Categories
Tag: Spiritual Warfare
In this series, Jason Sciscoe, of Triumph Ministries International, answers these questions:
- Who was this woman named Jezebel?
- Why focus on just this spirit?
- Why are we giving so much attention something in the demonic world?
Some notes from this series to whet your appetite
(all from Jason Sciscoe)
Jezebel learned how to indoctrinate a culture that supported her.
“What we’re dealing with in the 21st century right now is not just the spirit of Jezebel, we are dealing with the culture of Jezebel.” -Jason Sciscoe
We don’t need to focus on fighting the spirit or the culture of Jezebel, but instead create a culture of anointed and empowered leaders.
Change the culture by imparting the anointing to others. How?
“We bring Jezebel down by going back to the agenda of God.” -Jason Sciscoe
Breaking Jezebel’s Influence Means:
- There will be a new culture of spiritual awareness. The supernatural will be unleashed.
- Sin in high places will be dealt with.
- People will begin to despise who Jezebel is and what she represents. No longer swayed by her.
- The demonstration of the Holy Spirit will happen and that is the antidote to the manipulations that Jezebel brings.
- Jehu is anointed a the antidote to this spiritual disease/poison. Jehu is the antithesis to Ahab and the antidote to Jezebel. We need a baptism of the spirit of Elisha and Jehu.
“The first layer of Jezebel’s attack is always seduction. It’s never accusation or meanness. It’s always this soft, almost irresistible, magnetic, charismatic, emotional, sensitive, intuitive person.” -Jason Sciscoe
The painting of the face is an illusion. It’s a model of perfection that doesn’t exist. It’s a seduction.
“The second layer of attack is accusation, and it is a powerful form of manipulation.” -Jason Sciscoe
If she can question your righteousness then your prayers will not avail (James 5:16).
She’ll try to make you feel guilt for obeying God.
Nothing about Jezebel is legitimate, but she accuses you of being the one undermining authority.
Expose the truth carefully with wisdom. Don’t get on her web, don’t respond to her accusations, don’t feel guilty and don’t negotiate with the devil on any front. The moment you negotiate means you’re willing to compromise and not accept total victory. In the case of Jezebel, it’s ok to be intolerant.
Through the power of the anointing, speak to the people who really know Jezebel. Those who under her control and influence that really know who she is and what she says and does behind closed doors.
Jehu said, “who is on my side?”
Her victims know what she is, but they need to be empowered to act.
Categories
The Divine Call for Intercessors
A harvest of souls and spiritual renewal (revival), has always been preceded by, and maintained through, intercessory prayer.[1]
Once the wheels of intercession are set in motion, cause and effect drive that assembly into a season of reaping and multiplication.
There has never been an accidental revival, or an unintentional renewal.
All growth in a Church follows four principles:
- Prayer
- Preaching
- Praise
- Personal Evangelism
Tonight, I want to cover that first principle, PRAYER, and specifically The Divine Call for Intercessors in this hour.
1 Kings 18:41-46
(41) And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. (42) So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, (43) And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. (44) And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. (45) And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. (46) And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
James 5:17-18
(17) Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. (18) And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
1 Timothy 2:1-4
(1) I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; (2) For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; (4) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
Intercession is one of the most needed ministries of the last days.
The Church will reach its full level of harvesting power when the intercessors stand in the gap.
Intercessory prayer occurs when we are in perfect agreement and alignment with God, because God is praying through the intercessor.
It is not you praying, but God. You are the channel, conduit, tributary God flows through.
All He requires is that He finds a willing and available vessel.
A Divine Call for Intercessors
Romans 8:26-27
(26) Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (27) And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
- The Spirit maketh intercession. The Holy Spirit of God.
- Intercession = “interceded in behalf of,” to make petition, plead with
- It is the will and mind of God being revealed.
- With groanings = too deep for words. It is travail of the Spirit of God.
