Power of Worship
Theme: Overcoming power of worship
Text:
Introduction
Last Sunday we talked about the “4 Principles of Worship” God showed us in His word what are the basic principles of worship.
We learn that the #1 reason to worship is to make God bigger than our problem and us.
This morning I want to take you through the scripture as we look at the “Power of Worship”. As I was meditating on scripture and worship it is as if God began to reveal me some stories in scripture that reflect what happens when we begin to worship.
Worship will bring in the Presence of God – 2 Samuel 6
2Sa 6:11 The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his household.
2Sa 6:12 Now it was told King David, saying, "The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness. 13 And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. 14 Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.
David reminds us that when we worship we usher in the presence of the Lord. David had gotten jealous for the blessings of the Lord. He was not jealous of Obed-Edom he was jealous for the presence of the Lord. His first plan of bring back the ark (which represented the presence of the Lord) failed. It failed because there was no worship. When there is not worship there is no recognition of God.
Yet this time it was all about God. No ceremonies. No rituals. No superstitions. He would sacrifice a oxen and a sheep and dance before the Lord.
Worship will help us Break through the Prison - Acts 16
Act 16:25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
The second passage is found in Acts 16. This is one of my favorite when it comes to the power of worship. This is what helps me overcome. When Heb 13:15 says, “let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” I understand that that is what Paul in Silas did.
They offered up a sacrifice of praise in the midst of their pain. In the midst of their persecution. In the midst of their problems.
Notice what happened 1) the prison was shaken, 2) the doors were opened 3) the chains were loosed.
Worship will help us to Go through the Unknown - Joshua 3
Joshua 3:1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over. 2 So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; 3 and they commanded the people, saying, "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. 4 "Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before." 5 And Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you."
Joshua 3:13 "And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, the waters that come down from upstream, and they shall stand as a heap."
The whole idea here was to “keep your eyes on the ark”. We talked about this last week. When we worship we make God big. We keep focused on Him.
Heb 12:2 “ looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith”
Worship will give us the ability to overcoming the Wilderness – Psalms 63
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
Psalms 63:1 O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.
A. Judah means praise.
1. In dry and empty places we are in the dessert of
praise.
2. There are times when we don’t feel saved.
3. Times when we don’t feel close to God.
2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.
B. There are time we desire to see God do something among his people.
1. We wonder if God will move like he used too.
2. We think God has left us.
C. The key is in Judah. Praise.
3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. 4 Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
***************Implies loudness******************
1. Praise God anyway.
2. Give the sacrifice of praise.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
D. God will flood us with his glory and turn around our despondency when we praise.
E. Remember what God has done.
6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. 7 Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. 8 My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.
F. God will fight for us while we praise him.
9 But those who seek my life, to destroy it, Shall go into the lower parts of the earth. 10 They shall fall by the sword; They shall be a portion for jackals. 11 But the king shall rejoice in God; Everyone who swears by Him shall glory; But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.
1. It is as if the angels who normally praise are released to go and fight for us when we take their place in praise.
2. We free up heavenly forces when we praise.
Worship will give us the power to overcoming the Enemy
Jehosaphat battles with the Ammonites and other countries.
2Ch 20:3-4 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. (4) So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
2 Chronicles 20:21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever." 22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.
2 Chronicles 20:14 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, 15 And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: ’Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 ’Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17 ’You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you." 18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the LORD, worshiping the LORD.
When we worship, “God will fight our battle”. `
Conclusion
It is when we worship that we overcome many obstacles in our lives. When we focus on God and he will deliver us.
