A Thanksgiving Lifestyle

 

As a nation, we have just celebrated a day of Thanksgiving. For Christians, however, rather than being limited to a day, thanksgiving should be a continual lifestyle:

"By Him (Jesus) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name. But to do good and to communicate, forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."   Heb. 13:15-16

God considers our continual thanksgiving, above, to be a pleasing sacrifice. Thanksgiving becomes a sacrifice because not all of our natural circumstances are conducive to offering thanks. These challenging occasions especially, however, are the most important occasions through which to give our thanks. This is when our thanksgiving to God becomes that much more precious to Him, as we recognize beforehand His promises to us of His merciful deliverance and provision.

As those who are living in the End Times, our lifestyle of thanksgiving to God becomes even more important:

"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night...But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief...ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit."   1 Thess. 5:1-2, 5b, 16-19

In the believer's lifestyle taught in the whole chapter of 1 Thess. 5, thanksgiving plays an important role.

Another very important aspect of a lifestyle of thanksgiving, although it is often a neglected one, is thanksgiving for those who have been given to us by God to have spiritual authority over us:

"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you....And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves." 

                                                                                            Heb. 13:17, 1 Thess. 5:12-13

Our prayer and thanksgiving in this regard, for those in spiritual authority over us, can have a direct impact not only on our own lives, but also on the course of their ministry, as Paul states in Heb. 13:18-19:

"Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner."

A lifestyle of thanksgiving to God involves not only an attitude of prayer, but also one of declaration to others as David exemplified:

"I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together....Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people. Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him, talk you of all His wondrous works. Glory ye in His holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD, and His strength, seek His face continually. Remember His marvelous works that He hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth...Be ye mindful always of His covenant; the word which He commanded to a thousand generations."   Ps. 34:1-3, I Chron. 16:8-12, 15

Not only should the LORD's wonderful works be surrounded with our thanksgiving, but also His name, His word, and His covenant given to us. Our lifestyle of declarations of thanksgiving are not only profitable to us, but give joy and strength to the humble who hear them.

On the other hand, failure to give thanks to God, though He has shown Himself as Creator to all men (Rom. 1:19-20), can have a catastrophic effect upon the soul:

"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened...And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient..."   Rom. 1:21, 28

A long list of evil thoughts and behaviors grow out of the lack in a person's life of thankfulness towards God (v. 29-32). God's people, who know His word, and His works, should not be among those who refuse to thank Him. God has made precious promises to those who do think of Him, and are thankful to Him:

Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name. "And they shall be Mine", saith the LORD of hosts, "in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God, and him that serveth Him not."   Mal. 3:18-18

Again, as prophesied to Malachi, above, these things are especially important in these Last Days (see Mal. 4:1).

Thanksgiving is not just a day, but a lifestyle.

 

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Periscope: A Thanksgiving Lifestyle

 

 

 



 



Check Yourself !



 

