The praises we have been called to offer are not simply to be spoken or sung, but the WORD says that we are to make known the wonderful virtues and excellencies of God in the earth. This definitely calls us to more than a duty of singing a few songs on Sunday morning and going home. This verse implies the requirement of a life's worth of action and demostration on our part.The Greek word for proclaim, is "Exaggello" (Strong's # 1804), which means:
To tell, To make known by praising or celebrating, To celebrate
"Exaggello" comes from two Greek words:
"Ex" meaning: the point where action or motion proceeds; out of.
"Aggelos" meaning: to bring forth tidings; angel or messenger, envoy, one who is sent; to accompany something to a place, to bring to a destination, to attach one's self as an attendant, to lead, to move.
We are called to be God's royal envoys and messengers who have become one with the praises we speak or sing. We have become the message to such a degree that we speak or sing. We have become the message to such a degree that we accompany those praises wherever they are sent. The life and essence of every worshiper, and the gloryof God that is in them, accompanies the praises and establishes God's holy, royal kingdom in that very place. When we praise Him, we are like the heavnly host in Luke 2:13-14
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying "Glory to God in the higest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
The great host of angels accompanied the good news of Jesus' birth and filled the place with praises that resounded throughtout heaven and earth, filling time and eternity. Now we have been called to accompany the message of praise and declare His eternal Kingdom from one end of the earth to the other.
When Jesus came in the flesh, He used angels to accompany the message of His arrival. In these last days, He wants to use His holy, royal priests to accompany the message of His presence in the earth and His return as Conquering King!
Paul also speaks of this principle as He writes to the Corinthians:
"But praise be to God who makes us strong to overcome in Christ, and makes clear through us in every place the value of the knowledge of him." - 2 Corinthians 2:14
Now read this same verse in the New Living Testament:
"But thanks be to God, who made us his captives and leads us along in Christ's triumpal procession. Now wherever we go he uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Good News like a sweet perfume."
Our praise-filled lives are like a sweet perfume - we affect every place we go and every person we come in contact with. He has commissioned us to accompany the message of praise that we sing and speak. Something of our relationship with Lord and His authority working in and through us affects the atmosphere. We are the royal ambassadors of our King. Through us, and our praises, He unleashes His dominion and makes way for His presence in the earth.
I know that He is able to do all of of this on His own. I realize that all the earth is the Lord's (Psalm 12:1) without our help or permission, but in His infinite wisdom He has directed us to minister on His behalf, and rule with Him in kingdom matters of heaven and earth
As with all royal communiques, the message is more important than the messenger.
(an extract from: Praise Him by Vivien Hibbert)
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