praise is a weapon of war 11/28/21

Praise is a Weapon of War
spiritual warfare:  He is a God who keeps covenant
He is the faithful God
We come with a thirst for righteousness
Psalm 68   Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
 
Let God arise
 
Man outside of a relationship with /God is hopeless
it is time to maintain focus and not lose sight of God's will​…
 
Maintain your praise
the attack of the enemy is to get you distracted and not mindful of the goodness of the lord
 
the strategy of every  battle is found in the word of God, 
Praise is the environment that God dwells in
 
As we speak forth life and  the truth we have light!
God will turn it around -we always win.
 
 all of his creation praises him!
the trees of the field clap their hands
praise should be in our nature, who we are a vessel of praise
When things are not going well, it’s easy to forget to give God praise.
God is not moved by our circumstances
pg 2
 
I will bless the lord at all times
be ever mindful of his abiding presence
If god is for us, who can be against us?
there is no reason to be in despair, depressed or discouraged!
MAINTAIN
In everything give thanks
It is God’s will that we praise him and bless the lord – Do Not ALLOW IT!
 
DECLARE THE WORD OF GOD
Don’t allow the enemy to get you to the point of not trusting in the faithfulness of God and the love of God
 
God is drawn to the praises of his name!
If we expect victory over all attacks – health, mind, finances etc. we must maintain an attitude of worship

2Cor 3:17  Where the spirit of the lord is there is liberty! 
continuous victory must have continuous praise!
 
You must be a worshipper before a warrior
 Remember David at Zicklag!
the families of Isarel were stolen, the people threatened to kill David and he encouraged himself in the lord.
Needing wisdom fromGod, he took the Ephod, the priests garment,
Understanding himself to be a worshipper first, he went to God for wisdom and direction for what to do.
 
God is preparing his people for a great onslaught of trial before the great revival of souls!
 
This is on a horizon that we have not faced as of yet
 
We must know that we are more than conquerors in him
Remember what God already did! – breakthroughs, testimonies, and victories
Our future is even brighter than our past!
Psalm 103   Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  He does not change.
He brought water out of the rock, He got Jonah out of the whale.
It isGod who is working in us and He is able to do exceedingly above all
He forgivevs and satisfies
Don’t forget all his benefits
 
1Corinthians 2:9eye hath not seen neither has ear heard the hings that he has prepared for us.
 
4
Proverbs 3:5  trust in the lord with all your heart.
when you lose your praise, you lose your strength.
the power and deception of the enemy flee when you open your mouth.
He lets you know he is in control
We have an adversary.  Don’t lose your will to fight.
put on the whole armor of God
Hold fast, be willing to fight, Not like Ephraim
if you don’t use your weapons, Satan wins
We have great opportunity to exercise the weapons of our warfare
remember that praise is a weapon of war
 5
2Chron 20:12  Jehoshaphat set himself to seek the lord as to what to do.
"We know not what to do but our eyes are on you."
 
God gave the strategy: set yourself, stand still, see the alvation of the lord.
 
Settle it in your mind, not afraid to die
 
I have decided to follow Jesus.  No turning back, not turning back.
 
There is a great departing from the faith in these last days.
trusting in the wisdom of man and the arm of flesh, departing from God’s word

STAND
stand still, the battle is the lord’s
Ephesians 6  stand therefore having on the whole armor of God
Galatians 5   stand fast in the liberty wherein Christ has mad you free
 
stand on the rock,  on the true foundation
Matt 7  the wise man heard and did what the Lord said.
when the winds blew
 
The battle is the lord’s
Judges - Gideon
the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God
 
weapons of praise confuses the enemy and brings chaos into the camp
2Chron 20, Judges 6:10  the people disobeyed the lord and were given over to the enemy
People wonder where arew e now?
God is still faithful and His grace is sufficient
Where is our God?
Go in this thy might.  Have not I sent thee?
Judges 6:10  And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thGideon believed and received what God said!
Isaiah 53  who has believed our report
7
Judges 6:14,23, 24  Gideon buit an altar to the lord
Believe the report of the lord and commit to him!
be transformed by the renewing of your mind
be a living sacrifice, pleasing to the lord
believe and be a true worshipper
 
the altar of Baal was cast down
tore down the altars or the past, idols, etc.
 
old idols,  demolishing the past idols, money,  accomplishments talents, people you know, places you’ve been...
 
Pride AND   sin -  "I" in the middle of these words
lay aside every weight and sin that so easily besets you
 
Hebrews 12:1-4
1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
 
Gideon needed a second confirmation to make sure that God was with him and telling him to do this, that he was on the right track and should keep moving forward.
 
8
God was making sure he go all the glory!
Gideon gathered an army of 300 men and God said that was too many.  He and tested them at the brook as God instructed. Those who lapped like dogs had to go home.He judged the others to be true soldiers .
This was a pruning.  God always has a remnant.
 
He gets the glory  It is not by might, nor bypower, but by His spirit!
He will prove who the true soldiers are!
 
There is an army rising up!  a willingness to fight
Judges 7:13  the enemy testifies of his own defeat
there is an increase of God speaking through visions and dreams
Gideon worshipped when he had the final confirmation
We praise God because we know we already have the victory! praise God “on credi”t – in advance
He has already given us the victory
 9
 Judges 7   God gave the strategy – let our light shine, lift up your voice like a trumpet, sound the alarm, apare not!
Many have no hope, many are being deststroyed by the adversary
We must let them know the only hope is in Christ Jesus
The dead in Christ shall rise first
Jesus is coming soon!  set our eyes on him!
 
Set the watch, blow the trumpet, brake the pitchers and proclaim “the sword of the lord and of Gideon”Tthe enemy will be sattered
 
Our great weapon to initiate our victory is in our praise
 
The King of Glory  Psalm 24:6-10  This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
He is the lord of hosts of angel armies
He is King of Kings and lord of lords, conqueror, commander in chief leading us into victory
His praises shall continually be in our mouths
Let God Arise!
​