Worship

“Raise a Hallelujah” by Bethel Music

Scripture

(Please read 2 Chronicles 20 in its entirety. You don’t want to miss a glorious detail!)

“Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, ‘Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.’ After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.’ As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.” -2 Chronicles 20:20-22, emphasis added

Understanding the Context

I have carried this chapter of Scripture in my spirit since 2008 when I began to pray for the Church. It was such a key warfare strategy for the people of God. It is key strategic passage for us today, as well.

Allow me to paint a picture of 2 Chronicles 20. We have a king who was moving to turn the hearts of the people back to God in the face of an oncoming enemy. He mobilizes the people, cries out to the Lord on behalf of the nation, seeks the face of God in prayer, and gets the army ready to move in worship! It says, “All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord (2 Chronicles 20:13).”

God’s Strategic Response

A prophetic word arises as the Spirit of God falls on one man and gives to King Jehoshaphat the play by play to victory!

“‘Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.”’” -2 Chronicles 20:15-17, emphasis added

Faith’s Response Through Worship

The threat of what they were facing was very real. There was a massive army rising up against the people of God. And if God didn’t rescue and save them, there was no hope! So what does the Lord tell them to do? He commands them to get rid of FEAR and get ready to see deliverance! They were to prepare to see the hand of God move on behalf of their nation. How many of us in our nation are standing on the precipice of these very words! Stand firm, Church, in your position of FAITH and do not be discouraged with FEAR. The Lord is moving on behalf of His people because He is for us and He is with us!

I can imagine some were in constant prayer and intercession. Some were probably physically preparing for war. Some were probably in a ball of tears fearing for the lives of their children. There was so much unknown. Was God really going to come through and deliver? Was the one prophet who carried the strategy to victory even trustworthy? I feel all these questions even as I write this. This is so for US today—every last word of this chapter.

“Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, ‘Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.’” -2 Chronicles 20:20

The people are awakened to a new day. And this particular day was the day to head into battle and face the massive army positioned against them. God was calling for their participation. Dressed for war, he rallied them not to grab their swords or shields or an extra flask of water, but to get ready with FAITH! They were to have FAITH in what God was speaking and leading them into. This was their position and their stance and their command to BELIEVE. And what does FAITH release in them? The people began to worship! I have said it before and will say it again:

The insanity of faith becomes worship that releases the fulfillment of God’s promises!

God’s Miraculous Intervention

“They worshipped, but why did they do it? They were not delivered. No, but they were sure they were going to be delivered. Their enemies were not dead. No, they were all alive, but they were sure they would be dead, so they had worship, and their devotion rose from trustful and grateful hearts.” -Charles Spurgeon

“As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.” -2 Chronicles 20:22

The enemy was defeated and the people of God didn’t even have to raise a sword. They just had to raise a hallelujah! The people of God were merely asked to release FAITH and believe that God is who He said He is and will DO what He has promised to do. The most amazing part of this whole battle is not only that it was just God’s battle and His people’s victory, but they also got the plunder of the enemy! It’s just like the abundant goodness of the Lord to say:

You remain in faith, open your mouth to worship, and I will give you victory and the abundance of plunder from everything the enemy has taken!

“When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Berakah to this day.” -2 Chronicles 20:24-26, emphasis added

Application for Today

This battle right now you may be facing or the one we are facing as a nation will be led by worshippers! The ones God is calling to the front lines are the ones who have their mouths filled with praise! It’s an hour to release praise in the Earth and to agree with the plans and purposes of Heaven. He’s asking for a people who will agree, not after the enemy is plundered or after we see deliverance, but before our eyes see the hand of God move! “‘Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever (2 Chronicles 20:21).’”

As I was sitting with the Lord this morning, I penned these words that He placed on my spirit:

I am pouring out mercy—My mercy—that is not defined by worldly measures or standards. It’s the mercy of another kind. It will blanket the earth to calm the atmosphere and push back what is being released in this hour. My mercy will put people and cities and this nation on another course toward revival. The need for me will only increase! It will not decrease! The nation and the world is longing for calm. There will be calm at times, but when I stir up hunger and desperation, it’s often in the middle of the storm. Remember, the storm doesn’t define the moment. My hand of righteousness, power, and mercy define the moment! I will not relent. I will not let up. BUT, I will continue to draw all men to Myself. This is LOVE! I want to reveal My power and wonder to My people and to those who do not know My goodness. My faith-filled ones will be portals to release My goodness in the Earth because they are asking according to Heaven. Thy are not asking because of what they see on the Earth. They are asking according to what they know from intimacy with Me. Position yourself to receive and release. Both come out of intimacy with Me. Commune with Me.

Invitation to Faith

Sisters, this is our grandest moment of an invitation to faith! It’s time to PRAISE IN THE VALLEY! It is time to sing our hallelujah over the plans of the enemy, over our families, over this nation, over the turmoil and traumas. A valley causes sounds to echo as they bounce off of the walls or mountains around them. We can let our praise resound and be carried from this valley place! Let your worship roar in this hour as you watch God move on your behalf! Stand firm and see the deliverance of the Lord. All He asks is for you to believe Him and open your mouth to declare it. He will do the rest!

I want to bless you today, in the name of Jesus! I bless with a new sound in your mouth! I bless you, in Jesus’ name, with faith and resolve to hold your position, standing firm in worship, no matter what your eyes see. I bless you to hear the songs that Heaven is singing over you, so you may join your voice with them. I bless you, in Jesus’ name, with an extra measure of faith and for those who don’t have the gift of faith. I bless you to receive the gift of faith. I bless you with strength and joy and hope and laughter in this hour because your heart is steadfast and you know in Whom you have believed. If you have entrusted Him with your eternity, you can trust Him with the list of things on your heart in this hour. I bless you with the gift of intercession and worship to conquer the plans of the enemy over your family, your calling, your city, and your nation. I bless you with increased territory of influence and the plunder from the camp of the enemy! In the glorious and abundant name of Jesus, AMEN!

“I felt the HOLY SPIRIT whisper to me through the weariness: ‘KEEP GOING! WORSHIP IS THE KEY TO UNLOCK REVIVAL IN AMERICA!’” -Sean Feucht