I believe most Christians know that giving praise to God on a regular basis is important, but I don't think they really understand why it is. Actually, there are several reasons given to us in the Bible that explain the importance of praise and worship, one being found in Revelation 4:10-11. It states that we were created by Jesus and for Jesus and because of that He is worthy to receive all praise (that point and that one alone is enough reason to praise Him constantly throughout eternity!). But God does not want to leave us "in the dark" so to speak, concerning praise. There are many benefits to praise and worship; it's not just a one-sided deal that God requires of us. No, it’s quite the opposite in fact and God, our Father, wants us to take advantage of these benefits!

One major benefit I want us to focus on in this article is found in Psalm 149:5-9. "Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples; to bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute on them the written judgment —  This honor have all His saints. Praise the Lord!"

This benefit of praise according to verse 9 is a great honor for the believer. What is this benefit? it is shutting the enemy's mouth and halting his attack! Psalm 149 says that praise binds their kings in chains and their nobles in fetters of iron. In other words, praise stops the enemy dead in his tracks and hinders him from advancing any further; his attack is broken. Now THAT'S a benefit! Of course we know that Satan, the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4) is the "king" of this earth's system (see Genesis 1:26-28 and Genesis 3:1-15, when Adam committed high treason against God, he handed over to satan the right to rule over all people). It goes without saying that satan is the arch enemy of God and of course, God's children. He has been at war with Christians for centuries and with the Jews for millennia BUT PRAISE UNTO GOD MOST HIGH STOPS SATAN DEAD IN HIS TRACKS. Praise the Lord, no wonder the psalmist called it an honor!

James 4:7 says to submit ourselves to God (praising God is an act of submission), resist the devil and he will flee. The best way to resist something is to ignore it, so the best way to resist the devil is to ignore his taunts and lies, his harassments and continual badgerings by praising and worshipping his enemy, Jehovah God.

Do we have scriptural examples to support this idea of praising God to stop the enemy's attack? Absolutely! 2 Chronicles 20 and Acts 16 display perfectly what I have just described. Look them up in your Bibles and see for yourself what God will do for those who praise and worship Him. Then don't wait any longer, lift your hands up to God and begin to sing and shout His praises. Stop the enemy's attack in your life today by praising the One who is worthy of ALL PRAISE, the Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!

Pastor Jan Simmons