At solemn Faith international Church located at road 21 plot 14 Federal Housing Estate Woji, Port Harcourt Pastors Mathew and Hope James delivered inspiring messages on engaging divine help for victory through praise and celebration.
Pastor Hope James centered her sermon on the theme, “Engaging the Help of God for Victory,” emphasizing the significance of joyful expressions such as a “Victory Dance” after a battle has been won or a blessing received.
Referencing Psalms 149:3 and 150:4, she encouraged congregants to see victory as an attainable outcome in their spiritual journeys, one made possible through the power of God and the joy of worship.
Exploring the concept further, Pastor Hope highlighted the symbolic meaning of a Victory Dance, citing biblical examples like Miriam’s dance in celebration of deliverance in Exodus 15:20 and David’s triumph in 2 Samuel 23:10-12. Such moments of dance and joy, she explained, were not just displays of happiness but marked the end of sorrow, as reflected in scriptures like Jeremiah 31:13 and 2 Chronicles 20:4.
She urged congregants to make dancing an act of gratitude, celebrating God’s intervention and overcoming hardship.
Pastor Matthew James complemented this theme with his message titled “The Victory Dance,” where he stressed the importance of expressing devotion to God through praise, singing, clapping, and especially dancing. Drawing from Psalms 149:3, 150:4, and Jeremiah 31:13, Pastor Matthew explained how singing and clapping foster connection with God and celebrate His power, noting verses such as 2 Chronicles 30:21, Psalms 47:1, and Isaiah 55:12.
Focusing on dance, he shared that it symbolizes joy, gratitude, and reverence, and that a victory dance can dismantle spiritual hindrances, even removing forces of delay. Using examples like Judges 21:21, he explained how pure-hearted dance before God releases peace and dispels bitterness, encouraging believers to embrace dancing as an expression of deep joy and spiritual freedom.
Pastor Matthew also conveyed that dance in worship provides divine protection, drawing from Job 21:9-11 and Psalms 55:17.
Both pastors underscored that God delights in heartfelt dance, emphasizing its potential to invite divine favor and blessings.
Pastor Matthew noted that dance can lead to swift responses to prayer, citing Matthew 14:6-11 as an example of how heartfelt worship can move God’s hand.
He explained that God is pleased by fervent expressions of praise, sharing that a sincere dance, as described in scriptures like 2 Samuel 6:14 and Isaiah 23:15-16, can elevate one’s spiritual life and bring favor.
Throughout the service, the Solemn Voice Choir enhanced the atmosphere with spirited praise, while congregants shared testimonies of God’s intervention in their lives, further affirming the power of heartfelt worship.
The combined messages of Pastors Matthew and Hope James resonated deeply, inspiring the congregation to embrace praise and dance as essential aspects of their worship, celebrating God’s favor, and manifesting victory in their lives through joyful devotion.
