Chosen to Praise Him

As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by people but chosen by God and precious to Him, you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be cohanim(priest) set apart for God to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Him through Yeshua the Messiah.
1Peter 2:4-5

Why?

But you are a chosen people, the King's cohanim(priest), a Holy nation, a people for God to posses! Why? In order for you to declare the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once your were not a people, but now you are God's people; before, you had not received mercy,but now you have mercy.
1Peter 2:9-10

Warfare and Dance

Thank you Adonai for your infinite mercy on all of us. Lord, I pray a hunger to worship You grows in each and everyone of us. I Pray that the joy of the salvation of Jesus Christ our Savior, our Redeemer, Yeshua Ha Messiach be deep in your hearts.
With Love,
In Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior,
Linda Pangourelias

Many have wondered where and why does dance fit into worshiping God? Is worship warfare? Is the dance pleasing to God? Does it even belong being in the church.The answer is YES- DEFINITLY- …when it is done in a manner pleasing to God - it belongs!
To understand the dance in worship and spiritual warfare we need to understand our God--The Creator of ALL things--even the dance.
In Exodus ch 25 Adonai instructs Moses to tell the people of Israel to take up a collection- a contribution of the finest best materials- /Gold- Silver- Bronze/ Blue-purple-scarlet yarn/ Fine linen-goats hair-tanned rams skin-and fine leather/ acacia wood- oil for the light/ spices for the Anointing Oil and for the Fragrant incense / onyx stones and other stones to be set for the ritual vest & breast plate.
* each of the items were necessary as well as symbolic*
In verse 8 of ch 25 Adonai tells Moses to tell the people of Israel “They are to make Me a sanctuary, so that I may live among them. The tabernacle (tent) that God had Moses build was for the purpose and act of worshiping & praising Adonai.
The praises and burnt offering, as well as incense, were a sweet aroma to our Lord. Each item in the tabernacle were given specific instructions -ALL followed by the word CONTINUALLY OR PERPETUAL - as stated in Leviticus ch 6 and 24.
In Exodus ch 30 vs. 7 we see the incense was to burn morning and twilight. This worship and time of prayer were a regular part of an Israelites life. When King David brought in the Ark to Jerusalem he stationed musicians, singers and praisers to surround the Ark to praise Adonai continually.
During the Babylonian captivity Israel had no temple -- But every faithful Hebrew still offered praise three times a day. Based on the times of morning & evening sacrifice as well as the daily incense offering .
To praise God - The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, was an important practice- even Daniel (Daniel ch 6) was willing to be fed to the lions rather than give up his daily times with Adonai. Adonai hears the praise and worship of His people.
There is such great power in praise with music and dance.
King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20: recognizes that praise and worship are powerful weapons of war- when used properly. Jehoshaphat upon being told of this huge army coming to attack him he had his troops equipped with assault riffles, tanks, f16 fighter jets maybe even a couple of black hawk helicopters--being king I’m sure he wanted the best for his army, Right?? YES-
He wanted the best and that is why he sought Adonai Elohim Tzva’ot - The Lord God of Host- The Lord God of armies!!
He sought him in Prayer -2Chronicles 20: 3-4- Y’hoshafat was frightened, so he determined to seek Adonai. He proclaimed a fast throughout all Y’hudah, and Y’hudah assembled to seek help from Adonai ; they came from all the cities of Y’hudah to seek Adonai.
He sought Him by faith v 9 “If calamity strikes us, such as war, judgment, disease or famine, we will stand before this house - that is, before You, since Your name is in this house- and cry to You in our distress; and You will hear us and rescue us.”
He sought Him in Humility v12: “..For we haven’t strength enough to defeat this huge horde coming against us, and we don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”
God showed up in the midst of them v13-15,17 All Y’hudah stood before Adonai with their little ones, their wives and children. Then in the middle of the assembly, the Spirit of Adonai came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah the son of Jeiel, the son of Matanyah the Levi, from the descendants of Asaf. He said, “ Listen, all Y’hudah, you who live in Yerushalayim and King Y’hoshafat: here is what Adonai is saying to you: ’Don’t be afraid or distressed by this great horde; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow, go down against them… You won’t even need to fight this battle! Just take your positions. Y’hudah and Yerushalayim, stand still, and watch how Adonai will deliver you! Don’t be afraid or distressed; tomorrow, go out against them; for Adonai is with you.”
