Tabernacle of David (2) False Teaching

A common teaching that parallels the Tabernacle of David teaching is that intense corporate worship produces a spiritual victory. Worship leaders frequently tell the people that praise defeats the spiritual powers of evil. Many of the modern worship-songs articulate this view, but it is not true.

The truth is that the spiritual powers of evil were defeated by Jesus’ death on the cross. They had used Adam and Eves sin to gain authority on the earth and enslave their descendants. They demanded an expensive ransom for their release. Jesus gave his life as a ransom to redeem humans from their bondage to the spiritual powers of evil. Once their right to accuse humans of sin was gone their authority on earth was broken.

Jesus’ defeat of the spiritual powers of evil is enforced by his followers preaching the good news of release from captivity to the world. To fully experience that victory his followers must walk in obedience to him. They must form together into a united body that can stand firm against the attacks of the spiritual powers of evil. Although defeated, they continue to try to cheat their way back into power by attacking the body of Jesus wherever they perceive weakness.

Jesus instructed elders to watch over the flock they have been called to care for and guard them from the attacks of the enemy.

Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28).

The spiritual powers of evil will be defeated in the territory occupied by the body of Jesus following the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Victory over evil comes through obedience, not through worship and praise.

Worship and praise are good because they express a correct attitude to God. He is so far above us in goodness and glory, that the only way that we can respond to him correctly is with praise. If we know him our full life should be filled with constant thanksgiving and praise. However, God does not need human praise. He is fulfilled in himself, but we need to praise him to be consistent with who he is.

I don’t think that praise affects the spiritual powers of evil that much. It annoys them because they hate God and do not like to hear him being honoured. Praise probably spurs them on to do evil, but it does not defeat them, because it changes nothing in the spiritual realm. The spiritual powers of evil are not defeated by noise; they can only be defeated by human obedience on earth.

The irony is that during a century when church worship has been developed to unprecedented levels of elaboration and intensity with thousands of new songs and sophisticated musical instruments, the church in the west has gone backwards. Worship has not translated into victory; it has decorated defeat by creating an illusion of success.