One of the easiest things in the world to see is the spiritual shortcomings of others, whether they are close to us, or strangers. There is a danger in that, however. When Jesus was with us in the flesh, the greatest scriptural experts in the world at the time, judged Him to be a Sabbath-breaker, a heretic, a blasphemer, even demon possessed. We know, however, that scripture says of Jesus that while He was one who was tempted in all the ways that man can be tempted, He sinned not (Heb. 4:15). Those experts of His day came to completely wrong conclusions concerning Him. We may be able to garner from this that though we may know scripture, we may not always see accurately into another man's true spiritual condition.
As easy as it is for us to come to conclusions about what we see in others, it is very difficult to see our own weaknesses, faults and sins. We seldom spend much time looking for them, and when the Lord puts us in situations where we are confronted with our sins, we don't deal with them sincerely. Yet, this is one of the very things for which all scripture has been given (2 Tim. 3:16). The Apostle Paul also taught:
"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates (cast away, rejected, not standing the test, that which does not prove itself as it ought)."  2 Cor. 13:5
What constitutes all that is meant by being "in the faith"? It is not limited to whether we believe. Jesus shocked His hearers, and astonished them by saying:
"Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?" And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity." 
                                                                                                          Mt. 7:22-23
Jesus is talking about different works here then those outward works that come from faith or belief. He is talking about inner works that should follow belief in His sayings. According to Jesus, the meaning of being "in the faith" includes the following:
"Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock..."   Mt. 7:24
In this teaching, the wise man's house that was built upon the rock (hearing and doing the words of Christ), withstood all things that were thrown against it. Contrarily, the house built on unstable sand by one who is like a foolish man who does not hear and do the words of Christ, suffered not just a fall, but a great fall (v. 25-27). A fool is described in scripture as one who says in his heart, "There is no God" (Ps. 14:1, 53:1). Not hearing and doing the sayings of Jesus is equated with the same spiritual condition of this kind of total unbelief.
Jesus describes again the difference between hearing and believing His words, and doing them:
Strive (endeavor with strenuous zeal, labor fervently, fight) to enter in at the strait (narrow, firm, immovable, to weigh in a balance) gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the Master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door saying, "Lord, Lord, open unto us"; and He shall answer and say unto you, "I know you not whence you are": Then ye shall begin to say, "We have eaten and drunk in Thy presence, and Thou hast taught in our streets." But He shall say, "I tell you, I know you not whence you are; depart from Me all ye workers of iniquity."  Lk. 13:24-27
Those above, who sat in His presence, and heard His teachings, and even call Him "Lord", will see the other great doers in faith present in the kingdom of God, but they themselves will be "thrust out". They will feel great torment at this loss (v. 28).
The very Word, which is Jesus, is not just for hearing and believing. Doing His words, incorporating His sayings into the actions of our lives, not only builds our spiritual house on a proper foundation, but keeps that house from destruction and fall. Being vigilant to do His words involves strenuous zeal, and fervent labor. Keeping His sayings shows our belief, for how can we say we believe the words, but meanwhile we do not do them? These very words of truth that He has given us are His Father's words sent to sanctify us, removing us, separating us from the works of the world, even while we are still in the midst of the world (Jn. 17:14-18). These same words and sayings of Jesus, given free course in us, glorify us, deliver us from wicked men, and allow the Lord to establish us, and keep us from evil (2 Thess. 3:1-3).
The Church does not always understand nor teach the demand that the words of Christ require of us for our own spiritual health and survival. The demand not just to believe, but to do the words of Christ is not a legalistic demand, nor a religious demand, but a demand that transforms us, as is necessary (Rom. 12:1-2).
As Jesus spoke to the seven churches in chapters 2 and 3 of the Book of Revelation, He urged most of them to repent because their actions, or lack of actions, no longer conformed to the words of truth that He had delivered to them. He tells them that if they will not repent, they will lose His very presence, and those things that represent His presence, from the midst of them. If they will repent, they will gain a spiritual transformation, and a new identity (His identity), and they will endure through persecutions. He concludes by saying to the churches:
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with Me."   Rev. 3:19-20
While we may find it easier to check others, the sayings of Christ are a mirror held in front of us with the demand to us to check ourselves.

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Back to Simplicity in Christ

 

There are many people who do not accept the miraculous. It was so in the days of Christ, and it is so today. Even for some of those who consider themselves Christians, the miraculous events in scripture are met with disbelief. However, miracles of every kind filled the life and ministry of Christ, and cannot be separated from Him. It is very important that we do not lose this very foundational aspect of Christ's life, and our faith:

"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."  2 Cor. 11:3

One of the simplest truths of Christ is His connection to miracles. The Devil, through his nature as an eternal liar (Jn. 8:44) has always tried to challenge God's truths, even from the very beginning:

"Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, "Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"   Gen. 3:1

Paul was concerned that Satan was using the same tactics on the Church in order to undermine its most elemental truths- challenging the believer saying "Did God really say that?" That danger still exists, and even more so because we live in the End Times. One of the signs of these perilous times and the rise of the antichrist, is the strong delusion, and the lies that will be accepted by men because they refuse to receive God's truth (2 Thess. 2:7-12). It gives unrighteous men pleasure to believe lies rather than to believe what God has said. The Church should not accept those same lies and delusions.

