes, his characteristics. 112 00:07:50,570 --> 00:07:52,880 We praise him when we go, wow, God is awesome. 113 00:07:52,990 --> 00:07:54,250 In fact, let's do something real quickly. 114 00:07:54,409 --> 00:07:55,659 Let's just take one minute here. 115 00:07:55,870 --> 00:07:58,070 I want you to share with the person to your right and left. 116 00:07:58,300 --> 00:08:01,910 Share one thing, just come up with one thing that you can praise God for. 117 00:08:01,910 --> 00:08:04,800 Maybe it's something in his character or something that he's done in your life. 118 00:08:04,850 --> 00:08:06,160 Go ahead and do that real quickly. 119 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:08,350 Go ahead and share at least one thing you can praise God for. 120 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:11,080 Those online, go ahead and type in the chat one thing 121 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:12,350 that you can praise God for. 122 00:08:19,610 --> 00:08:20,670 Okay, alright. 123 00:08:21,885 --> 00:08:22,765 Real quickly here. 124 00:08:22,765 --> 00:08:25,705 Uh, Dorca, what's one thing that you can praise God for? 125 00:08:26,985 --> 00:08:28,065 For his mercy. 126 00:08:28,085 --> 00:08:28,985 Okay, awesome. 127 00:08:28,995 --> 00:08:30,295 Jamie, I see you nodding your head. 128 00:08:30,295 --> 00:08:30,995 What's one thing? 129 00:08:32,174 --> 00:08:33,105 For relationship. 130 00:08:33,115 --> 00:08:34,775 Relationship or ships? 131 00:08:35,575 --> 00:08:36,434 Ships, okay. 132 00:08:37,315 --> 00:08:38,565 Friendships, relationships. 133 00:08:38,565 --> 00:08:39,605 Okay, alright, here we go. 134 00:08:39,794 --> 00:08:41,385 Alright let's get a college student here. 135 00:08:41,515 --> 00:08:42,735 Can I get a college student here? 136 00:08:42,784 --> 00:08:43,515 Aiden, there you go. 137 00:08:43,515 --> 00:08:44,215 Don't look to the side. 138 00:08:44,245 --> 00:08:45,245 Aiden, here we go. 139 00:08:45,575 --> 00:08:47,465 Alright, what's one thing you can praise God for? 140 00:08:48,420 --> 00:08:49,320 For his grace. 141 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:50,290 Okay, Thomas. 142 00:08:50,340 --> 00:08:51,400 Uh, here we go. 143 00:08:51,500 --> 00:08:52,240 Or Marcus Thomas. 144 00:08:52,270 --> 00:08:52,880 Sorry, excuse me. 145 00:08:53,020 --> 00:08:53,530 There you go. 146 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:54,650 Went by your last name, brother. 147 00:08:54,650 --> 00:08:56,290 I went professional and official on you. 148 00:08:56,290 --> 00:08:56,900 Okay, go ahead. 149 00:08:57,010 --> 00:08:57,790 What's one thing? 150 00:08:58,870 --> 00:08:59,680 For family. 151 00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:00,390 Alright. 152 00:09:00,580 --> 00:09:03,360 Uh, John Orr, what's one thing that you can praise God for? 153 00:09:06,010 --> 00:09:06,990 For forgiveness. 154 00:09:07,010 --> 00:09:08,890 Now we could go on and on, couldn't we? 155 00:09:09,310 --> 00:09:12,040 I asked you to do one thing, but if you started to reflect, what would happen? 156 00:09:13,050 --> 00:09:16,610 You would start to think more and more and more and more. 157 00:09:16,885 --> 00:09:20,685 And then you would get to more, and more, and more, and more, and 158 00:09:20,685 --> 00:09:23,385 then you would get to more, and more, you guys get what I'm saying. 159 00:09:23,595 --> 00:09:25,445 And then you would hear something from somebody else and be like, ooh, that's 160 00:09:25,455 --> 00:09:26,635 good, I gotta praise him for that, too. 161 00:09:28,005 --> 00:09:28,165 Why? 162 00:09:28,165 --> 00:09:30,275 Because our God is a God worthy of praise. 163 00:09:30,765 --> 00:09:34,615 When we get a chance to reflect and think about who He is, it leads us to what? 164 00:09:34,715 --> 00:09:35,635 To praise Him. 165 00:09:35,635 --> 00:09:38,745 You know, Nicole Padilla said something really cool that was like, 166 00:09:39,005 --> 00:09:40,215 I was like, wow, this is incredible. 