Praise and worship are ministry to God. Healing and deliverance are ministry to people.
In June of 1972, a letter came from Poland inviting our musical group, Living Sound, to sing on the campus of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. The letter appeared to be written by university students who wanted us to sing for a special student event on campus in October, that fall. We gladly accepted their invitation to sing in Poland.
When we arrived in Krakow later that fall, we quickly realized something was terribly wrong. These were not just university students as we had thought. These were the leaders of the Youth Communist Party called the People’s Party, and they had understood that Living Sound was an American rock-and-roll group. They had scheduled us for two fundraising benefits in the headquarters of the Communist Youth Party!
Halfway through the second concert, I sensed the anointing of the Holy Spirit come into the room. Our singers began to raise their hands in praise and worship to the Lord. Several of them were crying as they stood in the presence of the Lord. The communist youth were electrified by what they were watching.
At the end of the concert, when the strains of the last song died away, there was a long moment of absolute quiet, and then the audience stood to their feet, and began to thunderously clap in unison. Then they demanded encore after encore. We were there until 3:30 a.m. leading many into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.I knew I had witnessed one of the most significant events of my life. The power of God had manifested through praise and worship in a way I had never seen before. I discovered that if we worshiped God before our audiences, praise and worship bound the powers and forces that oppressed the people. The anointing of the Holy Spirit came upon us and opened people’s hearts to the Gospel. Our praise and worship pulled down Communist strongholds, allowing healing and deliverance to change many lives in that meeting!
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Make It Personal
Jesus demonstrated a profoundly deep love for lost, hurting, sick and oppressed people. He ministered to their specific needs…opening blind eyes, loving the outcasts, healing the sick, delivering from demonic oppression, and much more. He followed the Holy Spirit, and did what he saw his Father doing.
Where is the Holy Spirit leading you? What do you see your Father doing in your family, church, community? Is He leading you into deeper waters, into deeper places of human suffering where through you, Jesus is able to continue his mission on earth?
After reading Terry’s story about ministering to communist youth in Poland, do you see how praise and worship brings healing and deliverance? How will you put this principle into practice in your life and ministry?
Scripture Meditation
I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence. Acts 2:25-28 (NIV)
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV)
Praise and Worship
Oceans by Hillsong, sung by Enni Francis and Kanaan Francis