Sermon Notes: AND A WAR BROKE OUT…

AND A WAR BROKE OUT….

(Worship Works!)

Revelation 12:1-8

Psalm 34:1-7

INTRODUCTION

Genuine worship requires a skill set. David knew the skills and deployed the skill set on purpose with passion. We can learn from David – and we will!

Using symbolism, Revelation 12 tells us about the war that broke out between good and evil in heaven. v.7 Good was victorious, of course! Evil was evicted permanently. v.8 Glory!

While the war in heaven has been fought and won by and through the meritorious works of Jesus Christ, there are still some battles going on. The most meaningful battles are the ones being waged in our minds on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis. These battles (in our minds) cannot be won consistently without worship.

We must worship!  When we fail to worship, the enemy does not need to defeat us because we have lost already. Failing to worship lays the foundation for our personal defeats. Choosing to worship lays the foundation for our personal successes.

Today, we will see exactly how worship impacts our minds from a layman’s neuroscience perspective. You will be enriched and enlightened. Practically speaking, worship works – especially when you work it!  Let’s gooooooo………

WHAT DOES WORSHIP DO?

1. Worship glorifies The Lord!
   1. Engages The Lord’s power.
   2. Overcomes spiritual attacks.
   3. Changes the atmosphere.
   4. Invites The Lord into a situation.
2. Worship de-glorifies the devil!
   1. Defeats evil forces.
   2. Dismantles strongholds.
   3. Debunks lies.
   4. Drives out darkness.
3. Worship keeps you “gassed up” – and in your lane!
   1. Shifts your perspective from your problems to The Problem Solver.
   2. Sets a barrier around the worshipper that the enemy cannot penetrate.
   3. Makes you more like The King and less like your natural self.
   4. Reminds you that you are a king, not The King.

 HOW DOES WORSHIP WORK

1. Your frontal cortex helps you regulate your emotions. It is responsible for complex cognitive behaviors like decision-making, reasoning, and social appropriateness.
2. Your amygdala processes emotions like fear, triggering the “fight, flight, or freeze” response to stressful situations.
3. Numerous studies clearly indicate that various expressions of worship – praying, singing, meditating, Scripture reading, praising The King – directly impact our frontal cortex and amygdala.
4. Worship reduces amygdala activity which, in turn, reduces physical stress, heart rate and blood rate. Worship enables you to process your emotions more calmly instead of impulsively.
5. Worship creates a sense of safety in the neurons.

DAVID’S WORSHIP SKILL SET

1. When David blessed (worshipped) The Lord, he was under severe duress.  Abimelech was trying to kill him.  1 Samuel 21:12. David’s worship killed the spirit of death on his life.
2. David decided to worship The Lord even when death was trying to hunt him down like a dog.  Psalm 34:1-3  Do you trust The Lord enough to worship Him in extreme situations?
3. When David commanded his mind to worship, his fear turned to resolute confidence!  Psalm 34:2,3,7,8. Your fear(s) can be transformed as well!
4. When David worshipped The Lord, his frontal cortex regulated his amygdala.
   You can regulate your emotions by worshipping!
5. When David worshipped The Lord, there was a shift in his self-perception (in his brain).  vv. 6,7
6. When you worship, expect The Lord to transform your self-perspective. Expect to see yourself as The Lord sees you in Him: free and forgiven.

November 23, 2025

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