THE PRAISE SERIES (PART 8) - THE WEAPON OF OUR WARFARE (A)

Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand.

Psalm 149:5 -6

Psalm 149 speaks of "the high praises of God" in the same breath as "a two-edged sword." Of course , we are dealing here not with weapons of carnal warfare, but with putting our words into action by boldly going on the offensive of faith - by acting on the promises of the God we praise.

Let us turn to the dramatic scene in 2 Chronicles 20. King Jehoshaphat, undermanned and relatively powerless, has been brought word that "a great multitude is coming aganst you" (20:2). This text gives direction on what can be done in such moments; something besides reigning to a passive prayer for strength. There are four action steps - four ways to take up the sword of praise.

1) The king proclaimed a FAST (2 Chronicles 20:3). Is fasting foreign to your experience? Don't let it be. Fasting is an aggressive way to affirmed the promised power of the spirit over the flesh. It is an explicit way to reinforce the priority of prayer and to seek God throughout each day. When facing crucial battles such as the one that confrnted Jehoshaphat, be ready to deny the flesh as a sign that your trust is not in human energy but in the power of the Spirit.

2) The king and the people PRAYED (2 Chronicles 20:6). And while their prayer confessed that "we have no power" (2 Chronicles 20:12), it wasn't a "poor me" prayer! In stead of whinning, their prayer roared, ascribing to God power and authority over the enemy. Such a prayer of petition is admittedly prayed out of deep need, but it nonetheless boldly affirms God's power within His will.

3) There was also a REMEMBRANCE OF GOD'S WORK in history (2 Chronicles 20:7). With praise they remembered the story of God's people - the Exodus from Egypt, God's care in the wilderness, the conquest of Canaan. Remembering is a mighty source of confidence that God is able and will again deliver and save. Reviewing testimonies at the Lord's Table is a great way for us to remember His tender mercies and enduring love.

4) There was a PROPHETIC UTTERANCE (2 Chronicles 20:14-17). We must be open to the Holy Spirit's prophetic word among us as a people. He's still assuring us, "The battle is not yours, but God's! (2 Chronicles 20:15) and He will faithfully unfold God's will for us to our own immediate situations.

Ultimately threatening situations call for an uncommonly strong response: taking up a two-edged sword in a spiritual sense - aggressively trusting God,forcefully throwing ourselves at His feet in worship, and boldly brandishing the spiritual weapons Jehoshaphat used. They still work to put doubt and fear andanxiety to flight.

PRAISE is not passive. It can be our boldest stand against the threats of the enemy.

Blessings - TPWC

THE PRAISE SERIES (PART 19) - PRAISE QUOTABLES

"Praise is the greatest work God's children can ever do. It is the loftiest expression the Saints can ever show. The highest manifestation of spiritual life is seen in men praising God." Watchman Nee - Assembling Together

"Praise is not something we experience occasionally, but is a garment which will be worn constantly by the last-day church (Isaiah 61:1-3). The garment of praise is the perfect answer for the depressions which are common to this generation." E. Charlotte Baker - On Eagles Wings

"The sacrifice of praise is the choice of every believer. You cannot be a successful worshipper without recognising the importance of your will in offering a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving." Terry Law - The Power of Praise and Worship

"Praise is a door to God's presence." Warren and Ruth Myers - Praise is a Door

"To praise the Lord for something He has done for us is easy, to praise God after we have been emotionally stirred toward Him is not difficult, but to praise the Lord as a sacrifice is a different matter. The way we feel from day to day fluctuates and changes, but God's Word is unchanging. We do not rely upon feelings to be in an attitude of praise but rather we recognise that His unchanging Word and His constant characteristics demand a people with a constant and unchanging attitude to His Word and commandment. We are therefore enjoined to offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips (not our feelings), giving thanks to His name." B. Maureen Gaglardi - The Key of David

"Praise releases the power of God into our lives and circumstances, because praise is faith in action. Praise is a permanent acceptance of what God has brought into our lives. We enter this attitude of praise by an act of our will, by a decision to praise God regardless of how we feel." Merlin R. Carothers - Power in Praise

Until the practice of praise in private is continuous and free, the practice of corporate praise will be inhibited by fear, self-consciousness and discomfort. The practice in the corporate sense is absolutely indispensable to the maximum worship experience." Jack R. Taylor - The Hallelujah Factor

"Praise is not a mass function, it is the response of an individual to His God. When a group of individual choose to unite in praising, their individual praises may blend into a group response, but every expression of the praise comes from a separate individual." Judson Cornwall - Let Us Praise

"Warfare through praise does not dictate to God what He should do ... it praises Him for His wisdom and might, recognising that He is capable of setting the problem in the best possible manner. We do not focus on the battle or the enemy; we look only to the solution - God!" - "But the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits." (Daniel 11:32) Bob Sorge - Exploring Worship

