UNSTOPPABLE PRAISE
The COVID-19 pandemic has gone on now for more than a year. In our effort to deal with this, many things changed, and some things have stopped altogether. Students stopped physically attending classes. Families stopped going to movies. Many who were employed were forced to stop working. Thousands of churches closed their doors, stopping parishioners from physically attending worship services. All of us have something that came to a halt because of the pandemic, even if it was temporary. Regardless of what stopped, I trust that our praise remained unstoppable.
This month, the Christian community celebrated Jesus’ resurrection. However, the Sunday prior to Easter was Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday recalls Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. One of the many things present on that particular Sunday is praise. The account is in all four gospels. However, I want you to look at Luke’s account in Luke 19:36-40:
Luke 19:36-40 (English Standard Version)
36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” [1]
Clearly, the praise here is consistent. In Jesus’ triumphal entry, the praise is unstoppable. What do we learn about unstoppable praise in the above passage? Well, there are at least three things about unstoppable praise in the text.
The first thing that made the praise unstoppable is this – those who praised recalled what Jesus had done. You may be waiting on Him to do something or some things; however, you know that he has done some things for you as well as for others around you. They recall what He has done in verse 37:
Luke 19:37
37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;[2]
Mighty works are signs, wonders, and miracles that manifested His great power, proving His authority and clarifying that He is able. Paul affirms the Lord’s awesome ability in Ephesians 3:20.
Ephesians 3:20
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,[3]
What are some of the mighty miracles done by Jesus that manifested His great power, which the praisers knew to be a reality? Well, Jesus healed the sick, restored sight, and even raised the dead. Thinking about His mighty acts makes praise unstoppable! Don’t forget what He has done for you and what He has done for others. Unstoppable praise recalls and remembers what He did and what He has done.
The second thing that made the praise unstoppable is this – those who praised focused on who Jesus is. Yes, they appreciated what He did. However, they also centered their attention on who He is. This being fixed on Jesus is in verse 38:
Luke 19:38
38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”[4]
Their focus on Jesus caused them to declare something about Jesus. That is, they proclaimed Him to be King. Hence, they treated Him like a victorious king by using their clothes to make a carpet and waving the branches and palm leaves. King indicates that He rules, reigns, is sovereign and has authority. Unstoppable praise focuses on who He is. Think about who He is to you and who He is in your life.
The third and final thing I see in the text about unstoppable praise is weapons against it do not work. The devil will try to stop your praise. The adversary will attack, assault, and condemn praise but to no avail. The reason the attacks against praise fail is because Jesus defends praise. His protecting praise is in verse 39:
Luke 19:39
39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”[5]
The request is for Jesus to rebuke praise. That is, the adversary wants Jesus to strongly disapprove, shut down, and condemn the praise. The goal is to get Jesus to restrain those who are praising Him, as if they are wrong and out of order. Yes, Jesus rebuked some things. He rebuked demons, fever, and storms. However, He refused to rebuke praise. I am so glad that Jesus defends praise. For Him to protect the praise means that He protects the ones who are praising. Praise Him and watch Him defend you!
Has the pandemic canceled your praise? Have life challenges caused you to stop giving the Lord Jesus praise? I do not want my praise to be temporary. He does not deserve momentary, brief, passing, fading, and fleeing praise. I want to live out David’s words in Psalms 34:1-3:
Psalms 34:1-3
1 I will bless the Lord at all times:
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord:
The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3 O magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt his name together.[6]
Right now, this moment is a perfect time to praise the Lord. Here is a little help to move you into praise. One, recall what He has done. Two, focus on who He is. Three, remember Jesus defends praise. Now is the time to make your praise unstoppable!
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Lk 19:36–40.
[2] The Holy Bible: King James Version., electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. (Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995), Lk 19:37.
[3] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Eph 3:20.
[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Lk 19:38.
[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Lk 19:39–40.
[6] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Ps 34:1–3.
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