(Section 1) Introduction And God's War With Satan Series

WORSHIP INVOLVES WARFARE

INTRO:

Why are we here? [There are several ministries of the church: dedications, funerals, weddings, etc.

Typical answer may be to worship. Are we fulfilling our goal?]

What is the main purpose of the church?

[Look at the OT church with sacrifice, honor, worship, atonement for sin.]

But, worship is a constant battle.

I have difficulty with worship, don't you?

Are we losing the battle?

Theme Scripture: Psalms 149:6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; READ the entire Psalm.

I. GOD AND SATAN

God and Satan have this in common: each desires our worship. God wants us to worship Him because He is worthy and He graciously wants to transform us. Satan wants our worship because he wants to destroy us, and worship is the easiest way to achieve that diabolical purpose. This explains why worship involves warfare: whenever we bow to worship God, the Adversary will oppose us.

II. GOD'S RIVAL (Contents for worship.)

A. Satan's origin Isa 14:12-14

1. He had a desire to be worshiped. It was sin in the form of pride.

He said, " I will be like the Most High."

2. Apparently a number of angels were willing.

3. Perhaps a population of Pre-Adam men also were willing.

4. This satanic army opposes God and His people and can only be defeated

by God-given spiritual means.

B. Satan tempted Eve

1. He promised, "You will be like God." Genesis 3:1-7

2. When Adam and Eve partook of the fruit, they "exchanged the truth of God

for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator."

Romans 1:25 “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and

served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”

3. Satan received worship that he was seeking, and he is still receiving it wherever

people substitute the creature for the Creator and believe the lie that they can

be their own god.

III. GOD'S SON

A. Christ deliberately humbled himself. Phil 2:1-11 READ

B. Christ has been and will be exalted.

IV. THE CHARACTER OF OUR WORSHIP

A. Cain and Abel both believed in God and both came to the altar to worship.

1. Cain was rejected, Abel was accepted.

2. Cain was of the wicked one and murdered his brother.

I John 3:12 “Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.”

B. The character of our worship depends on the condition of our heart.

Purify your hearts.

C. Our spiritual worship of God hinders Satan's work, defeats his plans, robs him of

territory, and increases his hatred of God and God's people.

V. SATAN'S RELIGION

A. Satan's religion is a religion of substitutes: worship anyone or anything but the true God.

B. Satan offers the Lord kingdoms of this world. Matt. 4:1-11

Satan will give you the world and religion. v. 9 “fall down and worship”

VI. GOD'S WORSHIPING WARRIORS

A. A worshipping church must of a necessity be a warring church, for true worship is

spiritual warfare.

B. Exodus 15:3 "The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is His name."

Psalms 45:3 “Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and

thy majesty.”

Rev 1:16 “And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went

a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.”

Rev 19:15 “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”

C. Israel was a worshiping army, fighting the battles of the Lord.

*The success of their warfare depended on the success of their worship.

D. Faithful ministry in the tabernacle was essential for victory on the battlefield.

I Sam 4 READ (May need some background from Ch. 2 & 3 about Samuel and

Eli’s sons v. 22 and v. 27)

E. The spiritual battle was fought at the tabernacle; the physical battle was waged in the field.

F. Singers on the front line? II Chronicles 20 READ (Jehoshaphat, Moabites, Ammonites)

1. God was worshiped

2. God fought the battle.

3. God was glorified.

4. The people were satisfied.

VII. ARMED FOR THE BATTLE

A. It is a battle that we cannot escape and that we dare not lose; and the key to our

victory is worship.

We pray, “God give us the victory.” The Spirit responds, “Worship.”

Satan does not care what the church does so long as it does not worship.