167 00:09:40,405 --> 00:09:43,565 So we're at a meeting on Thursday, and I said, hey, share one thing about, 168 00:09:43,565 --> 00:09:45,435 you know, that you can praise God for. 169 00:09:45,435 --> 00:09:46,165 She said, for apples. 170 00:09:47,375 --> 00:09:48,125 I said, okay. 171 00:09:49,405 --> 00:09:49,905 Interesting. 172 00:09:50,125 --> 00:09:53,115 She said, no, I just found out that the skin of apples actually is like an 173 00:09:53,125 --> 00:09:57,325 antioxidant or something like that and it helps fight off that's what she said. 174 00:09:57,425 --> 00:09:58,225 She sent me a text. 175 00:09:59,005 --> 00:10:00,325 You over here saying no, she didn't say it. 176 00:10:00,375 --> 00:10:01,145 She did say that. 177 00:10:01,205 --> 00:10:04,475 Okay, maybe I said one word that's wrong, but that's the essence of what she said. 178 00:10:04,875 --> 00:10:09,245 So she says that and she goes so here's the crazy thing is that helps 179 00:10:09,245 --> 00:10:11,065 you fight off flus and viruses. 180 00:10:11,545 --> 00:10:13,495 Which happens usually around the fall. 181 00:10:14,045 --> 00:10:15,355 And when is it time to harvest? 182 00:10:16,105 --> 00:10:16,815 For apples. 183 00:10:17,885 --> 00:10:18,915 Oh, look at you. 184 00:10:18,915 --> 00:10:19,615 There you go. 185 00:10:19,955 --> 00:10:21,905 And she was like, God is amazing. 186 00:10:22,135 --> 00:10:23,105 He planned it like that. 187 00:10:23,105 --> 00:10:25,785 I was like, Yo, let me go get a green apple right now. 188 00:10:26,885 --> 00:10:28,945 And you can see God is incredible. 189 00:10:28,945 --> 00:10:33,895 When we think about small to big to great to maybe things that don't mean much, 190 00:10:33,925 --> 00:10:37,185 but we see that God is worthy of praise. 191 00:10:39,155 --> 00:10:42,435 When you think about his character, you think about his plan, you think 192 00:10:42,445 --> 00:10:44,035 about his salvation, his mighty act. 193 00:10:44,435 --> 00:10:47,145 It will lead you and I to praise. 194 00:10:47,215 --> 00:10:51,195 You know, the more you spend time with someone, the more you learn about them. 195 00:10:52,305 --> 00:10:54,745 The more you see their traits. 196 00:10:56,045 --> 00:11:01,415 The longer you've been in the faith, you see God more, which leads you 197 00:11:01,415 --> 00:11:04,905 to more opportunity to praise Him. 198 00:11:04,905 --> 00:11:07,095 This is why it's so important we stay faithful to God. 199 00:11:07,605 --> 00:11:09,065 Sometimes we go, Oh, but God's not there. 200 00:11:09,065 --> 00:11:12,495 Well, just stay faithful and you'll see that He is. 201 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:16,580 And you'll be in awe of that, and it will lead you to praise. 202 00:11:16,580 --> 00:11:17,780 Can I get a hallelujah? 203 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:22,050 You know, this also requires, for us, it takes some time to reflect. 204 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:29,430 When you sit back and you reflect, let me just think about this for a second. 205 00:11:29,430 --> 00:11:30,530 Many things come to mind. 206 00:11:31,970 --> 00:11:36,620 And then you begin to think about how good God has been in your life. 207 00:11:37,210 --> 00:11:39,300 How good He's been to His people. 208 00:11:40,115 --> 00:11:43,505 How infinitely powerful and wise God is. 209 00:11:43,685 --> 00:11:45,315 Let's continue moving forward here. 210 00:11:45,445 --> 00:11:46,805 It says praise Him with a trumpet. 211 00:11:46,805 --> 00:11:48,275 It says all these different instruments. 212 00:11:48,655 --> 00:11:51,795 Basically saying praise God with all that you have. 213 00:11:52,995 --> 00:11:55,215 And it's interesting it says praise God with instruments. 214 00:11:55,215 --> 00:11:57,295 So we are to praise Him in song. 215 00:11:57,305 --> 00:12:02,945 Now, God chose music in His message of praise, I believe, for several reasons. 216 00:12:03,465 --> 00:12:05,825 And I read this and I thought this would be really cool for some 217 00:12:05,825 --> 00:12:09,445 of my Bible geeks out there You might appreciate this here, right? 