Thursday, November 27, 2014

CHRISTIAN THANKSGIVING
Pastor Jack M. Hilton
Bible Evangelical Methodist Church
New Danville, Pennsylvania
 
Demands A Correct Understanding of Physical and Spiritual Life
Col 2:6-7 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”
When a person receives Spiritual Life they receive Spiritual Capacity and Sight. The Spiritual Sight enables them to correctly understand that everything they receive physically and spiritually is a gracious bestowment of God.

God Graciously Chose:
1.   The Place and Time of your Conception.
2.   The Two People who would be your biological parents.
3.   To Allow your conception and birth.
4.   Every part of your physical design and natural abilities.
5.   To Allow all the events and experiences in your Life to this point, whether you consider
     them good or bad.
6.   To Awaken and Convict you of Sin and Call you to Christ For Salvation.
7.   To Provide all your needs both physical and spiritual.
8.   To Always work that which is best for you and to bring Honor and Glory to His name.

When a Christian matures enough to understand God’s work and blessing, they are able to develop a right attitude concerning what God has blessed them with and are capable of proper Thanksgiving in Word and Action.

Scriptural Christian Thanksgiving
Col 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
As the Holy Spirit gains control of the spirit of man, He gives understanding of the great truths of God’s Word and man is able to understand God’s abundant blessings and the reason for those blessings. With the understanding and heartfelt gratitude produced by the Holy Spirit and the understanding of God’s Word, the Christian will experience an “Attitude of Gratitude” and express heartfelt Thanksgiving.

   1. A Special Attitude and Action
Col 2:6-7 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”
Col 3:15-16 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
As the Christian prays and studies the Word of God, the Holy Spirit works within their spirit, growing and developing Spiritual Fruit within the soul. As the Spiritual Fruit matures, the Christian’s thoughts, imaginations and attitudes are changed and molded to conform to God’s Word and Will. When the Christian’s thoughts are influenced and controlled by the Word of God, their Words and Actions will reflect their thoughts, imaginations and attitudes.

NOTE: WHEN THE WORD AND PEACE OF GOD RULE IN THE HEART, THE ATTITUDE OF THANKSGIVING WILL NATURALLY EXHIBIT ITSELF!!! BEFORE THERE CAN BE TRUTHFUL EXPRESSIONS OF THANKSGIVING THERE MUST FIRST BE A TRUTHFUL ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE!!!


   2. A Continuous Activity
Eph 5:20Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”
When there is proper understanding of God and His provision, the thinking about and attitude toward God and His provision will produce heartfelt Gratitude that will produce Words and Actions of Thanksgiving. Since this is a State of Being, the Words and Actions will be natural and continuous. The mature Christian who experiences the Fruit of the Spirit in his life will be able to “Give Thanks Always for All Things.”

   3. Exhibited in Word and Action
Col 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
The only means for man to reveal what he is thinking and feeling is through Words and Actions. If there is no real Attitude of Gratitude within the heart, the Words and Actions will eventually Reveal the true state of the heart.

NOTE: THE ONLY WAY OTHERS CAN KNOW OF YOUR GRATITUDE AND THANKFULNESS IS THROUGH YOUR WORDS AND ACTIONS!!!! THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS SECRET OR HIDDEN THANKFULNESS!!!

I pray your Thanksgiving Day will be the beginning of a complete new life of “Thanks living”!!!!

I pray the LORD provides the Grace, Wisdom and Guidance that every thought, intention, word and action would honor and glorify HIM!!!

No comments:

Post a Comment