- “To sigh, murmur, pray inaudibly…“grief, groan, grudge, sigh.”[2]
- A.D. Urshan to Anthony Mangun: “Hold your belly and groan.”
Those who answer the Divine Call have crucified themselves with Christ:
Galatians 2:20, “(20) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 5:22-25, “(22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (24) And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
Notice three things (F.J. Ellis):
- It took a crucified body to save and redeem man.
- It took a crucified body to reveal God’s resurrection power.
- It will take a crucified body (the Church) to consistently pray to the Lord of the harvest.
Prayer is the passionate hope of Jesus.
It was his prayer request to us.
He did not seek for musicians, big buildings, or new programs (those all have their place); But, Jesus simply had one request, “Pray.”
This glimpse in the heart of Jesus Christ heart reveals to us the answer to the need and dilemma of our day.
He is calling you to pray
Matthew 6:5-13
(5) And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
- Not “if,” but “when.”
- Not for show or vainglory
(6) But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
- The true intercessor who responds to the Divine Call will pray in private.
(7) But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
(8) Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
- We are not to simply repeat this prayer verbatim, but it is a guide to us of to pray.
- When we simply repeat “The Lord’s Prayer” we run the risk of devolving our time of intercession to vain repetition.
(9) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
(10) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
(11) Give us this day our daily bread.
(12) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
(13) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Do you want to align yourself with the will and purpose of God?
PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!
1 Timothy 2:1-4, “(1) I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; (2) For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; (4) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
- “…first of all…prayers…”
- “Who will have all men to be saved…”
- Truth is essential, but prayer is the means by which Heaven is made accessible to mankind
2 Chronicles 7:1
(1) Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.
- Prayer brought the fire of God.
- It it was not until Solomon prayed that the fire fell.
2 Chronicles 7:14
(14) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
- God is divinely committed to the prayer of His people.
- His eyes and ears are open to their call (prayer):
- “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Psalms 34:15-18).
What happens in intercession?
Intercession is a divine burden that drives you to seek the will of God and pray until the answer comes, or there is a release in the Holy Ghost.
Back to our text:[3] 1 Kings 18:41-46
- Verse 41 – Elijah heard the voice of God and prophetically spoke the will of God.
- Verse 42 – The prophet then got on his face alone before God on top of Carmel. Because he knew the will of God, he went to prayer and would not quit praying until it came to pass.
- Verse 43 – He sent his servant to look toward the sea. He saw nothing. The reality of the invisible did not stop Elijah. He not only kept praying, but also told his servant to go again seven times….until it happens.
- First he saw a little cloud like a man’s hand
- Then came a great rain.
- James 5:16-18, “(16) Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (17) Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. (18) And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.”
Don’t be surprised when the level of spiritual warfare you face increases as you answer The Divine Call to Intercede:
Matthew 4:1-11
Mark 1:12-13, “And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.”
[1] Primary Source: F. J. Ellis. Intercession-Key of Spiritual Warfare. (n.d.)
[2] Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. G4726 & G4727.
[3] F.J. Ellis
Categories
Battle Ready
Categories
Reporters at the Gate
It is a breath of fresh air then you read a positive news report.
In ancient times, the city gate was the busiest place in the city:[1]
A place where the social, business, and legal interaction of the city took place
Where the Torah was read and proclamations were declared
Where justice was served
News exchanged and discussed
Local gossip spread
2 Samuel 15:1-6 (KJV)
(1) And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. (2) And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. (3) And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. (4) Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! (5) And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. (6) And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
2 Samuel 15:1-6 (NET)
(1) Some time later Absalom managed to acquire a chariot and horses, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard. (2) Now Absalom used to get up early and stand beside the road that led to the city gate. Whenever anyone came by who had a complaint to bring to the king for arbitration, Absalom would call out to him, “What city are you from?” The person would answer, “I, your servant, am from one of the tribes of Israel.” (3) Absalom would then say to him, “Look, your claims are legitimate and appropriate. But there is no representative of the king who will listen to you.” (4) Absalom would then say, “If only they would make me a judge in the land! Then everyone who had a judicial complaint could come to me and I would make sure he receives a just settlement.” (5) When someone approached to bow before him, Absalom would extend his hand and embrace him and kiss him. (6) Absalom acted this way toward everyone in Israel who came to the king for justice. In this way Absalom won the loyalty of the citizens of Israel.
Markets and trading centers flourished in certain gates in the city:
Nehemiah 3:1, “Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.”
Nehemiah 3:3, “But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.”
It was at the gates where prophets and priests delivered God’s admonitions and Divine pronouncements
Sovereign attention was attracted at the gate, because “there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”[2]
The most vulnerable place in the walls surrounding a city were the gates, which were well-guarded and designed to deter enemy soldiers.
Such a place of distinction would also be a place where any “new arrivals” would be seen, noticed and counted.
It was an honor for an elder to be chosen to sit at the gate of the city and viewed as a place of authority.
Lot, somehow, was an elder at the gate of Sodom where he was vexed with the wickedness of that city and his own compromises made there:
“And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;”[3]
Though vexed and compromised, Lot still had enough in him to recognize the angels of the Lord.
Those same angels were the means of Lot’s salvation from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorroh:
Peter tells us how that God “delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:”[4]
But the damage was done: his wife was dead and his two daughters, overcome by their situation reverted to what Sodom had taught them.
The Gate Signifies Authority[5]
- The gate represents a place of authority
- To “possess the gates” meant one possessed the city
- Jesus spoke of the “gates of Hell” (Matthew 16:18, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”)
- While we may not be privy to the dark counsels of Hell was have no worries when we have the Rock – Jesus Christ.
- We are on a missional journey and Hell Cannot Stop the Church.
- “To be within the gates” meant to be under the authority of the elders of the city presiding in the gates
- Deuteronomy 15:7, “If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:”
The gates are a place where plans are made, tactics designed, strategies implemented, and counsel sought.
Absalom understood the importance of the gate and exploited that knowledge to turn the heart of the people from King David with an Evil Report.
It is the Evil Report, spread at your gate and attended to by you that defiles you.
Defile = to make profane, call common, defile, pollute, dirty, or unclean.
Jacob spoke of the “gate of Heaven” (Genesis 28:17, “And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”)
He called that place Bethel – the house of God.
You are Bethel today – You are the House of God and you have gates of access that to need to be well guarded.
Isaiah 33:15-17
(15) He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
If you Shun the Evil Report
(16) He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
(17) Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.
Your ears, eyes and mouth are gates to either shun or share evil reports.
Your ear is a gate and listening to an evil report can defile you.
Evil Report: Distortion of Facts – Incomplete Facts – False Information
The wrongful motivation of an evil report causes the hearer to be defiled by drawing wrong conclusions based on that report.
Mat 15:17-20, “(17) Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? (18) But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. (19) For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: (20) These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.”
Dr. Joe Nelson of Parkersburg Bible College listed various ways an evil reporter operates:
- A Whisperer – one who secretly passes an evil report:
- Psalms 41:7, “All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.”
- A Gossip (rumor) – magnifies and sensationalizes rumors of partial information:
- Ezekiel 7:26, “Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.
- A Slanderer – One who speaks to destroy credibility by using evil facts:
- Numbers 14:36-37, “(36) And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land, (37) Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD.
- A Busybody – one who digs up evil reports and information with the express purpose of spreading them by any of the three methods above:
- 1 Peter 4:15, “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.”
Nelson taught that an evil report is motivated by:
- Bitterness – reacting because of personal hurts
- Rebellion – justifying an independent spirit
- Deception – believing that the evil report is one’s “right” to give
- Pride – wanting to exalt self
- Guilt – justifying past actions or attitudes
- Envy – desiring what others have (jealousy)
Evil Reporters often think that they are getting by: “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Ecclesiastes 8:11).
5 QUESTIONS THAT WILL UNCOVER AN EVIL REPORT (DR. JOE NELSON):
- WHAT IS YOUR REASON FOR TELLING ME THIS?
- WHERE DID YOU GET THE INFORMATION?
- HAVE YOU GONE DIRECTLY TO THOSE INVOLVED?
- HAVE YOU PERSONALLY CHECKED OUT ALL THE FACTS?
- CAN I QUOTE YOU IF I CHECK THIS OUT?
Defilement takes place when you receive an evil report and believe it to be true.
Our True Spiritual Battle is not with people, but with spirits that motivate people.
Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Spirits of lust, deceit, envy, rebellion, perversion, jealousy, pride…
God has elected not to tell us about the plans of these evil rulers & authorities of the unseen world.
He has not given us a seat at their gate listening to their strategies and wicked plans.
But we see the result of these evil authorities.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
(3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
(5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
(6) And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
How?
Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
You get to choose what you allow into your gate, what you heed, hearken, obey.
[1] **See Notes from Dr. Nelson’s Class & Lesson “Defilement: Absalom’s Curse on 7-13-2010**
[2] Rom 13:1
[3] Genesis 19:1
[4] 2 Peter 2:7
[5] Clarence H. Wagner Jr., Guarding Your Gates
Categories
More Than A Song: A War Cry
Text: Song of Solomon 2:12-13
“(12) The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; (13) The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.”
Psalms 104:10, 12
“He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills….By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” (You will be judged by the type of speech that comes from your mouth).
Spring has come, and with it the beautiful melody of birds singing. I particularly love to sit on my porch, or in my home office with the windows open, and listen to peaceful songs delivered by the birds.
We even have a rooster here in the Hills of Guyandotte that crows all day long: morning, noon & night.
We tend to equate the singing of birds to the praise of the saints, and while we can agree with that we also see that their singing teaches us a far greater lesson.
Nature teaches us.
Birds are territorial.[1]
They need to have proper space and conditions to raise their offspring.
They will do many things to raise their families.
I understand that there can be a danger in people being too territorial when it comes to trying to reach the world and not allowing others the opportunity to do a work for Jesus, but tonight I am focusing on your families.
You need to guard your family.
Birds will choose their territory based on the availability of food, water, shelter and nesting locations, and then they seek to attract a mate.
Well, the Church is the perfect location for you to begin nesting, and you already have a mate:
Isaiah 54:5, “For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.”
Paul wrote:
(11) Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. (2) For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:1-3).
Birds also claim territory to renew bonds and to let other fowl know that this area is taken.
Birds claim territory through several behaviors, including:[2]
- Nest building: Some birds, such as different types of wrens, will claim territory by taking advantage of the nesting sites it offers. The males will build multiple nests in suitable locations throughout their territory. The females will then investigate those nests and choose the one they prefer, even if they eventually rebuild the male’s construction to suit their preferences.
- The Lord Jesus Christ is preparing a place for us, as we prepare ourselves for Him:
- John 14:2-3, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
- The Lord Jesus Christ is preparing a place for us, as we prepare ourselves for Him:
- Drumming: Woodpeckers and several types of game birds claim territory by drumming as an alternative to singing. These low-pitched, rhythmic sounds, whether made by pounding on a hollow tree or by using air sacs, will carry great distances. This alerts competing birds that the territory is not available, as well as lets potential mates know that a strong, healthy bird has claimed the location.
- “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph” (Psalm 47:1).
- Clapping, like drumming, shows an encroaching enemy that we are strong and victorious
- And to our Lord, it is offered as an expression of praise, worship and thanksgiving for who He is and what He has done.
- Psalm 66:1, “Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands.”
- Visual displays: Visual displays such as puffing up colored feather patches, tail flicking or fanning, wing spreading, and other behaviors are all part of claiming territory. These postures and actions also show off a bird’s strength and health to a potential mate. These behaviors are commonly a part of courtship rituals between opposite sexes as well as territorial displays between two male birds.
- We lift our hands as a visual display of praise and worship:
- Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. (Psalm 63:4)
- Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD. (Psalm 134:2)
- I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. (1Timothy 2:8)
- Worship is closely tied to a life of holiness.
- Everyone can praise the Lord, but not everyone can worship Him.
- We dance before the Lord as a visual demonstration of praise:
- Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. (Psalm 149:1-3)
- Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. (Psalm 150:4)
- And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. (2 Samuel 6:14)
- We lift our hands as a visual display of praise and worship:
- Chasing: As a last resort, aggressive birds may directly chase intruders or competitors out of their territory. This is frequent in areas where many birds are seeking to claim the same space, or when a dominant male is discouraging younger males that are struggling to claim their first territory. In bird species where family groups remain together in the winter, the male parent may chase away his mature offspring the following spring so they do not infringe on his territory.
- In this day, you better be aggressive about protecting your home, your nest, your territory.
- The devil is trespassing on your home and in your mind with all the competing distractions. Why is he so set on distracting you, because he wants your most precious possession:
- Your relationship with God.
- Your family’s soul.
- That old serpent will slip near your nest just to consume your future hope.
- The devil is trespassing on your home and in your mind with all the competing distractions. Why is he so set on distracting you, because he wants your most precious possession:
- In this day, you better be aggressive about protecting your home, your nest, your territory.
- Singing: Singing is one of the most common ways birds advertise that territory belongs to them. Songs will carry quite far, and birds will perch near the edge of their territory to broadcast their claim to the maximum range. At the same time, a strong, vibrant song will help attract a mate. For some species, such as the northern mockingbird, a more complex song will help birds defend a larger territory and are more attractive to females.
- Singing is so important that the largest book of the Bible is a songbook – Psalms
- Psalms 66:1-4, “Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: (2) Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious. (3) Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. (4) All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.”
- We are told to “be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:18-20).
- Psalms 150:1-6, “(1) Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. (2) Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. (3) Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. (4) Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. (5) Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. (6) Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”
Your Song is More Than A Song.
Your Song is A War Cry.
You are conducting Holy Warfare
Hebrews 13:15, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
Psalms 149:1-9
- Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.
- Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
- Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
- For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
- Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.
- Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged 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 honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
[1] SOURCE: https://www.thespruce.com/how-birds-claim-territory-386444
[2] Ibid.
E. M. Bounds on the necessity of constant prayer, from his book The Weapon of Prayer:
GOD’S great plan for the redemption of mankind is as much bound up to prayer for its prosperity and success as when the decree creating the movement was issued from the Father, bearing on its frontage the imperative, universal and eternal condition, “Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thy inheritance and the uttermost part of the earth for thy possession.” In many places an alarming state of things has come to pass, in that the many who are enrolled in our churches are not praying men and women. Many of those occupying prominent positions in church life are not praying men. It is greatly to feared that much of the work of the Church is being done by those who are perfect strangers to the closet. Small wonder that the work does not succeed. While it may be true that many in the Church say prayers, it is equally true that their praying is of the stereotyped order. Their prayers may be charged with sentiment, but they are tame, timid, and without fire or force. Even this sort of praying is done by a few straggling men to be found at prayer-meetings. Those whose names are to be found bulking large in our great Church assemblies are not men noted for their praying habits. Yet the entire fabric of the work in which they are engaged has, perforce, to depend on the adequacy of prayer. This fact is similar to the crisis which would be created were a country to have to admit in the face of an invading foe that it cannot fight and have no knowledge of the weapons whereby war is to be waged. In all God’s plans for human redemption, He proposes that men pray. The men are to pray in every place, in the church, in the closet, in the home, on sacred days and on secular days. All things and everything are dependent on the measure of men’s praying. Prayer is the genius and mainspring of life. We pray as we live; we live as we pray. Life will never be finer than the quality of the closet. The mercury of life will rise only by the warmth of the closet. Persistent non-praying eventually will depress life below zero.
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