praise Archives - Laurie Hopkins

December 16 2019

The Praises of Christmas – Advent Week III – Thanksgiving Praise

“And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7

“Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2: 14

“Then the Shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. ‘ Luke 2:19

Enthroned In The Praises of Israel

This advent season we have been talking about Praise! What a wonderful topic at any time but especially at this time of year as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and as we prepare to welcome 2020. The Word of God tells us that God is holy “Enthroned in the praises of Israel.” (Psalm 22:3). Do you understand what that means? God is lifted up and is in the midst of our praises! Merriam Webster’s Online Dictionary defines enthrone as “to assign supreme virtue or value to, EXALT”. How exciting is that thought! When we step out in faith and obedience and open our mouth to praise the Lord, we exalt Him and place him in a high and virtuous place and at that moment, He comes and inhabits our praises. He is there in the midst of us.

Praise of Thanksgiving

Throughout the Christmas story, we see various types of praise. We’ve already talked about Praise in Uncertain Circumstances and Revelation Praise. Now let’s look at the Praise of Thanksgiving. Mary and Zacharias and Elizabeth were all thankful to the Lord in their praise but in an indirect way. As the Christmas story culminates with the miraculous birth of the Saviour we begin to hear some pure Praise of Thanksgiving.

The Birth

“Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 24-7).

The promised Child has been born, in a stable, surrounded by animals and attended only by his mother and Joseph. It seems like a lonely scene. But what was happening elsewhere while this Miracle arrived in the world?

In The Field

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: you will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manager.” (Luke 2:8-12).

God Is Always At Work

Once again a wonderful picture of how God is always at work even though we cannot see what he is doing. If Mary and Joseph had just looked at the stable and the animals and the manger and focused on their immediate circumstances, it would be likely that they may have felt alone and dejected. But I believe that as that Precious Baby was born, even then, they were filled with peace as they found themselves in the presence of their Saviour. And meanwhile, even though they were not aware, God was at work out in the fields, proclaiming the Good News of the birth of the Christ Child. We are never alone and we can never trust only in what we see around us. We must always know in our hearts, minds and spirits that the Father is always at work in ways we may not see or understand.

The Good News

Now, let’s look at what is going on in the countryside. There are shepherds, minding their own business, taking care of their sheep, when all of a sudden an angel appears and they are surrounded by the glory of the Lord. Not a regular evening in the fields by any stretch of the imagination! This angel assures them that there is no reason to fear because the news is good, and it is more than good, it is miraculous. The Christ Child has been born! The Promise of the Father has been fulfilled! And even better, it has happened nearby! How excited they must have been.

Heavenly Thanksgiving

The proclamation of the angel of the Lord resulted in Praises of Thanksgiving bursting forth from the heavens! “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2: 13-14).

Changed Lives

The Word of the Lord and the Glory of the Lord changes lives. When you hear the Word, really hear the Word in your spirit, and find yourself in the Presence of Almighty God, you will never be the same again. The shepherd’s lives were changed forever. The shepherds had to know, had to see this Baby. There was no hesitation in their decision. “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” (Luke 2: 15). The Proclamation and praises of thanksgiving that come forth from us will touch the lives of others and spur them on to action, just as the shepherds were moved to action after hearing the Good News and the praises of the heavenly host!

Thanksgiving Requires Action

“And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who hear it marvelled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.” Luke 2:16-20

The shepherds went and found the Christ Child – and it was all as they had been told. Thanksgiving comes in many forms. The shepherds began their praise of thanksgiving by sharing the proclamation of the Lord with everyone they met. They were not only able to say, “we were told”, but also, “we saw”! When the Lord speaks into our lives and we experience the joy and peace that comes from seeing His promises fulfilled, we can begin to praise in thankfulness by sharing our experiences with those around us, that they may be drawn to the Father.

Sharing The Good News

But the shepherds didn’t stop there and their praise didn’t stay in the stable. The shepherds went back home. And as they went they went “glorifying and praising God”. They recognized the fulfillment of the Promises of the Lord in the birth of this Child. They shared their information with all those they met. And even as they returned home to their everyday duties and tasks, which would never be the same again, the praise of thanksgiving was continuously on their lips. Can you imagine the story that these shepherds had to share for the remainder of their days? Sitting around the fire at night watching their flock, “do you remember when”, “you should have been there”, “it was amazing”, “I’ve never been the same”. Can you imagine the joy they enjoyed in sharing this with their families, spouses, children and grandchildren, in years to come? Can you imagine how many times when life got hectic and chaotic that they were able to sit back and remember the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises and how it felt to be in the presence of the Saviour? And even then, the praise of thanksgiving would once again rise within them and strengthen their spirits!

