by Terry Laughlin | Apr 30, 2016 | Thanksgiving
Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
This passage of Scripture was written while the Apostle Paul was in prison and gives us truths to protecting our spiritual hearts in this life. The people to whom the Holy Spirit led Paul to write were faced with worrisome things.
The fact is just being a human being, vulnerable to all chances and the changes of this mortal life is itself a worrying thing. The Early Church, just like us had normal worries over human situations. Being Christians did not protect them nor will it protect us from giving in to the temptation of taking one’s life into his own hands. There is a magazine, “The Smithsonian Institute,” saying that “we are in the golden age of anxiety.” Pastor Rick Warren came across a study done by Dr. Walter Calvert, giving us the results of the sin of worry. He writes: “Forty percent of what you worry about will not happen. Thirty percent of your worries concern the past. Twelve percent of your worries are health issues. Ten percent of your worries are insignificant and petty issues with only eight percent of your worries having actual legitimate concerns.”
Those are interesting statistics, however, you and I know that there are real stress issues that do not need to be proven by a study. The death of a spouse or a loved one, the effects of divorce, our nation’s financial instability, our war on terror and especially the eternal condition of souls who do not know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord.
There are three powerful truths in Philippians 4:6-7 that will protect your relationship with Jesus Christ and enable you to express a life of thankfulness to God regardless of the circumstance. They are, “Be Anxious About Nothing,” “Pray,” and “Be Thankful In All Things.” Application of these truths will guard your heart and enable you to walk up-right in God’s sight” In tough times, learn how to be thankful!
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 30, 2016 | Thanksgiving
2 Corinthians 9:15, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.” This passage of Scripture is the closing statement to Paul’s teaching on “Sowing Generously.” Paul teaches about the need for using our gifts to help meet needs. He writes about how these generous gifts will result in “overflowing expressions of thanks to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:11) In 2 Corinthians 9:15, Paul points to the Person who makes the way for us to enjoy the grace gifts that enable us to minister to the needs of others, therefore, we are to thank God for Jesus Christ.
This passage of Scripture is the heartbeat of the writings and teachings God spoke forth through the Apostle Paul, no matter what subject he taught on, his aim was to point people to Christ.
2 Corinthians 8:9 reveals to us, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” Jesus Christ became poor by leaving glory and uninterrupted worship to God His father so you and I can be made rich in His love. We enjoy fellowship with God the Father and Christ His Son, and walk under the direction of the Holy Spirit of Christ. Thus, we are enabled to live the abundant life promised in Christ Jesus as we walk in obedience to the written Word of God.
Romans 12:1-2 gives us clear instructions on practical ways to say thanks to our Lord for the sacrifice He made for us. “…in view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Saying thanks in this way comes with a promise of His revelation to us, “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing, and perfect will.”
Are you a living sacrifice? Do you offer your body to do service unto Him, His people and for the common good of mankind? Worship services full of singing, praising, giving and teaching of His Word are good, but it is a life lived in obedience to the Lord’s will who will be approved of God and enabled to determine God’s perfect will. Live a life expressing Thankfulness to Christ!
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 30, 2016 | Thanksgiving
The Word of God teaches you, “but in everything, by prayer and petition, …present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6) Ephesians 6:18 says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests…” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray continually.”
The Holy Spirit has three powerful words that will enable you to be thankful in tough times, not thankful for the trial, temptation or affliction, but thankful to Jesus Christ in the midst of troubled times.
The first word is “prayer,” (proseuche) which means a house devoted to prayer. The house of prayer God wants to hear from is us, the temple of the Holy Spirit of Christ. Prayer here is a personal application of a child of God coming to Him in the Name of Christ. The application is that there are to be special times of prayer with intimate worship with God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. This only comes as we make set times for prayer and are committed to making it to those prayer appointments. These prayers are to God, for the glory of His purpose in the midst of the circumstances Christians are in.
