Author Howard Snyder wrote, “Kingdom people seek first the Kingdom of God and its justice; church people often put church work above concerns of justice, mercy and truth. Church people think about how to get people into the church; Kingdom people think about how to get the church into the world. Church people worry that the world might change the church; Kingdom people work to see the church change the world.” In Psalms 140-145, you saw how God trains believers for the spiritual battle to help others submit to Christ. The Psalms conclude with specifics on how to wage war in the heavenlies to see lives transformed and injustice defeated.
I praise God and don’t trust in leaders where there is no salvation. How blessed is the one whose help and hope is in the Lord his God who made heaven and earth. He executes justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry, sets the prisoners free, opens the eyes of the blind, raises up the depressed, protects the strangers, supports the fatherless and widow and thwarts the way of the wicked. The Lord loves the righteous. He reigns forever (Ps. 146:1-10). Join God in seeing physical and spiritual transformation in the lives of the poor and disenfranchised.
Singing praise to a God with abundant strength and infinite understanding is pleasant and becoming. He builds up Jerusalem, gathers the outcasts of Israel, heals the brokenhearted, binds up their wounds, supports the afflicted and brings down the wicked (Ps. 147:1-6). Join God in healing the heart and emotional needs of everyone.
Sing thanksgiving and praise to God who provides clouds and rain for the earth, makes grass grow on mountains and gives food to animals. He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or legs of a man, but favors those who fear Him and wait for His lovingkindness (Ps. 147:7-11). Wait upon God’s strength through prayer for effectiveness.
Praise God because He has strengthened the bars of your gates, blessed your sons, makes peace in your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat. He sends His command to the earth and His word runs very swiftly to melt ice. He declares His words, statutes and ordinances to Israel, but other nations don’t know them (Ps. 147:12-20). Embrace God’s peace as you use and teach God’s word to others.
All of creation praise the name of the Lord because He commanded and they were created, including kings, leaders and all peoples. His name alone is exalted and His glory is above earth and heaven. He has lifted up a horn for His people and praise for all His godly ones (Ps. 148:1-14). Exalt God and make Him your strength in ministry.
Sing to the Lord a new song in the congregation of the godly ones. Let Israel be glad in his Maker and rejoice in their King. Let them praise His name with dancing and sing with timbrel and lyre for the Lord takes pleasure in His people and beautifies the afflicted with salvation (Ps. 149:1-4). Praise God for beautifying the afflicted with salvation.
Let the godly exult in glory and sing for joy on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth and two-edged sword in their hand to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples in binding their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron. Executing justice is an honor for all His godly ones (Ps. 149:5-9). Use praise and God’s word as your primary weapons in defeating injustice.
Praise the Lord in His sanctuary, in His mighty expanse, for His mighty deeds and according to His excellent greatness (Ps. 150:1-2). Praise God everywhere for His mighty works and greatness.
Praise Him with trumpet sound, harp and lyre, timbrel and dancing, stringed instruments, pipe, loud and resounding cymbals. Everything that has breadth praise the Lord (Ps. 150:3-6). Use musical instruments to praise God.
Have you been relying on human programs instead of spiritual weapons to transform people? Begin a lifestyle of praise to God for His mighty works and greatness. Rely on God’s strength through prayer, praise and sharing God’s word with others for your effectiveness. Realize that curriculum and programs are tools that God can and will use if they are saturated with prayer, praise and God’s word.
