VICTORY THROUGH PRAISE- PASTOR SAMPSON IGWE, TACN NATIONAL

MESSAGE DELIVERED BY PASTOR DR. S. E. IGWE, NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH NIGERIA DURING THE NEW YEAR SPECIAL SERVICE ON MONDAY 1^st JANUARY, 2024, AT THE LAWNA INT’L. CONVENTION GROUNDS, OLORUNDA KETU, LAGOS BY 9:00 AM.

TOPIC: VICTORY THROUGH PRAISE

TEXT: Psalm 145: 10; 104; 33. Scripture Reading: Psalm 145: 1-10.

INTRODUCTION: New Year Greetings.

DEFINITIONS:

VICTORY: Instance or occasion of success in war or contest, game, etc. To gain a victory over an enemy. Being triumphant.
PRAISE: To speak with approval of. To give honour and glory to God. To sing or shout the glories of somebody because of his achievements or acts. To thank or worship God.
The Psalmist, King David was too good at this. This may be one of the reasons why God called him a man after His heart.
2Sam. 6: 14-22. He knew how to praise and worship God with everything in him.
So, the purpose of this message is for God to provoke us to seek to know Him deeper and believe Him faithfully that with God nothing shall be impossible. Luke 1:37.
Then to be moved to praise Him, worship and call Him names like King David in Psalm 18:1-2, 2Sam. 2:2-3.
Calling God names by what He has done, He is doing and what He will do. All in Praise.
This year 2024, you will record victories through PRAISE.
MY OBSERVATION IN THE CHURCH THESE DAYS
We find it difficult to praise and worship God in the Church these days.
We prepare more for petition and intercession than praise and worship.
Our challenges in 2024 will require us to learn from David, Paul and Silas how to praise, along with prayer & fasting.
Our praise and worship is short-lived because of our selfishness and covetousness.
Psalms 138 and 145 examined. You will see the following:
David praised God for who He is
He praised God for His works, acts and His creation
He praised God for His compassion and mercy for others that are limitless.
David could praise and praise God non-stop.
But we don’t appreciate or have time to admire what God has made around us to praise Him for them.
We think only about ourselves. God will open our eyes to behold what He has done around us and for others.
DIFFERENT WAYS WE CAN PRAISE GOD TO BRING VICTORY.
1Chron. 16: 7 & 8. Call upon God’s Name. Make known His deeds among the people. Vs. 8; Exo. 15:1b.
1Chron. 10:12. Remember His Marvelous works. Vs. 12.
Psalm 20:7. Remember the name of the Lord. King Solomon said the Name of the Lord is a Strong Tower – It gives protection to the righteous. Prov. 18:10.
Psalm 118:17. Declare God’s glory among the heathen. 1Chron. 16: 23-34 (24).
Psalm 18: 1 & 2. Call on God’s Names. 2Sam. 22: 2 & 3.
2Sam. 6:20. Dancing unto the Lord. Remembers King David’s dance unto the Lord.
Josh. 6. People shouted praise and the wall of Jericho came crumbling down.
Acts 16: 25 & 26. People – Paul and Silas – sang praises and their chains were loosed in the prison.
People fasted and prayed with praises not only with petition and requests.
Preachers preached with praises not with anger and curses from the pulpit.
Psalm 150: 6. Let us praise, praise and praise. Even with our own very last breath.
2Chron. 20: 21-22. Even Judah and King Jehoshaphat won war with praises. See verse 23.
THIS YEAR YOU NEED A LIST OF ITEMS TO PRAISE GOD FOR EVEN WHEN FACED WITH CHALLENGES.
Praise God for our Nation and her Leaders. A lot of us don’t praise God about Nigeria.
Praise God for our leaders at all levels. Our Police and the Soldiers for their daily sacrifices.
Enough of those negative criticisms (1Tim. 2:1-3). They have not brought us any good changes.
Pray and give thanks for your Church leaders. Don’t wish them evil.
Give God thanks for all things because they will work together for good. Rom. 8: 28.

CONCLUSION: This year let us be intentional about giving thanks to God in all circumstances/situations. Let us make personal lists of things to give thanks to God about, and ensure we are about it.

Let us make thanksgiving a lifestyle. That is why Paul and Silas gave thanks in prison, of all places. That is why King Jehoshaphat and Judah sang praises in the face of war.

That is why King David danced any how before God, to the point that his wrapper loosed. He remembered what God did for him and Israel. Do you remember what He has done for you? There is victory, open doors and supernatural turnaround through PRAISE.