Elevate
“Jude 24-25”

“I’d give more praise.” – Duke Wellington, 1815

True in our relationship with God
No matter what’s going on around us:
	Whether it’s constant or changing 
	Calm or chaotic
	Peaceful or stressful

Giving praise to God will ELEVATE our relationship to God
	Who God is
	What He does

That is why there are “doxologies” throughout the Bible
•	Psalms is broken into five sections of Doxologies 
•	21 New Testament
•	Usually end with “Amen”

Doxology
To express praise to God

Doxologies teach us to worship God and about the God we worship

Doxa = glory, praise
Logos = word, to speak

Expressing praise to God
1.	Bible instructs us – Psalm 150:6
2.	Facilitates access to God – Psalm 100:4; Hebrews 10:19
3.	Places us in center of God’s presence – Psalm 22:3
4.	Chases away despair – Isiah 61:3
5.	An effective weapon against the enemy – Isaiah 14
6.	He deserves it

“And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” – Matthew 26:30, after the Lord’s Supper

Jude 24-25
Fullest and most beautiful doxologies in all of the Scripture 

Praise God
1.	He never quits on us
      never “throws in the towel”

Good Shepherd 

The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out … he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. – John 10:3-4

Sheep are helpless
•	When they are alone - they can end up “cast”
•	Against a predator – they get “paralyzed” 
•	When they eat – indiscriminate about what they eat

Praise God
2.	He always protects us
a.	Through Salvation = blameless 
        It’s penalty – past
        It’s power – present 
        The presence – future 

God treated Jesus like we deserve; God treated us like Jesus deserved
		
b.	Through misfortunes – Isaiah 61:3, “Beauty FOR Ashes”
c.	By His influence, greatness, authority, power – Zephaniah 3:17

Giving praise to God will elevate our relationship to God

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with the great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen – Jude 24, 25