Stronghold of praise

 

Job 1:20-21 “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Let’s have a quick recap of what led to this moment from Job. To set the scene: Job was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. He had seven sons and three daughters, and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East. Read Job1:13-18. Out of this context – Job praised the Lord. Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head – expression of grief and mourning
Psalm 8:2 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
Psm22:23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!...Where do we get this attitude and the intention to praise the Lord? ‘From you comes the theme of my praise’ (Psalm 22:25). The theme of our praise come from knowing our God. The true reality is…..there is always something to praise God for. There is never a time that God cannot be praised

Life may not always be kind to us…Story of Job shows us that. Loss in our life might not just be down to a bad choice or decision or as some call it ‘bad luck’, or of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It might well be the Devil. Satan wanted to put Job to the test. There will be times when we are tested because of Spiritual Warfare. I can’t begin to understand what it would be like to lose vast wealth to thieves. I can’t begin to understand what it would be like for what could seem like an ‘act of God’ to rob me of the most precious material things in my life and servants and still more wealth be lost. I can’t begin to understand what it would be like to lose 7 sons and 3 daughters. But I can understand what it’s like to experience loss of various kinds. And I do know that at some of the significant times of loss in my life the evil one has used it as an opportunity to try and turn me against God. That little whispering voice in my ear. Is God really your provider? Look how easy life is for that non-Christian…easier than yours. God’s not blessing you…you’ve got nothing compared to others. If God loves you….why is this happening to you and not to them. The best example is the temptation of Jesus. Matt 4:1-11. In simple terms-Jesus tempted re: God provision for his Daily bread – Practical Provision for daily living-God provision for Physical wellbeing – God’s provision for position/status/wealth in this life.
Psalm 137:1-6 Israel had hung up their instruments of worship and praise. What might God do through their praise?

Acts 16:25  At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. Imagine if by the Rivers of Babylon there were prayers and singing to God. What might have happened?!
Psalm 8:2 Through praise… A stronghold can be established against enemies. A stronghold is a place…That is fortified and that can be easily defended. A stronghold can be…A place where a group or activity or set of opinions is concentrated. For us to have a spiritual stronghold against our enemies we are to know God personally. We are to recognize the permanent character of our God. Know who He is and what He has done in our hearts and minds. And to praise Him.
A long time ago I discovered something very powerful about praise. I’m sure you all have but I’ll share this anyway. It’s very difficult for me to be praising God and to actively and willingly sin.
If I started to praise the Lord with my heart and mind….Temptation would more often than not- disperse – flee away….My mind and heart would go to a different place. They are no longer focused on the temptation but now focused on God. Jas_1:14 ‘But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.’… Sometimes if may be a direct attack of Satan as in the case of Job….Satan was allowed to touch his life. As in the case of Jesus…Satan was allowed to temp His humanity. In 2Cor12:7 Paul Called his Thorn in the Flesh ‘the messenger of Satan’

This is obviously a massive subject……But simply to say….Praise is a significant part of our spiritual warfare…. Psalm_22:3 (KJV) But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. When we praise God we invite Him into our situation. When we praise our Lord….we adore Him and put him on the throne of our life. Job 1:22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
God will never do wrong to us, and it’s a difficult thing to hold on to but the Lord will allow things in our life that will be true temptations. Why does He allow these things? Why do good people have bad things happen to them. Why do we have to struggle against the sin nature rising up in us? Why do we struggle with the world trying to mould us to conform? Why is the Devil allowed to attack us? I know this one thing. We have a choice…That when life goes wrong for us…..what are we going to do? Complain to God. Blame others. Give up on God….pack it in…Job could have done all that…but what did Job do? Praised God!

All our enemies want to charge God with wrongdoing. Well I won’t have it….Our God is a good God. Bad things started to happen in this world because of the lies of Satan, and continue to do so. But our God is allowing things to work out in His good time. So that as many people as possible will be saved.
There will be no puppets in heaven. Those end up in heaven, heaven on earth too, will be there because they want to be with God.
Until then….I want to encourage you…Are you in pain…..praise God…Are you struggling financially….praise God…Have you lost a loved one…..go to God in praise…Do people mock your faith…..praise God. I don’t say to do this flippantly…But go to God in praise to bring Him close to you in your suffering. Don’t let anything allow you to push God away. Whatever you face….Praise God for being with you all the way. Whatever the situation...Through the praise establish a stronghold against your enemies.

Because the reality is…
Naked you came from your mother’s womb, and naked you will depart. The Lord has given to you and the Lord will take away from you; So no matter what…..Praise the name of the Lord in all things!