Praise that Pulls Down Strongholds

Introduction

Today’s message is titled "Praise that Pulls Down Strongholds!”

This is our fourth sermon in a ten-part series titled “The Coming of Jesus, the Son of Man.” As we continue to work our way through the Book of Luke, we are focusing on the life of Christ, his miracles, the gospel of the Cross, and that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ.

I want to remind this church that the book of Luke was written by a gentile to the Gentiles. We know that Luke was a physician; we know that Luke was a disciple of Paul. He wrote both the books titled Luke and Acts. He was methodical in his investigation into the gospel accounts of Matthew and Mark. The purpose of this book was that the Gentiles knew with certainty that the things in which they had been instructed were true.

This gospel is an invitation to the Gentiles to see the heart of God revealed through his Son, Jesus Christ. ​

I. The Sound of a New Season

​Church, this morning we will be looking at a passage often referred to as ‘Mary’s song’, the Magnificat. This passage is often used as a Christmas carol, but I feel led to present this passage through a different lens. A different view. I believe this passage is not just a Christmas Carol or a lullaby but a War Cry against the enemy. Against the world. Against the strongholds and deep ties to oppression in our lives.

We know from our previous exegesis that ​Mary received a Word from God or a Rhema (ray-mah), which seems impossible that “the Holy Ghost would come upon her, that the power of the highest would overshadow her, and a holy thing would be done to her, and she would give birth to the Son of God! In the course of this exchange between Mary and the messenger of God, Gabriel reminds of Mary of her cousin, Elizabeth and says that “She who was called barren.… has now concieved and is in her sixth month.

Mary departs quickly to visit Elizabeth, and a miraculous event occurs, where the supernatural meets the natural, where celestial meets the terrestrial, where divinity meets humanity - John the Baptist in Elizabeths responds to meeting Jesus. Elizabeth immediately becomes baptized in the Holy Ghost, and we see in today’s passage Mary erupts into a song of praise and warfare. I present to you this morning that Mary was challenging the god of this world, and in her praise, declared that the coming Son of God would tear down strongholds!

IOWs, she praised and glorified God.

This church needs to understand that praise and prayer are weapons against the enemy. In Psalms 22, the WoG says as we give praises to God, He inhabits the praise of his children.

In today’s message, Mary sings about a coming “Great Reversal." She declares that the Coming Savior will topple the systems of the world, dethrone the enemy, and elevate the humble fulfilling a prophecy found in Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: And the government shall be upon his shoulder: And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

And Isaiah 61:1–2 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; Because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all that mourn;”

Preaching Riffs (to stir the church):

"Somebody needs to know, that praises is not just worship, it's a BATTLE CRY!"

"Mary did not just get a promise; she became pregnant with purpose, and the power she carried caused another to leap, caused another to become baptized in the Holy Ghost. That is what happens when we as believers come together, when we do not forsake the assembly of the brethren.

“I do not know about you about I want the power of God to move in this church!

"Tell your neighbor: 'A reversal is in the air!' The sound you're making is confusing the enemy and alerting Heaven that something's about to change!"

"Don't just sing it... DECLARE IT!"

​II. The Focus: Magnifying the Goodness of God

Luke 1:46 “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,”

I want you to notice the order here Church, Before she addressed the enemy or before she addressed the God, Almighty, El-Shaddai, El-Elyon. Mary magnified God in her life. See the issue is too often, we magnify our problems. We like to grab a microscope and look at the issue or look at our sickness, or look at the enemy until the issue has become a giant in our lives. Church, how many times have we made an issue in our life, a giant.

I remember early in my walk with the Lord, I would analyze every conversation, every situation, every issue that affected me. I would go into paralysis by analysis. Come on, Church, do you know what I am talking about. A time where you could not make a decision because there were too many overwhelming issues at the same time.

Notice the order, she magnified God before anything. In other words, Mary said, “I am going to make God bigger than my situation. That means, if you are having financial issues, you have to recognize that God is Jehovah Jireh, the God of provision. If you are having a sickness or cancer, or something that is terminal, you have to remember that our God is Jehovah Rapha, the God of healing.

