Praise His Dwelling Place

Introduction

• Praise team and music team appreciated for leading worship
• David provides a road map in the Bible relevant to today’s sermon
• Emphasis on the importance of praising God and not taking His presence for granted

Main Scripture Reference

• Psalm 22:3: “Thou art holy, O Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.”
• Theme: Praise is God’s dwelling place

Key Points

The Importance of Recognizing God's Presence

• The presence of God is felt when believers gather and praise Him
• Risk of taking God's presence for granted due to human nature
• Comparison with taking national blessings for granted in the West

Inviting God's Presence

• God’s tangible presence manifests when His people lift Him up in unity
• Praise invites God’s presence into our lives, making miracles and blessings possible
• With God, all things are possible

God's Enduring Power and Presence

• Society may try to write God off, but His presence is still real and active
• God's miracles continue to happen (e.g., healings, provisions)
• Historical and scriptural affirmations of God’s continuous reality and presence

The Necessity of Praise

• Praising God ensures His presence remains with us
• Praise must be done mightily, without concern for societal ridicule or personal discomfort
• Even in a world that may not appreciate or recognize it, praise remains powerful

Biblical Examples of God’s Presence

• Paul and Silas: God's presence frees them from prison
• Jehoshaphat: Victory against enemies through praise
• Jonah: Delivered from the whale
• Hezekiah: Life extended through God’s compassion
• David: Persistent praise brings God’s presence back to Israel

Moses and the Israelites

• Moses' reliance on God’s presence in leading the Israelites
• Refusal to move forward without God’s presence
• God’s presence symbolized by a cloud, guiding and providing for the Israelites
• Spiritual implications of God's continuous provision (mana, water, etc.)

The Ark of the Covenant

• Symbol of God's presence carried and revered by the Israelites
• Story of its loss during Eli and regaining during David’s reign
• David’s understanding of the importance of God's presence and his refusal to reign without it

Praise as Continuous Worship

• David’s Tabernacle: Unceasing praise around the Ark of the Covenant
• Comparison to Solomon’s temple, emphasizing the importance of continuous praise over physical structures

Encouragement to Praise

• Don’t let circumstances or other people steal your praise
• Praise invites God’s presence, making anything possible
• Collective praise in the church brings God's tangible presence where miracles and blessings abound

Application and Action

• Call to action: Gather and praise with might, not holding back
• Encouragement to seek the presence of God through continuous and heartfelt praise
• Invitation to come forward for prayer and miracles in God’s presence

Conclusion

• Reminder: Praise brings God's presence, and in His presence, all needs can be met
• Final collective act of praise to close the service
• Encouragement to maintain an attitude of praise in everyday life