218 00:12:09,645 --> 00:12:12,425 But there's music with some of God's great acts. 219 00:12:12,485 --> 00:12:15,105 So you can take a picture write this down We're not going to get a chance to look at 220 00:12:15,105 --> 00:12:20,725 these but in creation Music accompanies it with the Exodus with the incarnation with 221 00:12:20,725 --> 00:12:26,395 the revelation of redemption in Revelation 5 There's this accompaniment of music 222 00:12:27,055 --> 00:12:33,825 And all my music fans say hallelujah But we see here again, he says, praise him. 223 00:12:36,165 --> 00:12:38,015 You know, music is powerful, isn't it? 224 00:12:39,695 --> 00:12:41,395 It does something to us. 225 00:12:41,465 --> 00:12:43,355 When you hear your jam, what do you do? 226 00:12:43,955 --> 00:12:47,455 You turn it up, or turn it up, you know what I mean, however you roll. 227 00:12:48,425 --> 00:12:51,675 You start, even some of y'all that are not even a dancer, you be moving 228 00:12:51,675 --> 00:12:52,795 a little bit, you know what I mean? 229 00:12:52,805 --> 00:12:54,435 Even if you're off beat, but it's all good. 230 00:12:56,435 --> 00:12:58,435 It does something to your spirit. 231 00:12:59,185 --> 00:13:02,395 God created us like that and he knows we're like that so he's like, 232 00:13:02,445 --> 00:13:03,845 here's what we're going to do here. 233 00:13:04,035 --> 00:13:09,205 I know how powerful music is, so I want to include music in our worship 234 00:13:09,205 --> 00:13:13,345 and praise so that it can move your heart, your mind, your soul, your 235 00:13:13,375 --> 00:13:15,135 spirit, and your connection with me. 236 00:13:15,135 --> 00:13:17,935 This is why we get together and worship. 237 00:13:19,035 --> 00:13:22,385 We don't just get together to sing songs and just feel good, no, because it 238 00:13:22,385 --> 00:13:24,805 connects us to the living, powerful God. 239 00:13:25,260 --> 00:13:29,270 In a deep and profound way, which we couldn't in other circumstances. 240 00:13:30,950 --> 00:13:33,360 And we see, wow, God, you're infinitely wise. 241 00:13:34,380 --> 00:13:37,400 You see, praise through music enables us to connect with God 242 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:39,410 emotionally and with our hearts. 243 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:43,200 When I first became a Christian, I didn't get that. 244 00:13:44,330 --> 00:13:47,240 And I was, I was, I was totally fine with being late to service because I 245 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:48,690 was like, I just want the good stuff. 246 00:13:49,540 --> 00:13:50,960 And the good stuff to me was the sermon. 247 00:13:51,645 --> 00:13:54,105 So I was like, look, yeah, I didn't, you know, I didn't like, I didn't, I 248 00:13:54,105 --> 00:13:55,805 didn't like gospel music at that time. 249 00:13:55,805 --> 00:13:58,245 I didn't, I didn't really like, I was like, there's a couple songs. 250 00:13:58,245 --> 00:13:59,245 I was like, yeah, that's cool. 251 00:13:59,245 --> 00:14:00,585 But let's just get to the sermon. 252 00:14:01,615 --> 00:14:02,725 So I wouldn't really sing out. 253 00:14:02,725 --> 00:14:04,495 I wouldn't really connect with God in that way. 254 00:14:05,075 --> 00:14:08,805 And then, uh, Raphael Lua one time mentioned, uh, he's a minister out in LA. 255 00:14:09,415 --> 00:14:11,635 He mentioned something about, about worship and praise and I 256 00:14:11,635 --> 00:14:12,995 thought, huh, that's interesting. 257 00:14:13,825 --> 00:14:16,695 And then I read in the Gospels where it says that Jesus went to 258 00:14:16,695 --> 00:14:19,905 the Mount of Olives and that he sang hymns with his disciples. 259 00:14:21,265 --> 00:14:23,425 And I thought, how did he sing? 260 00:14:25,585 --> 00:14:26,585 What was that like? 261 00:14:27,605 --> 00:14:32,005 Does Jesus sing the same way that I sing when I come to my worship service? 262 00:14:32,725 --> 00:14:33,565 And I was convicted. 263 00:14:33,565 --> 00:14:34,185 I said, no. 264 00:14:35,295 --> 00:14:37,825 And so then I changed and then I read some books on worship. 265 00:14:37,985 --> 00:14:40,995 And now, now I'm guilty of wanting too much worship music. 