My Worship Makes Me Dangerous

We have talked a lot about spiritual warfare recently… You have victory through Jesus Christ.

But what do you do when your victory comes with a heavy heart?

What do you do when you are not caving into temptation, or your faith is not shaken, but you are in the place where your heart has sorrow in it?

Tonight I want to talk to the fighters in the room… The ones who are still serving the Lord despite your times of sorrow, those who still have their faith despite their challenges…

(NLT) — 1 Ahab’s son Joram began to rule over Israel in the eighteenth year of King Jehoshaphat’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria twelve years. 2 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, but not to the same extent as his father and mother. He at least tore down the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had set up. 3 Nevertheless, he continued in the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had committed and led the people of Israel to commit. 4 King Mesha of Moab was a sheep breeder. He used to pay the king of Israel an annual tribute of 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams. 5 But after Ahab’s death, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. 6 So King Joram promptly mustered the army of Israel and marched from Samaria. 7 On the way, he sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you join me in battle against him?” And Jehoshaphat replied, “Why, of course! You and I are as one. My troops are your troops, and my horses are your horses.” 8 Then Jehoshaphat asked, “What route will we take?” “We will attack from the wilderness of Edom,” Joram replied. 9 The king of Edom and his troops joined them, and all three armies traveled along a roundabout route through the wilderness for seven days. But there was no water for the men or their animals. 10 “What should we do?” the king of Israel cried out. “The Lord has brought the three of us here to let the king of Moab defeat us.”

Quick recap…

Before this story the nation of Israel split, kind of a long story, but just know it happened. Now there is the nation of Israel and the nation of Judah.

The kingdom of Moab (Moabites) stoped paying the nation of Israel a tribute, this was something that was often done out of respect, etc. But all of a sudden stopped, not because they faced hard times but because there was a switch in the king of Israel. They were saying Joram we respected your father Ahab, but not you.

So King Joram leading the Israelites decided to attack the Moabites, he asks for help from the nation of Edom and from Judah who was lead by king Jehoshaphat who was known for his worship. In fact Judah means praise. and Jehoshaphat was the king who put worshipers on the front line of battle in .

So the 3 armies find themselves marching around to the back end of the nation of Moab because that side was less fortified, but that ment they were marching through the wilderness. They ended up not accounting for the intense heat and the difficult rocky terrain, and they find themselves out of energy before their battle ever starts.

KEY- They found themselves in trouble not because of an attacker, but because of their surroundings.

I know there is someone who knows what its like to be marching in line, doing what you believe to be God’s will, and you find yourself in a dry place, you find yourself in a place of sorrow…

POINT- My surroundings will not dictate my future.

11 But King Jehoshaphat of Judah asked, “Is there no prophet of the Lord with us? If there is, we can ask the Lord what to do through him.”

It was worshiper who said we should see what God has to say…

One of King Joram’s officers replied, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to be Elijah’s personal assistant.” 12 Jehoshaphat said, “Yes, the Lord speaks through him.” So the king of Israel, King Jehoshaphat of Judah, and the king of Edom went to consult with Elisha. 13 “Why are you coming to me?” Elisha asked the king of Israel. “Go to the pagan prophets of your father and mother!” But King Joram of Israel said, “No! For it was the Lord who called us three kings here—only to be defeated by the king of Moab!”

KEY- Sometimes the victory God calls you to is through a dry valley.

KEY-

14 Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I wouldn’t even bother with you except for my respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah. 15 Now bring me someone who can play the harp.” While the harp was being played, the power of the Lord came upon Elisha, 16 and he said, “This is what the Lord says: This dry valley will be filled with pools of water! 17 You will see neither wind nor rain, says the Lord, but this valley will be filled with water. You will have plenty for yourselves and your cattle and other animals. 18 But this is only a simple thing for the Lord, for he will make you victorious over the army of Moab! 19 You will conquer the best of their towns, even the fortified ones. You will cut down all their good trees, stop up all their springs, and ruin all their good land with stones.” 20 The next day at about the time when the morning sacrifice was offered, water suddenly appeared! It was flowing from the direction of Edom, and soon there was water everywhere. 21 Meanwhile, when the people of Moab heard about the three armies marching against them, they mobilized every man who was old enough to strap on a sword, and they stationed themselves along their border. 22 But when they got up the next morning, the sun was shining across the water, making it appear red to the Moabites—like blood. 23 “It’s blood!” the Moabites exclaimed. “The three armies must have attacked and killed each other! Let’s go, men of Moab, and collect the plunder!” 24 But when the Moabites arrived at the Israelite camp, the army of Israel rushed out and attacked them until they turned and ran. The army of Israel chased them into the land of Moab, destroying everything as they went.

