THANKSGIVING!

Psalm 100:1-5
(1) Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
(2) Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
(3) Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
(4) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
(5) For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Many people have complained about unanswered prayers. They have complained, murmured and may also have basckslided as they put all blame on God and His servant. We must understand God has laid down certain conditions by which we can approach Him. There is no access to God without the prayer of thanksgiving, praise and worship.

“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:” (Heb 12:28)

“So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
(Heb 13:6)

Thanksgiving:
In thanksgiving, we acknowledge God’s goodness and mercies. We are been thankful. “Thank you” or “to be thankful” in Greek means Charis. The word Grace can also be applied in this respect. It’s a sign of gratitude, appreciation for good done and expected to be done.

Jesus Christ, before Lazarus came forth thanked God for what He is about to do as recorded in John 11:41. It is an act of faith on the supremacy of God’s power, a show of surrender to His ability for what He has done and will yet do believing that He is able. Many people do not thank God because they feel He has not done enough or they know how to achieve their next level by their brain and might. Trust in man has wrecked many with disappointments and broken hearts.

An unthankful person is a person that is out of the grace of God. You cannot be unthankful and be within the grace of God. We cannot enjoy God’s grace and mercy without been thankful.

To be thankful to God is not a suggestion; but a command to us as Christians. If you want to live a fulfilled life and in peace, you must obey this command. We are called to live in peace, that ‘Peace’ is our birthright and to this we owe Him thanks.

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (Col 3:15)

Whatever we do, shall do or become, we do in the name of the Lord. We were saved by His mercy and to this we give thanks.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Col 3:16-17) [Grace=Thanks]

I have seen different characters in the body of Christ that I wonder what salvation they received and what spirit sealed their salvation. If you are filled with the spirit of God, you will not gossip, backbite, blackmail or betray your friends and brethren. The evidence of being filled with the spirit of God is in thanksgiving – it gushes out of your belly like a water fountain.

Eph 5:18-20
(18) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
(19) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
(20) Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

A thankful heart is a submissive and humble heart that fears god and will not want to hurt his brethren, knowing that whatever you are or have received is by God.

“John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.” (John 3:27)

“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” (Eph 5:21)

We are commanded to pray without ceasing i.e. never come to the end of praying, you do not have to pray all the time but don’t finish praying – a heart of thanksgiving. Praise is the key to unending prayer. It was said of Smith Wigglesworth, “I believe that he never prayed more than half an hour at a time but never went half an hour without praying”. It is the will of God to give thanks for and in everything so, if you are not giving thanks, you are out of the will of God.

A thankful heart is a peaceful heart and he thinks well and fears nothing.

Philippians 4:6-8
(6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
(7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
(8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.