Praise and worship has the power to break the chains of spiritual and physical bondage. It is the key that can unlock prison doors and set captives free.
When we realise Why The Words We Speak Matter, especially when we speak God’s Word for our lives, we can begin to appreciate why praise and worship is such an effective force in the mouth of the Christian.
Music has the ability to move us on an emotional level unlike anything else. Praise and worship, especially when combined with music, can connect us with God on an emotional and spiritual level. This is such an effective method we can use to engage with the Lord. When we do, we fulfil the primary purpose we were created for. I’m not talking about a religious practice that has lost its meaning over time, but a genuine heartfelt connection with God created by a loving relationship with Him.
Spirit and Life
Praise and worship through music is often created in such a way that when we speak to the Lord, we are not only confessing His goodness and how great He is, but we also call forth the things that are not, as though they were (see Why The Words You Speak Matter). For example, a song might contain lyrics proclaiming God’s light dispels the darkness, or that His peace reigns when fear wants to take me over and so on. When we sing these lyrics, we are literally calling forth light in the place of evil darkness, calling peace in the place of fear.
John 6:63 says, “It is the Spirit Who gives life [He is the Life-giver]; the flesh conveys no benefit whatever [there is no profit in it]. The words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are spirit and life.” God’s Word is spirit and life. This means that some words are flesh and death. When we speak or sing God’s Word, we confess and proclaim spirit and life.
This is one of the reasons I mainly listen to music with a positive and godly message. Have you ever noticed how the lyrics of a song can repeat itself over and over in your mind, even long after the music has stopped? When this happens, I much rather want words that contain spirit and life to repeat themselves in my heart and mind, than words that bring death. For example, I would much rather hear the repetitive lyrics “Lord your love has made me whole” in my mind than “Girl you make me sick…”
In addition, when we engage in praise and worship that carries spirit and life – music that proclaims the word of God – we are also filling our hearts and minds with the things that are building us up from the inside. In short, it is a very effective method for practicing the ‘Good In / Good Out’ principle as discussed in another post.
Praise And Worship Empowers Us
Furthermore, praise and worship empowers us and makes us strong. It also activates the divine authority we have been given. In the story of Abraham narrated by Paul the apostle, we read in Romans 4:20-21, “No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God, fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised.”
Abraham had received a promise from God that he would be the father of many nations. When Abraham was about 100 years old, the Bible says his body was ‘as good as dead’, and his wife, Sarah, had a ‘dead’ womb. This Scripture in Romans 4 tells us Abraham was empowered as he gave praise and glory to God, regardless of physical appearances or natural limitations.
According to the Microsoft Encarta Dictionary, the word ‘empowered’ means “to give somebody power or authority.” So when Abraham praised and worshiped God, he wasn’t just given power in his physical body to enable the fulfilment of the supernatural promise God had made to him, but he was also given the divine authority to do so. He was calling forth the things that were not as though they were – in agreement with God’s Word (see How To Activate Your Faith). Once he was given the authority, no one and nothing could stand in his way.
Breaking Chains
In addition, praise and worship has the power to break the chains of spiritual and physical bondage. It is the key that can unlock prison doors and set captives free. When Paul and Silas were in prison because of their faith in Jesus, we read in Acts 16 that they were praying and singing hymns of praise to God. This was in spite of them being heavily wounded, in much pain and being unfairly treated. This act of praise and worship caused an earthquake to open the doors of the prison and unfasten their shackles.
They were set free!
Victory and Deliverance
Perhaps the most astounding demonstration of praise and worship is found by comparing two events from the Bible. In the first example, only prayer was used without praise and worship. In Daniel 10 we see that Daniel was praying earnestly regarding a certain matter. His prayers were immediately heard and an angel was sent to him. However, while on his way, the angel was resisted by the Prince of Persia. For twenty one days Daniel had to keep on praying before his messenger was finally assisted by the archangel Michael and only then could he get through to him.
Daniel 10:12-13 says, “Then he said to me, Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind and heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come as a consequence of [and in response to] your words. 13But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief [of the celestial] princes, came to help me, for I remained there with the kings of Persia.” So while Daniel’s prayers were instantly heard, the messenger couldn’t get through to him immediately, due to the spiritual darkness that surrounded him.
In the second example, praise and worship was used with radically different results. 2 Chronicles contains the account of the Moabites and the Ammonites who came up against Jehoshaphat in battle. Jehoshaphat was afraid, called a fast unto the Lord and all of Judah sought the face of the Lord regarding the matter. The Lord answered them and told King Jehoshaphat they should not be afraid. The Lord had heard their cries to Him and assured them the battle would belong to the Lord Himself. So they set themselves against the enemy, not to fight but to worship instead.
2 Chronicles 20:21-22 says, “… he appointed singers to sing to the Lord and praise Him in their holy [priestly] garments as they went out before the army, saying, Give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! 22And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were [self-] slaughtered.” The Lord had caused confusion in the camp of the enemy and they destroyed themselves – not one escaped.
From the first example we see that when Daniel prayed, an angel was sent to help him, but due to the spiritual darkness in the area, the angel took twenty one days before he was able to deliver the message to Daniel. Compare this to the second example. When King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah praised and worshipped the Lord, God Himself showed up and fought the battle on Israel’s behalf.
Our Mandate
The act of praise and worship is also a command under the New Testament, which should not be neglected. Hebrews 13:15 declares, “Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.”
Praising and worshipping God is not something that should only be a weekly event at church. Praise and worship should be a lifestyle; a natural extension of who we are in Christ. As we praise and worship God we develop and experience a deeper relationship with Him. In turn, we also experience His guidance in our lives and consequently breakthroughs where we need it.
Praise God!
Thanks very much for this inspirational message, very uplifting and encouraging.