266 00:14:42,355 --> 00:14:43,715 People are like, Marcel, can you cut down? 267 00:14:43,715 --> 00:14:45,555 I'm like, no, because we gotta praise him. 268 00:14:47,185 --> 00:14:51,495 And so God is transforming, but even now, and I ask for your prayer, please pray. 269 00:14:51,665 --> 00:14:54,495 Because I have to be in charge, uh, overall of the worship 270 00:14:54,495 --> 00:14:56,015 service, I can't get distracted. 271 00:14:56,015 --> 00:14:58,505 I was talking with Jamie Dena earlier, and I'm trying to talk to 272 00:14:58,505 --> 00:15:02,435 her, and I said, Jamie, I'm sorry if I seem distracted, because I am. 273 00:15:03,735 --> 00:15:05,415 And, and, and she was like, it's okay, Marcel. 274 00:15:05,415 --> 00:15:07,045 I was like, hallelujah for grace, praise God. 275 00:15:08,525 --> 00:15:11,015 But I need help because I can be here, and I can be thinking about everything 276 00:15:11,015 --> 00:15:15,025 that needs to happen, and I can miss out on opportunities to do what? 277 00:15:16,065 --> 00:15:17,515 Connect with God in praise. 278 00:15:18,815 --> 00:15:21,935 And so as we get together, the scriptures call us to praise 279 00:15:21,935 --> 00:15:24,145 God with a great instrument. 280 00:15:24,265 --> 00:15:26,525 Can we go ahead and thank our worship team real quickly? 281 00:15:26,615 --> 00:15:27,085 Amen. 282 00:15:27,085 --> 00:15:28,515 They do a fantastic job. 283 00:15:31,595 --> 00:15:32,635 Let's keep moving forward. 284 00:15:32,635 --> 00:15:35,975 It says, let everything that breathes praise the Lord. 285 00:15:35,975 --> 00:15:38,895 I love the way the NIV says it says, let everything that 286 00:15:38,895 --> 00:15:41,685 has breath praise the Lord. 287 00:15:42,385 --> 00:15:46,415 It made me think of Revelation 5, where it says, Then I heard every creature 288 00:15:46,415 --> 00:15:50,355 in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all that is 289 00:15:50,355 --> 00:15:55,045 in them saying, To him who sits on the throne, to the Lamb be praise and honor 290 00:15:55,045 --> 00:15:58,415 and glory and power forever and ever. 291 00:15:59,365 --> 00:16:05,765 It's this picture that every creature, every being would praise God. 292 00:16:06,465 --> 00:16:08,735 And that's what it says in Psalm 150. 293 00:16:09,550 --> 00:16:14,800 It says to let everything that has breath praise the Lord, even 294 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:19,920 the animals, even the, the, the, the roaches and the insects. 295 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:22,890 I'm sorry, I know I grossed some of y'all out, but even the insects, all 296 00:16:22,890 --> 00:16:27,020 the way to our senior citizens, let everything that has breath praise God. 297 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:34,810 From the shrimp in the sea to the birds in the sky, let them all praise the Lord. 298 00:16:34,810 --> 00:16:38,040 It says everything that has breath and you go, well, why? 299 00:16:38,890 --> 00:16:39,560 And this hit me. 300 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:51,470 Because every being that's alive, every being that's alive has or currently 301 00:16:51,780 --> 00:16:57,610 is, excuse me, has and is currently experiencing God's mercy and grace. 302 00:16:58,690 --> 00:17:03,740 Every being alive, whether they're in line with God's will or outside of God's 303 00:17:03,740 --> 00:17:08,055 will, they are currently experiencing God's Some mercy and grace of God. 304 00:17:09,194 --> 00:17:12,785 You see, because God can condemn every single one of us right now. 305 00:17:14,744 --> 00:17:15,365 But he hasn't. 306 00:17:17,474 --> 00:17:23,555 And he's given us the opportunity to connect with him in a relationship. 307 00:17:24,835 --> 00:17:27,474 There's mercy and there's grace. 