Elevate Jan 13

I think for many people in the world, especially the Christian world concept of worship has been so fragmented and narrow and we've lost two of its major functions.

Because of God's Omnipresence we have the opportunity to "always" worship God.
Because God dwells within His children we have the opportunity to individually stand before Him in worship.
Because of God's manifestation of his presence here in this earth we have the opportunity to feel him/experience Him during worship activities.

Within Scripture we can see a pattern that God used for worship.
The tribe of Judah descended from the fourth son of Leah named Judah. The word Judah means worship.The first three sons of Leah represented her desire to be loved by her husband and appreciated for bringing him sons.
The fourth one represented a shift in her attitude. Leah recognized that she was being blessed by God, she in turn worship him not as a victim of her circumstance, but as a victor and child of an Almighty God.

When Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt, God chose Judah to be the lead tribe. Judah had long since been given the position of authority within the family of Abraham. The first three brothers had forfeited their positions because of choices they made. God could have given grace and mercy to these brothers and allow them to take a position of authority, but He did not. God chose Judah/worship to lead his people out of bondage.
So the first pattern we see is that worship releases people from bondage.

When Joshua led the people into the land that God promised. The tribe of Judah led the way. Judah's Army was no better, or greater than any of the other tribes at the time.God was showing another pattern to his people and to the world. Worship should lead the way into battle.

I believe the lesson is pretty clear. If you want release from bondage then put yourself in the position of worship before God. That position of submission before his throne. That position that puts you in a place to hear him when he speaks. That position of worship will break the bonds of slavery.
I believe the second lesson is also very clear. If you want to do battle. If you've been called to reclaim land that God has given you, then worship. That position of worship allows you to be in a place to hear the battle plans of God. It puts you in a place that allows God to do battle for you.
Worship breaks bondage, worship does battle.

You can add even more power to the breaking of bondage, or the conquering of the enemy by participating in corporate worship. In corporate worship we see increased strength based on God's principal of multiplication. God says that one can put to flight a thousand, and that two will send 10,000 running. Just imagine what 10, 20, or hundreds could do in a place of worship before God.
The power of agreement, or coming into harmony with one another is a place that gods power begins to shift the very atmosphere in which we live.
The Lord's presence continues to grow as two or three are gathered together.
And in a corporate setting the body of Christ bows before their head/God in a position to respond to the head as it should be.

With all of this available power and opportunity to break bondage is it any wonder that the enemy seeks to fragment and destroy the concept of worship.
Satan is jealous. He is jealous because he wants that worship for himself. He is jealous because he wants the power of worship to be wielded for his plans. He hates God and he knows how worship moves guide to do battle, and break the bondage of his people.
The Bible says that God inhabits the praise of his people. Satan knows that were God is he must flee. When the people of God worship, Satan cannot stay and cause trouble. But, but if he can fragment the people of God then he can cause the worship to be broken and the effectiveness to be diminished.

The enemy uses wandering thoughts and roller coaster emotions to break the focus of those who are trying to worship God.
He uses relationships to distract and break down the dreams of victory that God has placed in His people.
someone who's been offended can be so easily turned from a place of worship` especially if the person they feel offended by is on stage with a microphone.
Double mindedness, lack of direction, fear, all classic weapons used by the enemy.
And probably for me one that seems the most effective is the idea that I don't have enough time to worship. Many people might seem to or three songs in their head in if they feel no breakthrough they give up and become distracted in efforts to find their own way out.

The value and power of worship needs to be recaptured by God's people as we seek to bring God's kingdom into a world that has been over run by the enemy.