Psalm 149 (NLT)

1 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful.

2 O Israel, rejoice in your Maker. O people of Jerusalem, exult in your King.

3 Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp.

4 For the LORD delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.

5 Let the faithful rejoice that he honors them. Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds.

6 Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands—

7 to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples,

8 to bind their kings with shackles and their leaders with iron chains,

9 to execute the judgment written against them. This is the glorious privilege of his faithful ones. Praise the LORD!

Five things that happen when worship becomes a weapon:

#1) CHANGES YOUR FOCUS

Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Psalm 112:7 (NLT)

They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them.

Psalm 57:7 NLT

My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises!

#2) CHANGES YOUR PERSPECTIVE

• What you see is rarely what God sees.

“Your feelings are real, but it may not be your reality.”

Psalm 73:16-17 (NLT)

16 So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! 17 Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Romans 11:33-34 (ESV)

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

#3) CHANGES YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES

Matthew 24:35 (NKJV)

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

Isaiah 55:11 (NLT)

It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

#4) CHANGES YOUR ENEMY’S POSITION

Psalm 91:14-15 (ESV)

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.

• love = ḥâšaq (pronounced ‘sa-shock’)= to feel or have a desire for; to long for; to have a great affection or care or loyalty towards; to be bound or tied together; to be attached; want strongly
• knows = yada = to understand; to be known intimately; sometimes used to express having intercourse.

Psalm 22:3 (ESV)

Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

Psalm 18:3 NLT

I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.

Psalm 34:4-5 (ESV)

I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

Psalm 23:4 (ESV)

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

#5) CHANGES THOSE AROUND YOU

Acts 16:23-31 (NLT)

23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape.

24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.

25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.

• Singing hymns = hymneo = to celebrate with a song of praise

26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!

27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”

29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.

Shadow of death (Psalm 23:4; 44:19; 107:10-14; Job 10:21-22; )

Shadow of His wings (Psalm 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 63:7; 91:1-4)

Psalm 91:1-4 (ESV)     

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

Acts 16:30-31 (NLT)

30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”

Acts 16:35 (NLT)

The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, “Let those men go!”

CONCLUSION

2 Chronicles 20:21-22 NLT

21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever.”

22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.

• When you worship in spirit and in truth, your worship becomes a weapon that allows the Lord to set ambushes against the enemy! Worship secures your victory. Embrace worship because it is a weapon we cannot survive without.

John 4:23-24 (ESV)

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

• Be a worshipper; for our Father is seeking such people.