‘The God who Sings – Worship and Warfare’ – by Dr Jason Hubbard

Songs rooted in Scripture form our understanding of who God is — His holiness, mercy, justice, and love. Whether in a cathedral or a living room, songs of praise draw us into His presence. Music reaches places where words alone cannot. In persecution, grief, or fear, worship songs become prayers when strength fails.

One of the underground house church movements in the Muslim world has sent out thousands of laborers this year to several key cities to prayer walk these cities, praying onsite with insight – and to encourage the existing house church movements. This year they have also deployed several thousand digital worship hymnals into unreached and persecuted communities across Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Each hymnal is loaded onto a secure microSD card — designed for discreet, phone-to-phone distribution. The songs are written by local believers, shaped by their musical traditions, and strengthened with clear, accurate biblical theology. The delivery infrastructure is in place. The leaders are mobilized. The songs are ready! 

As it declares in Malachi 1:11, “For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts”

The promise is that from the rising of the sun to its setting: every hour of the day and in every geographic place, incense (the prayers of the saints) and a pure offering (worship and praise) will come up before the Lord so that the fame of his name will spread like fire across the earth!

This is happening in real time today in strategic unreached cities and nations in the Muslim world!  

Right now around the throne there is unceasing adoration – worship, praise, declaration, and praise to the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb (Rev. 4:8, 5:8-12). May this be the same pattern on earth as it is in heaven!  He is Worthy!

God is passionately committed to the fame of his name and that he be worshipped by all the peoples of the world.

• “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!”  (Ps 96:3).

• “Make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted” (Isaiah 12:4).

• He does his mighty works in history “that [his] name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” (Romans 9:17).

Worship is the goal and the fuel of missions: Missions exist because worship doesn’t. Missions is our way of saying: the joy of knowing Christ is for all. And that’s why we go. Because we have tasted the joy of worshiping Jesus, we want all the families of the earth included.

“All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you” (Ps 22:27).

As John Piper writes, “You can’t commend what you don’t cherish. You can’t proclaim what you don’t prize. Worship is the fuel and the goal of missions”

The Lord is orchestrating a global worship movement across the nations!

Isaiah 61:11, “For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.” 

Worship-based Prayer

All true prayer starts with an invitation to adoration as Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” As Pete Greig says, “No one stares up at the northern lights thinking, ‘Wow, I’m incredible’ We are hardwired for wonder, and therefore to worship!” 

Worship is the response of all that we are based on the revelation of all that God is. Prayer often begins with requests, but true prayer begins with worship. If we only seek God’s hand—what He can give us—we may miss His face. But if we seek His face first in worship, He gladly opens His hand and provides everything we truly need.

Worship as Warfare

Hebrews 2:11 quotes Psalm 22:22: “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation, I will sing your praise.” Jesus leads us in songs of praise to the Father in the midst of the people of God!

In this same Psalm, 22:3, the psalmist declares that God is enthroned on the praises of His people. Praise creates a space where God’s presence is welcomed and honored. God inhabits our praise, acts as King and the enemy must flee - Light shatters darkness!

One of the worship leaders in Israel, serving at a 24/7 house of prayer and praise, had a powerful dream one night. In the dream, she was standing somewhere near the throne – she didn’t see the Lord or hear his voice, but she heard music and songs. The song being sung was the same one they often sang in their house of prayer.

She asked one of the angels in the dream, why are you singing our songs?

And the angel turned to her and said, you are singing OUR songs!

The Lord had given the singers and musicians in this house of prayer one of the songs of heaven - Wow!

Lord give us ears to hear what your Spirit is saying to the churches in these days and may we sing the very songs of heaven that honor and glorify the absolute worth of Jesus!

Throughout history, songs have carried the message of faith across nations. Worship becomes both a declaration of truth and an invitation for others to encounter the living God.

Scripture reveals that worship is a powerful weapon in spiritual warfare. The apostle Paul reminds believers:

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh… the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:3–5)

Our ultimate weapon is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God! Paul calls us to wield this sword, praying and singing God’s word (Eph. 6:17-18, 5:18-20).

Praise shifts the spiritual atmosphere. It lifts our focus from fear and confusion to the honor, glory and sovereignty of God. Throughout the Bible, we see worship preceding victory, whether in the songs of Israel, the Psalms of David, or the praises of the early church.

Anointed music can bring peace where turmoil once ruled. In 1 Samuel 16:23, when David played his harp before King Saul, the tormenting spirit departed, and the king found relief. The presence of God, which increased as David played his harp (Zamar praise), brought a breakthrough from the tormenting demonic spirit and the gift of shalom for King Saul.

Singing the New Song

Psalm 149:1-2, 5-9,

“Let the High praises of God be in their throats, and two-edged swords in their hands to execute vengeance on the nations”

As we sing the high praises of God declared in the Word of God (two-edged sword), the power of God releases judgment and justice in the nations.  Worship is a powerful weapon of warfare!

The God who Sings

Perhaps the most breathtaking truth about singing is that God himself is a Singing God!

Zephaniah 3:17 declares:

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you with his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

This verse reveals three profound dimensions of God’s heart.

1. His presence: “The Lord your God is in your midst.” God is not distant or detached. He is with His people—every moment of every day. His nearness removes fear and gives courage.
2. His power: He is described as a mighty warrior who saves. Isaiah 42:13 portrays God as a victorious champion who goes forth like a warrior, stirring up His zeal and triumphing over His enemies. God fights for His people. God is a soldier. He’s dressed for battle, armed and ready. He is your champion, your defender!
3. His passion and pleasure: God rejoices over us as His people. He delights in us and sings over us! Imagine the Creator of the universe bursting into song because of His love for His children. His joy is so intense that it overflows in celebration, rejoicing and songs of sheer delight! God not only loves you, now and forevermore … He is delighted to do so. He is ecstatic in His affection for you. His joy over you is almost too much for Him to bear. He sings and shouts with uninhibited happiness . . . over you! Wow!

Zephaniah also says God will “quiet you with His love.” The God who shouts with joy over His people is also the God who quiets their fears. His love silences anxiety and restores the soul.

It is as though God gathers us in His embrace and simply enjoys our presence. We can slow down and simply rest in his presence, knowing that he enjoys us even in our weariness and weakness. 

This revelation of the God who loves us, enjoys us and takes great delight in us shatters spiritual strongholds in our lives. God is Good and he does all things for his Glory and our Good! 

Let’s enjoy his presence, his power and his pleasure. He is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him (John Piper).

Let’s together exalt Jesus and sing songs of praise over our families, cities and nations! 

He is worthy and all-deserving of all our praise, all our obedience and all the affections of the human race!

Until every nation sings,

Dr. Jason Hubbard – Director
International Prayer Connect

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