Victory Series

INTRODUCTION

OPENING SLIDE

• The sound of victory is like no other sound.

• The roar of the crowd.

• The celebration of a soldier returning home after the battle.

• The feeling of coming back from the doctor with a clear scan.

• There is nothing like the sound of victory!

• Everyone wants victory.

• Whether it's victory over fear, sin, discouragement, or difficult circumstances, we all long to overcome.

• Psalm 149 is a powerful reminder that victory is not something we earn by our own strength—it is something we receive and walk in when we align ourselves with God.

• A week ago we had our Narrow Path group at Hot Well Dunes.

• We didn't air down our tires to make it harder, but you usually do that for better grip on sand.

• I attempted to drive my truck up one hill several times, but I was unsuccessful each time.

• I was frustrated.

• However, I am stubborn, so I gave it one more try.

• As I built up speed before reaching the hill, my truck hit a spot that allowed for rapid acceleration; therefore, while forging up the hill, I stuck my arm out the window and pumped my fist in victory even before reaching the top.

• I wish we had video, but everyone saw it.

• I KNEW I had beat the hill before I reached the top because of that unexpected moment of acceleration.

• I was celebrating because I knew I won, even before I did.

• Psalm 149 teaches us something surprising!

God’s people don’t praise after they see victory—they praise before they see it.

• This psalm shows us how to live in the victory that God has already secured for His people.

• This Psalm is a call to worship, but it’s also a call to warfare.

• This is not a call to physical warfare, but rather a call to spiritual warfare.

• Victory for God’s people has always been tied to one thing: our connection with Him.

• Today, as we continue living out the mission of FCC, which is “Changing Lives by Connecting People with Christ,” God shows us in Psalm 149 how His victory becomes our victory.

• Let’s look at the concept of victory as we dive into Psalm 149.

Psalm 149:1–4 NET 2nd ed.

1 Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song. Praise him in the assembly of the godly.

2 Let Israel rejoice in their Creator. Let the people of Zion delight in their King.

3 Let them praise his name with dancing. Let them sing praises to him to the accompaniment of the tambourine and harp.

4 For the LORD takes delight in his people; he exalts the oppressed by delivering them.

MAIN POINT 1 SLIDE

SERMON

I. Victory Begins With Praise

• Here is something interesting about the first three words of verse 1, Praise the Lord!

• As with many other Psalms, Psalm 149 reflects quite vividly the intense feeling of the author.

• His mood is distinctly one of extreme joy.

• The psalmist commands us to praise the Lord, not merely consider it or do it when we feel like it.

• We don’t wait until life feels good to praise; we praise because God is good, no matter what life feels like.

• One interesting aspect of Psalm 149 is its dual focus on joyful praise and divine justice.

• The psalm begins with a call for the faithful to rejoice and sing a new song to the Lord, celebrating God with music and dance.

• It portrays worship as a communal and enthusiastic act, emphasizing the delight God takes in His people.

• The command to praise the Lord is a call and command to center our hearts on God.

• The psalm opens with a call to praise by telling us to: Sing to the LORD a new song. Praise him in the assembly of the godly.

• Why does the psalmist call for us to sing a new song to the Lord?

• This is partly due to the fact that God consistently initiates new actions.

• A new song means a new season… a new testimony… a new reminder that He is still in control.

Notice that before any battle is mentioned, before any sword is raised, the people are praising.

• Why?

• Praise shifts our focus from our problems to God's power.

• Praise is the language of faith—it declares that God is worthy and able, even before we see the outcome.

• We will never experience victories in life without offering praise because when we do not center our hearts on God, we will center them on the things around us, the problems we face, and the battles we need to fight.