Sermon Excerpt: Stepping Out With Authentic Praise!

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

The women of St. Stephen East at Dosker Manor here in Louisville, Kentucky culminated Women's Month on Palm Sunday, March 29th waving palm branches in celebration and praise to our triumphant King Jesus Christ. Dosker Manor hosts off-campus services just east of downtown Louisville weekly for St. Stephen Church. This was my very first Palm Sunday invitation and so deeply humbled to bring the morning message, "Stepping Out With Authentic Praise," based on John Chapter 12:1-19. Shout out to Rev. Josie Gilbert, Campus Pastor and team for a job well done. Rev. Dr. Kevin Cosby, Sr. Pastor

Here is an excerpt from the message, "Stepping Out With Authentic Praise!":

It was Palm Sunday; the people with the palm branches shouted, "Hosanna, Hosanna," meaning, "save us, save us."  They were singing praises to Jesus, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessed is the King of Israel!”  But not all were stepping out with authentic praise.  Authentic praise happens when we step in the Spirit and put our faith in Jesus Christ.  Authentic praise happens when we think and when we thank.  When I think about his goodness and all that He has done for me, my soul shout, “Hallelujah! Thank God for saving me!!!”
This is a sad thing about these inauthentic people because there is power in authentic praise.  We say all the time there is power is prayer, but praise is potent. Your faith is not complete without your praise. Praise combined with prayer and an attitude of gratitude gives you access to God!  Praise wins battles!  Praise defeats the enemy!  Praise encourages the miraculous!  Praise heals the soul and calms the troubled spirit!Some of those same fickle people, who praised on Sunday shouted, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" at the end of the week. Not all who praised Jesus, praised Him authentically.  Can I tell you who was in the crowd?   There were agitators, perpetrators and instigators in the crowd - those who hated Jesus and attempted to stop his ministry. Also, there were imitators in the crowd -  those who placed their faith in Jesus and sincerely desired to be like Himl  Those were the people with Lazarus and believed Jesus because of his witness.
Let me ask you, "If you had been present on Palm Sunday 2,000 years ago, where would you be standing in the crowd?  Would you have been standing with Lazarus, and the imitators of Christ, with the saved crowd?  The Bible says, "Because of him, many believed on Jesus."  Or, would you be standing among the various spectators and haters, those who refused to believe in Jesus?If you are not where you need to be, then press through the crowd!  Touch the hem of His garment.  He will give you a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Then, step out with authentic praise! We should be stepping out with authentic praise because Jesus came riding in 1) as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world, 2) to fulfill prophecy, and 3) to give us abundant life through the Holy Spirit.

Join us as we celebrate Jesus as all that He has done in our lives on the Jesus Saves Social Network!  Let's step out with authentic praise today and every day telling the world, "Jesus saves!" 

Jesus Saves Ministries celebrating 10 years of lifting up Jesus Christ!

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