There is someone here tonight and you felt like you were just following the voices of God, you felt like you were just following your marching orders and all of the sudden you find that you march yourself into a dry place.

POINT- Sorrow can find a believer at any time.

CHALLENGE- Don’t let your surroundings reflect the condition of your heart.

QUESTION- So what do you do?

POINT- There was a turn to God for direction, but they didn’t get it right away.

(NLT) — 13 “Why are you coming to me?” Elisha asked the king of Israel. “Go to the pagan prophets of your father and mother!” But King Joram of Israel said, “No! For it was the Lord who called us three kings here—only to be defeated by the king of Moab!” 14 Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I wouldn’t even bother with you except for my respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah. 15 Now bring me someone who can play the harp.” While the harp was being played, the power of the Lord came upon Elisha, 16 and he said, “This is what the Lord says: This dry valley will be filled with pools of water!

KEY- There were 3 kings representing 3 nations that were present in this time of sorrow. The plan of God was revealed because one of those kings was there.

You had the nation of Edom.

DEFINE- Edom means Earth.

POINT- Edom represents the things of this world.

KEY- In your time of sorrow the things of this world will not get you out.

Stop looking to the things of this world to bring you out of sorrow.

Stop letting this world attempt to define your worth.

KEY POINT- The only worth the world will put on your life is the worth it looks to get out of your life.

POINT- Edom could not bring about change. Edom was not responsible for revealing God’s plan in the dry place.

You had the nation of Israel.

DEFINE- Israel means they struggle with God.

POINT- So many times in Israel’s history you see them put on the appearance of religion but not the relationship of religion.

(NLT) — 2 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, but not to the same extent as his father and mother. He at least tore down the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had set up.

(NLT) — 13 “Why are you coming to me?” Elisha asked the king of Israel. “Go to the pagan prophets of your father and mother!” But King Joram of Israel said, “No! For it was the Lord who called us three kings here—only to be defeated by the king of Moab!”

KEY POINT- Religious practices will not get you out of a dry place.

ILLUSTRATION- I know a person who has struggled so often in their life, they use to show up to the church once or twice a week to pray for five minutes then go home. I asked one time why they did this, why did they feel the need to show up to the church. They explained that they hoped it would make a difference.

POINT- Israel could not bring about change. Israel was not responsible for revealing God’s plan in the dry place.

You had the nation of Judah.

This is the one that made a difference.

(NLT) — 14 Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I wouldn’t even bother with you except for my respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah.

DEFINE- Judah means worship/praise.

KEY POINT- Your worship makes a difference!

The title of tonights message is, My Worship Makes Me Dangerous.

KEY- I am a threat to the enemy when I worship. My worship makes me dangerous to the enemy.

When I find my heart full of sorrow, my worship makes me dangerous.

When I find my self in a dry place, my worship makes me dangerous.

MAIN POINT- WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THE DRY PLACE THERE IS ONE THING THAT WILL REFRESH YOU AND BRING YOU OUT - REAL WORSHIP.

POINT- You have to start that worship somewhere.

(NLT) — 15 Now bring me someone who can play the harp.” While the harp was being played, the power of the Lord came upon Elisha,

When I am full of sorrow, I am not going to sit around and mope in my misery, my first move is bring me someone who can play the harp.

When I need a word from the Lord and I feel like I don’t get an answer my first move is bring me someone who can play the harp.

Turn on something that takes me into the presence of God.

Put on a song that exalts the Lord.

Sing something that takes me closer to God’s heart.

KEY POINT- Worshipful music requirers more than just words, more than just plain self. It needs heart…

(Have Eddy play something without emotion, then play it with)

I’M NOT JUST MAKING THIS UP

(NLT) — 1 Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.