He then worshiped and praised Adonai v18-19 “Y’hoshafat bowed his head with his face to the ground; while ALL Y’hudah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim fell down before Adonai, worshiping Adonai, and the L’vi’im (priests) from the descendants of Kohath and the descendants of the Korath, stood up and praised Adonai the God of Isra’el at the top of their voices.
Then Jehoshaphat in v 21 … appointed those who would sing to Adonai and praise the splendor of His holiness as they went out ahead of the army saying “Give thanks to Adonai, for His grace continues forever.” Then , during the time when they were singing and praising , Adonai brought a surprise attack against the people of Amon,…and they were defeated.
What mighty weapons singing ,dancing and praise is in war--it defeats the strongholds of the enemy!
In 2 Corinthians 10:3,4 Paul tells the church of Corinth- “For although we do live in the world; we do NOT wage war in a worldly way; because the weapons we use to wage war are not worldly. On the contrary, they have God’s power for demolishing strongholds.”
Psalm 149:2 tells us “ Let Israel rejoice in their maker, let Tziyon’s children take joy in their King.”
We know this applies to us - we know we are Israel- Because Galatians 3:28-29 reads “ There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor freeman, neither male nor female, for in union with Messiah Yeshua (Jesus the Messiah), you are ALL ONE .
Also, if you belong to the Messiah, you are the seed of Avraham and heirs according to the promise.”
Romans 2:29 “On the contrary, the real Jew is one inwardly; and true circumcision is of the heart, Spiritual not literal, so that His praise comes not from other people but from God.”
Psalm 149:3 “Let them (God’s people) praise His name with dancing, make melody to Him with tambourine and lyre”
Psalm 150:6 “Let everything that has breath praise Adonai”
There are four cornerstones to build a foundation for praise to the Lord. Singing- musical instruments- dance and the Word Of God!
Dance brings the fullness or surrender and humility through the expression of our physical bodies. In Romans 12:1-2 Shaul- Paul tells us “ I exhort you, therefore, brothers, in view of Gods mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God. This will please Him, it is the logical “Temple Worship” for you.”
The praisers and worshipers were the singers, musicians and dancers! WHY?-
Psalm 149:4 tells us why….. “For Adonai takes pleasure in His people.”
Isaiah 52:7 “ How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, proclaiming shalom, bringing good news of good things, announcing salvation and saying to Tziyon, “Your God is King!”
Spiritually in the dance there is a powerful proclamation - for it encompasses all that is within us- Spirit, Soul and Body.
Psalm 68:1-2 Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; let those who hate Him flee from His presence. Drive them away as smoke is driven away; like wax melting in the presence of a fire. Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.”
Verses11-12 “ Adonai gives the command - the women with the good news are a mighty army”
* The women are a great army*
Verses24-25 “ They see your processions, God, the processions of my God, my King, in Holiness the singers are in front, the musicians last, in the middle (midst) are girls playing tambourines.”
They didn’t just walk solemnly - NO- They danced and rejoiced with gladness as they proclaimed the good news. It was- and is- powerful effective warfare that caused Kings of armies to flee.
The word midst or middle is used to describe the women dancing. In Hebrew the word used is “tavek” meaning -center, between, in the middle, among. So as you see the dancers were right in the middle of the action- their weapons were their praises to the Lord.
In Romans 16:19b-20 …”However, I want you to be wise concerning good, but innocent concerning evil, And God, the source of Shalom, will soon crush the adversary under your feet.
Luke 10:19- Remember- I have given you authority so you can trample down (step on crush) snakes and scorpions - indeed, ALL the enemies forces; and you will remain completely unharmed.”
The serpent represents satan- who by God is cursed to have no feet-
Genesis 3:14 “you will crawl on your belly and eat dust as long as you live”
The dance is powerful at crushing the head of satan. Crushing the head is the way to kill a serpent- if we don’t follow the Word of God and we approach the dance in a way that isn’t a sweet aroma unto the Lord, we may step on the serpents tail and we will then be bitten.
As a true worshiper we must be fill up- girded up in the Word of God so we will present ourselves as Holy unto the Lord- set apart for HIM!!
Remember there’s power in the feet of those who proclaim the Good news of the Lord!!!