The Weapon of Song

Is anyone else fighting today?

I was reminded -- somewhere between binding the enemy’s attack and praying in the spirit -- to SING.

God has given His Children weapons to fight against the enemy: binding the power of the enemy, loosing the power of healing, quoting the written Word, praying in the spirit, prayers of agreement, etc. Singing is another spiritual weapon, a force which helps us to defeat the enemy. I’ve used it myself in times of dire circumstances and have heard many good teachers say that in the very midst of the enemy’s attack on them, the Word of God came to them: “Sing!”

Singing is a force God created (and yes, the enemy has done some work in perverting this to his own use)… it is a force which counters the attacks the enemy brings against us. This force breaks bondages and oppression, and brings us into God's presence. Sing!

Even in the world today “Music Therapy” – both listening to music and singing – is being used as an alternative to drugs to help relieve pain, reduce stress, improve circulation, and there is some evidence that listening to familiar music even helps geriatric patients improve memory function. Music can also be our weapon during battle against the enemy:

David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him. - 1 Sam. 16:23b ESV

And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.’ And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men… they all helped to destroy one another. - 2 Chron. 20:21-23 ESV

When God told Jehoshaphat that he’d already won the battle -- a battle he hadn’t even fought yet – acting on faith that God’s word was true, he actually sent the CHOIR out AHEAD of the army, dressed in their holy robes. Can you imagine what it must have been like to be one of the members of the choir chosen to lead an army into battle? And they didn’t sneak in quietly either. They went into battle singing praises to their God! God encourages us to sing all through His Word:

He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. - Ps. 40:3a ESV Quote: Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! - Ps. 47:1 ESV I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you O Lord, I will make music. - Ps. 101:1 ESV

Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! - Ps. 100:2 ESV

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. - Ps. 16:11 ESV

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. - Is. 55:12 NIV

Whether or not we feel like singing and giving thanks to God, and no matter what our present circumstances, when we sing, we’re bringing our emotions and physical bodies into obedience to God’s Word and His will for us. And once in line with God’s will, good things will start to happen!

This morning when I was praying about my present battle, I was reminded of Paul and Silas… their singing brought the full power of God into their present circumstances in a very real and powerful way:

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, … and suddenly there was a great earthquake, … And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. - Acts 16:25-26 ESV

Beaten and thrown in prison for doing good, Paul kept his faith. He sang in thanks for the goodness of God and miracles happened all around him. Paul wrote several times to different churches encouraging the people to sing and give thanks to God:

… I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. - I Cor. 14:15b ESV

… singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always… - Eph. 5:19,20 ESV

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. - Col. 3:16 ESV

From beginning to end, the Bible is full of singing, praising, music and victory:

Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.’ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the dear unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert… - Is. 35:4-6 ESV

And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, ‘Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! - Rev. 15:3 ESV

Singing can relieve pain, reduce stress, defeat enemies, please God and overcome sadness. Singing is an outward sign that you trust God and you are confident in your victory over the very enemy who is causing all that pain, stress and sadness.

I truly expect a miracle every time I ask for one… but sometimes it takes a little time to SEE the fruit of my lips. Sometimes I have to stand... and wait. I know that it took a few days, a few weeks even, for the angel to reach Daniel with an answer. And sometimes it takes a little while for the wheels to stop spinning in the wrong direction… But I know that my words have power:

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. – James 5:13-16 NIV

I know that all of heaven is on my side, and I am convinced: I cannot lose.

Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing will ever harm you. – Luke 10:19 HCSB

Shalom, fellow saints.