My message is titled: “Enforcing Dominion Through Thanksgiving,” and my anchor Scripture is taken from Psalm 100:4, “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.” Let us also examine Psalm 67:5-7, “Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.” So when God begins to bless us in a way that does not look ordinary and with our little, good and genuine businesses we are doing, then the people will fear. The blessing of the Lord makes rich and adds no sorrow. Know that you will definitely be blessed when you apply Kingdom principles. There are Kingdom principles to life.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 instructs us, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” If God commanded us to give thanks in every thing, then we must be ready to give Him thanks, and thank Him well. I like you to know that thanksgiving is not merely saying thank You to God. It goes beyond that.
Thanksgiving is a spiritual weapon that positions believers for dominion. Remember that dominion means exercising God’s authority, overcoming obstacles, and reigning in life through Christ. Being thankful means we have a heart of gratitude, and gratitude opens doors that murmuring and complaining can never open. Thanksgiving is a weapon of war we use. When we thank Him well, He positions us for dominion. He positions us to take charge, or to be in charge, to rule, or to reign in life, to overcome obstacles. There are obstacles in your life you can overcome through thanksgiving. Of course, you know murmuring and complaining can shut doors. Why did the children of Israel spend extra forty years for a journey of forty days? It was because of their murmuring and complaining. They murmured against Moses, they murmured against God, and so God shut them up in the wilderness. Many battles are won not by fighting but by giving thanks to God in faith. We all are faced with battles. Life is full of battles. As a matter of fact, life is battle. It is a warfare, not a funfair. With thanksgiving, you can escape such evil battles. There are battles thanksgiving can help you overcome by just giving thanks to God in faith.
Thanksgiving is an expression of appreciation to God for who He is, what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do. Every time you thank God, you realize the sovereignty of God. There are many things He has done for us. There are many things He is still doing for us. Know that we are a miracle in progress and a project in God’s hand. God is doing something great in your life. Do not look at your circumstance now, and do not focus on what you are going through now.
Thanksgiving is also an expression of faith.
Thanksgiving is also an acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty.
Thanksgiving is also a lifestyle of gratitude and praise. If you are thankful, your tank will be full. So thanksgiving should be your lifestyle.
Thanksgiving is also a demonstration of trust in God’s promises. Some of you may be saying, I have asked God things, and things are not coming. Why will I thank Him? It is because I want to demonstrate that I have trust in His promises; for the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him they are Amen.
Now, let us understand how thanksgiving enforces dominion.
Firstly, when the presence of God is in an atmosphere, dominion is established. The presence of God is in an atmosphere where dominion is exercised. Thanksgiving brings God’s presence. If you want God’s presence to always be in your home, in your family, thank Him well. When it comes to special thanksgiving time like this in church, do it well. Prepare yourself and do it well, because it is going to bring His presence. I like you to know that you cannot carry God’s presence and remain under oppression. It is not possible.
Secondly, thanksgiving turns battle into victory. It is not about what you bring, but it is about understanding who you want to honour. When God is honoured with your thanksgiving, your battles are won. The forces of darkness will be under you, because thanksgiving enforces dominion, and it makes battle to be turned into victory. I do not know the battles you are faced with, that your children, or your family are faced with. Unfinished battles will be over when we thank God well.
Thirdly, thanksgiving multiplies blessings. It is a multiplying factor. So use the multiplying factor, and use it well. Thanksgiving is a blessing multiplier, and thanksgiving will multiply our blessings.
Fourthly, thanksgiving destroys complaining and fear. When you have a thankful heart, you will not complain. Complaining empowers fear and unbelief, but thanksgiving strengthens faith. Every time you complain, you cannot see what God is doing. Every time you are thankful, your faith will be strengthened. A grateful heart will always say God is still in control. Remember I told you God is in control. Who is in charge? We are in charge. A grateful heart will always say God has not forgotten me. My situation will change. It is just for a while.
Lastly, thanksgiving opens doors to greater testimonies. You are going to see greater testimonies in your life, in your business, in your family in Jesus’ name.
