This week we’re using the PRAISE framework as a launch point to connect with God and worship him.
A tip of the hat to Darlene Fray for developing this framework and teaching it to our worship team.
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P – Proclaim (declare) truth
R – Renew our Mind, Refresh our Soul
A – Adoration
I – Intimacy & Intercession
S – Sanctification
E – Expectation (expect to meet with God)
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Today we’re looking at the letter S in the word Praise, and the S stands for Sanctification.
In the framework this step is all about becoming holy, in the same way God is holy. So today’s email comes replete with a recommendation.
That’s right. Don’t read this email. That’s my recommendation. Because today’s email is gonna get real. And if I’m going to beat anybody up about sanctification it should simply be me.
That said, if your faith is tall enough to meet the minimum height requirements for this ride, feel free to proceed at your own risk.
In 1988 Paula Abdul (yes, the former American Idol judge and Los Angeles Lakers cheerleader) released her debut studio album Forever Your Girl. It set a record on the Bilboard Top 100 for the most number-one singles from a debut album, including Forever Your Girl, Cold Hearted, Opposites Attract, and Straight Up:
Straight up, now tell me do you really wanna love me forever? (Oh, oh, oh)
Or am I caught in a hit-and-run?
Straight up, now tell me is it gonna be you and me together? (Oh, oh, oh)
Or are you just havin’ fun?
Paula Abdul, “Straight Up”, 1988
If God were laying down these vocals about his relationship with you, could it be certified as a hit?
The thing is, God wants to have a relationship with each of us. But he wants us IN the relationship, not part-timing him.
The fact is if we’re only calling on God when we want something, if we’re only praying when we need something, that’s not a relationship. That’s a booty call.
Hey—I told you not to read this.
And the fact is if you’re more concerned about the fact I used “booty call” in a devotional than you are about the actual state of your relationship with God… Then go ahead and send me those emails.
Thank about it. God is HOLY. And he wants us to be holy as well.
Prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:13-16 NLT
The process of becoming holy is called Sanctification.
God calls us to holiness. The good news is that he graciously gives us what he commands us to be.
Sanctification is a continuing change worked by God in us. It frees us from sinful habits and forms us to be like Christ. It does not mean that sin is instantly eradicated, but is a REAL transformation, and not just the appearance of one.
God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son.
Romans 8:29 MSG
This is what God promises to do within us—not something he requires us to figure out on our own and produce before he’ll take an interest in us.
This is what REAL relationship with God looks like. And this is what praise leads us to.
Sanctification.
That’s worship.
–Pastor Steve.