Aspire to Praise

     Aspire to praise.  Hmmm, interesting thought, but what does it really mean.  Allow me to take you back a couple hundred years and try to show you.  You see, during the 18th century, godless philosophy had permeated much of life and true Christianity could only be found in a small minority--not much unlike today.  In 1737, when only 22 years old, the Biblical preaching of George Whitefield startled the sleeping nation like a trumpet blast and America's Great Awakening was under way.  He preached almost 18,000 sermons, which amazingly averages out to 40 to 60 hours per week.  As many as 20,000 people were captivated by the true word of God at one time.  The clergy and the press, both of which often seem to want worldly ways to prevail, attacked him.  And yet, George Whitefield pushed on with the truth, praising and thanking God for all that He had done through the cross at Calvary.

     In fact, he pushed on until he died--while preaching, almost.  In 1770, while on a final preaching tour through the American colonies, his body was racked with pain and exhaustion.  When too tired to preach, he lifted his voice all the more.  When he rode into Exeter, New Hampshire, he was told he looked more fit to go to bed than to preach.  That night, the crowd assembled and he stood precariously atop an old barrel.  He quoted his text: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.  Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates.” (2 Cor. 13:5)  and began to preach.  One eyewitness reported, "He was sluggish and weary, as if exhausted by his labors.  His face seemed bloated, his voice hoarse.  But then his mind kindled in thanksgiving, and his lion-like voice roared to the extremities of his audience."  Having preached for two hours, he finally cried out, "I go!  I have outlived many on earth but they cannot outlive me in heaven.  My body fails, my spirit expands."  He was helped from the barrel onto his horse and he continued to Newburyport.  That evening, a group of friends asked him to speak to them, but he begged off, citing asthma.  He arose, took a lighted candle, and started up the steps.  Turning, he delivered a brief, but powerful, message.  When the candle died out, he continued up the stairs and went to bed, where he died during the night.

     Died preaching, almost.  George Whitefield was so filled with the Holy Spirit, his thanksgiving and praise toward his Lord could not burn out--unlike the candle. On one occasion, he preached a sermon entitled, "The Almost Christian," based on Paul's trial before King Agrippa, the latter responding with, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." (Acts 26: 28)  The sermon was all about the characteristics of true Christianity as opposed to the drivel that most churches were, and are, putting out.  This is but his closing statement: "Let me, therefore, to conclude, exhort you my brethren, to always have before you the unspeakable happiness of enjoying God.  And remember that every degree of holiness you neglect, every act of piety you omit, is a jewel taken out of your crown, a degree of blessedness lost in the vision of God...Be daily endeavoring to give up yourselves more and more unto Him.  You will always be watching, always praying, always aspiring after further degrees of purity and love, and consequently, always preparing yourselves for fuller praise to and enjoyment of God, in whose presence there is fullness of joy, and at whose right hand there are pleasures forever and ever. Amen!”

     Imagine!  When in these days of limp modern Christianity have you seen such devotion, such thanksgiving, such an aspiring to praise the Lord, even in the midst of poor health, trials, and hardships?  George Whitefield called one and all, both then and now, to aspire to praise, to seek with every fiber of the being to have the entire life surrendered to the rule and reign of Jesus Christ.  Aspire to praise!  Did you notice something here?  "Aspire" and "praise" have the same number of letters?  But did you also notice that they have the same letters--the same exact letters?  In a very real sense, these two words are vitally connected.  While it is true that people can aspire to about anything--self recognition, pride, and a whole myriad of characteristics--if we are to be in God's perfect will, there is really only one thing to aspire to, namely, to be eternally grateful to Him for His mercy and love and give Him all of the glory and praise.

     Aspire to praise!  Oh yes, it is possible to aspire to other things--even religious things--but it only reveals a tragic lack.  Some aspire to being spiritual, but have a very false notion of what that means.  They think that as long as they can mentally agree that there was an historical man named Jesus, that they truly believe, and therein, are saved.  Some study and memorize facts in commentaries until they are blue in the face, but lack intimacy with the real Jesus and love for His people.  Some hold to the anchor of their good works, charitable contributions, and church attendance, and thereby, feel safe.  Some deny that the New Testament authors speak to today, and thereby minimize His rule, His reign, and His control over our lives—the Kingdom of God.  Many today aspire to being spiritual, but are hindered by their fear of what friends, family, and co-workers would think, and don't want to be accused of being fanatical.  They don't know that the Bible clearly says, "The friendship of this world is enmity with God?" (James 4:4)—and that Jesus Himself said, "Whosoever shall be ashamed of me or of my words, in this wicked and adulterous generation, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father, and of His holy angels?"  (Mark 8:38)  No wonder that so many are no more than almost Christians, since so many "love the praise of men more than the honor which cometh of God." (John 5:44)

     Furthermore, many today aspire to financial security, the love of pleasure, and refuse to hear the real Jesus call them to denial of self and trusting in Him completely.  All of these aspirations lead to a fickleness, a double-mindedness, and a tremendous instability.  Many have approached Christianity as a novelty--something that interested them--but when the novelty wore off, and they started to see the seriousness of Jesus' call, they laid it aside.  The Lord Himself said, "If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him."  (Hebrews 10:38)  Yes, indeed, one can aspire to many things, but they will all fall short of His heart.  All, that is, except a grateful heart and a spirit of praise that flows freely from knowing His love.  Sir Moses Montefiore, the Jewish philanthropist, had as a motto in his family, "Think and Thank."  In the old Anglo-Saxon, thankfulness means "thinkfulness."  Thinking of the greatness of God and the enormity of His gift of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ, draws forth true confession of sin, repentance, a changed nature and heart, and a transformed obedient life.  Anything less is almost Christianity.  Several years ago, a young missionary spent many hours telling a group of high-caste Hindu girls about the suffering of Jesus Christ.  One girl behind her started crying, so the missionary turned to her and asked, “What is the trouble?”  Through her tears, the girl answered with sobs, “Oh, I cannot bear it—not another word!  He suffered so—and you said it was for me!  Oh, I cannot bear it—I love Him so!”  Observed the American missionary when she told it afterwards, “I never realized until that minute how little I had loved my savior—I, who had never shed a tear over His suffering for me.”

     Jesus suffered and died as payment for your sin, have you thanked Him for that?  Someone once said, "Nobody really lives until he finds something big enough to give himself to."  Believe me, there is nothing bigger than Jesus and His love.  He not only defeated Satan, He destroyed the bonds that sin had on you--you no longer have to sin.  His grace, once received and allowed to live in you, is the power to choose not to sin.  Give yourself to Him and live.  When King Agrippa admitted to being almost Christian, Paul replied, “I would to God that not only thou but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.” (Acts 26:29)  Altogether surrendered.  Altogether devoted.  Altogether thankful. Aspire to praise--not almost, but altogether!

The man was indeed wise who prayed over a heavy Thanksgiving table: "Lord, please grant us one more blessing...a thankful heart."