Untitled Sermon

Magnify

We are created to magnify.We are going to look at the life of David

​ KJV 19003 O magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt his name together.

What does it mean to magnifyThe Hebrew word has the idea of: to grow (up), to become strong, to be/become great, wealthy, importantEnglish def. (merriam-webster.com)1 a : extol, laud,  b: to cause to be held in greater esteem or respect2 a :  to increase in significance : intensify, b: exaggerate magnifies every minor issue to crisis proportions3  to enlarge in fact or in appearance Why was David magnifying the Lord?First, let’s look at David’s life:He grew up as boy who was despised by his brothers and valued little by his fatherWhen the prophet Nathan came to anoint the next king, his father didn’t think that it was worth having David includedHe was given the task of herding sheepHe was willing to wait on God because he was anointed but it was many years before he was given the authority of kingSaul tried to kill him 21 timesWhile he was running from Saul, David and his men of war had all their wives and children taken and their city was burned with fire - His men threatened to kill him -how did David respond?

​ KJV 19006 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. 7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David. 8 And David inquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.

He encouraged himself in the Lord -he reminded himself of who God isHe asked the Lord for directionGod confirmed what David was to do He committed adultery, had her husband killedHis child diesHe numbers Israel and as a result thousands dieAbsolom kills Amnon (both David’s sons)Absolom tries to usurp David as king and as a result, gets killedLater, Adonijah, another of David’s sons, also tries to take become kingHe suffered a diseaseYet he still lived to around 70 & maintained his faith and trust in the Lord

How did David encourage himself?

​ KJV 190010 When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take me up. 11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, And lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. 12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: For false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 13 I had fainted, unless I had believed To see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord: Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: Wait, I say, on the Lord.

He confessed who he knew that God was -in spite of his circumstances

God needs to be magnified above our circumstances, above our experiences, above our understanding

How does a magnifying glass work?We use it to make things larger, to bring a clearer pictureBut it only works if it is properly focusedHow does this apply to us? Jesus came to reveal the heart of the FatherSkip?? When the disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith, he said they only needed the faith of a mustard seed to plant a tree in the sea. This demonstrates the unlimited power of God that is available and having a tree plucked up and replanted in the sea is actually quite a small thing.Do we have God’s perspective? How do we get it? by meditating on God wordLet’s magnify the Lord over our circumstances, over our problems, over our life, over our desiresGod is light - -and there is no darkness in himWhen we magnify the Lord, we experience the light of God’s presence, because God is light -1 John 1Also, when we magnify the word of God we also receive lightWe are like a magnifying glass. Our life, our passion magnifies whatever it is that has our focus.Are you in focus with God? Has life knocked you out of focus?We can know that we are in focus when we accurately reflect Christ. We love God We love our brother

​ KJV 190030 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

​ KJV 190010 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

We fear God - -our theme verse

​ KJV 190031 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

​ KJV 1900130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple.

It is only natural that this should be true because Jesus is described as the living Word

​ KJV 1900105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.

​ KJV 1900114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. 115 Depart from me, ye evildoers: For I will keep the commandments of my God. 116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: And let me not be ashamed of my hope.

Scriptures

​ KJV 190020 My son, keep thy father’s commandment, And forsake not the law of thy mother: 21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, And tie them about thy neck. 22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; When thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; And when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. 23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; And reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

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​ KJV 190026 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: Let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

​ KJV 190027 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: Yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, Which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

-People were magnifying themselves, but David’s heart was to magnify the Lord

​ KJV 190030 I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify him with thanksgiving.

God is magnified with thanksgiving

​ KJV 19002 I will worship toward thy holy temple, And praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

​ KJV 190020 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

Don’t interpret God’s Word through the lens of your experience. Interpret your experience through the lens of God’s Word -John Bevere