Your Praise Has a Purpose

Atmospheres are important. They are “a surrounding influence or environment.” They speak of a pervading or surrounding influence or spirit.

What surrounds you matters…

We like to think we have control over what we do. We like to think if we set our minds to accomplishing a task, we can get where we want to go… but the truth is, our minds are easily swayed by external forces!

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Like it or not, we are products of our environment. You have to determine to be an atmosphere shifter!

There is a supernatural element that is set into motion when we, in faith, expect something extraordinary to happen. God will respond to a people who believe that He is, and that He is a Rewarder of those that diligently seek Him.

When we direct our faith toward God, He will surprise you… When we enter with NO LIMITATIONS we set the ATMOSPHERE IN MOTION. “I’m about to change this thing”…

Let’s look at an atmosphere shifter:

Mark 14:3-9 (NIV), “While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

Mark 14:6-9 (Message), “But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why are you giving her a hard time? She has just done something wonderfully significant for me. You will have the poor with you every day for the rest of your lives. Whenever you feel like it, you can do something for them. Not so with me. She did what she could when she could she pre-anointed my body for burial. And you can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she just did is going to be talked about admiringly.”

We are going to examine 3 aspects of this passage to “change your thing” – to “shift an atmosphere”:

Moment
Mission
Ministry

First, there is much contention among commentators over who this woman is. Some think it’s Mary, the sister of Lazarus, others believe it to be Mary Magdalene.

Either way it shows me it was a woman who is deeply appreciative and grateful to God for his goodness.

Gratitude is “The feeling of thankfulness and appreciation.” It’s etymology is “thankful and pleasing,” from the root of “gratus” or “grace.” “God’s favor” or “help”: It means, “Pleasing, quality, favor, good will, agreeable.”

“To be grateful” is “TO PRAISE.”

When you start thinking about the goodness of God– Psalm 34:1-3 (NKJV), “I will bless The Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together”

When I meditate on how He saved me and delivered me– Psalm 63:1-5 (NIV), “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you,

in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.”

I can’t help but to have– Psalm 103:1-5 (NKJV), “Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”