The Secret Weapon
By Karen Elengikal
(To read from the beginning start with Part I. of this three-part series.)
3. HEAVEN’S RESPONSE
God responds to the corporate cry of the assembled people. The second strategic battle plan is revealed – Praise & worship! God tells them through the prophetic word, that ‘God Himself will fight this battle for them’, and then gives specific battle directions. Odedience will ensure God’s response and consequent victory. (See 2 Chronicles 20:14-20). Encouraged by the Lord’s promise, the entire assembly spontaneously worship the Lord.(2 Chronicles 20:18).
Obedience sees God act! Early the next morning the Israelite army prepares to march to the designated place of battle revealed in the prophetic word. ‘As they began to sing and praise’, (Heaven’s second battle strategy), God acts suddenly and unexpectedly against the enemy armies. God’s people entered the purposes of God that day with PRAISE. ‘As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.” (2 Chronicles 20:22).
AS they set out and the praises of God were in their mouths, something was happening among the opposing armies. While they praised the Lord, at the battle site still some distance away, the enemy forces were annihilating each other. They were thrown into confusion as God’s people worshipped. While the Israelite army advanced to the battle with the sounds of praise, the enemy was utterly defeated. The result of corporate prayer was dramatic and final! God’s enemies were destroyed and God’s children escaped the devilish plots against them!
‘Praise in itself can be a weapon of spiritual warfare to weaken the influence of the powers of evil and open the way for God to be glorified.’ (1.) ‘Worship is intercessory … it has the power to break Satan’s strongholds.’ (2.) This is what happened on this day as the people began to praise the Lord! Obedience to the revealed battle strategy saw a spiritual action transpire. Through the avenue of corporate prayer, God’s specific will was understood and consequently carried out. The enemies plans and personnel now lay shattered!
The corporate prayer of the people of Judah saw God’s miraculous hand move in a previously unprecedented manner. The Lord ‘set ambushes’ against the once united armies. They were thrown into complete chaos by God’s intervention. When the men of Judah arrived at the scene there was not one man from the combined armies still alive. God had miraculously intervened and did as He had promised, ‘You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you…’ (2 Chronicles 20:20-21).
The first result of corporate prayer is miraculous intervention and deliverance!
CORPORATE REWARDS
It didn’t take Jehoshaphat long to absorb the enormity of the scene before them at the battle site. Quickly the king and his men went to carry off their plunder, ‘and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value–more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it.’ (2 Chronicles 20:25).
Without raising the battle cry or drawing a sword they were given victory.
The second result of corporate prayer are the rewards.
There was plenty for Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah … so much, that it took more than 100,000 people three whole days to collect the battle spoils! One day to plunder each enemy army!
Corporate prayer sees the enemy defeated, his weapons stripped from him, and his treasures given to God’s people. Jesus draws a New Testament parallel in his discussion on spiritual warfare, ‘How can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.’ (Matthew 12:29).
TAKING THE PLUNDER!
Although not immediately apparent by the nature of the crisis, God’s purpose in allowing this situation was to ultimately bless the nation. With the battle won, everyone was rewarded, all were blessed.
This historic event is reminiscent of another strategic three days of plundering the spoils of an arch enemy – Jesus plundered hell! ‘And having disarmed (KJV having ‘spoiled’), the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.’(Colossians 2:15). What Christ gained is maintained and enforced by the church; ‘His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ (Ephesians 3:10-11).
Through corporate prayer we are able to ATTACK, OVERCOME AND DESTROY the enemies strongholds. Jesus teaches, “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.” (Luke 11:21-22). The spoils are ripe for the picking once we have attacked, disarmed and vanquished our enemy through prayer! And the spoils of our battle are of inestimable value … the souls of men.The spoils of our battles are the souls of those previously held captive to the devils will. (2 Timothy 2:26). Our plunder is securing the deliverance of those oppressed by the devil. (Acts 10:38). Our reward is bringing to the light those blinded from the true knowledge of God. (2 Corinthians 4:14, 10:5).
Miracles! Healing! Deliverance! Salvation! We can all be involved in the attack, overcoming and plundering of the strongman and seizing his possessions! The gates of hell will not prevail against a praying church. And today’s praying church must rise up in militant force to possess the spoils of battle for our God and His Kingdom!
This was second part of a three-part series. Continue reading Part III.
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Karen Elengikal is an inspirational, published writer from Sydney, Australia. Karen’s first book ‘Kidz Battle Zone’ was released in 2007. (see FW Book Review).
2006 Karen Elengikal
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