More Weapons From The Throne Room

For we have the living Word of God, which is full of energy, and it pierces more sharply than a two-edged sword. It will even penetrate to the very core of our being where soul and spirit, bone and marrow meet! It interprets and reveals the true thoughts and secret motives of our hearts. ¹³ There is not one person who can hide their thoughts from God, for nothing that we do remains a secret, and nothing created is concealed, but everything is exposed and defenseless before his eyes, to whom we must render an account.

Hebrews 4:12-13

It's impossible to overstate the importance of the Word of God in our prayer life. Words are the containers of our faith. They're powerful enough to pull down the enemies' strongholds and to demolish them. We're in combat with demonic darkness, but because the Word of God dwells richly in us, we have ample ammunition to discharge against any attack. As the Word of God comes from our mouths, it has a dramatic impact on the spirit realm around us.

The Scripture above states that God's Word is full of energy-like a two-mouthed sword. Many translations read, "like a two-edged sword," but the Greek word is actually "mouth." His Word is like a sword coming from two mouths, God's and ours! Our mouth is filled with God's truth, and we speak it out in declaration; it becomes a two-mouthed sword! How important it is to be filled with the Word of God and be filled with the Holy Spirit. There is power for spiritual dominion against the enemy in the words we pray! Everything you do in intercession and spiritual warfare must be based on the Word of God. His Word abiding in you gives you wisdom for warfare, strength for the battle, and faith to combat your foe.

⁷ But if you live in life-union with me and if my words live powerfully within you—then you can ask whatever you desire, and it will be done. ⁸ When your lives bear abundant fruit, you demonstrate that you are my mature disciples who glorify my Father! John 15:7-8

You must learn to use the Word of God as a sword against dark powers.

^17–18 Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies. And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken Word of God. Ephesians 6:17

The more you know and confess the Word, the more effective will be your victory. Here are some ways you can use the sword of the Spirit:

. Allow the Spirit to use the Word as a sword in your own heart first.

. Quote the Word to the enemy and remind him of his defeat.

. Quote the Word to the Lord to affirm His promises.

. Ask God for a word of direction for the person or situation.

Ignorance of the Word of God will leave you defenseless. Jesus, the incarnate Word, used the written Word when He was tempted by the devil. If Jesus needed the Word, then so do we. The Bible is full of ammunition for warfare. Just look at all the promises of God, the prophetic prayers, the apostolic teachings, and the book of Revelation.

THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL

Exodus, Joshua, and Judges give us incredible insight into battlefield strategies. The name Joshua is the Old Testament form of the name Jesus. You can read through the books of Joshua and Judges as though they were manuals for spiritual warfare! Take note of the different strategies God released to His leaders for war. Note their defeats as well as their victories. Everything written is for our example and instruction. Joshua 10 is perhaps the most powerful example of spiritual warfare and intercessory prayer in the Word. This chapter records the epic battle between the Israelites and the five kings of the Amorites. After an all-night march, Joshua took his enemies by surprise. And the Lord helped with the artillery of heaven! Hailstones fell from the sky as Joshua executed judgment on his enemies! More were killed by the hailstones than by the swords of the Israelites. And with the declaration of Joshua, the sun stood still so that the warfare could be completed! I fully believe that in these last days, the Lord will be working miracles so astounding that they will be compared to the book of Joshua.

HIS WORD WORKED FOR ME

The "word of their testimony" are the specific truths of God that have delivered the saints.

¹¹ And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelation 12:11

Each one of us can say that our testimony is that the Word of God worked for us! There is no victory apart from the Lord and His Word. The word of our testimony is the word we use to testify of God's power! Here is a sample word of testimony that is sure to push back the devil:

. I testify that the Word of God has set me free!

· I stand before you covered and sprinkled in the precious blood of Christ.

· Through the blood of Christ, I have been redeemed from the hand of the enemy.

. Through the blood, all my sins have been forgiven and I am continually cleansed from sin.

· Through the blood of Jesus, I am set apart for the Father.

. I carry His authority and the enemy has no place in me.

. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit!

. The enemy has no power over me for the blood of Jesus has been shed for me!

PRAISE AND WORSHIP-OUR BANNER

Praise and worship are such effective tools for fighting our battles. They open the heavenly realm for revelation, power, and God's Spirit to flow. As we praise, the prison doors of our soul open and we are set free again.

