USING WORSHIP AS A SPIRITUAL WARFARE WEAPON
Sometimes it seems life is just a series of battles. Our victory comes through Jesus alone. That means we must keep our focus on Him, trust in Him and lean on His for victory. Sometimes that can seem hard. How can we keep our eyes on Jesus when there are confusing, painful or defeating things going on in life? One of the best ways is to worship Jesus. We can keep our focus on Him by praising and thanking Him. Demons hate to hear Jesus worshipped, so when we worship, we weaken their power over us.
We know the name of Jesus is the greatest name ever. Praise the name of Jesus in prayer and in song. Thank Him that when He is for us no one can stand against us (Romans 8:31). Worship him because His name is above every name in heaven and on earth (Ephesians 1:21) and because He has all power and authority (Matthew 28:18). When you say His name aloud, through praise or a call for help, you are enlisting all of heaven’s armies, which respond to the beck and call of Jesus and His loved ones (Psalm 18:6-19, Romans 10:13).
Worshipping when going through trials, temptations and deep struggles affirms our trust in God. We are commanded to give thanks in ALL circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18), even disappointment, heartache pain and seeming defeat. As those are often times when we are at our weakest, and most prone to spiritual attack, our praise-in-all-things mentality will turn our focus back to Jesus. Worshipping Jesus will help weaken and ultimately defeat attacks of the enemy against us.
If you’re like Job, and you’re being attacked in spite of your upright living, then obey 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and thank Him that He is stronger than any forces that will ever come against you. Thank Him for how the trial or attack is developing you spiritually and perfecting and maturing your faith (James 1:2-4). As you keep a heart of praise, which is the essence of worship, you are abiding in Him. Psalm 22:3 says God inhabits the praises of His people or is enthroned in our praises. When God is inhabiting the person of praise, Satan’s attacks can irritate but not penetrate. Keep your heart and mind set on thanking Him and you will be fighting spiritual attacks with a weapon of praise.
Saying and praying Jesus’ name and worshipping Him in prayer is effective in spiritual warfare. It can be very effective to sing your worship as well. All of Scripture’s Psalms (which literally mean “songs”) were originally set to music and meant to be sung. Compose your own tune in your head as you sing the Bible’s Psalms aloud or sing some other New Testament passages. You can sing any Christian hymns or songs you know, especially ones that lift up Jesus. Play recorded music on the radio or internet and sing along. Singing or praying Scripture verses has the double benefit of standing on the truths of God’s Word but also helping you form your prayer and worship in a good way.
As you sing the scriptures, remind yourself of who you are in God’s eyes. For example, you are His beloved (Jeremiah 31:3), you are His friend (John 15:13-15), you are His adopted child (Romans 8:15), you are His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). When you quote scripture back to Satan, he knows that scripture, and he trembles – and backs off – at the power of the written word of God. That’s what Jesus did when He was tempted after fasting 40 days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). That’s our sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12). (June 26, 2023 Doylestown, PA)
Ephesians 6:11-12 “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Take a few minutes now to praise God. Try to keep an attitude of praise in your heart all day.
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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