The Power of Thanksgiving

 

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on June 4th 2023  by Colin D Cruz. For the audio & video please click here. To listen to the worship please click hereclick here

The Power of Thanksgiving

Christians often ask the question, “Lord, what is your will for me?” For 99% of us, God’s will is already revealed to us in the word and can be discerned by the spirit of God. 

Today we are going to look at one aspect of God’s will which was echoed in the worship today. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ““give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Giving thanks in good circumstances is easy. But the Bible says, in all circumstances- in personal as well as circumstances which don’t affect us directly. We hear about train accidents and what is happening in Manipur, when we hear about Ukraine and the devastation there, how do we give thanks? We are to give thanks IN every situation, not FOR every situation. Our faith is in the God who never changes. God can bring good out of evil. We cannot understand everything but we have hope. 

How is Thanksgiving the will of God for us? 

There are over 75 references in the scriptures instructing and commanding us fit to give thanks. What flows from our mouth generally is complaining rather than thanksgiving. Often our conversation is full of grumbling. Col 3:18; Eph 5:20; etc., all instruct us to give thanks. 

Thanksgiving changes thinking. We need to be overflowing with thanks for everything. A gratitude journal can change your spirit. James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

At every step of the way, we are there because of God's protection over us.

Expressing thanksgiving to people. Express gratitude in the family and in friendships. 

We all have difficult situations that come and go.

1. A situation of lack:  Matt 14: 15-18 “As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭15‬-‭19 ‭NIV‬‬ When you give thanks for what you have he can give you what you need. 

2. In dead situations: “Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” ‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭38‬-‭44‬ ‭NIV‬‬. 

Today you might be dealing with situations that are of lack or are dead. But as we trust in God more than our situation, we are able to give thanks. Romans 4:18-21 “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” In our dead situations, we give glory to God. 

The will of God for our lives is to be thankful in every circumstance. It’s simple yet powerful. 

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.  

What 's your best prayer? | Pete Harwood

This message was preached by Pete Harwood  at Word of Grace Church  Pune, on the 26th of October 2014. You can listen/download the  audio by clicking here

If you ask a Christian about their prayer life, most will tell you that they feel guilty that they don’t pray as much as they should. We are busy with work, children, etc. Life seems like a never ending cycle of busyness. When we are free we want to relax. The only time we feel motivated to pray is when we are in trouble. So often our prayers are self centered and focused on needs.

We want these prayers to make life easier. Sometime God does not answer out prayers and we feel cynical.

Eph 1:15-19

This passage was written by Paul who was a tent maker and knew what is was like to be busy and under pressure- shipwrecked, beaten, falsely accused. He was writing this letter under house arrest. Yet according this letter he is always praying and his prayers don’t focus on his troubles but on spiritual growth and always praying for more. Paul got what we often fail to.

Peace Joy does not come from all our prayers being answered but from a deeper understanding of his purposes and his glorious purposes for the world.

Verse 16 Paul thanks God for the Ephesians church. He heard that their faith was growing – for everyone the Jews and the gentiles. Thanksgiving is a regular part of Paul’s life. He gives thanks for many things but more for spiritual life. Rom1:8, 1Cor1:4, 2thes1:3.

We find prayer life challenging and when we do pray, we tend to get straight to the point. We pray for physical well being, jobs, homes, families and happiness. It’s great to thank God for these things. We need to learn to give thanks for everything. Are we a : Glass half empty or glass half full person?

W often find it easier to thank God for the physical things around us. Our greatest need is for revelation- to open our eyes to spiritual revelation.

V13-14 Paul mentions that they have received the Holy Spirit. He is now praying that the Holy Spirit who is within them would open their eyes for more wisdom. Gk word Sophia – wisdom that comes from God

Revelation- uncovering, unveiling things that are normally hidden. He opens our spiritual eyes causing us to know spiritual realities. We can be completely oblivious to what is happening in the world and the universe.

The Holy Spirit acts as a microscope revealing things to us we do not and are unable to see with our normal eyes. We need the spirit of God to reveal it to us.

Reading the Bible is great but is not enough because head knowledge will not change our lives. We need the Holy Spirit to make it go from our heads to our hearts. Praying for spiritual revelation is the most important prayer we can pray for ourselves and others.

Don’t just focus on physical things but when you see spiritual growth in your family and friends thank God for it and pray more. When we understand this we will understand physical things too. There are 3 things Paul tells us.

1.Our future is secure – We don’t know the future. And we can worry and be anxious

V18 Paul prayed that they may know the hope (an expectation of a divinely provided future) to which we have been called. This is not “hope” as we use it today meaning wishful thinking. Paul talks of Hope as something God has already done. Once they had not hope but now they have access to all God’s blessings, they have forgiveness, acceptance, righteousness of Jesus given to us, resurrection as we are raised with Him, death is not the end.

2. V18   Glorious inheritance what we receive as a reward from God.   i.e God’s glorious inheritance – not something we get but what God gets. The people of Israel are often called God’s inheritance “in the saints” i.e we are God’s reward!! We are glorious to God? How is this possible?

Heb12 For the joy set before Him… that joy is us!! He values us highly and it’s through us that he wants to display his glory. Thai is the confidence he has in us find for us. We are his treasured possession. When you feel down remember this.

3. Immeasurable power is working with in. There is nothing else like it. Paul uses 4 different words for power it to the raising of Christ from the dead. Jesus is now enthroned (v21) far above every power and authority. The one who went to the cross for us, the one who laid down his life like a lamb led to the slaughter has the power over everything!!

What difference does this make to our live?

If we get hold of this truth it will change our lives We need revelation and this will happen through prayer. So we don’t just pray for temporary things but for spiritual things and for Holy Spirit revelation. This is the most important prayer you can make.

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that have people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service. To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.

At the foot of the Cross- Navaz DCruz

Here's a big Thank you to all of you who have been visiting this blog. We have crossed our first 1000 views. I do hope you have been blessed with the articles posted here. Please do recommend this blog to others and share the blessing.
Colin.