There is no cross too heavy that Christ cannot help you! Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:30 “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

To "magnify" means to make something appear bigger. In GK, this means [meg-al-oo-no], it means to declare the greatness of God! The idea is habitual. How often are you magnifying God in your life? How often are you magnifying the issues in your life? Who is your master? Who do you serve, the Word of God or the world!?

See, Mary was just blessed by God, but she chose to magnify God, and did not fall into what so many of us do, the sin of pride. We so often fall into the sin of pride when we receive favor from God. When we accomplish something. Sometimes, in our flesh when we get blessings from God, we can fall into this sin of pride.

I remember when I began to pray for people and saw how God moved, it is easy to fall into pride, but we have to remain humble before God! We have to magnify God! We have to make God bigger in our lives compared to the problem.

Can I get an amen?!

Mary remained humble in the sight of God. 1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

Oooooooh! God is good, and His mercy endures forever!

Luke 1:47–48 “And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: For, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.”

I want you to notice three things here in what I believe is a war cry!

She says that my spirit rejoices in God my savior.

She acknowledges God as her savior.

She declares her station before God, she said “low estate of his handmaiden.”

In other words, she is acknowledging her own insignificance, in the eyes of the world - was poor, obscure, unknown. The very expression of what Mary says, “the low estate of His handmaiden,” suggests that Mary was even considered the least within her own household.

God chooses the least to do the greatest work - where God’s mercy, grace, and power cannot be mistaken: :

In the book of Judges - Judges 6:15: God called Gideon, who saw himself as the weakest man from the weakest clan, to deliver all of Israel from oppression.

In the book of Genesis - Genesis 29:31: The Lord showed mercy and favor to the unloved wife, Leah - the wife of Jacob, by opening her womb while her favored sister, Rachel, remained barren.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29: God deliberately chooses those the world considers foolish, weak, and insignificant to be His people, so that no one can boast in anything but Him alone.

I think of myself and how insignificant I am, yet God still uses me to do a work in His name. Let me tell you something, God wants you to do a work in his name. James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

Luke 1:49 “For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name.”

​When you focus on the goodness of God—that He is "Mighty" and that He is "Holy" (v. 49)—your spirit begins to rejoice. You cannot walk in freedom while you are magnifying your chains. You must magnify the chain breaker. The stronghold shatterer. The Liberator!

1 John 4:4 “Because greater is he that is in me/you, than he that is in the world.”

Romans 8:31 “ If God be for us, who can be against us?”

2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

Luke 1:50 “And his mercy is on them that fear him From generation to generation.”

Preaching Points:

What you magnify will dominate your reality. Today, choose to magnify the Chainbreaker, not the chains.

I believe rejoicing is the evidence that your focus has shifted from the size of your problem to the size of God.

Preaching Riffs (to build faith):

"You have got to make God bigger!

You have to Make Him bigger than the diagnosis!

You have to Make Him bigger than the debt!

You have to Make Him bigger than the depression! 

You have to MAGNIFY THE LORD!"

"You cannot walk in freedom while you are magnifying your chains. You cannot be free when you are focused on the prison! 

I am begging you to magnify your Chain-Breaker! Surrender yourself to Jesus Christ. Surrender your problems to the Master problem solver. There is greater friend than God.

Church, I am begging you to magnify the stronghold shatterer! Magnify the Waymaker!

Luke 3:5–6 “Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked places shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

When you give praise to the Almighty, it shifts your focus, and your spirit has to rejoice! We serve a living God, and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God!

Can I get an amen!?

​III. The Fight: Dethroning the Mighty

(Luke 1:51–52 “He hath shewed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, And exalted them of low degree.” )

Here is the meat of the message; this is where we get militant. Mary declares that God is in the business of dethroning the mighty from their seats and exalting the humble. That is who my God is. He scatters the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He puts down the mighty.

Those who scheme.

Those who plot.

Those who seek to serve their own interests.

Those who fail to serve.

Those who deprive others.

Those who push others down.

Those who abuse, misuse, bypass others.

It might seem the mighty sit in positions of power, or have authority over those who are weaker, but God tears down walls that prop up the mighty and raises the humble. He dethrones the wicked. He dethrones the evil. He dethrones those who have influence over his sheep, for he is the Great Shepherd. He is the Great I Am. He I was before Abraham. He is King of kings and Lord of Lords. He is the Bright and Morning Star.

