Worship Like A Warrior
If worship changes the outcome of a battle, what can it do for our lives? Explore how passionate worship magnifies Christ, breaks fear, and empowers us to face life’s challenges with faith.
Christ Methodist New Vision Statement
In Fall 2024, we entered a teaching series on the new Christ Church Mission Statement:
Christ Methodist Church exists to glorify God and make disciples of Jesus Christ among all peoples.
However, we have also adopted a new Vision Statement. What’s the difference between a mission statement and a vision statement? Our mission statement is the cutting edge of what Jesus has called us to do. A Vision Statement is what we aspire to as we live into our mission.
The Christ Church Vision Statement is:
By the power of the Holy Spirit, we will be a gospel-centered community who magnifies Jesus Christ as we worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly while serving the poor, the oppressed, and the marginalized, spreading scriptural holiness in our city and to the nations for the spiritual awakening of all.
My nearby neighbors consist of a Presbyterian pastor and a catholic priest. One thing we, as clergy and many others in our neighborhood, have in common is that on Sunday mornings, we get dressed up and attend a place of worship. However, worship is designed to be a verb, not merely something we attend.
But I am not always sure everyone understands what worship is, why we worship, and what’s at stake in worship.
Previously, as we expand upon the sections of our Vision Statement, we covered “By the power of the Holy Spirit, we will be a gospel-centered community.” In this blog, we’ll examine “who magnifies Jesus Christ as we worship passionately.” This includes the passionate worship we’re designed for and how it relates to the magnification of Jesus.
The Story of Jehoshaphat
I had a seminary professor who shared, “Don’t take authority over the text, let the text take authority over you.” While that’s a good saying, I want to put a spin on it and invite you to “Don’t take authority over the text, but put yourself in the text.”
There is a King named Jehoshaphat, who, albeit imperfect, was a God-honoring King of Judah. His father, King Asa, had been a godly man, and Jehoshaphat had been raised to love God and seek Him wholeheartedly.
In 2 Chronicles 17, we read that Jehoshaphat sought the Lord and followed God’s ways rather than many of the ways Israel had adopted as they drifted from God. Verse 5 shares, “The Lord established the kingdom under his control, and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat so that he had great wealth and honor. His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord.”
He was the type of king who tried to protect his people as he led the nation and even sent people throughout the kingdom to teach God’s Word. Because of that, God blessed Jehoshaphat’s leadership and the nation.
But remember, Jehoshaphat wasn’t perfect. In 2 Chronicles 18, we learn that he allied with King Ahab, an evil leader, and married the evil Queen Jezebel. Ahab was an idolater who hated the true God of Israel. Jehoshaphat married Ahab’s daughter, and he was led astray through that relationship.
Sometime later, Jehoshaphat repented of his alliance with Ahab and for putting his trust in earthly kingdoms and power. As he realigned his heart with God, the people of Judah needed the Lord as we see through what unfolded around him.
“After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle.” 2 Chronicles 20:1
Scholars note that this army coming against them was in the hundreds of thousands (2 Chronicles 20:2a-c). This is a massive problem because the Invaders from the other side of the Dead Sea were at Judah’s door.
Put yourself in Jehoshaphat’s position: A large invading army is approaching, and their behavior toward God’s people is deeply reprehensible. In 2 Chronicles 20:3, we see that Jehoshaphat was, understandably, afraid.
Break Out of Fear and Into Faith
Fear paralyzes people, but the only way to break out of a fear cycle is to break into a faith cycle. I know that sounds like cute preacher talk, but through Jehoshaphat’s story, we see the substance of the statement because what happens next is he breaks into a faith cycle.
“(Jehoshaphat)…set his face to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 20:3
Jehoshaphat turned to God, recognizing that without His help, the nation was powerless. When we feel pressure, just as 2 Chronicles 20:3 states that Jehoshaphat was, we ask ourselves, “What am I going to do?” We seek an earthly solution, run to earthly alliances, or devise earthly strategies. We look for places to run. We look for ways to hide, such as a bottle to drink from or a Netflix show to binge.
However, not Jehoshaphat.
He didn’t begin with earthly solutions: his army, authority, experience, resources, or network. Instead, he put his eyes on God. He moved away from self-reliance and became God-reliant in worship, praise, fasting, and prayer.
“Meanwhile, all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, wives, and children. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah,…in the midst of the assembly. And he said, ‘Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you,
‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.’” 2 Chronicles 20:13-17
Remember that God doesn’t share these stories to entertain us; believers are given these stories to equip us. For the believer, there comes a point when the assurance of God’s presence has to go beyond a mere theological concept to being a source of strength.
Worship: A War Tactic
In military strategy, you have both strategic and tactical steps. The tactical steps are the actual execution of the strategy. That’s what we see God do here; He gave Jehoshaphat the battle strategy, which he then shared with the entire nation (God’s people).
2 Chronicles 20:20-22 shares:
“And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, ‘Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.’ And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those 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 of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.”
