FIRST GOOD SAMARITAN BAPTIST CHURCH
The Caring Church, Preparing the World by Sharing the Word

WEEKLY WORD

PERMISSION TO PRAISE

6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD!
PSALM 150:6

When we look at Psalm 150, there is a list of imperatives that speak to directives. The directives from God to the people of God is regarding praise. In other words, when it comes to praise, it is not implied or inferred but we are instructed to PRAISE THE LORD.

The first directive is on where to praise God. We ought to praise God IN HIS SANCTUARY. What is unclear that has brought misunderstanding is that we refer to His sanctuary as the sanctuary or a sanctuary. The key word is HIS. This speaks to His person and possession.

In John’s gospel chapter 4, there was a conversation between the Living water and the woman who went to go draw water.

19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. 20 So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?”

21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem.

JESUS GOES ON TO SAY…

23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

The woman was limited God’s presence to a place for worship and praise. However, Jesus answers her and says that God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.

When it comes to praise, HIS SANCTUARY IS NOT LIMITED TO A PLACE BECAUSE HE IS EVERYWHERE AT THE SAME TIME. Praise is not limited to a location because of the omnipresence of God. His sanctuary could be your shower, your car, your place of business. His sanctuary is anywhere we recognize Him. His sanctuary speaks to His person and possession.

Final words of Psalm 150 speak to who ought to praise Him. The psalmist says, “Let everything that has breath, PRAISE THE LORD.” It did not say, “Let everything that has their life in order, bills paid, health and strength, praise the Lord. NO! But it says, Let everything that has breath. Even when things don’t look like they are in your favor…. you still have breath so PRAISE THE LORD.

During times of trouble, tragedy and tribulation, if you still have breath, THEN YOU HAVE A REASON TO STILL PRAISE THE LORD. No matter how high or low you may be, YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO PRAISE THE LORD!

Dr. James A. Simmons, Senior Pastor