One of the pivotal truths surrounding the ministry at Praise On Fire Radio stems from Psalm 22:3 (See The FIRE in Praise On Fire) and involves the sovereignty and authority of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Most of our understanding of worship in the church today has strictly to do with how it "makes us feel", which is [obviously] wonderful. In His presence is fullness of joy. There is immeasurable personal benefit to be gained from entering into the presence of the Most High God by worshipping Him. But there is even more to it than that.... Praise and worship are apostolic. They are foundational truths upon which the Kingdom of God is established. For He Whom we worship is a sovereign King. Genesis 49:10 states, "The scepter shall not depart from Judah (praise), nor the ruler's staff from between his feet". Psalm 22:3 says, "Yet Thou art holy, O God, Who art enthroned upon the praises of Israel" Therein lies a fundamental Biblical truth which is then foundational to His Kingdom. The verse in Psalms is telling us that when we praise Him, it creates and establishes in the spiritual realm a throne, a place of authority, rulership and governance for the King of the Universe to exercise His oversight in the affairs of men.   Genesis 49:10 is telling us that this oversight of the Sovereign will never be established separate from praise. In the midst of a psalm of  praise in Exodus 15:2, the Holy Spirit, through  Moses, exhorts us to  prepare Him a habitation through praise. This habitation is the courts of God where He is "enthroned" upon our praise, the place of Kingdom power and authority. And a careful study of Luke 19:11 through 20:8 shows clearly that this was prevalent in Jesus' mind as He walked through that period of days surrounding His triumphant entry into Jerusalem and subsequently His obedience to the cross.

    He was walking out apostolic principles of the Kingdom. And, it began with Him being "enthroned upon the praises of the people" as He entered Jerusalem the week before He laid down His life for our sin.  He was honored as King in a great processional through the streets of the City of God, Jerusalem.  All the people praised and exalted Him, waving their palm branches in adoration, the scripture saying, "And as He was now approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully and with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, saying, BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Elsewhere in scripture surrounding this event, the priest and elders of Israel were quoted as saying, "The people were hanging on His every word" and "The whole world has gone after Him". The atmosphere of His power turned the hearts of the people and the whole city to Him. Before Jesus had even reached the city, the multitude who were in Jerusalem for the feast heard He was coming and went out of the city to meet Him.  They were rejoicing and shouting loudly and joyfully as He came through the city gate. The panic among the city elders was because the people were heralding Him as King and calling Him the "Son of David" which was to acknowledge Him as the Messiah! The place of His throne was fully established in their praise. The spiritual atmosphere of the city was His to administrate whatever business for the Kingdom He deemed appropriate.

    So what Kingdom business was the Lord Jesus' priority as His Kingly authority was secured in the atmosphere of Jerusalem that day? Matthew 21:12 gives the answer. And Jesus entered the temple and cast out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who were selling doves. And He said to them, "It is written, My House shall be called a House of Prayer, but you are making it a robber's den."  And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. Hallelujah! Jesus was focused on sanctification and as a result ~ healing! When the acknowledgment of His authority among the people was at its height, the statement He wanted them to remember was that the House of God needed to be clean and full of prayer. The next day He cursed the fig tree because it had no fruit on it.  Clearly the scripture is telling us that the result of our praise must be that the King is enthroned upon our heart in our temple and acknowledged as having rightful authority in our temple, and when He comes in, after we have enthroned Him on our praise, we must allow Him to cleanse our temple and make us a house of prayer!  We must not be like the fig tree, refusing to bear fruit in our proper season, but we must bring forth the fruit of the Spirit out of the goodness of the Spirit of God that dwells within us. Acknowledging and allowing His rightful authority to consume us as we praise Him, will heal us and release us to bring the fruit of cleansing and healing to the lives of others. We must then take it into the streets of our lives and our communities.

   In this season of Lent, as we approach the Resurrection Celebration, allow the King of the Universe to take His seat of power and sovereignty, enthroned upon your praise.  And when you have worshipped Him and acknowledged Him, let Him cleanse your temple and fill you with a Spirit of prayer.  There is no greater joy than surrender to Him in worship, leading to surrender to Him in all things. Amen and amen.

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