SUITABLE PRAISE

Psalm 33:1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

Psalm 147:1 Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.

Proverbs 17:7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

Prov. 11:22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

 Pastor Rick Jackson

 

You might have thought all praise is good but such is not the case. Comely praise is what God desires. Praise from a right person. Praise that is given rightly is comely. Comely is a word we don’t use often. It means suitable, or beautiful: Is your praise suitable? Is your praise beautiful?

 

I. PRAISE THAT FORSAKES GOD IS NOT COMELY –  It is neither suitable nor lovely.

Proverbs 17:7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

1. It is Ungiven Praise [Matthew 21:15-16]

And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased, And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

2. It is Hypocritical Praise [Jn. 9:24-41]

3. It is Dishonoring Praise [1 Corinthians 11:17-22]

 

II. PRAISE THAT IS FOR GOD IS COMELY

1. Comely Praise For His Wonderful Salvation [Rm. 15:5-13]

Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.

 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

2. Comely Praise For His Wonderful Working [Philippians 1:9-11, 1 Peter 4:11]

- And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

-If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

3. From Thankful Hearts [Hebrews 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.

 

III. PRAISE THAT IS FROM GOD IS ALWAYS COMELY

1. Better than the Praise of Men [Jn. 12:42-48]

Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Jesus cried and said, He, that believeth on me, believeth, not on me, but, on him that sent me.  And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

2. Based on Faith in God and His Word [Rm. 2:28-29, Mt. 8:8-13]

-For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly ; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly ; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

- The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

3. Believer’s Receive for Heart Service [1 Corinthians 4:3-5]

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.