308 00:17:27,635 --> 00:17:31,145 And so what should that lead us, especially as the children of God? 309 00:17:31,195 --> 00:17:31,685 To do what? 310 00:17:31,765 --> 00:17:32,895 To praise God. 311 00:17:33,110 --> 00:17:33,130 Why? 312 00:17:33,700 --> 00:17:37,940 Because we recognize, wow, I could be condemned, I could be set to the side, 313 00:17:37,940 --> 00:17:41,830 I could be cast to the side, but no, he's not giving me my due punishment, 314 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,350 but now he's giving me love, grace, mercy, so that I can connect with him 315 00:17:45,490 --> 00:17:47,590 on a deeper level for all of eternity. 316 00:17:49,010 --> 00:17:53,800 Again it's when we reflect, we can see the glory of God and all of 317 00:17:53,800 --> 00:18:00,049 that is fueled by his passionate, driven love for you and me. 318 00:18:01,940 --> 00:18:04,290 So we should praise Him in our worship service. 319 00:18:04,690 --> 00:18:06,170 We should praise Him on our own. 320 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:10,090 We should praise God with our lives. 321 00:18:11,430 --> 00:18:12,570 That's also part of praising. 322 00:18:13,360 --> 00:18:15,460 Our daily decisions, our choices. 323 00:18:16,710 --> 00:18:24,050 This is our offering and our opportunity to praise Him with how we live our lives. 324 00:18:24,780 --> 00:18:26,340 And again, why do we praise God? 325 00:18:26,340 --> 00:18:29,470 Because it helps us in our relationship with Him. 326 00:18:30,025 --> 00:18:35,315 It helps us reflect upon Him, and therefore it strengthens our relationship, 327 00:18:35,315 --> 00:18:40,055 and so this kind of really cool, uh, uh, process, uh, starts to take place. 328 00:18:40,115 --> 00:18:44,795 When we begin to praise God, that leads to a deeper and greater connection with Him, 329 00:18:44,925 --> 00:18:47,425 which leads us to more reflection of Him. 330 00:18:47,595 --> 00:18:51,805 But then when I reflect on Him, I go and I want to praise Him, and you can see 331 00:18:51,805 --> 00:18:55,005 this really cool cycle that takes place. 332 00:18:57,415 --> 00:19:04,485 The problem is when one of those When I stop reflecting, then I won't praise, 333 00:19:04,485 --> 00:19:07,685 or I won't connect with him, or when I'm not connected, then I won't reflect. 334 00:19:07,745 --> 00:19:08,975 You guys get what I'm saying? 335 00:19:09,805 --> 00:19:13,985 And so this is so important why we have our personal, it's not private 336 00:19:14,215 --> 00:19:17,695 in the sense of nobody can be involved, but we have our personal 337 00:19:17,695 --> 00:19:21,455 relationship with God, and we have our collective connection with God. 338 00:19:22,565 --> 00:19:23,895 That's why it's so important daily. 339 00:19:23,955 --> 00:19:27,265 I get on my knees and pray and I connect with him through reading his word. 340 00:19:27,265 --> 00:19:29,985 It's important that you and I get together, not just on Sundays, 341 00:19:30,025 --> 00:19:32,865 but throughout the week so that we can praise him and encouraging 342 00:19:32,905 --> 00:19:33,835 and strengthening one another. 343 00:19:33,975 --> 00:19:35,425 Can I get a hallelujah for that? 344 00:19:37,455 --> 00:19:39,355 And so let's go ahead and insert ourselves. 345 00:19:39,375 --> 00:19:40,445 Let's restart. 346 00:19:40,445 --> 00:19:45,915 If we haven't that cool cycle of praising of connecting and reflecting. 347 00:19:47,215 --> 00:19:48,965 And you can see even creating say, oh, you know, that's kind 348 00:19:48,965 --> 00:19:49,865 of like a little peace symbol. 349 00:19:49,865 --> 00:19:50,735 You know, that's what happens. 350 00:19:51,755 --> 00:19:56,575 When we get this cycle going, it brings peace to our souls. 351 00:19:56,595 --> 00:20:02,155 I heard it in a song, it said, Worship may not change the 352 00:20:02,165 --> 00:20:06,365 circumstances, but worship changes us. 353 00:20:07,745 --> 00:20:12,105 And so we might be in some hard predicament, but it changes our view of 354 00:20:12,105 --> 00:20:13,955 the predicament as we're worshiping God. 355 00:20:14,085 --> 00:20:17,815 And therefore we're strengthened and enabled to take on whatever 356 00:20:17,815 --> 00:20:19,305 task may lay before us. 357 00:20:20,865 --> 00:20:22,555 Praise God. 358 00:20:23,745 --> 00:20:25,225 And so what's our response? 359 00:20:25,615 --> 00:20:27,895 Well, let's simply praise God. 360 00:20:28,715 --> 00:20:30,215 Let's praise Him intentionally. 