Understanding Praise and Worship

Psalms 100:4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise: Be thankful unto him and Bless His Name.

John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.

Difference between Praise and Worship

Praise: Hebrew word "Halal" is the source of our word "Hallelujah" means to praise, celebrate, glory, sing (praise), boast. Greek: epainos - to commend, to commend the worth, to express approval or admiration.

Worship: Hebrew word- shachah: to worship, prostrate oneself, bow down. The act of bowing down being used to recognize a superior ruler. Greek: proskuneo: to kiss towards. An act of homage or reverence.

Praise:
• Precedes worship
• Binds the enemy Psalms 149:8-9
• Centers on what God is doing

Worship:
• Worship centers on the character and attributes of God Himself.
• Involves total commitment and release of the Spirit, Soul and the Body.
• Worship is not pure by method but rather by motivation. Matt 5:8 says: "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.
• The quality and depth of worship develops with the quality and depth of spiritual maturity (Godliness) in the believer.

Preventatives to Praise
• Interference by satanic attack - Rev 12:9-11, Zech 3:1
• Sin - Ps 66:18, Is 59:1-2, I John 1;9
• Guilt - Rom 8:1, Ps 103:12
• Fear - Ps 118:6, II Tim 1:7, I John 4:18
• Ego or self - Mark 3:25, II Tim 3:1-5

Way to Praise and Worship
• Standing upright as a sign of respect - Ps 135:1-2, Esther 5:1
• Audible Voice - Rev 5:12, Ps 119:171
• Raised Hands - I Tim 2:8, Ps 134 , Ps 63:4
• Speaking or singing in tongues - Eph 5:18-19, I Cor 14:14-15
• Singing - Ps 47:6-7, Ps 95:1, Ex 15:1-2
• Musical instruments - Ps 150, Ps 33:1-3
• Clapping - Ps 47:1, II Kings 11:12
• Shouting - Ps 132:16, Ezra 3:11-12, I Sam 4
• Dancing - Ps 30:11-12, II Sam 6:14
• Laughter - Ps 126:2, Neh 8:10
• Weeping - Ps 126:5-6, Jn 12:1-3, Mk 14:3, Luke 7:38, Ps 56:8
• Silence - Ps 46:10, Hab 2:20
• Bowing - Ps 95:6, Phil 2:9
• Prostrate - Luke 17:16, Rev 4:10-11
• In the congregation - Ps 111:1, Ps 26:12
• Alone - Rev 1:9-10, Luke 17:12-16