Most Christians think of worship as something we do as we come together on Sunday morning. We've learned that worship helps us endure trials and empowers us for witnessing. However did you know that worship aids us in spiritual warfare as well? The worship and praise of Almighty God gives us victory over the enemy.
In the OT, the people of God learned that worship and warfare went hand in hand. Over and over we read of situations in which the people failed to worship God with their whole hearts. As a result their enemies defeated them. However, when they repented and truly worshiped God, He always gave them victory. They could not win a war without sincere worship.
Paul and Silas won the victory by singing in the depth of the Philippian prison and were freed by an earthquake. Jonah worshiped God in the belly of the great fish and was spewed up onto the shore. Worship brings victory! Truly, worship and spiritual warfare go hand in hand.
I. Worship and Warfare: An OT Example.
A. Background information.
1. Jehoshaphat was the 4th King of the Southern Kingdom, Judah.
a. His name means "Jehovah judges."
b. He was the son of the godly King Asa.
c. Asa died and Jehoshaphat was about 35 years-old when he ascended his father's throne.
d. He reigned for 25 years (875-850 b.c.).
e. 2 Chronicles 22:9 describes his character as one who "sought the LORD with all his heart."
2. Early in his reign, we see that "his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord."
3. He sent men throughout Judah to teach God's Word, and as a result of his efforts, the fear of the Lord fell upon all the nations around Judah, and there was peace.
4. God blessed Jehoshaphat because he did His will.
5. Chapter 18 describes Jehoshaphat's downfall.
a. In verse one tells us that he joined up with Ahab.
b. Ahab was the despicable king of Israel who was married to Jezebel.
c. He was an idolater who hated the one true God.
d. Jehoshaphat married this man's daughter and through this relationship, Jehoshaphat was led astray.
e. Later on Jehoshaphat repented of trusting in Ahab and went back to seeking the Lord.
B. A Kingdom in a Desperate Situation (20:1-4).
1. After a period of peace and spiritual renewal, the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Syrians and others mounted a major assault on Jerusalem.
2. V.3 says plainly "Jehoshaphat feared."
a. There is nothing wrong with being afraid.
b. He knew he couldn't defeat his enemies on his own.
c. However this time he didn't seek an alliance with man.
d. He "set himself to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah."
3. The people of the kingdom "gathered together to ask help from the Lord."
a. They came "from all the cities of Judah" and they came "to seek the Lord."
b. There is nothing better when you are in trouble than gathering believers together to pray and worship God.
c. Too many times seeking the Lord is our last resort.
d. It should be our first thought!
C. A Nation humbled before God. (20:5-9)
1. These verses describe a mighty worship service.
2. Imagine our president leading us in national prayer.
3. In front of the nation, King Jehoshaphat prayed and praised God for who He is, what He has done and the king knew He could do.
4. The king's praise becomes a specific request. (20:10-12)
a. In essence, he says, "We are absolutely dependent on You."
b. Worship is an admission of dependence.
5. Earlier, Jehoshaphat had depended on evil Ahab; now he's learned his lesson.
6. He depends on no one but God.
D. A Prophet with an Encouraging Message (20:14-17).
1. In those days, God spoke to His people through the mouths of His prophets.
2. Today He speaks through revealed Scripture.
3. On that day, God answered the nation's prayers by speaking through a man named Jahaziel.
4. God said, "Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's."
5. Read v.16-17 again, Take our positions, but do not fight…God will take care of things.
E. Victory through Worship. (20:18-24).
1. Jehoshaphat "bowed his head with his face to the ground" and everyone "bowed before the Lord, worshiping the Lord."
2. Then they "stood up to praise the Lord with voices loud and high."
3. They "rose early in the morning" to go out to position themselves as God had commanded.
4. Jehoshaphat inspired them by saying, "…Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper." V20b
5. He then "appointed singers unto the Lord and that should praise the beauty of holiness."
6. What a mighty choir that must have been!
7. Get this: "They went out before the army!" singing the refrain from Ps.136, "Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever."
8. Worship was their only weapon!
(2 Chr 20:22) "And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten."
9. When they looked to see what God had done, all they saw were dead bodies…none escaped. (v24)
F. The blessings of God. (20:25-30)
1. Not only did He bring about victory, He allowed them to enjoy the spoils.
2. There was so much, that it took them three days to gather it all up.
3. They called that battlefield "The Valley of Berachah" which means "The Valley of Blessings."
4. They marched back home "with joy for the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies."
5. This victory parade was replete with "stringed instruments, and harps and trumpets."
6. All the other nations feared the Lord and God caused King Jehoshaphat's kingdom to be "quiet" and "gave him rest all around."
II. Worship and Warfare: NT Principle (2 Co 10:3-5)
A. We are involved in a Great Spiritual War (v.3).
1. It is spiritual not physical.
(Eph 6:12) "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
B. The Spiritual Battle cannot be won with Physical Weapons (v.4).
(2 Cor 10:4) "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)"
C. One of the Greatest Weapons in our Arsenal is Worship.
III. Worship and Warfare: Application.
A. Worship focuses Us on the Lord.
1. When we truly worship, we take "every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."
2. We can't worship and be tempted to sin.
3. We can't worship and lust.
4. We can't worship and lie, hate, covet, gossip, cheat, etc…
B. Worship brings about the Victory.
1. It worked for Israel…
2. It worked for Peter…
3. It worked for Paul and Silas…
4. It will work for us!!!