Where Do We Find Ourselves?

Do the praises of thanksgiving flow off our tongue and through our lips? Are the praises of thanksgiving evident in our actions, words and attitudes? Do those around us know of the faithfulness of God in our lives? Have we even acknowledged the faithfulness of God in our lives? This advent season I pray that God will grant us a supernatural realization of how blessed we are by Him every moment of every day. And from that realization, I pray, the praises of thanksgiving will rise within us like a mighty wave that is unable to be held back; that we will open our mouths and our lives and let the praise of thanksgiving flow so sweetly from our words and our lives that all those around us will want to know what it is that we have! Isn’t that what Christmas is all about? Sharing the love and joy and peace of our Saviour with the world!

“Behold, the virgin shall be with Child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23).

Let Us Pray Together

Father grant us sweet and supernatural revelation this advent season, that we, like those shepherds of long ago, will never be the same again; that the praise of thanksgiving will be continually on our lips and shown forth in our lives! We ask this in the most precious name of that Babe born on Christmas morning, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen and Amen and Amen

Until next time,

From my heart to yours!

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December 9 2019

The Praises of Christmas – Advent Week II – Revelation Praise

“But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

Luke 1: 43

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways.”

Luke 1: 76

Praise In The Midst of Uncertainty

Here we are again, another Christmas season in which to rest in the Father and take time to reflect on the precious gift of His blessed Son, Jesus Christ. Oh, what human mind could wrap itself around the power and majesty, grace and saving power that arrived that Christmas morning, wrapped in the covering of human flesh, even the flesh of a newborn babe?

Even those who were directly involved and present at His birth could not fully comprehend the meaning of His arrival. As we reflected last week, Mary was able to lift her voice in surrender and praise to the Father even as she realized the uncertainty of her future as the mother of a Child born of the Spirit, the very Son of God. But even as she praised the Lord she did not fully understand the things that were to come. That was what made her praise so sweet in the hearing of the Father!

Revelation Praise

This week I would like for us to consider a different type of praise; the praise that, even as it bursts forward from the lips of mankind, grants sweet revelation from the Father. Let’s take time to look at the praise of two individuals, Zacharias and Elizabeth.

The Background

In Luke, we read: “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.” (Luke 1: 5-7)

All Things Are Not As They Seem

I never cease to be amazed at the faithfulness and timing of the Lord. All things are fulfilled in His perfect timing! Zacharias was a priest, set aside to serve the Lord. Elizabeth was of the daughters of Aaron (of the daughters of the priesthood). The Bible tells us they were righteous and blameless before the Lord, but yet they were without a child; a tragic condition for any woman to find herself in Biblical times. Why had God withheld this blessing from Zacharias and Elizabeth?

Have you ever heard the expression, “all things are not as they seem”? Well, this is a perfect example. It would seem that the Lord had withheld the blessing of a child from this couple, long past the time when it would be “humanly” possible for any hope. But God……..

Once In A Lifetime

As we read further we find Zacharias in the temple preparing to “to burn incense”. We understand that this was something that a priest only performed once in his lifetime. And this was indeed a “once in a lifetime” experience for Zacharias as the angel Gabriel met him there, announcing to him that his prayers had been heard and that his wife would bear a child. His barren and advanced in age wife would not only bear a son but that son would have a mighty calling on his life:

“For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children.’ And the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1: 15-17)

Show Me A Sign

Now as would be understandable, Zacharias is a bit overwhelmed and doesn’t really take this all in. He actually questions Gabriel, asking for a sign. This is a priest of God, one who serves the Lord in the temple as his livelihood, one who would be familiar with the prophecy of and anticipating the arrival of the Messiah. And yet, he is overwhelmed with the thought that God is able to cause a barren woman to bear the child who will grow to be the forerunner of the Lord. As a result of his unbelief he remains mute until the time of the naming of his son, John.

