AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Thursday – November 26, 2020, Kislev 10, 5781
HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY
HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY from Eastern Gate Ministries International, The Three Minute Word blog, as well as Donna and me. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ ALL OF THIS TEACHING! Also, we ask that you take a moment to share this teaching and commemoration as widely as possible. Today is a national holiday in the United States. Unfortunately, like so many of our holidays it has morphed away from and been perverted from its original purpose. At its conception this day was set aside to give thanks to God, to the God of the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The holy purpose and wonder of this day have been perverted to unholy purposes. The original purpose and our (Donna and me) purpose for this day is to publicly give thanks to God for our individual blessings, the blessings of our family (joined families), of our Church, and of our nation. We are most fortunate among nations to be a Covenant nation with the Almighty God.
This National Holiday has come to be focused on family, food, football, beer, and many other things. What has happened to us as a people? I am not condemning family, food, football, beer, and other things, however what I am pointing out is that the focus has shifted away from the primary focus of thanksgiving to God. It is a day for family, wonderful foods, and other things, however, those things are never to eclipse thanksgiving to God, neither on this day or any other day. Without God we are a lost people and let me assure you there is no Thanksgiving Day in Hell. Let us enjoy ourselves today, enjoy the food, enjoy our family, enjoy our family traditions, and even enjoy the football game if that is your thing. Let us, each one, purpose to make God and the recognition of His goodness the centerpiece of our Thanksgiving Day. He is faithful and merciful beyond compare.
Now, let’s focus on the power of giving thanks to God. Many times, we are giving thanks in faith, motivated by love (agape), led of the Holy Spirit for things hoped for but not yet in manifestation (Hebrews 11:1). Other times we are giving thanks for the things already in manifestation in our lives. I am not sure most Christians understand the tremendous power that is released in our thanksgiving. It seems that most give thanks when they feel like it and not as a response to Scripture. That is to say that many times our thanksgiving is emotion driven and not obedience driven. I can hear a collective groan from here. I will now put a collage of Scriptures together that perhaps will help us all to have a better view of how thanksgiving works. The giving of thanks is an act of faith (impossible to please God without faith) and love (obedience to Scripture).
1 Thessalonians 5:17-19 (KJV)
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (Bold and underline added by Dr. Wood)
19 Quench not the Spirit.
Whatever our circumstances we are to give thanks to God, that is the will of God in Christ Jesus. To not give thanks is sin. So, we go from bad to worse quickly. Have you ever wondered why your circumstances did not change and went from bad to worse?
Ephesians 5:19-21 (KJV)
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; (Bold and underline added by Dr. Wood)
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
These two Scriptures are tough ones I have to admit. Of course, in the midst of any circumstance there are all kinds of things to thank God for. If we can’t think of anything else, we can thank Him that we are not going to Hell where things would be exponentially worse. Any test is an opportunity for victory and the victory comes through thanksgiving.
James 1:2 (KJV)
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Through thanksgiving by faith, in love, led of the Spirit we enforce the victory Jesus won at Calvary. As we walk in thanksgiving, we are more than conquerors. To be more than a conqueror means that not only are we or the circumstances we are addressing restored but are brought to a greater level.
Romans 8:37 (KJV)
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
In our thanksgiving God will take the horrible circumstances that the devil sought to destroy us with into a wonderful victory.
Romans 8:28 (KJV)
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
The key ingredient for God to work things together for our good is our love (obedience, selflessness, Blood Covenant) of God which is doing the will of God, the Word of God. Let us decide right now that thanksgiving to our God will dominate our days now and forever. Meditate the following Scriptures today and forever.
1 Corinthians 15:57 (KJV)
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV)
14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
Lord willing, we will pick up our regular study of the Book of John on Monday.
2 Chronicles 20:20b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, and speak over yourself and your family by faith in Jesus name! Quit asking God to bless you, you are already blessed, you have the Blessing, give Him something to do by the words of your mouth. Once you know the will of God, decree the thing (Job 22:28, Isaiah 45:11, Mark 11:23). (The Blessing is the Holy Spirit) We have left God way to long with nothing to do in our lives.
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
PRAYERS AND QUESTIONS – please, anytime you have an issue that you want me, this ministry to pray for you, a person you love or a situation contact me. Accordingly, if you should have a question about the Bible, please do not hesitate to ask it.
PARTNERSHIP AND GIVING – Those of you who are not Partners of this Ministry and you find this ministry to be of value to you and perhaps others with whom you share it, we ask you to consider becoming Partners. A Partner is one who prays for the Ministry on a regular basis and contributes to the Ministry on a regular basis (monthly, quarterly, annually). Thank you and may the Lord be pleased with your decision.
CONTACT E-MAIL: pastordavidwood@gmail.com
BLOG: https://awakeariseandtriumphministries.org
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/awakearisetriumphministries
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/PastorDavidWood
MAILING ADDRESS: 10 Village Green Circle, Oakland, Maine 04963
MY BOOKS: https://awakeariseandtriumphministries.org/shop/
