The Power and Purpose of Praise: Living as God's Favorites

From Sunday morning message, titled, The Power and Purpose of Praise, by Pastor Steve Yoder, delivered November 16, 2025.
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As believers in Christ, we hold a special position—we are God's favorites. This isn't about pride or exclusivity, but about understanding the incredible grace and favor God has shown us through Jesus. With this favor comes both privilege and responsibility, particularly in how we use one of our most powerful instruments: our tongue.

What Does It Mean to Adorn the Gospel?
Scripture tells us in Titus 2:10 that we should "adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things." The word "adorn" means to decorate, to make attractive, to beautify. Our lives should make the gospel of Christ appealing to those around us.

This isn't primarily about our outward appearance, though we should present ourselves well. It's about our speech and our actions. When people observe our daily conduct - in business, at home, in relationships - they should see something that makes them want what we have.

The Instrument of the Tongue
We've been created in God's image, and one thing that sets us apart from animals is our ability to communicate complex thoughts and ideas. This gift of speech is not accidental - it's purposeful. James compares the tongue to a ship's rudder or a horse's bridle. Though small, it determines the direction of our entire life.

How Faith and Speaking Work Together
There's a direct relationship between faith and speaking that we see throughout Scripture. David said, "I believed, therefore have I spoken," and Paul quotes this in 2 Corinthians 4:13, saying we have that same spirit of faith.

Romans 10:8-10 shows us this connection clearly: "The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

Confession Means Agreement
The word "confession" means to say the same as, to agree with. When we confess Christ with our mouths, we're agreeing with what God says about His Son. This isn't just a one-time event at salvation - it's an ongoing lifestyle of agreeing with God's Word through our speech.

Why Were We Created to Praise?
Isaiah 43:7 tells us that everyone called by God's name was created "for my glory." Verse 21 adds, "This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise." First Peter 2:9 echoes this: we are "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."

We were literally made for praise. It's our purpose, our design. When we praise God, we're fulfilling the very reason for our existence.

What Praise Actually Means
Praise is different from worship. Worship is an attitude of the heart, but praise always involves sound. You don't praise God by sitting quietly and thinking - you praise Him by opening your mouth and declaring His goodness.

Praise means to boast, to celebrate, to make a show, to honor with sound. It's making noise about God's greatness. Think about how people celebrate when their sports team wins - that's the kind of enthusiasm we should have about the ultimate victory Christ won for us.

What Happens When We Praise God?

• Praise Shifts Our Focus
When David faced the devastating situation at Ziklag - his city burned, families captured, his own men ready to stone him - the Bible says "David encouraged himself in the Lord." He shifted his focus from the overwhelming problem to the God who had delivered him before. This led to complete victory and restoration.

Paul and Silas demonstrated this same principle in prison. Instead of complaining about their circumstances, they prayed and praised God. The result? An earthquake, broken chains, freedom, and the jailer's salvation.

• Praise Provides Access to God
Psalm 100:4 instructs us to "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise." Psalm 22:3 tells us that God "inhabitest the praises of Israel" - He is enthroned on our praises.

When we praise God, we create an atmosphere that welcomes His presence. It's like rolling out a red carpet for the King of Kings.

• Praise Is a Spiritual Weapon
Psalm 149 speaks of having "the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand" to execute judgment on evil forces. When we praise God in the midst of difficulty, we're not just encouraging ourselves - we're engaging in spiritual warfare.

The story of Jehoshaphat illustrates this powerfully. Faced with a massive enemy army, God's strategy was to send singers ahead of the soldiers. As they praised God, He caused the enemy armies to turn on each other, and Israel won without fighting a single battle.

The Garment of Praise
Isaiah 61:3 speaks of receiving "the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." This represents a divine exchange - we give God our heaviness, depression, and despair, and He clothes us with praise instead.

What garment are you wearing today? When troubles come, are you known for complaint and negativity, or for praise and thanksgiving? The atmosphere you carry affects not only you but everyone around you.

Making Praise a Lifestyle
Hebrews 13:15 calls us to "offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually." David appointed 4,000 Levites whose sole job was to offer praise and thanksgiving to God every morning and evening. We too are called to be ministers of praise.

This means praising God not just when we feel like it, but as a continual lifestyle. When your spouse is difficult, praise God. When work is challenging, praise God. When circumstances don't go as planned, praise God anyway.

The Danger of Wrong Speech
Just as praise brings life and victory, complaining and murmuring bring death and defeat. The Israelites in the wilderness complained against God's provision, and many died from the poisonous serpents He sent among them.

Our tongue was designed to praise God and bring life. When we use it for grumbling and complaining, we're misusing this powerful instrument and creating an atmosphere that attracts the wrong spiritual influences.

Life Application
This week, make a conscious decision to transform your speech. Instead of defaulting to complaint when things go wrong, choose praise. When you're tempted to grumble about your circumstances, remember that you were created to show forth God's praise.

Start each day by offering praise to God for who He is and what He's done. When challenges arise, follow David's example and encourage yourself in the Lord by remembering His past faithfulness. Let your speech adorn the gospel, making it attractive to those around you.

Ask yourself these questions:
What "garment" am I wearing - praise or complaint?
Does my speech make the gospel attractive to others?
Am I using my tongue for its designed purpose of praising God?
When difficulties arise, do I turn to praise or to worry and complaint?

Remember, you are God's favorite, created for His glory. Let your life—especially your words—reflect that incredible truth.