Those who create spider webs or ensnare the righteous, but God dethrones the mighty.

✨ 1. Colossians 2:15 (KJV)

“And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

🔥 Pentecostal Preaching Riffs

Riff 1 — “The Public Parade”

He didn’t just win in secret—He made a show of them openly. Hell thought it had Him buried, but Jesus turned the grave into a stage and the resurrection into a victory parade. Every demon had to watch the Son of God march through the corridors of eternity with the keys of death and hell rattling in His hands. He didn’t negotiate with darkness—He spoiled it. He stripped it. He exposed it. And if He triumphed over them, you don’t have to tremble before them. Walk in the victory He already displayed.

Riff 2 — “The Spoiler of Darkness”

The text says He spoiled principalities—He robbed the robbers. He plundered the plunderers. He broke into the strong man’s house and walked out with every captive the enemy ever claimed. That’s why the devil fights you—because you’re carrying goods he used to own. But Christ already triumphed. You’re not fighting for victory; you’re fighting from victory. The cross was the battlefield, the resurrection was the announcement, and Pentecost was the empowerment.

✨ 2. John 16:33 (KJV)

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

🔥 Pentecostal Preaching Riffs

Riff 1 — “I am here to tell someone to Cheer Up, He has already Overcame”

Jesus does not say, “I will overcome.” He says, “I have overcome.” That is past tense. That is finished work. That is, signed, sealed, and delivered. The world may shake, but the Overcomer is unshaken. The world may roar, but the Lion of Judah has roared louder. You are not of good cheer because life is easy—you are of good cheer because Christ is victorious. Your joy is not rooted in circumstance; your joy it is rooted in conquest.

Riff 2 — “Let me tell you something, You are Standing in the Shadow of the Overcomer”

He has already overcame, he is the overcomer.

Tribulation may come, but it can not reign. Storms may rise, but they can not dethrone the One who walks on waves. You are standing in the shadow of the Overcomer—the One who has conquered sin, the one who has silenced Satan, and the one who has shattered the world’s systems. When He says, “Be of good cheer,” He’s not giving you a suggestion; He’s giving you permission to rejoice in a world He already defeated, but there is world who has not realized Jesus Christ has walked through storms, walked through tribulation, walked through persecution and He is telling you, the battlefield, you are walking through, Jesus Christ has already won.

Can I get an Amen!?

This is where we get bold and courageous. Mary declares that God is in the business of dethroning.​ Scattering the Proud: The enemy (Satan) operates in pride. He builds strongholds in your mind—"imaginations"—that tell you that you will never be free, you will never be healed, you will never be blessed. But God scatters those imaginations. I want to talk to you a bit about ‘​Empty Thrones.’ The text says He puts down the mighty from their "seats" (or thrones).

​Is sickness sitting on a throne in your life?​

Is fear sitting on the throne in your mind?​

Is there a generational curse acting like it is king in your family?

Is there spiritual oppression sitting on a throne hindering your spiritual walk with God?

I want to tell you right now, when God walks into the room, everything that exalts itself against Him must bow.

James 2:19 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

Philippians 2:10–11 “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

God dethrones the usurper so the rightful King can reign.

“When Christ rises, the thrones of the mighty totter; but when Christ stoops, the lowliest saint is lifted higher than angels. The gospel is God’s great reversal—He humbles the proud with a glance, yet crowns the broken with a touch.”

​God is tearing down the signage of the enemy in your life today! That means, what the enemy thought he staked out in your life, God is calling you to come home.

Preaching Riffs (for warfare):

"Right now, I want you to identify what's been sitting on your throne. Is it anxiety? Is it addiction? Is it a generational curse? Whatever it is, you can serve it an eviction notice in the name of Jesus!

"Tell that spirit of fear: 'GET OFF CHRIST’S THRONE!'

Tell that sickness: 'YOUR REIGN IS OVER!' 

Tell that STRONGHOLD, ‘YOU ARE FINISHED, YOU ARE AN ILLEGAL OCCUPANT!'"

"God is in the business of dethroning! He's a scatterer of the proud! Every lie, every stronghold, every imagination that has exalted itself against the Word of God... CONSIDER IT SCATTERED IN THE NAME OF JESUS!"