The second word is “petition” (deesis) meaning a specific petition coming from the heart with intense crying out, a gut cry for something or someone. It is interceding for a situation only God can do a work in or through.
A third word is “request (aitema) meaning we are to be specific, giving details, telling Him exactly what we need. There should be no fear that we are giving God too much information or that we are bothering God. Neither should we hold back in prayer because we are afraid that God will not answer yes to the request. Christians have convinced themselves that they will appear spiritually weak if the Lord does not grant the request. It is imperative that you understand that God does not need these details in order to give you an answer to prayer, you need to let the anxiety go as you present the request. God knows what you need even before you ask. (Matthew 6:8) Survive tough times through prayer!
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 30, 2016 | Thanksgiving
Appreciation raises value. William James said, “The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” The Apostle Paul was led of the Holy Spirit of Christ to express thankfulness and he was a master at it. He expressed appreciation to God and to others as well. Paul wrote most of the New Testament and it is normal to read phrases like, “I always thank God for you…,” (1 Corinthians 1:4) “Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…,” (2 Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 1:3) “I thank God every time I remember you…,” (Philippians 1:3) We always thank God…,” (Colossians 1:3) “We always thank God for all of you…” (1 Thessalonians) “We ought to always thank God for you…,” (2 Thessalonians 1:3) “I thank Jesus our Lord…,” (1 Timothy 1:12) “I thank God…,” (2 Timothy 1:3) and lastly, “I always thank God for you as I remember you in my prayers…,” (Philemon 1:4)
God wants His elect to be appreciative as in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 which says, “…encourage one another and build each other up…” The Apostle Paul gives this exhortation, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29) Through the leading of the Holy Spirit, Paul gives us short exhortations that direct the motion of our hearts and lives and give us duties of great importance, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Through the Lord’s faithful servant, Paul, an Apostle who exemplified a life of gratitude to God, Christ, and submission to the Holy Spirit we have Colossians 2:7, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
The Word of God teaches clearly how we can say thanks to God, Christ and be enabled by the Holy Spirit to express gratitude to the blood purchased Body of Christ.
Therefore, every Holy Spirit illuminated child of God will search the Scriptures so they can have revelation on how to say “Thanks,” through Christ-centered humility? Learn how to say “Thanks!”
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 30, 2016 | Thanksgiving
The key to having speech which matches up with a life that expresses thanks is an understanding that thankfulness must be first given to God. Psalm 9:1-2 says, “I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.” David, the writer of this Psalm excites and engages himself to praise God for His mercies and the great things He had done for him and the government he oversaw with the Lord. If these expressions are found in David, a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22) then they will be found in the Holy Spirit Illuminated child of God.
The whole of Scripture teaches us, God expects suitable returns of praise from those for whom He has done marvelous works. (Luke 17:11-17) If we choose to give praise to God acceptably, then we must praise Him in sincerity, not only with lips, but from a life directed from a heart of praise. Holy joy is the life of thankful praise, as thankful praise is the language of Holy joy. Whatever occurs to make us glad, our joy must go past the circumstance or object, and be in Him who gave it.
We are joyful not because of good health, but because the Great Physician has given it to us. We are not joyful because of our nice homes, but because the Lord who provides has given us our homes, cars, jobs, ability to make money, and our success. If we are being afflicted in any way, we are not joyful because of the affliction, but through the affliction we are given the opportunity to express trust and enabled to live a life of praise to Him, no matter what may come our way.
Christians are to thank God first and foremost because of His Holy Spirit’s empowerment which daily affects the spiritual heart of born again Christians, causing them to no longer desire fleshly control, worldly drawings and devilish lies. Our God’s sovereignty not only offers heavenly promises but also intervenes for us in the earthly realm, thus, He deserves praise first and utmost.
When God has shown Himself to be above the enemies of the church we must take occasion to give glory to Him. This heart of thankfulness opens the door of mercy, enables us to enjoy God’s goodness and prepares our spiritual hearts to be aware of all the blessings God has given us. Say thanks to God First!
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