Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs
SING AND SHOUT THE VICTORY
Praise and worship is a very big part of spiritual warfare. Psalm 149:5-9 says:
“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;
To execute vengeance upon the heathen and punishments upon the people:
To bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron;
To execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord.”
In the midst of great spiritual warfare the people of God are exhorted to be “joyful in glory.” I believe that means that we should be joyful as we seek to honor and glorify God. In Romans 4:20, 21 we read that in his battle against spiritual unbelief Abraham “staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”
Praise releases faith. The absence of praise and worship is conducive to an atmosphere of fear, doubt, unbelief, and defeat.
Psalm 149:5 says, “Let them sing aloud upon their beds.” A bed is a resting place, but when the battle rages, sleep and rest are hard to find. In fact, one is more inclined to be restless and toss and turn all night long. At times like this we can sing for joy and sing aloud upon our beds.
Paul and Silas did this very thing in the midnight hour with their feet in stocks (not socks!). Acts 16:25 tell us: “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” They must have been loud because everyone heard them!
At the battle of Jericho seven trumpets led the procession and on the final day the people of Israel gave a great shout. I am sure it was a shout of praise to God. And we all know what happened. They more than likely shouted JEHOVAH. Joshua means “Jehovah saves” and Jesus is the English equivalent for Joshua.
We must at all times, along with our families, shout out repeatedly the name of Jesus. Do not wait to do it in church. You might have to wait a long time!
To be continued.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