"Your mind is not a playground for the devil; it's the palace for the King! It's time TO ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO clean house!"

​IV. The Freedom:

Luke 1:53–56 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

As I read this passage, I see that he filled the hungry with good things, and the rich, he sent away empty. I believe God is saying something to someone here right now: In remembrance of His mercy, God’s promise is still present, he has not forsaken you, and he desires to fill you with good things. Those who are mighty, those who are oppressive, those who have taken from others, those who are evil, have evil designs for you or have evil designs for others - God will send them away empty.

In other words, God is going to do a work in your life, if you just surrender to him.

I think of Acts 16, where we see a parallel with Paul and Silas and Mary’s Song. We see Paul and Silas beaten, and bound, and thrown into prison by the "mighty" (magistrates) who exercised power over Paul and Silas. ​

Acts 16:25–26 “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.”

I see a moment where God intervenes just as Mary prophesied in her song. Paul and Silas begin to sing. They did not complain; instead, they began to magnify the Lord. They praised the Lord. And suddenly there was a move of God:​

"A great earthquake shook the foundations of the prison, and immediately all doors swung open in the prison, and every captive was set free. In other words their bands [their chains] were loosed, their chains were broken.

When you begin to praise God for His goodness in the middle of your trouble, foundations shake. The "mighty" prison doors lose their authority. The chains lose their grip.

God is never so far away that he is not recklessly seeking you, if you just surrender.

​This is what walking in freedom looks like: It is not the absence of trouble; it is the presence of a Praise that shakes the trouble loose in your life!

Preaching Points:

Your midnight praise is the earthquake that shakes the prison's foundations.

Freedom isn't the absence of trouble; it's the presence of a praise that shakes the trouble loose.

Preaching Riffs (to release praise):

"They were in the inner prison... the place of maximum security... but their praise found a way out! Your praise will make a way where there is no way!"

"And the Bible says 'SUDDENLY!' When you praise, you have to expect a 'suddenly' from God! Suddenly, the finances turn! Suddenly, the healing comes! Suddenly the door opens!"

Let me tell you, you are one praise away from a God-empowered earthquake! The foundations are shaking! The doors are opening! The bands are loosening!"

We have a Waymaker, we have a stronghold shatter, "Don't wait 'til the battle is over... SHOUT NOW! Praise Him in the prison, and He'll praise you with a prison-break!"

​Powerful Illustration: The Anchor and the Buoy

​Imagine a massive, iron naval mine floating in the ocean during a war. It is dangerous, heavy, and designed to destroy. It is anchored to the bottom of the sea by a long, heavy chain. That mine represents the stronghold of Satan—fear, addiction, or depression—floating in your life, threatening to blow up your peace.

​How do you get rid of it? You can try to saw the chain (through human effort), but it's too thick. You can try to pull it up, but it's too heavy.

​But during World War II, they found a way to deal with these obstacles. If you attach a massive, air-filled buoy (or a a floating device) to that heavy chain at low tide, nothing happens immediately. But, but, but wait for the tide to come in.

​As the ocean rises (the Holy Ghost), the buoyancy of that float lifts with such power that it snaps the chain or rips the anchor right out of the seabed.

​The Application: You cannot snap the chain in your own strength. You need to attach your praise to the situation and wait for the tide of the Holy Ghost to rise! When the Spirit of the Lord rises in this place, the chain snaps, the anchor is ripped out, and the enemy is dethroned!

Isaiah 59:19 “So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, And his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.”

​VI. Altar Call

​The "mighty" have sat in your seat long enough. The enemy has occupied your territory long enough. Today, we declare the enemy dethroned.​

If you need a chain broken, come to this altar. If you need a waymaker, come to this altar. If you need a healing, if you need salvation, come to this altar!

We are going to offer a sacrifice of praise, we are going to magnify the Lord, and we are going to watch the prison doors fly open!

Preaching Points:

I want to tell you something: the altar is where illegal thrones, worldly thrones, powers, and principalities are overturned, and rightful authority is restored.

Stop trying to break the chain in your own strength. Attach your praise to it and let the Holy Ghost tide do the heavy lifting.

VII. Benediction

Jude 24–25 “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”