PRAISE YOUR WAY TO VICTORY
MAIN TEXT: JOSHUA 6:1-6
Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelite. No one went out and no one came in. 2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days.4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.” 6 So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.”
Praise means a commendation; a favorable representation in words. A form of worship and to glorify. Praise to God guarantees access to God's throne.
* Praise is also a weapon in spiritual warfare.
King David was a notable warrior and he knew the power of praise throughout all his life. Enemies encompassed him but he discovered that he needs to weapon of praise to God to overcome all the battles before him and he did. He did not lose hope in the face of great trouble. Praise became his language in every weather and even in praise it has a language, Psalm 27:1-3 The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. 3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.
* Praise engages the Almighty God of war to battle.
Spiritual warfare is initiated with praise to God and every praise time is a battle moment - Joshua 6:15-16 On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. 16 The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!. Any time we give God a quality praise, we immediately dial heaven and God picks up and gets connected. When we praise God, we create divine atmosphere for the dwelling of our God - praise powered environment accommodates God. It is still a mystery that the presence of God in the midst of the Israelite made the armies of Jericho to be confused for seven days, no soldier could strike an arrow as they matched round Jericho.
* Praise is the commanding language given to the Heavenly army for war
Acts 16:25-26 "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone's chain came loose". Paul and Silas were shot in the prison, bound hands and feet with security guards around them to make sure that they do not escape. These men were spirits and men on fire,they understood that they needed to communicate heaven to swing into powerful action, they did not go complaining and lamenting how they will die without fulfilling their ministry. The began to sing and give praise to there God. What will make a man in prison custody to praise God? They saw their lives beyond the prison walls and gates, this caused God to cause a strong earthquake in the prison that led to their deliverance. If you have tried every spiritual exercise, try engaging in ceaseless praise.
* Every victory through praise must be devoted to God
The victory that God gives us through praise must be devoted to God. The sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord must be presented for the victory and the next victory in the future. Joshua 6:17-18, "The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord...But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them.Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. We must be mindful to give God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and we should show Him that we are grateful. Praise God with a substance of offering. Do not be like those who remember all their wants and needs when God blesses them financially but forgets God. May we never be like those who remember God in times of scarcity and forgets in times of abundance.
THE SECRETS OF VICTORIOUS PRAISE
a) An encounter with the Lord :
Joshua 5:13-14 "And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand, And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, Are you for us or for our adversaries? So He said,No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, What does my Lord's army say to His servant?
This happened with Joshua before the wall of Jericho collapsed and they had victory over the city. For us, this could be at the time we became born again, until there is a divine encounter that may not be a genuine and lasting transformation. Divine encounter births spiritual power and authority. For there to be a spiritual promotion, we need divine encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. New encounter produces fresh anointing for greater works.
b) Consecration unto God :
Joshua 5:15 " Then the commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy, And Joshua did so".
Joshua the leader and commander, needed to come to the holy of holies for God to prepare him for battle. Moses had similar encounter because GOD is a Holy God and He works with Holy vessels. There is no greater authority than holiness - consecration unto the Almighty God. The praise from the lips of the righteous carries power that destroys the iron gates of the devil. It is the voice of the righteous that ushers the presence of Jehovah. To war against the enemy through praise, it should come from the sanctified vessel.
