Day 12: Our Praise Is A Weapon
Week 2: Intercession & Warfare
“May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands, to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron, to carry out the sentence written against them. This is the glory of all his faithful people.”
These verses use strong warfare language. We need to understand them through the lens of the New Testament. Our enemies are not people. We do not fight against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of darkness. Yet the imagery is powerful for us as believers. The praise of God in our mouths and the sword of His Word in our hands are pictured as weapons that bind and restrain the enemies of God.
Praise Is Not a Warm-Up
Praise is not a "warm-up" before the real stuff. Praise is part of the battle. In his book Armed and Dangerous, John Ramirez, who came out of deep occult involvement, talks about how genuine worship and praise are deeply disturbing to the demonic realm.
When we lift high the name of Jesus and magnify His victory, we remind the enemy of the cross and the empty tomb. We shift the atmosphere from one of fear and oppression to one of faith and freedom.
A Spiritual Strategy
Praise also lifts our eyes. Instead of staring endlessly at the problem, we look again at the greatness of God. This is why Jehoshaphat put singers at the front of the army. This was a spiritual strategy. As they praised, God fought.
In a similar way, when Paul and Silas worshipped in prison, chains fell and doors opened. Praise is often the key that unlocks prison doors in our lives and in the lives of others.
Faith Expressed in Song
In his book Revival Fire, Wesley Duewel records how seasons of revival were often marked by simple, powerful worship where Jesus was exalted above all. This was not emotional manipulation. It was faith expressing itself in song and declaration. In that environment, demons fled, hearts melted, and people surrendered to Christ.
A House of Freedom
At ANCC, we want to be a church where praise is wholehearted, Christ-centred, and faith-filled. We want to be a church where we sing not only because we like the song, but because we know praise is a weapon. We long to be a church where people walk into worship and sense chains breaking off them.
Let Us Pray
Heavenly Father, thank You that praise is not just music; it is a weapon. Forgive me for times I have treated worship lightly or allowed my feelings to dictate my praise.
Today I choose to lift up Your name over my life, my family, ANCC, and this nation. Let our praise bind the work of the enemy and release the atmosphere of heaven. Teach us, as a church, to wield the weapon of praise with understanding and faith. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.