The Power of Worship
“And when they had
laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to
keep them safely:
Who, having received such a charge,
thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed,
and sang praises unto God:and the prisoners heard them.
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the
prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s
bands were loosed.”
Acts 16:23-26
Throughout Scripture there is seen a secret heavenly power when God’s people begin to worship and praise Him. The Psalmist declares God inhabits in the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3). Paul and Silas knew the secret of how to lift their hearts above their troubles and enter into God’s presence and power. Through praise and worship their hearts were raised into the joyous presence and peace of God which provided channel for God’s power to operate in their circumstances.
Jesus instructed His Disciples that His presence will inhabit the gathering of believers who congregate in His name: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).
A “gathering in His name” means that Jesus must be the focus, the center of the assembly. He must be the one preached about and the one praised and worshiped. The author of Hebrews states, “For he said to God, "I will declare the wonder of your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among all your people.” (Hebrews 2:12).
Christian’s praising God is an expression of worship, lifting-up and glorifying the Lord. Humbling ourselves and centering our full attention upon the Lord with a heart-felt expression of love, adoration and thanksgiving. Praises bring our spirit into a highest form of fellowship and intimacy between ourselves and our Creator and it magnifies our awareness of our spiritual union with the Most High God. Praise transports us into the realm of the supernatural and into the power of God. The Psalmist proclaimed, “Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord.” (Psalms 89:15).
The presence of God is seen in the Old Testament filling the place of worship, “It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For He is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 5:13)
King Jehoshaphat before battle stopped and said, "Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed." After consulting the leaders of the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the LORD and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: "Give thanks to the LORD; his faithful love endures forever!" (2 Chronicles 20:20-21)
He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and He prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." (Psalms 50:23)
Joshua was ordered by the Lord to march around the great city of Jericho 7 times; as they worshiped the Lord and on the 7th day they shouted and blew their trumpets, then the Lord delivered the great city of Jericho to them as the impregnable walls of Jericho came falling down before them. “So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.” (Joshua 6:20)
Joshua and King Jehoshaphat as well as Paul and Silas understood the secret that our battles belong to the Lord. Today Christians can also overcome life's struggles as they come and worship the Lord.
Throughout Scripture, whenever the Church prays and worship, there is great release of divine power. The most notable episode is in the outflow that took place at a worship meeting in Antioch (Acts 13) that continues to change the world.
Praise and worship causes our faith to increase and diminishes fear and doubt. It takes away our burden and distractions. It causes our focus to shift from self to God. Our circumstances may or may not change immediately but we change and come away refreshed in our physical body, soul and spirit.
Praise also invites the Glory of God and drives out the demonic dark forces from our presences. Praise infuses us with the joy of the Holy Spirit removing depression, oppression or confusion that one might be experiencing.
Christian music and lyrics aid us in our worship. The music doesn't change us but it changes the environment to help us concentrate and focus on God’s greatness.
Singing and meditating on the lyrics throughout the day, God takes delight in us and responds to our appreciation and adoration of Him.
The Creator of the universe require us to Praise and Worship Him, because without that element in our Christian journey we have missed the most exciting and challenging encounter of being embraced in the presence of a loving Creator who longs to fellowship with us which are the highest of all His Creation. And you too can experience what the prophet Nehemiah affirmed: “for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10)