Introduction

Good morning, my dear church family. I am thrilled to be standing before you today, to share a message that I believe is timely and relevant for all of us. It's a message that touches on the very heart of our faith, our worship, and our relationship with God.

Our text for today is found in 2 Chronicles 20:22-23. Let's read it together:

"When 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. The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another."

This passage paints a vivid picture of the power of worship and the might of our God. It's a story that shows us that our praises are not just songs, but weapons. It's a tale that reminds us that our victory is not in our hands, but in the hands of our God.

Power in Praises

When we lift our voices in song, when we pour out our hearts in worship, there's a shift that happens. It's as if the very atmosphere changes. It's as if the walls that surround us, the burdens that weigh us down, the battles that we face, they all seem to fade into the background. It's as if we're transported to a place where it's just us and God. It's a place of peace, a place of joy, a place of strength. It's a place where we can truly experience the power of our praises.

The Israelites were facing a formidable enemy: They were outnumbered, outmatched, and seemingly out of options. But instead of succumbing to fear, instead of giving in to despair, they chose to worship. They chose to sing. They chose to praise. And in doing so, they unleashed a power that was far greater than any army, any weapon, any strategy. They unleashed the power of God.

Now, let's take a closer look at this. Let's see how our praises can be powerful, how our worship is a form of warfare, and how our victory is vested in God.

Firstly: Our praises invite God's presence. In Psalms 22:3, it says that God inhabits the praises of His people. When we praise, we create an environment that is conducive for God to dwell. We create a space where God can move, where God can work, where God can manifest His power. Our praises are like a welcome mat, inviting God into our situations, our struggles, our lives. And when God is present, anything is possible. Victory is assured. Breakthrough is inevitable. Miracles are just a praise away.

Secondly: Our praises shift our focus. When we're faced with challenges, it's easy to get caught up in the problem. It's easy to focus on the obstacle, the difficulty, the impossibility. But when we praise, our focus shifts from the problem to the problem-solver, from the battle to the victor, from the storm to the one who can calm the storm. Our praises help us to see beyond the natural, to the supernatural. They help us to see beyond the temporal, to the eternal. They help us to see beyond the problem, to the promise.

Thirdly: Our praises release our faith. When we praise, we're not just singing songs, we're making declarations. We're declaring that God is good, that God is faithful, that God is able. We're declaring that no matter what we're going through, no matter what we're facing, God is greater. Our praises are a declaration of faith, a proclamation of trust, a demonstration of confidence in God. And faith, as we know, is the key to unlocking the promises of God, the power of God, the victory of God.

Fourthly: Our praises disarm the enemy. In the passage, it wasn't the Israelites' weapons that defeated the enemy, it was their worship. Their praises confused the enemy, caused chaos in the enemy's camp, and led to the enemy's defeat. Our praises do the same. They confuse the enemy. They disrupt the enemy's plans. They dismantle the enemy's strategies. Our praises are a weapon, a weapon that is mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds.

Worship as Warfare

The people of Judah chose to worship: They chose to lift their voices in song, to declare the greatness of their God ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO