Ambush Satan With Song
Singing is a powerful means of experiencing God's love and power, and can be a catalyst for victory in our spiritual warfare against Satan.
This sermon emphasizes the power of singing in worship and spiritual warfare, drawing from the story of Jehoshaphat and the choir leading the army into battle. It highlights how singing is not just a response to grace but a means of grace, invoking the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. The narrative of Jim Elliot and his companions singing a hymn before their martyrdom underscores the victory and protection found in praising God through song, showcasing the enduring impact of worship in overcoming spiritual battles.
Full Transcript
Jehoshaphat aims to conquer Moab with a choir. God had said, the battle is mine to fight. And Jehoshaphat said, well, let's put the choir at the front.
Verse 21, and when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy array as they went before the army and say, give thanks to the Lord for his steadfast love endures forever. In other words, shouts of victory before the battle commences because God had promised it. I think the writer of this book wants us to learn from verse 22, even though victory belongs to God, the singing of the choir is the occasion for the victory.
Singing is not merely a response to grace. Singing is a means of grace. Singing is power.
When you sing, the Holy Spirit comes and does something. Jehoshaphat sang with the choir, and Moab and Ammon and Seir killed themselves. And when Paul and Silas sang, it says, God shook the prison.
Surely the lesson is there is power when the people of God sing. Jim Elliot, you remember? January 8, 1956, Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, and three others, they were there at the river waiting to see whether the Alcas would come out, the Indians to whom they were going to minister. The last word that the headquarters received from them, according to Elizabeth Elliot in her book, The Shadow of the Almighty, was that they sang a hymn before they crossed over.
And what they sang was this, We go in faith our own great weakness feeling, Needing more each day thy grace to know, Yet from our hearts a song of triumph peeling, We rest on thee, and in thy name we go. And they all got killed before 4.30 in the afternoon. And God protected them.
He protected them from unbelief, from cowardice, from fear, from going home and buying a house in the suburbs saying somebody else can reach the Alcas. There was victory on that afternoon. It's reverberated over the last 30 years and it will continue on into eternity.
There are two weapons that we have to fight Satan with in worship, the Word of God and song. I beseech you, give heed to the Word and sing with all your heart.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Power of Singing in Worship
- A. Singing is a means of grace
- B. Singing is a way to experience the power of God
- C. Singing can be a catalyst for victory
- II. Examples of Singing in the Bible
- A. Jehoshaphat's choir in 2 Chronicles 20
- B. Paul and Silas in Acts 16
- III. The Importance of Singing in Worship
- A. Singing is not just a response to God's love, but a way to experience it
- B. Singing can help us overcome fear and unbelief
- C. Singing can be a powerful tool in our spiritual warfare
Key Quotes
“Singing is not merely a response to grace. Singing is a means of grace. Singing is power.” — John Piper
“When you sing, the Holy Spirit comes and does something.” — John Piper
“There are two weapons that we have to fight Satan with in worship, the Word of God and song.” — John Piper
Application Points
- Make singing a priority in your worship and spiritual life, and see how God can use it to empower and protect you.
- Remember that singing is not just a response to God's love, but a means of experiencing it, and can be a powerful tool in your spiritual warfare.
- Trust in God's power and presence, even in the face of danger and uncertainty, and see how He can use singing to bring you victory.