Thursday – April 14, 2016
It is time for the Thursday portion of God’s Word from Eastern Gate Ministries International. I know that ordinarily we pray for the American Church (people) on Friday but tomorrow will be a Special Edition of The Three Minute Word and I did not want us to skip praying for the Church. The Church pictured is Loretto Chapel located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is currently used as a wedding chapel and is best known for the beautiful winding staircase to the choir loft. My research on this Chapel found that it allows and performs same sex ‘marriages’. This is yet another reason to pray not only for Loretto Chapel but for all who say they are of the body of Christ yet walk is gross darkness. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) Let’s pick up again with our study of thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6-8 (KJV)
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Let me point out that the word ‘thanksgiving’ in verse seven is a noun, singular in number, and feminine in gender. As you know this would indicate to us that the exercise of gratitude, thanksgiving, will cause us to be fruit bearing. Yesterday I discussed being thankful for all things, so now let’s go ahead and look at a similar Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 (KJV)
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
In this Scripture we see the admonition from the Apostle Paul as inspired, anointed of the Holy Spirit, to give thanks no matter the circumstances. This is something that Paul had experience with.
Acts 16:23-26 (KJV)
23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
I think we could agree that Paul and Silas were not in a good situation but they CHOOSE to “sing praises unto God”. When Paul and Silas prayed they were worshipping God which is submitting to Him in spirit and Truth. Worshipping God will lead us into various circumstances. When they are adverse we can be thankful because we are more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus. When we praise we declare who He is and there will be victory, triumph. To be thankful means you are grateful to another for something, to give praise is to declare who they are, and to worship is to be submitted to and obedient to another in spirit and in Truth. The thankfulness, praise, and worship may be in various orders but one cannot truly exist without the other.
Let’s return to our 1 Thessalonians text for a moment, notice the company that thanksgiving keeps. It hangs out with rejoicing, prayer which is ongoing conversation with God, listening to and respecting the Holy Spirit, giving proper place to the prophetic Word, being diligent with the Word of God and then holding onto that Word fiercely and not giving others occasion to be offended by our words or acts, as much as it is up to us. I will pick-up with the victorious idea of thanksgiving to God again on Monday.
By Pastor David R. Wood
