SPIRITUAL WARFARE: PRAISE
This week, Greg Schut wrapped up our series on Spiritual Warfare with the topic of praise. He began with 2 Chronicles 20,
"He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’... After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
“Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever." As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.” - 2 Chronicles 20:15-17, 21-22 (NIV)
When they were going into battle, they would send the worshippers out ahead of the army. The battle is not ours, but God's. When we magnify God first, we are putting the situation into His hands and glorifying Him. What you magnify will be magnified. Do you magnify the Lord, or your circumstances?
Greg shared his testimony of healing for back pain - when he was struggling with the pain, he constantly worshiped God and stood in His identity as a son of God. In that identity, we are given healing by the blood of the Lamb. After choosing to focus on God, rather than the pain, Greg had breakthrough. When we focus on our other circumstances, our eyes are taken off of Christ. Jesus says "Worship me in Spirit and in Truth". The Truth says that we are sons and daughters of God. We are free. And everything Jesus has been given, has also been given to us.
In 2 Samuel 6:12-23, we see David's heart steadfast in the Lord as he worships. As the ark of God was brought to Jerusalem, David and the entire house of Israel worshiped. David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might. He was leaping and dancing, his deepest act of humility for the Lord. As this was happening, Michal, Saul's daughter and David's wife watched from a window and despised David in her heart. Michal had a heart issue - she was not down worshiping with all of Israel and she was angry with David and his reckless, all-out act of worship. In verse 23, we read that Michal had no children. This shows that the fruit of our lives is affected by our worship.
In Acts 16 we read how Paul and Silas are severely beaten and thrown in jail for casting a demon out of a woman, ruining the fortune telling business of that city. Paul and Silas, in their wounded and chained up state, still sang praising to God all through the night. Their act of worship broke the chains of all those in the jail. The jailor, scared of his punishment to come nearly committed suicide, but was stopped by Paul and Silas as they led him to Jesus Christ. Our worship changes things for more than ourselves, but it can break chains for others.
Greg concluded by emphasizing that worship is not just a tool or weapon in spiritual warfare, it is something we do because God is worthy of all of our praise.
To watch the IGNITE service online, click here.
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