Introduction

Greetings, cherished friends and family in Christ. Today we gather under the banner of His love, united in spirit and purpose, eager to hear the whisper of the Almighty. We find ourselves in the book of Psalms, specifically Psalm 34:1-3, and in the book of Job, chapter 13, verse 15. The words of the Psalmist echo through the ages, a testament to the enduring power of praise. And the words of Job, a testament to the enduring faith in the face of adversity.

Let's read together. “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the Lord; The humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together…Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” —Psalm 34:1-3, Job 13:15

The words are as clear as a mountain stream, as profound as the deepest ocean. They call us to a life of praise and a faith that perseveres, promising prosperity through praise.

Charles Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers, once said, "I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages." It's a vivid image, isn't it? The wave may be fierce, it may be relentless, but it propels us toward our eternal Rock. It's a reminder that even in the midst of our struggles, we are being drawn closer to our Savior.

Before we delve deeper into the richness of these passages, let's take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit into our midst.

Dear Lord, we come before you with open hearts and open minds. We thank you for your Word which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. As we reflect on these passages today, we ask that you would guide our thoughts and stir our hearts. Help us to see your truth and to apply it to our lives. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen.

So, dear friends, are we ready to embrace the wave? Are we ready to bless the Lord at all times, to trust Him even in the face of adversity? Are we ready to magnify the Lord and exalt His name together? Let's embark on this spiritual adventure together, buoyed by the promise of His everlasting love and grace.

Persisting in Praise

When we consider the words of the Psalmist, we find a call to praise that is not dependent on circumstances. It's a call to bless the Lord at all times, not just when things are going well. This is a challenge to us, isn't it? It's easy to praise God when we're on the mountaintop when everything is going our way. But what about when we're in the valley when we're facing trials and tribulations? Can we still bless the Lord then? The Psalmist says yes, we can and we should.

This kind of praise is a constant companion, a continual song in our hearts. It's a praise that is not based on what God does for us, but on who God is.

Now, let's look at this idea of magnifying the Lord. When we magnify something, we make it appear larger than it is. But when we magnify God, we're not making Him larger than He is. We're simply recognizing His true size, His true greatness. We're acknowledging that He is bigger than our problems, bigger than our fears, bigger than our doubts. We're saying, "God, you are greater than anything I'm facing. I will trust in you. I will praise you."

But how do we do this? How do we magnify the Lord in our lives? Well, one way is through our words. We can speak words of praise, words that exalt His name. We can tell others about His goodness, His faithfulness, His love. Share your testimonies and stories of how God has worked in your life.

Another way is through our actions. We can live lives that reflect His glory, that demonstrate His love. Strive to be more like Jesus, to love like He loved, to serve like He served.

And then there's our attitude. We can choose to have an attitude of gratitude, an attitude that recognizes all the blessings we have in Christ. Choose to focus on the positive, on the good, on the beautiful. The glass is always half full. It’s never half empty!

Finally, there's our faith. We can choose to trust in God, to rely on Him, to lean on Him. We can choose to believe that He is good, that He is faithful, that He is in control. He has a plan for our lives.

Transition. So, friends, let's choose to persist in praise. Let's choose to bless the Lord at all times, to magnify Him with our words, our actions, our attitudes, and our faith. Let's choose to exalt His name together, to lift Him high, to make Him known. And as we do, let's remember the words of the Psalmist: "The humble will hear it and rejoice." Let's remember that our praise is not just for us, but for others as well. Let's remember that our praise can bring joy to others, can encourage others, can inspire others. Let's remember that our praise can make a difference.

Persevering through Problems

As we continue to reflect on the words of Job, we find a man who, despite his circumstances, chose to trust in God ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO