THE POWER OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP IN INTERCESSION
By Rev. Samuel Arimoro
Main Text: Psalm 22:3
Supporting Texts: Acts 16:25-26, 2 Chronicles 20:21-22, Psalm 100:4, Hebrews 13:15
INTRODUCTION:
Praise and worship are not just acts of adoration but powerful weapons in the life of an intercessor. When we come before God, magnifying His name through worship, we invite His presence to intervene in the circumstances at hand. In the place of intercession, praise and worship create an atmosphere for divine breakthrough, shifting spiritual atmospheres and releasing answers to prayer. This sermon explores the essential role that worship plays in intercession, and how combining the two magnifies God’s power and accelerates spiritual victories.
1. THE INVITATION OF GOD’S PRESENCE THROUGH PRAISE AND WORSHIP
When we praise and worship, we invite God to inhabit our prayers and our circumstances.
a) God dwells in the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3)
Praise invites God’s presence to manifest. He inhabits the praises of His people, making our prayer time a place where His power is palpable.
b) Worship as a gateway to God's presence (Psalm 100:4)
Entering God's gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise opens the door for deeper communion and intervention.
c) The importance of a worshipful heart in intercession (John 4:23-24)
True worship is not about form but about spirit and truth. It aligns our hearts with God's will and prepares us for effective intercession.
d) Praise as a declaration of God's sovereignty (Psalm 47:1-2)
When we worship, we declare God's majesty, sovereignty, and power, which shifts the focus of our prayers from the problem to God's ability to handle the situation.
e) Biblical Example: Jehoshaphat's worship and victory (2 Chronicles 20:21-22)
Jehoshaphat led Judah in worship before going into battle, and as they praised, God sent ambushes against their enemies. Worship created the atmosphere for God’s intervention.
2. PRAISE AND WORSHIP BREAKS SPIRITUAL BARRIERS
Praise and worship are potent tools for breaking through spiritual resistance and unlocking the supernatural.
a) Worship as a weapon in spiritual warfare (2 Chronicles 20:22)
As the Israelites worshipped, their enemies were confused and defeated. Praise in the midst of battle releases God’s supernatural intervention.
b) Breaking chains with praise (Acts 16:25-26)
Paul and Silas’ praise in prison caused an earthquake, breaking their chains and opening prison doors. Worship can break spiritual chains and release breakthroughs.
c) Praise as a catalyst for deliverance (Psalm 34:1-4)
As we magnify the Lord, His presence delivers us from fear, oppression, and despair, replacing them with peace and joy.
d) Overcoming opposition with worship (Isaiah 61:3)
God gives us the “garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” Worship lifts the weight of spiritual oppression, creating a breakthrough atmosphere.
e) Biblical Example: Paul and Silas in prison (Acts 16:25-26)
In the midst of their suffering, their praise brought forth deliverance. Praise and worship can break through the hardest circumstances.
3. PRAISE AND WORSHIP SHIFT SPIRITUAL ATMOSPHERES
Praise and worship have the power to change the spiritual climate, creating an atmosphere conducive for miracles.
a) The power of worship to change the atmosphere (Psalm 114:7-8)
Mountains skip, and valleys are filled when God’s presence moves in response to worship. Praise and worship change the environment we pray in, making it fertile for breakthrough.
b) Atmosphere of faith and expectancy (Mark 11:24)
Worship stirs faith and creates an atmosphere of expectation where miracles can happen, aligning our hearts to believe for God's intervention.
c) Shifting focus from earthly concerns to heavenly realities (Colossians 3:1-2)
As we worship, our focus shifts from the problem at hand to God's ability to do exceedingly above all we can ask or imagine.
d) Creating a throne for God to act on our behalf (Psalm 99:1)
God sits on the throne of our praise, and when He reigns, all things are made right, including situations that need breakthrough.
e) Biblical Example: David’s worship before the Ark (2 Samuel 6:14-15)
David’s worship brought the Ark of God into the city, changing the atmosphere in Israel and restoring God’s presence to His people.
4. PRAISE AND WORSHIP ALIGN US WITH GOD’S WILL
Worship not only magnifies God but also aligns our hearts with His will and purposes.
a) Worship as a form of surrender (Romans 12:1-2)
In worship, we present our bodies and lives as a living sacrifice to God. This act of surrender aligns us with His purposes in intercession.
b) Aligning our prayers with God's will through worship (Matthew 6:10)
Worship realigns our focus, helping us to pray "Thy will be done," ensuring our intercession aligns with God's desires.
c) The connection between praise and prophetic revelation (Habakkuk 2:1)
Worship creates space for prophetic revelation, allowing intercessors to hear from God clearly and pray with divine insight.
d) Worship brings us into agreement with God's timing (Psalm 25:5)
Through worship, we acknowledge God’s sovereignty over time, aligning our prayers with His perfect timing and purpose.
e) Biblical Example: Jesus in Gethsemane (Luke 22:42)
In His moment of deep agony, Jesus worshipped and surrendered to the Father’s will, demonstrating that worship aligns us with God’s plan.
5. THE JOY OF THE LORD IN PRAISE AND WORSHIP
Worship and praise infuse intercession with joy, which strengthens and sustains us in battle.
a) The strength in joy (Nehemiah 8:10)
The joy of the Lord is our strength, and when we engage in praise and worship, it builds spiritual stamina and courage to keep praying.
b) Worship and the release of joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17)
Praise and worship invite the Holy Spirit to fill us with joy and peace, creating a refreshing and energizing environment for prayer.
c) The celebration of victory through worship (Psalm 149:6)
We worship as an act of declaring victory before we see it manifest. Worship is an act of celebrating God's victory on our behalf.
d) Worship as an expression of gratitude (Psalm 103:1-5)
As we praise God for what He has done, we express our gratitude and invite Him to do more in our lives.
e) Biblical Example: Paul and Silas’ joy in prison (Acts 16:25)
In the midst of hardship, Paul and Silas worshipped, and their joy led to miraculous breakthrough, showing that joy is integral to intercession.
CONCLUSION:
Praise and worship are integral to effective intercession. By magnifying God's presence, breaking spiritual barriers, shifting atmospheres, aligning ourselves with His will, and rejoicing in His victory, we create the perfect environment for breakthrough. As intercessors, we must incorporate praise and worship into our prayer lives, knowing that through them, God moves powerfully on our behalf. Let us, therefore, praise with purpose, worship with expectation, and intercede with confidence in the power of our God.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Lord, let my worship and praise draw Your presence into my situation.
2. I declare that every spiritual barrier in my life is broken through the power of praise.
3. I pray that Your presence shifts the spiritual atmosphere in my home, church, and community.
4. I surrender my will in worship, aligning my heart with Yours.
5. Father, release prophetic revelation as I worship and intercede.
6. I declare that the joy of the Lord strengthens me in every area of intercession.
7. I praise You for Your faithfulness, knowing that breakthroughs are coming.
8. Lord, let every chain holding back my prayers be broken by my worship.
9. I pray that my worship and praise will usher in a season of divine breakthrough.
10. Father, fill my heart with joy as I intercede, knowing You are working on my behalf.