"Praise is born in faith, is an instrument of war and a method of creating an atmosphere for the presence of the Lord. Praise requires effort, will power and boldness." - TPWC

THE ESSENCE OF WORSHIP - TRUE WORSHIP REJOICES AT GOD'S TRIUMPH

THE ANNOUNCEMENT

The Seven Angels With The Seven Trumpets

In Revelation chapter 8 to Chapter 11, the first six judgments on the earth will take place as the LAMB opens the first six seals of a book, or scroll. But when He opens the seventh seal, something different will occur. Seven angels will come forward, all bearing trumpets whose successive blasts introduce judgments even more serious than the previous six "seal judgments." One by one, the "trumpet judgments" unfold. All of heaven - the saints and elders, the four living creatures and the great angel host - will witness an incomparably awesome display of God'spower and wrath. Then, at last, everyone knows that the time has come for the seventh trumpet to herald God's final assault against sin and sinners. But the trumpet blast will be accompanied by an announcement: "Then the seventh angel sounded: and there were loud voices in heaven, saying,'The kingdoms of this world would have become the kingdoms of LORD and of His CHRIST,and He shall reign forever and ever!And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshipped God'." (Revelation 11:15-16)
This announcement is the announcement for which all of creation has been waiting! Since Adam and Eve first trusted Satan more than they trusted God, until the moment of this announcement, the kingdoms of this world have been under the rule of the enemy. Jesus Himself called Satan "the ruler of this world" (John 14:30) and John affirmed that "the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (1 John 5:19). Satan made no empty boast when he tempted Christ by "show(ing) Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And said to Him, 'All these things I give You if You will fall down and worship me'" (Matthew 4:8-9)
How thankful we should be that Jesus did not yield to Satan's offer but chose to wait on His Father's timing! In the final redemption He will be restored as King of kings. Scripture declares that the literal kingdoms of this world rightly belong to this King of kings. "The earth is the LORD's and all its fulness; the world, and they those who dwell therein" (Psalm 24:1). God Himself proclaimed,
"I have set my King on My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, today I have begotten You, Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession.' " (Psalm 2:6-8).
Interestingly, though Revelation describes future events, the announcement [that the kingdoms of the world will be restored to Christ] is made in the past tense. Even the grammar underlines the absolute certainty that full redemption will occur according to God's plan!
THE RESPONSE

The Elders Bow Down in Worship

The Revelation provides a picture of how those in heaven will react to God's final judgment  upon the earth and the restoration of it's kingdoms to the rightful Ruler. Of those who represent the redeemed before the throne of God it is written, "And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: 'We give You thanks, O LORD  GOD ALMIGHTY, THE ONE WHO IS AND WHO WAS AND WHO IS TO COME, because You have taken Your great power and reigned." (Revelation 11:16-17)
Do the elders really know what is coming? Are they really thankful for the millions who will die and be eternally condemned because of the massive that God is about to bring to pass? YES! For Revelation confirms that the elders are aware that "the nations were angry, and Your wrath has come ... and [GOD] should destroy those who destroy the earth" (Revelation 11:18). Then why do the elders give thanks? Because not only do they understand God, but they also understand His work.
Note, "the nations were angry." Even in the Old Testament times David wondered, "Why do the nations rage and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against His anointed" (Psalm 2:1-2). The world has always been angry with God! Yet mankind's innate consciousness of God, and since the time of the apostle, the minstry of the Holy Spirit, have restrained somewhat the full boldness of the wicked. During the Great Tribulation, however, their anger will no longer be suppressed. The world will vent its ultimate rage against God because of His full judgment against its sin.
Therefore, at the final destruction, the elders will give thanks and worship their triumphant LORD. No one will question, at this point, how a Christian can be joyful in heaven when others are suffering in hell. Indeed, as the elders fall down before God and worship Him, they will do so in the knowledge that:
"the time of the dead [is come], that they should be judged, and the You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great." (Revelation 11:18)
All men will have their due from God, whether for good or evil. In fact, this truth is explicitly affirmed at least thirty-four times in the Bible. Those who spurned His LAMB and chose to persih in their sins will be raised for their sentencing (Revleation 20:12). Judgment will come also to those who in life threw themselves on the mercy of God and atoning sacrifice of the LAMB. But their judgment will be for reward rather than for condemnation (2 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Corinthians 3:13-15).
The twenty-four elders will worship God as they rejoice in His triumph. Do we rejoice in His coming triumph as well? Does the thought that God will judge sin and restore rightful rule cause us to give thanks and bow before His great power? God's WORD gives us marvelous details about His work in the last days. If our worship is true, it will illustrate knowledge of what God has done and of what He will do to complete His plan of redemption.
(an extract from TRUE WORSHIP by David Whitcomb & Mark Ward, Sr.)