THANKSGIVING MESSAGE
Thursday – November 28, 2019, Cheshvan 30, 5780
HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY from Eastern Gate Ministries International, The Three Minute Word blog, as well as Donna and me. PLEASE READ ALL OF THIS TEACHING! Today is a national holiday in the United States but 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 I) purpose for this day is to publicly give thanks to God for our individual blessings, the blessings in our family (joined families), in our Church, and in our nation. We are most fortunate among nations to be a Covenant nation with the Almighty God.
Unfortunately, today has come to be focused on food, football, and beer. What has happened to us as a people? I am not condemning food, football, and beer, however what I am pointing out is that the focus has shifted away from thanksgiving to God to the things created by God (foods) and His creatures (football and beer). 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. Do take it easy on the beer. 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.
For the remainder of this teaching I will 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 commanded by the 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 to have a better view of how thanksgiving works and that 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 and 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. Giving thanks in and for all things was a particularly difficult one for me when Patti moved to Heaven until the Holy Spirit pointed out a critical Truth. I was not to give thanks for the death itself or the terrible circumstances of her life leading to that moment in time. I was to give thanks that she was in Heaven, that she was free of the terrible circumstances that took her life in the earth. I was to be thankful that it was now well with her, very well I might say, that she was restored and more. All of the indignities of the curse were gone and she was whole and free awaiting a glorified body. At the graveside the Lord gave me a prayer of thanksgiving. It was very hard, but I did it in obedience, based on His Word which was enough. Emotionally I did not feel like it, but my obedience brought another measure of healing. 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 are not just restored back to a prior level but 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 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 for 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.
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!
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
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