Bless the LORD
Hebrew: To knell, as an act of adoration, praise, congratulate, salute, thank,
Extol, glorify
Give God the glory: the honor and audible praise. To magnify God through praising His
name and honoring His commandments. Glorify (Ps 50:23; 86:9-12; Matt 5:16; Rom 15:
5-7; I Cor 6:20). Jesus glorified God by finishing the work assigned to Him. (John 17:4).
Extol – to lift, regard, respect, exalt (Ps 66:17; 68:4; 103:1-2,20-22;
145:1-3,10-12,21; Dan 4:37).
Praise - an act of worship or acknowledgement by which the virtues or deeds of another
are recognized and extolled. Our praise toward God is the means by which we express
our joy to the Lord. We praise God both for who He is and for what He does.(Ps 34:1-
4). Praising God for who He is, called adoration. Praising God for what He does, is
known as thanksgiving. The godly person will echo David’s words “My praise shall be
continually of You…And I will praise You yet more and more (Ps 71:6,14). The natural
outgrowth of faith, worship, confession, and adoration is praise. We speak well of one
whom we highly esteem and love. We praise Him for His mighty acts, praise Him
according to His excellent greatness, that’s. (Ps 150:2) (Ps 146:1-2, Isa 12:1-6; Phil 1:
11; Heb 13:15; I Pet 4:11).
Thanksgiving – the aspect of praise that gives thanks to God for what He does for us.
Ideally, thanksgiving should spring from a grateful heart but it is required of all believers,
regardless of their initial attitude (I Thes 5:18). We should be grateful to God for all
things (I Chron 16:8,34-36; 138:1-5; Eph 5:19-20; Col 1:12-14, 3:17), but especially for
His work of salvation and sanctification (I Thess 1:2-7, 2:13).
Adoration – The act of worship, of paying honor, reverence, and obedience to God
(Rom 12:1-2). God is love, and He has demonstrated His love in the gift of His Son.
The greatest desire of God is that we love Him with our whole being (Matt 22:37-40)
Our love should be expressed as His has been expressed, in both deeds and words.
When love for God fills our lives, we will express our love in prayer to the One who is
ultimately responsible for all that we are. Jesus said “If you love Me, keep My
commandments”.
Ways to bless the Lord:
Doing what God loves – Take the time to think WWJD before we act or speak. The Bible
tells us to be quick to listen and slow to speak. In Ps 33:5 it says “He loves
righteousness and judgment” (Ps 35:27; I Tim 2:1-4,8).
We are to imitate Jesus: (Eph 5:1-2).
Jesus said to “bless those who curse you” (Luke 6:28) in blessing them, you get God
involves in their lives. Besides when you curse you are sowing seed to be cursed,
because as you sow you will reap.
Jesus came to seek and save them that was lost (Matt 18:11; Luke 19:10;) We are sent
out by Jesus to do the same (Mark 16:15-16). The Bible says that hell has enlarged
itself, (Isa 5:14), that means we have to start doing our job more effectively.
Jesus went about doing good and healing all that was oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:
38).
Jesus cast demons out of people and said we would do the same (Mark 16:17-18).
Jesus only did what He saw the Father do, so we are to do what the Bible says (John 8:
28). Remember “obedience is better than sacrifice.”
Jesus finished the work given Him (John 17:4)
Jesus said “seek first the kingdom of God…” (Matt 6:30-34)
Walk by faith and not by sight as it says in II Cor 5:7- walking by faith is acting on what
we believe.
God gives rewards: (Job 36:11; Is 1:19; Heb 11:6b).