Why We Use These Instruments Of Praise And Worship
This is a divine move of God. Not only is He calling us to worship, but He is also redeeming the arts back to the Body of Christ. Divine creativity through the arts, through interpretive dance, and through worship are being used to lift up God the Father.
Although it may not look like it at first, there is actually a great deal going on when we use our flags, praise hoops, and tabrets. It isn't just a pretty show of colors, or an outward exercise of flashiness. Something begins to happen in the heavenlies whenever Jesus is lifted up.
Some of the reasons we use these instruments are:
- They are instruments of praise and worship.
- They exalt a specific characteristic or name of the Lord.
- God is lifted up in our midst.
- It is an outward demonstration of what we feel inside.
- We confer honor on God when we worship with these instruments.
- We use them to minister to the Lord.
- They are symbolic weapons of warfare displayed in the midst of the
people in order to glorify God and disrupt the enemy's kingdom.
At times, you can actually sense the disrupting affect it has over the enemy's ability to control the atmosphere.
As mentioned in "The Call", this is a form of communication. Angels are aware of our communication with the Lord, as are the demons. The latter are irritated and fearful; at times even cringing and cowering because of the worship going up unto the Lord. Demonic forces hate any type of praise and worship. When you raise your hands in praise, or speak words of praise, or dance unto the Lord; the enemy hates it. He hates the sight of flags and tabrets, and even the sound of them; it grates on his nerves.
You see, Satan had been the worship leader in heaven. Now he is a fallen angel; and we are the worship leaders. Ezekiel 28 says that he was the most beautiful angel, and that he had instruments of music and praise built into him in the form of tabrets and pipes. When we worship, Satan is reminded of everything he lost when he fell from his place in heaven and he is reminded of his coming defeat. This is why he hates it so.
God is watching and to Him it is beautiful. It is a sweet smelling savor, an acceptable offering of our love. But the enemy is also watching, and takes no pleasure in our worship. Be prepared: anything that lifts up and exalts God is going to be fought by the enemy. You can expect opposition. By using these weapons you are entering a war....a war against the enemy. But we need not fear, because we have God on our side. We just need to be obedient in what he tells us to do. At times, God told Israel to send in the praisers
and worshipers first; then He rose up and He fought the battles for them.
Worshiping God is the focus here. We are to lift up God, not ourselves. Whether you choose to use the flags and tabrets or not - WORSHIP! Our bodies are instruments of praise and worship. We have a mouth, hands, and feet that can be used to praise the Lord. Find your personal worship style, whether it is clapping your hands, singing, shouting, dancing, or waving a flag or tabret, and exalt the Lord with all your might. He loves us and He is worthy of our praise.
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