His Name Is John

Fast forward a bit. Elizabeth is with child. The pregnancy progresses as it should and the time comes to deliver the promised child. Zacharias has literally watched all this in silence! And now the time has come to name the child. As the relatives are ready to name the child based on family tradition, the mother speaks up, “No, he shall be called John.” (v. 60). Everyone is confused and they look to Zacharias to confirm his wishes. He asks for a writing tablet and as he writes “His name is John”….immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.” (v. 61, 63-64)

Have you ever thought about why his tongue was loosed at that moment? Why not when he returned home and Elizabeth discovered that she had conceived? Why not when the child was delivered? Why was it at the moment that Zacharias wrote on the tablet “His name is John”? Even as I began to write this devotion the Lord spoke into my spirit, “obedience and belief release the tongue of praise”! In writing “His name is John” Zacharias was demonstrating obedience to the Lord and belief in the promise of the Lord not only regarding the birth of this child but of the plan the Lord has for this child’s life! How amazing is that?

His Tongue Was Loosed

As soon as his tongue was loosed, Zacharias began to praise the Lord. Wouldn’t you have loved to be there in that moment? I can only imagine how amazing the praise was that came from those lips that had been bound – all the amazing things that Zacharias had to endure silently now burst forth from his lips towards his God! God had heard his prayers, had sent him an angel and had promised a son, a son that would be the forerunner of the Messiah…and all had come to pass just as the Lord has promised through his angel.

The Revelation

That in itself is exciting praise. But it gets better! God blessed Zacharias’s praise by granting him revelation.

We read “Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His Holy prophets.” (v. 67-70).

Zacharias whose tongue was bound because of his unbelief now speaks freely of the coming of the Messiah! And he doesn’t stop there; he continues to speak prophecy over the son that he didn’t even believe would be born!

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us.” (v. 76-78).

This revelation of the Messiah and of Zacharias’s own son as the prophet of the Highest could only have come from God as the Holy Spirit descended upon him. Here we see not only the Praise of Obedience but also the Praise of Revelation, through the Holy Spirit, that comes with it!

Elizabeth's Story

Now, let’s move back a few steps and consider Elizabeth. Elizabeth is barren and advanced in age.

“Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked upon me, to take away my reproach among my people.” (Luke 1: 24-25).

Elizabeth recognizes and acknowledges God’s hand on her situation right from the beginning. After Mary is visited by the angel Gabriel and surrenders her body to birth the Son of God, she goes to visit Elizabeth, as the angel has also told her the news about Elizabeth’s blessing. “And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said,

“Blessed are you among woman and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” (Luke 1: 41-45)

Revelation

Here we see again the Praise of Revelation brought forth by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth hears the voice of Mary and the babe in her own womb leaps for joy as he recognized the presence of His Lord, even from the womb! At that moment Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit opened her mouth and granted her revelation that Mary was carrying the Son of God! Furthermore, the Lord blesses Mary for her belief through the lips of Elizabeth as she Praises God.

This Season

Oh, the mighty work of the Father through the precious Son, Jesus Christ and through the working of the Holy Spirit! How amazing it is to read that the Lord grants revelation and speaks through ordinary people in ordinary situations and that the impossible is never impossible with God!

This advent season, will you take time with me to reflect on the Praise of Revelation? Are you waiting for the fulfillment of the promises of God in your life? Have you become weary in waiting? Have you begun to doubt what you heard or that God is able? Or has that fulfillment presented itself before you and you are yet unable to believe that it is so? Today is the day to step out in faith and to be obedient to what the Lord is speaking into your life. And in your time of obedience, as you open your lips to praise the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, He will bless you further as He grants you understanding and revelation in your life!

Let Us Pray Together

Mighty God, Heavenly Father, even now, thousands of years after You sent Your precious Son, we still have difficulty comprehending the fullness of what was done. This advent season we ask You, Lord, to open our hearts and minds and spirits to receive a clear revelation of the enormity of that Christmas morn. That as we willingly open our mouths to praise You and seek to be obedient to Your will in our lives, that You would grant us understanding and revelation of Your mighty and precious Word! We ask this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen and Amen and Amen.

Until next time,

From my heart to yours!

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December 2 2019

The Praises of Christmas – Advent Week I – Praise of Faith in Uncertainty

“Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”

Luke 1:38

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my saviour.”

Luke 1: 46, 47

The Praises of Christmas: Praise of Faith in Uncertainty

It is that time of year again! It is a time of mystery and majesty and sparkles and rejoicing. A time that I always picture in my mind as a clear, crisp night, dark but lit up with the beauty of a million sparkling stars, and a song of praise in the air! Christmas is many things to many people and in the time we are living, as Christians, we need to search our hearts and minds to be certain that we know why we are celebrating. It is not just a time for parties and gifts, for material things and pleasures that only last for a season. For Christians, Christmas is a time of reflection and wonder, rejoicing and celebration and time set aside with loved ones. But the pleasure that we derive is not just for a season but for eternity through the precious gift of that Baby, Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us, God in the form of a baby, sent to earth from the Heavenly Father.