361 00:20:30,215 --> 00:20:32,255 Let's be intentional with our praise. 362 00:20:32,425 --> 00:20:34,885 Let's give ourselves fully in our praise. 363 00:20:34,925 --> 00:20:40,435 And let's make sure our decisions are offerings of praise to our 364 00:20:40,435 --> 00:20:45,455 living, powerful, almighty, loving God, Creator, and Father. 365 00:20:46,500 --> 00:20:49,200 So I want to get real practical here and give an action step here 366 00:20:49,380 --> 00:20:50,740 for the week, really for the day. 367 00:20:50,740 --> 00:20:54,150 I would encourage you to do this today over lunch or even as you go 368 00:20:54,150 --> 00:20:55,680 out in the foyer and hang out here. 369 00:20:55,860 --> 00:20:56,820 Here, here's what it is. 370 00:20:56,820 --> 00:21:00,470 I give you a question for reflection and discussion so you can discuss 371 00:21:00,470 --> 00:21:02,270 today and you can reflect upon it. 372 00:21:02,300 --> 00:21:02,990 Here it is. 373 00:21:03,130 --> 00:21:03,770 Here's the question. 374 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:07,580 How can we use the Psalms for praise and personal growth? 375 00:21:08,890 --> 00:21:13,830 How can we use the Psalms for praise and personal growth? 376 00:21:15,095 --> 00:21:16,425 Right now we're going to take communion. 377 00:21:16,785 --> 00:21:20,625 This is where we take the emblems that represent Jesus's body that 378 00:21:20,625 --> 00:21:23,805 was broken and his blood that was sacrificed so that we can have an 379 00:21:23,805 --> 00:21:26,545 opportunity for a relationship with him. 380 00:21:27,015 --> 00:21:32,485 And we go back to Psalm 150 in verse 2, it says, praise him for his powerful acts. 381 00:21:32,785 --> 00:21:35,745 Praise him for his abundant greatness. 382 00:21:36,155 --> 00:21:41,855 You know, none of his mighty acts are greater than Jesus coming in human body. 383 00:21:42,690 --> 00:21:47,530 Living a sinless life, dying upon the cross for our sins 384 00:21:47,610 --> 00:21:48,880 and then being raised again. 385 00:21:49,750 --> 00:21:53,450 And then his wonderful mercy of giving us the Holy Spirit when 386 00:21:53,450 --> 00:21:55,360 we repent and get baptized. 387 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:59,830 And so for that, we can say, Hallelujah. 388 00:22:00,500 --> 00:22:01,040 Let's pray. 389 00:22:01,050 --> 00:22:05,130 Father, thank you so much, so much for the cross of Jesus. 390 00:22:05,130 --> 00:22:10,440 Thank you that that is the greatest act of mercy, of kindness, of love, and of power. 391 00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:16,120 God, it reveals that you are a God of mercy, of grace, of power, of love. 392 00:22:16,120 --> 00:22:17,410 You are a faithful God. 393 00:22:17,700 --> 00:22:20,520 You are not a God who is distant, but a God who is there. 394 00:22:20,930 --> 00:22:22,140 And God, we want to thank you. 395 00:22:22,140 --> 00:22:23,160 We want to recognize. 396 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:24,240 We want to reflect. 397 00:22:24,290 --> 00:22:29,460 We want to honor all that you do, all that you have done, and all that you 398 00:22:29,460 --> 00:22:32,190 are going to do, and all that you are. 399 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:36,970 And again, we see the embodiment of your character in your son, Jesus. 400 00:22:37,220 --> 00:22:38,240 We thank you for him. 401 00:22:38,250 --> 00:22:39,840 We thank you that he persevered. 402 00:22:40,100 --> 00:22:41,720 We thank you that he was disciplined. 403 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:43,530 We thank you that he stayed upon the cross. 404 00:22:43,700 --> 00:22:47,490 But most of all, we thank you that he raised on the third day. 405 00:22:48,270 --> 00:22:49,270 God, we love you. 406 00:22:49,620 --> 00:22:50,380 We are humbled. 407 00:22:50,410 --> 00:22:51,210 We are grateful. 408 00:22:51,490 --> 00:22:52,470 And we are inspired. 409 00:22:52,890 --> 00:22:54,450 We pray this in Jesus name. 410 00:22:54,990 --> 00:22:55,480 Amen.