"The Gateway To His Presence" - Pastor John D. Putnam
September 21, 2025
Pastor John D. Putnam
In this powerful and joy-filled message titled “The Gateway to His Presence”, Pastor John D. Putnam opens Psalm 100 to reveal the pathway into God’s presence. With vivid teaching and heartfelt urgency, he reminds us that while worship is the ultimate destination, praise is the gateway that ushers us in. Pastor Putnam draws from Israel’s tabernacle, the walls of Jericho, and Paul and Silas’ midnight praise to show how thanksgiving and praise are not optional—they are essential. Praise is more than noise or ritual; it is the key that unlocks God’s presence, changes atmospheres, tears down walls, and brings freedom where there is bondage. From clapping hands to shouts of joy, from gratitude for daily blessings to praise in life’s darkest valleys, Pastor Putnam challenges us to embrace praise as a lifestyle. For when the praises go up, the blessings come down—and the presence of God fills the room. If you’ve been longing for breakthrough, healing, or simply a fresh encounter with the Lord, this message will remind you that the gateway is open, and your praise is the key. To hear more about what God is doing in Sheboygan County and beyond, visit us at posc.church!
Episode Notes
Main Point: Praise is the gateway into God’s presence—it prepares the way for His power to move.
- Psalm 100 teaches us that thanksgiving and praise open the path into God’s courts.
- Praise is verbal, visible gratitude to God—spoken, sung, shouted, and demonstrated.
- Worship flows from intimacy, but praise is the key that opens the door.
- The tabernacle revealed a process: before sacrifice, cleansing, and the ark—there was the gate of thanksgiving and the court of praise.
- Praise isn’t optional; it’s required to step into God’s presence and experience His power.
Key Scriptures:
- Psalm 100:4 – “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.”
- Psalm 22:3 – “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.”
- Psalm 34:1-3 – “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
- Joshua 6:20 – Jericho’s walls fell when the people shouted in praise.
- Acts 16:25-26 – Paul and Silas praised at midnight, and chains fell.
Major Themes:
- Praise Prepares the Atmosphere – God manifests His presence where His people praise.
- Praise Brings Breakthrough – Walls fall and chains break when God’s people lift Him up.
- Praise Is a Choice – Even in hardship, powerful praise happens when it makes the least sense.
- Praise Changes Us – It lifts us from despair, exchanges heaviness for joy, and aligns us with God’s presence.
- Praise Is Required – It’s not just noise; it’s the key that unlocks God’s glory.
Reflection Questions:
- Do I treat praise as optional or as essential for entering God’s presence?
- Am I praising God only when it feels easy, or even when it doesn’t make sense?
- What walls in my life might fall if I learned to praise through the difficulty?
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