Praises Of The Season

This advent season I would like for you to take a journey with me through the Praises of the Season. As we read through the Christmas narrative in the Word of God we see examples of many of the main characters praising the Lord. Each praise is unique and individual, just as the character and their situations are unique and individual. I believe that as we take this journey together and set aside the time to reflect and see the Lord, we will learn a valuable lesson in praising the Father, not only in the advent season but also throughout the year.

The Message

Let’s start with the beautiful praise that comes forth from Mary. Let’s review. Mary is a young girl, a virgin, betrothed to Joseph, but yet unmarried. She is visited by the angel Gabriel who announces: “Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among woman!”… “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”…”The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, the Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.” …”For with God nothing will be impossible.” Luke 1: 28, 31-33, 35, 37

WOW! Can you even begin to imagine the thoughts and emotions that Mary went through as she heard this angel tell her that she was “with child” and that this was not any child, but the Son of God? Can you imagine the excitement, then the questions, then the fear? What will Joseph think? What will my parents think? Will they believe me when I tell them about the angel and the baby? Will life ever be normal again? How can I be a mother to the Son of God?!

The Response

However, what comes out of Mary’s mouth in response to the angels’ visit is not fear or worry or a list of questions. When she opens up her mouth it is filled with praise and submission to the Will of the Father for her life. “Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” Luke 1: 38

We may think, “Well, she hasn’t had time to think about the situation, she is caught or up in emotions”…..but her praise doesn’t stop there, it is just beginning! Mary quickly travels to visit Elizabeth, whom the angel has indicated is also to bear a son. Elizabeth who is advanced in years and barren! Oh the mighty hand of God!

As Mary greets Elizabeth, the babe in Elizabeth’s womb “leaps” and Elizabeth herself is filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking forth praise onto God. At this point in time, the reality of Mary’s situation has truly begun to hit home. Surly she has talked with Joseph and her family about the impending birth and surely she has felt the weight of their questions. Surely by now, others are aware of her pregnancy and she has likely endured stares ranging from pity to outrage. And in seeing for herself the effect of the hand of God on Elizabeth – causing one who was barren to conceive…..Mary must be beginning to understand the power of God to follow through with that which He had told her through the angel Gabriel. If there had not been time to “think it through” before or emotions had gotten the best of her, we can rest assured, that by now the reality of her situation has settled in. So if Mary’s earlier praise was a result of naiveté or emotionalism, then we would expect Mary’s praise to turn to bitterness and questioning?

Mary's Song

But what we hear coming from the lips of this young girl, who find herself in the middle of a complicated situation made more challenging with the responsibility she has to bear, is a song of praise:

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;

For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed

For He who is mighty has done great things for me,

And Holy is His name.

And his mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with His arm;

He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, and the sick He has sent away empty.

He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy,

As He spoke to our fathers,

To Abraham and to his seed forever.”

Luke 1:47-55

How Beautiful Are the Praises of The Lord

How beautiful are the praises of the Lord on the lips of His people!

This Advent season will you join with me to take a moment each day and reflect on how we praise the Lord in complicated times, times of adversity or times of uncertainty? Are we able to open our mouth and praise the Lord because He has regarded us? Are we able to praise Him who is mighty for the great things He has done for us? Are we able to praise Him because he is Holy? Are we able to praise Him for His faithfulness? Are we able to praise Him because we walk in faith, believing that He knows the path that He has prepared for us?

This advent season, may we learn from the praises of Mary, that we too can open our lips and praise our Lord even in the midst (and probably most importantly, in the midst) of times of uncertainty because we believe that our Heavenly Father is faithful and true!

Let Us Pray Together

Mighty God, Holy One, we come before You at the beginning of this Advent season and ask that You guide and direct us through this journey of reflection on the praises of Christmas. There is so much to glean from Your Word and we know that if we ask, You will guide and direct our learning and grant revelation to our hearts and minds. So today, we ask! Teach us, Father, to open our lips and praise you at all times….especially in the midst of uncertainty as Your word tells us that You inhabit the praises of Your people. We ask this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen and Amen and Amen

Until next time,

From my heart to yours!

Laurie

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