Spiritual Boot Camp ...Basic Training in Praise & Worship!
Intro: Prepare for War!
The Devil has declared War on You!
Eph 6:12 (NIV)
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Our Arsenal- Our Spiritual Weapons are not of this world!
In WWII only 1 of 4 soldiers fired their weapon on D-Day!
Today, only 1-5 Christians use their SPIRITUAL weapons!
- Weapons are useless w/o a warrior!
- Weapons are useless W/O Loyalty to your C.O.
- Where we learn to fight. Where we learn to use our weapon.
- Where we learn to know your enemy & his tactics.
- Where we learn to discipline our Heart, Mind, Body.
- Paul says I buffet my body. Press on. Run for the Prize/ Playing to win.
- Learn to contend & persevere.
- Civilian affairs. We learn to think like a warrior.
- Die to selfishness, pride, self consciousness.
John 4:23-24. "It's who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration."
Romans 12:1-2 “So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
Weapons Training Pt. 1: Praise!
1. PRAISE Proclaims God’s Glory!
Psalm 96:8 “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts.”
Praise is giving glory to God for who He is, what He’s done & What He’s going to do.
PRAISE IS TO BE DONE PASSIONATELY. With all of your Heart, Soul, Mind, & Strength.
Satan hates the sound of praise! Why? BECAUSE He covets it!
Psalm 96:8
2. PRAISE Protects (& transforms) the Spiritual Atmosphere!
Satan is the Prince of the power of the air! Darkness Vs. Light. Praise drives out the devil.
Psalm 22:3 God Inhabits (dwells within) the Praises of His people.
3. PRAISE Prevails Over the Enemy!
Psalm 8:2 Out of the mouths of Babes & infants You have ordained praise, because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger!
2 Chronicles: 20- KING JEHOSHAPHAT
No weapon formed against you shall prosper
Acts 16: PAUL & SILAS
If God is for us...
4. Praise Provides a Way to Express our Love to God.
Psalm 9:1-2
5. Praise Produces the Fruits of the Spirt in Us!
Love, joy, peace, kindness, patience, etc.
6. Praise Pursues God’s Presence!
Psalm 22:2
Psalm 100:2,4
James 4:8
Psalm 27:4,8
7. Praise Proclaims God’s Excellence!
Psalm 96:8
8. Praise Promotes Unity in the Body.
Psalm 47:1
Psalm 22:27
Psalm 150
9. Praise Permeates our Everyday Lives
Psalm 34:1, p.92
10. Praise Precedes Worship!
PSALM 106
HEBREWS 13:15 sacrifice
Romans 12:1-2 (The Message)
Place Your Life Before God
1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
Praise Perfects our sacrifice
Praise Prevails over every other human activity
Praise Protects us from the enemy.
Praise Procures Territory for the Kingdom.Salciccioli