Ministering: Senior Pastor Shola Awobajo.
Text: 2 Chronicles 7:1-10.
“1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. 2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord‘s house. 3 And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. 4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord. 5 And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. 6 And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of music of the Lord, which David the king had made to praise the Lord because his mercy endureth forever when David praised by their ministry, and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood. 7 Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings because the brazen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat. 8 Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt. 9 And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days. 10 And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the Lord had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.” KJV.
Every time we are having congregational worship, in reality, we are inviting God into our midst. To experience The King of Glory We must offer the sacrifice of Praise unto Him. Moses in Exod. 33:18 asked to see His Glory, and God’s response in v19 was that He would first have to proclaim His Name before His Glory can be seen. And He said, I will make all My Goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim The Name of The Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.
God’s Name must be hallowed before His Glory manifests. The Psalmist in Ps. 89: 1 – “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever: with my mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations.” When we praise Him, we are creating a subtle landing for Him in our midst. His Goodness & Mercy must be acknowledged before we can see His Glory. Ps. 22 says God dwells in the midst of His People. When 3 Nations came against Judah in 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat led the People in Praises and God took over the battle. Every battle is won principally by the quality of weapons used. Praise is a mighty weapon God has given us to destroy our enemies. Psalm 149.
From our above Text, Solomon invited the Presence of God through an uncommon sacrifice on the Altar. Heb. 13;15 – By Him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of Praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name. God’s Glory can manifest anywhere His Praise is offered. In Acts 16:25, His Glory manifested mightily in the prison to set free Paul, Silas, and all the prisoners. Things change supernaturally whenever Praises are offered to God.
- How to Invite God into Your Situation
- Praise Him continually as Praise refreshes God – Ps. 100:4
- Praise for the past victories – 1 Sam. 17
- Do not doubt the abilities of The King of Glory in your life this year
- Understand that You are a Product of Grace and be grateful – 1 Cor. 15:10
- Know Your Weakness and ask for help – Exod. 33
God still wants to work in the midst of His People but we need to set the right atmosphere for Him to dwell in our midst. John 4:23-24 – “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for The Father seeketh such to worship Him”. In closing, God is waiting for your invitation to come into that situation; would you open the door for Him through Praise?
God Bless You!
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