Years ago my daughter Hannah passed through a dry time while in college in Tuscaloosa. I was ministering to a house group in a town not far away. I received a call from her from her just before the meeting. When I answered the phone I heard her shouting, “Dad I got my shout back, I got my shout back, I got my shout back! Dad, shout to the Lord with a voice of triumph!” The sound of victory coming from her innermost being was full of joy and worthy of the Lord her King. The Holy Ghost spoke to me: “Where is your shout?” Just a couple of hours later she showed up at the meeting, washed my feet, and prayed for me to get my shout back. I got it back!
Ever since then, when God answers my prayer or gives victory, I shout. In worship I shout, when others have victory, I shout, when the devil is cast out, I shout. According to the word of God, shouting and joy are expressions of one another. Joy is not something that cannot be contained, it is shouted from the housetops, unto the Lord.
Last week, there was a spiritual battle in the heavenlies for this nation.
A battle of principalities and powers in high places. Rulers of darkness in our time and the spirits of wickedness in heavenly places, where the Prince of the Power of the Air resides. Positioned between heaven and earth. The battleground in the Spirit. Politics and these spirits wanted to make it about flesh and blood. Two personalities and two parties — red and blue — and grievous to the Holy Ghost, righteous and unrighteous, among God’s children.
Already the balance police in the body of Christ began to preach to those who are celebrating victory. To tone it down, be humble, do not gloat, do not boast, and not to offend. These voices are quenching the Holy Ghost and robbing those who have been crying out to God on behalf of the millions of babies who have been murdered on the lie of reproduction rights. So many believers were praying, fasting, beseeching, meeting, and calling on God to have mercy on this nation and bring us back to our Judeo-Christian roots. The foundation it was built on. As God told Israel, “Choose life this day.”
There were two joys at stake as well: the joy of the Lord and a joy which was temporal and based in humanism and emotions. Joy, for the believer, is vital to our relationship with the Lord. So vital that Paul writes, “rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.” It is where His strength comes from.
Yes, for those who see victory, do not let anyone quench your shout of victory and joy. Shout to the Lord give Him glory and strength. For this joyous victory will be required to get about the Father’s business and the increase of His Kingdom. For the Kingdom of God IS righteous, peace, and JOY, in the Holy Ghost!
So shout unto God with a voice of triumph! HALLELUJAH!!!
-Keith Curlee