“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4).
After spending 40 years in the wilderness, Israel was ready to take possession of the promised land. While the Jewish nation was en route to capture the heavily fortified city of Jericho, which would serve as the location of the first of the many battles in the conquest of Canaan, God gave Joshua the battle plans.
The Israelites were instructed not to take the city by force. Instead, God wanted them to march around the city once per day for six days, worshipping Him. On the seventh day, they were supposed to march around the city seven times while the priests blew their trumpets. Then the people would shout, and the Lord would deliver the city into their hands.
Such a promise would surely seem like sheer foolishness to the unbelieving mind. Even still, the Israelites trusted this promise of God in faith and walked in obedience.
And sure enough, when Joshua told the people, “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city!” the city walls fell. Jericho had been taken by faith instead of by martial conquest. Their weapons were prayer and worship.
We are told to use these same weapons as we wage war today. How do we destroy the strongholds that have erected themselves against the lordship of Christ in our communities and culture? Through putting on the full armor of God and wielding the sword of the Spirit in prayer and worship.
Worship is the means by which worldly opposition to King Jesus is neutralized and transformed into obedience. When Christians come together for corporate worship, they declare the truth and promises of God through their praise, preaching, and prayer. The Holy Spirit then gives divine power to their declarations of truth.
This is why it is so important that believers join a local church and regularly participate in corporate worship. If we are serious about making progress in our efforts to reclaim our culture for Christ, then we must make prayer, worship, and praise our highest priority.
PRAYER. Our Lord God, we are awestruck by your majesty and holiness. You alone are worthy of our worship. Thank you for the privilege of worshipping you. We ask, Holy Spirit, that you use our worship to tear down the strongholds of opposition against you in our communities and in our culture. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
