"The Sound"

Monday, July 26th, 2010

Today's Passage: Joshua 6
Memory Verse: Joshua 6: 20

Sounds.  They're all around us.  If you're a teacher or a student, the alarm between classes is annoying but important because it signals the end of one class and the start of another.  The toot of a train lets passengers know they're about to stop and pick up or drop off customers.  And let's not forget the angry honk of a car whose driver thinks you're about to hit him or her. However loud or soft, all sounds have significance.  In the spirit realm, this is no different.  God has lined up our victory in every area, but there are some things He expects us to do by faith.

Take the children of Israel at the gates of Jericho.  They were given specific instructions to march around the city for six days without making any noise.  But on day seven, they were told to march around the walls seven times.  On the seventh march, the priests were to make a loud blast with the ram's horn, after which all the people were to shout aloud.  At that moment, when the noise was at its loudest, the walls fell down flat.  This makes me wonder how many battles we could be winning while the noise is at its loudest when we are on one accord: during praise and worship.

Saints, when we're in worship, and the Lord unctions us to shout and praise Him out loud, there is a purpose.  Remember what the Word says about how our weapons are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds?  This simply means that the enemy is a bully that we cannot beat with physical strength.  Most of the time, he's bullying us into defeat by getting us to say nothing.  The funny thing about it is, if you've been pushed around one too many times by a real-life bully, you'll take it and take it until one day, you explode.  You let that bully know you won't be pushed around anymore, and you DON'T communicate this information in a whisper.  Well, what do you think the enemy is?  He's the bully who actualy already knows how he's defeated.  That's why he'd rather have a bunch of saints going through the motions during praise and worship than shouting for the victory.  That's why he rejoices when the praise team leader says, "Let's shout!" but the people stand and stare instead.

It's as if we're all standing in front of our wall of Jericho.  So many promises that we haven't yet seen.  So many old enemies standing between us and everything God says we can have.  All we have to do is follow His instructions.  March together (walk in unity with one another).  And when the time comes and the Lord gives the command to "shout!" let's begin to do so without reservation.  After all, He knows what it takes to win a battle.  Why do we hesitate to do things His way?  God is listening for the sound from us that moves Him to fight for us.  Let's give Him exactly what He wants to hear.

Prayer: Father, I've gone too many times without making the sound You're waiting to hear when I worship You.  I repent for being self-absorbed and unaware of the enemy's tactics to defeat me, my brothers, and sisters.  Help me not take another opportunity to participate in my victory for granted.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.