²³ After they were severely beaten, they were thrown into prison and the jailer was commanded to guard them securely. ²⁴ So the jailer placed them in the innermost cell of the prison and had their feet bound and chained.
²⁵ Paul and Silas, undaunted, prayed in the middle of the night and sang songs of praise to God, while all the other prisoners listened to their worship.
²⁶ Suddenly, a great earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. All at once every prison door flung open and the chains of all the prisoners came loose.

²⁷ Startled, the jailer awoke and saw every cell door standing open. Assuming that all the prisoners had escaped, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself Acts 16:23-27

Jesus taught His disciples to begin and end prayer with praise. We don't wait to worship God until we have the victory-as we worship, the victory comes! We do battle from a place of victory with praise as the ground of victory beneath our feet. Put on your garments of praise and watch what the Father does in your heart and through your prayers!

When you clap your hands or lift them in praise, you're waging war in the heavens and loosing havoc on the enemy's kingdom. Don't neglect to use prophetic worship in your gatherings and in your devotional times as well. Prophetic worship is such a powerful weapon when you're facing an enemy in the spirit. When you don't know what to do, ask the Lord and prophetically praise your way into victory. Praise and worship will win your battles! Praise releases captives and brings in a harvest. Your worship will not only set you free, but it will set the hearts of others free as well. When God sent King Jehoshaphat into battle, He armed him with a song: "Let everyone thank God, for He is good, and He is easy to please! His tender love for us continues on forever!" As we sing, our music becomes a weapon for God to wield from His heavenly throne room. And when we lift our hearts to Him in song, heavenly foes will be conquered.

Every stroke of Yahweh’s punishing rod
will be to the sound of cymbals and strumming harps.

God himself fights them in battle with dancing!

Isaiah 30:32

"No wonder the peoples praise you! Let all the peoples praise you more! The harvest of the earth is here! God, the very God we worship, keeps us satisfied at His banquet of blessings".

⁵ Let the peoples praise You, O God;

Let all the peoples praise You.

⁶ Then the earth shall yield her increase;
God, our own God, shall bless us.

Psalms 67:5-6

Worship and intercession are powerful as they flow together to dismantle strongholds in the heavenly places. This is the ministry of the harp and bowl described in the heavenly scene of

⁸ Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹ And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
¹⁰ And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:8-10

And when the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures saw the Lamb had taken the scroll, they fell facedown at the feet of the Lamb and worshiped Him. Each of them had a harp and golden bowls brimming full of sweet fragrant incense-which are the prayers of God's holy lovers. And they were all singing this new song of praise to the Lamb. This is the mingling of worship and intercession that results in the demolishing of strongholds in the kingdom of darkness.

HOW DOES PRAISE HELP US DEFEAT THE ENEMY?

· It draws you into His presence where you can receive wisdom and strength-

⁴ Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
⁵ For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations. Psalms 100:4-5

. It releases the activity of the throne room on your behalf-

Violence shall no longer be heard in your land,
Neither wasting nor destruction within your borders;
But you shall call your walls Salvation,
And your gates Praise. Isaiah 60:18

· It paralyses the forces of darkness and defeats the enemy-

¹³ Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the escorts and the people, she came to the people in the temple of the LORD. ¹⁴ When she looked, there was the king standing by a pillar according to custom; and the leaders and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. So Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, “Treason! Treason!” 2 Kings 11:13-14

This kind of praise has the power to shut Satan’s mouth.
Childlike worship will silence
the madness of those who oppose you.

² You have built a stronghold by the songs of babies.
Strength rises up with the chorus of singing children.

Psalms 8:2

· It hastens revival-

⁵ Let the saints be joyful in glory;
Let them sing aloud on their beds.
⁶ Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
And a two-edged sword in their hand,
⁷ To execute vengeance on the nations,
And punishments on the peoples;
⁸ To bind their kings with chains,
And their nobles with fetters of iron;
⁹ To execute on them the written judgment—
This honor have all His saints.
Praise the LORD! Psalms 149:5-9

² And Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites according to their divisions, each man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and peace offerings, to serve, to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the camp of the LORD. 2 Chronicles 31:2

¹² And the men did the work faithfully. Their overseers were Jahath and Obadiah the Levites, of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to supervise. Others of the Levites, all of whom were skillful with instruments of music, 2 Chronicles 34:12

³² Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people,
And praise Him in the company of the elders. Psalms 107:32