Worship and Warfare
Many of us have such a pretty, comforting picture of the cross. We see the forgiveness of our sins, our reconciliation to the Father, and provision for our healings. But do we see the rest of the picture? Jesus was in physical and emotional agony on the cross. Jesus was also in spiritual warfare on the cross. Numerous people view the cross as completely foolish. Many also consider worship to be foolish and weak, when in reality it, too, is a form of warfare.
1 Corinthians 1:27 says, "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty". Who would have thought that David could really slay Goliath with one small stone? Who would have believed that the walls of Jericho would fall down flat at the shout of the people? Or what about when Samson slew a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of an ass? To the natural eye each of these things seems totally foolish. Yet God was at work in each one of them. How much more foolish is it to stand in front of the entire congregation waving a flag or a tabret around in the air?
Just as there was no actual power in David's stone or Samson's jawbone; there is no actual power in the flags or tabrets. They are symbolic weapons. Praise and worship are weapons in themselves because they lift up God, and tear down the enemy's kingdom. Every time you give true praise unto the Lord a spiritual missile is hurled into the enemy's camp. A missile that causes confusion and destruction. That is why the enemy so hates and so fights our praise. "Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight", Psalm 144:1.
You must remember this:
This is Warfare.....not just waving a flag.
By using these instruments of praise and worship you are entering into spiritual warfare.
We are an army! We are the militia of the Lord. A militia by definition is an assemblage of armed citizens brought together for the common defense. In Colonial America, when the militia was mustered, you would see men armed with whatever they had - some with rifles, some with shotguns, some with muskets, others with just pikes and spears. They were there, armed, ready to defend their liberty, their homes, and their families from the onslaught of the enemy.
When you are giving praise to the Lord with your flag or tabret, or even just your bare hands, you, too, are standing up to the onslaught of your enemy. You are in battle for, and with, the Lord. You are a member of the army of the Lord.
We have all heard of hand-to-hand combat. In man's army hand-to-hand combat is a physical one-on-one confrontation with the enemy. In God's army hand-to-hand combat is lifting your hands in praise. Although our enemy is unseen - the combat is real.
Remember:
The Lord inhabits the praises of His people.
This means God lives in, dwells in, our praise. Our praise actually creates an atmosphere for God to dwell in. Where God dwells there is peace. Where God dwells there is joy. Where God dwells there is salvation. Where God dwells there is deliverance. Where God dwells there is victory!
The definition of praise is "to laud, to celebrate; a joyful tribute of gratitude or reverance paid to the Divine Being. To commend, to applaud, to extol, to magnify".
Psalm 66:1-2, "Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious!"
Psalm 100, "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us and not we ourselves; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."
Psalm 150, "Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals; praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD."
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