Pastor continued his series on Worship, this week focused on Psalm 145.
Last week he noted that "Worship is our Battle Cry" although we don’t always use it as such. When it is time to go into battle we need to be prepared.
Ministry of Song is a spiritual warfare. The enemy is thrown into confusion by our worship. He wants to still the worship from God. The enemy battles hard against worship by deceiving us. Others will see how we respond as the enemy says: “sit down, no one wants to hear you sing!” This is deception. God welcomes even the “joyful noise”.
What battles are won when we lift our voice in praise and worship? We may move from discouragement to encouragement. When we get pressured, we fight back and finally break loose. When the enemy tells you that there is no way out – your health is failing and won’t get better, your car is broken and you don’t have the money, your house needs repair and you aren’t able – this is the time to pray and worship.
David was known for his worship through all his Psalms. He was under great pressures. Even from a teenager he faced resistance from King Saul; most of his life enemies chased him; he fell to the temptation of sin, suffered betrayal and faced the rebellion of his own children. He was under extreme pressure. Even as a youth he was known for his music. The 150 psalms in the Bible are only a portion of the songs he wrote over his life.
When pressure was greatest, he would reach out to God through psalms/song. David knew that music was powerful. He knew that music went before the armies; music can change the attitude of the heart; a song can be a learning tool and a reminder of important things. One of the deepest, rooted things in a person’s life is spiritual things. Dementia patients often can sing hymns after forgetting the names of those around them.
A song of worship can hold us together when everything else is falling apart.
Psalm 145: 1-2
1I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.
Worship isn’t about us. It is about the Almighty God!
When we read this whole psalm out loud we can feel the power!
Even secular songs bring out emotions, but when we add worship it changes our lives.
We are pressed … but not crushed. “We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We are knocked down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
The Point: Worship is a powerful weapon that changes everything when we feel trapped, pressed on every side, and we do not see a way out.
Satan knows it and doesn’t want you to use it. Many songs were written in times of war, depression, and distress. They are written for the time to encourage those through difficulties. There are new songs written during the pandemic that are powerful as they were written during a time of oppression and attack.
When we are pressed, something squeezes out. It can be bad or good. We hope from the church it will be good things. There have been a wealth of perfectly timed worship songs. Written for a generation that have not interest in God. A group of worshipers have gone to Iraq to sing and worship. That group or even a group going to Washington, DC, do not have a physical army but perhaps an army of angels is with them.
Students today go to high schools where there are sheriff’s officers there for protection. Christian students have their faith under attack. Worship gives us a foundation and a place to fall back to when we need to battle the enemy.
Pressure doesn’t have to destroy us, it can help focus us to battle. Why are worship and worship songs so effective and powerful? Worship can impact our attitude, pump us up. It gets us ready for what comes next. It helps us to focus our resources, attentions and strengths. It helps us engage our spiritual focus. The Holy Spirit within us gets involved. We go to the throne room of God. We remember that God is in control, and He fights for us and that He saved us.
When we are trapped, oppressed, depressed, we can always worship! Sometimes we recognize a spiritual attack. Worship is a powerful tool that helps keep the enemy at bay. Worship is our weapon. Speak out his word, sing worship to God.
I came upon this song video for today. I Can Hear the Sound!
Verses for TodayPsalm 145:1-7 NIV
A psalm of praise. Of David.
1I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.
5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
Lord, I want to always be prepared to fight the enemy by worshiping You in song and praise!
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