Article: The Warship Of Worship | Jiji Kuruvilla, Canada

The greatest success of defense is not the number of war toys or gadgets that a nation can exhibit in a parade, for what good is an armor of a soldier if he doesn’t know how to use it. The success of defense is how tactically and successfully they manage to keep the enemy away, and from being invaded. One of the big toys every nation likes to exhibit is their Warship. A warship that is strong and equipped with long range missiles, ability to detect dangers fast approaching, capable of aircraft carriers and more such sophisticated defense and attack systems.

A child of God is fully equipped with such a system. Worship is our warship. In the old testament, we see the instance where King Jehoshaphat got on his knees and worshiped. The following day, the King instructed the choir to go in front of their army and sing, praise & worship. When the people began to sing and praise God, God set an ambush on their enemies and they started fighting themselves! (2 Chronicles 20:2-23). Jehoshaphat and the army didn’t have to even raise a bow. How can you win a war without fighting? The answer is, they used their Warship. Jehoshaphat led the people of Judah into battle with singing. As the people worshiped their enemies fought among themselves and destroyed one another.

Remember Paul and Silas in the prison? When they were captured and enclosed within the prison walls bounded by layers of prison gates, instead of circumstances changing them, they changed their circumstances by engaging their Warship. That night God moved on their behalf, he sent an earthquake and the prison doors flung wide open.
As we stroll through the pages of the Bible and reach the manual for warfare in the old testament we get further insights. In the book of Joshua, we see the children of those who were once slaves to a mighty army. They were not familiar with any strategies of warfare reaching the end of their Exodus wanderings. After passing through flood waters of Jordan as in dry land they are ready to inherit the land of promise. However, one thing stands in their way – Jericho. The wall of Jericho to be more precise.

What are God’s instructions to Joshua? God instructs Joshua to assure the people that they don’t have to do anything spectacular to besiege the city, but to go ahead deploy the Warship. Prepare the missiles but don’t launch until the 7th day. 7 priests with 7 trumpets were to go before the ark and march around the city once each day likewise for 7 days. Then the priests are to blow the trumpets, the people to shout, and then the walls will fall. That’s not warfare. That’s worship, power of my warship

Sadly in recent times, worship has become a well-rehearsed performance on Sunday morning adorned with lyrics that’s carefully handpicked to be synchronised with the preacher’s topic. The success or effectiveness of worship should not be measured by the number of instruments or variety of singers that a church can exhibit. What good is a worship team who does not know how to engage in worship. The number of instruments and singers used in a worship is pointless, if it doesn’t lead you to a worship that’s sincere and does not make an impact.
What makes worship an effective warship in warfare? When we worship, we are confirming the truth of God’s word. We are standing confidently declaring that our God (mighty in battle) truly reigns. Stop being a passive worshiper, for a passive soldier is less effective in a battle. The next time you worship, go on full attack – worship with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your might. Let your worship be explosive. Let heavens open during your worship and when that happens, God Moves!

“Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house. And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house. All the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of the Lord upon the house, bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave praise to the Lord, saying, “ Certainly He is good, certainly His faithfulness is everlasting.” 2 Chronicles 7 [NIV].

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