(NLT) — 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.

(NLT) — 1 Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord: “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; he has hurled both horse and rider into the sea.

(NIV) — 5 You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments.

CHALLENGE- In your dry place in your time of sorrow don’t just declare the greatness of our God, sing it, play it from your heart. Get a little musical. This is because music requirers your whole heart.

BRING ME SOMEONE WHO CAN PLAY THE HARP

AND ONCE I GET GOING YOU WILL SEE THAT MY WORSHIP MAKES ME DANGEROUS.

1. It Reinstates my purpose.

(NKJV) — 16 And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’

KEY- The enemy can not always control my surroundings, sometimes my surroundings are just simply that. But the enemy would love to see me in a dry place and destroy me.

ILLUSTRATION- We went out to ride bikes as a family on the hottest day of the summer.

KEY- It’s in the dry place that you want to give up.

Sure it’s easy to walk into this room and when the band gets going and your friends are worshiping you can join in… But what about in the moment of your struggle, what about in the time of sorrow, what about when no one is around and you are weeping when no one else can see you.

KEY POINT- Worshiping when you have sorrow in your heart, worshiping in a dry place is not easy.

Those 3 armies were ready to quit, they were ready to stop and now they have to start digging…

But when I worship I remember what I was created for…

(NLT) — 7 Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’ ”

I might have sorrow, but I’m just going to keep digging…

When you dig, when you worship it does something in you.

Before I receive anything from God I need to dig out (With Worship) my insecurities, my hurts, my sin, my sorrow…

When you dig out God will fill in.

2. Refreshes me

(NLT) — 20 The next day at about the time when the morning sacrifice was offered, water suddenly appeared! It was flowing from the direction of Edom, and soon there was water everywhere.

(NLT) — 15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.

When I dig deep in my time of sorrow I will find refreshing.

NOTE- They did not find water when they dug. You know how sometimes when you are at the beach that if you dig down deep enough you will start to find water. They didn’t dig to find water, they were digging because thats what God said to do but water found them.

KEY POINT- When I dig deep in my worship I am not seeking refreshing, thats not the purpose however whatever I dig God will fill.

Here is the truth, I may not feel like digging in my time of weakness, I may not feel like worshiping in the midst of my sorrow, but I’m going to do it anyway

KEY POINT- The space I make digging out is the space in which God is going to fill in.

Some want the refreshing before they dig, but those people are always living in the shallow… They are worshipers in the good times but complainers in the dry times.

ILLUSTRATION- Seeing pastor Chimnyana dancing at the service after being arrested.

KEY POINT- The water not only brought refreshing to the troops on the ground, but was the key factor in destroying the enemy.

3. Confuses the enemy

(NLT) — 22 But when they got up the next morning, the sun was shining across the water, making it appear red to the Moabites—like blood. 23 “It’s blood!” the Moabites exclaimed. “The three armies must have attacked and killed each other! Let’s go, men of Moab, and collect the plunder!” 24 But when the Moabites arrived at the Israelite camp, the army of Israel rushed out and attacked them until they turned and ran. The army of Israel chased them into the land of Moab, destroying everything as they went.

When the enemy looked down into that valley they did could not understand the reality of what they were seeing.

CHALLENGE- What does the enemy think when they see you in your sorrow… I don’t know about you but when the enemy sees me in my sorrow I want him to say how can he still be praising, how great must his God be!

KEY- From the enemies point of view he does not see refreshing, he does not see water.

I can stand refreshed in my dry place because of the water poured out for me, but from the enemies point of view he doesn’t see water he see’s blood, and the truth is he is not incorrect…

It’s only because of the blood of Jesus I am refreshed!!!

Here is where they are confused, it’s not my blood, I brought a sacrifice of praise and my God brought a sacrifice of his own body.

Conclusion…

What the world couldn’t do for the armies, what religion couldn’t do for the armies worship did.

I know sometimes it hurts so bad, I know sometimes you want to give up, but the difference between real worship and just plain worship is this

Worship takes into account how you feel.

Real Worship take into account the greatness of God.

My condition does not change my worship

KEY- Perhaps its in the place you wish you never were is where you will find what you have been looking for.

Are you willing to dig first…