Let’s step back and examine that: The strategy was to march into battle, and the tactical step was to sing and praise God. You’re not off base if you find that a unique warfare strategy.
We can only speculate, but supernatural agencies are probably implied because the opposing armies turned on one another in confusion and chaos. Mind you, This was no small matter nor a minor skirmish. This was a matter of all-out war. The possibility of complete annihilation was real. We’re told that the army that came against Judah was so large and vast that the people of Judah spent three days picking up the spoils of war till they could carry no more (2 Chronicles 20:25).
Yet the strategy for victory was worship and praise through song.
While I know many great singers, I do not carry a tune well. However, that doesn’t matter because I am still a worshiper through song. My father was a great athlete, and he had a knuckleball that would play tricks on you, but he also couldn’t carry a tune.
When I was 10 years old, I remember being aware of how my parent’s marriage was falling apart. While riding with him in the car one day, he began to sing “How Great Thou Art.” He didn’t hit a single note, but even as a child, I remember thinking he was singing from the heart. Knowing their marriage was in trouble, I began to put together the pieces that he was battling through worship.
It wasn’t the harmony nor the key that Judah’s warriors’ sang in. It was much deeper than that. It was God’s presence inhabiting the praises of His people. When we praise God, it goes beyond the notes, form, and technique.
In Psalm 22:3, the psalmist shares, “Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” While God is already enthroned, the psalmist isn’t talking about heaven—he’s referencing the throne of Israel’s heart, yours, and mine. Something transcendent happens when God is passionately worshipped and praised.
Years ago, my brothers and I had the opportunity to help build two homes for human trafficking victims (children and orphans) in Thailand in honor of our late mother. These children have been abandoned, forsaken, abused, broken, and disowned. Occasionally, I get asked, “Where is God in all of that?” and I can answer: He is found in the praises of their lips.
Psalm 8:2 shares, “From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.” This verse tells us that even children have been ordained by God to silence the enemy with praise! Praising God is not only something we express because God is worthy, but praising God is a weapon!
When you spend time with them, you see the effects of the abuse and the darkness that runs through them. So many lies get implanted in those children’s hearts. Yet, the Gospel breaks the oppression, and the adoration silences the enemy’s voice.
A worshiper is a warrior. When you magnify God in song, you are using your praise not only to worship Him but as a weapon in spiritual warfare!
When we say things like, “There is a greater power in you than the challenges outside of you,” we’re talking about the presence and power of the Holy Spirit! When the Apostle Paul taught the church at Ephesus how to be filled with the power of God (Ephesians 5), he told them to offer praise by being filled with the Spirit:
“…addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…” Ephesians 5:18-20
The singer-songwriter Darlene Zschech said, “Passion often releases itself in anger and negativity rather than great things.” While we all have different personalities, we all have passion, which will look different for everyone; however, let your passion focus on the greater thing: Jesus.
How to Become a Passionate Worshiper
The Cologne Cathedral in Germany took 632 years to complete (1248-1880). It is a beautiful structure, but consider this: the finest buildings take time. That’s also an important reminder: God is a builder, not a magician.
If the finest buildings take time and God is the builder of life, we must consider our choices. We can either choose to cooperate and flow with Him or reject that. It’s your choice to allow God to develop and build you as a worshiper who magnifies Jesus Christ.
It’s also your choice to allow God to build these things within you not only as you worship with a faith body on Sunday but also throughout your week. Whether you’re driving, bathing your children, going for a hike, or whatever it may be. This is why Paul described the worship of God as encompassing all of life (Romans 12:1-2).
C.S. Lewis shared that worship and praise are inner health made audible. Therefore, a passionate worshiper overcomes their feelings because they understand that the worship of Jesus isn’t predicated upon our mood. A passionate worshiper disciplines their mind to worship Jesus out of truth. This is why, no less than seven times, the Apostle Paul expresses such rich theology that it moves his heart and mind to break out in doxology—he breaks out in praise, glorifying God with his words!
A passionate worshiper agrees with God’s Word and understands why one would glorify God for the riches of His mercy and the gift of His grace.
A passionate worshiper is focused, and focused people develop a sense of destiny and purpose. These people are confident in God, and people who are confident in God do great things for Him, which brings meaningful and satisfying lives because they’ve discovered that their greatest joy and satisfaction is found in bringing God glory!
Passionate worship magnifies Jesus with admiration, adoration, and affection that’s been awakened in the believer’s heart.
How much do I owe Him for canceling the consequences of my sin?
How much do I owe Him for being merciful toward me?
How is He worthy of our praise?
This is why we praise Him. This is why we sing. This is why we offer Him our everything. With empowerment from the Holy Spirit, let us be a gospel-centered community that magnifies Jesus Christ and worships passionately for the glory of God.
TL;DR
Worship isn’t just something we attend; it’s an active response that transforms fear into faith.
Drawing from the story of King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20, we see how passionate worship becomes a tactic in spiritual warfare, magnifying Christ and inviting God’s presence.
Whether through song, prayer, or daily acts of devotion, worship equips us to overcome life’s battles and brings us closer to the heart of God.