A basic, foundational, simplicity in Jesus Christ is that He associated Himself with truth (Jn. 14:6), and the miraculous works of His Father:

"Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak unto you, I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works' sake."   Jn. 14:10-11

Not only were the miraculous works part of Christ's very identity, but they illustrated His oneness with Father God, because these were His Father's works. For this reason, it is even more important to Jesus that we believe these miraculous works because they are His Father's. The story doesn't end there. Jesus gave this same power and authority to His twelve disciples:

"And when He had called unto Him His twelve disciples, He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease..."And as ye go, preach, saying The kingdom of heaven is at hand."

These miracles works went hand in hand with the teaching, preaching and repentance of the kingdom of God.

Jesus went further still. The power and authority of the miraculous works that attended the kingdom of heaven were not limited to the twelve disciples only. Jesus also gave this command to the seventy disciples:

"After these things, the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before His face into every city and place, whither He Himself would come..."...heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you...Behold, I give you the power to tread (trample, crush) on serpents (snake, serpent, malicious person, especially Satan) and scorpions (hidden, pierce, skeptic), and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."   Lk. 10:1, 9, 19

However, the power and authority of the miraculous works that accompanied the preaching of the kingdom of God were not just ordained for the twelve and the seventy. Jesus commanded it to all who believe:
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything, in My name, I will do it....And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover."   Jn. 14:12-14, and Mk. 16:17-18
Some have suggested that these wonderful works of God, given by command of Christ to all who believe, were only for the purpose of the establishment of the Church, and have since passed away, or that the works were limited to the ministry of early believers in Israel. However, the promise and command from Jesus to His believers is a universal and eternal one:
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations....Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (age)." Amen."   Mt. 28:18, 19a, 20b
The ultimate calling of all believers is to a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:13), and that fullness includes His miraculous works, the works of the Father.

This is simplicity in Christ.

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How Much Fruit is in a Seed?

 

 

One seed produces enough fruit to feed many. As God created life on the earth, He created within that life the power to regenerate and multiply. He placed that power in seed form:

"And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good."   Gen. 1:11-12

Each seed produces the same plant and fruit that had produced it. As we know, when the planted seed grows, matures and bears fruit, it has in fact multiplied itself many times, even within each fruit.

The Hebrew word for seed is zerah. It means "seed, offspring, descendants, children, posterity, of moral quality, a practitioner of righteousness, a sowing time".

The future, or fruit, is contained and determined by the seed sown in the present. The Hebrew meaning of the word, as we see above, also contains the idea of an activity, or behavior, as well as a time, or season-there is a time for sowing.

Jesus told a parable of a sower sowing seed (Mt. 13:3-9). The seed itself has the potential to grow. Various conditions, like good soil, stony ground, devouring animals, overgrowing thorns, or unrelenting heat, can impact the resulting growth however. Seed planted in good soil multiplies itself many times over-thirty, sixty, one hundred fold- in the fruit it will produce. Jesus specifically identifies the seed sown in this parable as the Word of God (Mk. 4:14).

The Word, Jesus Himself, is a good comparison to a seed, because we know the Word also contains creative and multiplicative power:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God....All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made." 

                                                                                                             Jn. 1:1-3

This same seed, the Word of God, has been planted in each of us who believe. Are we being the "good soil" needed for the Word seed to grow, flourish, and produce fruit? We sometimes mix the seed of the Word with our own strange seed of our own ideas and will. God warns against what He calls "mingled seed":

"Ye shall keep My statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a different kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woolen come upon thee."   Lev. 19:19

We cause harm by mingling the Word/seed with our own desires. A powerful example of this is found in the account of Abraham and Sarah. The LORD spoke a miracle promise, a seed, to Abraham, a childless man, that his seed (descendants) would be as numerous as the stars (Gen. 15:5). Abraham and his wife Sarah mingled that seed of the Word promise with their own reasoning and unbelief. That mingled seed bore fruit when Abraham conceived a child with his wife's maid, Hagar. Sarah became unhappy with this result of her own making, and abused Hagar. Now that seed was being mingled with jealousy and resentment. The child that was produced from all of this would still have the multiplication power of that seed promise (Gen. 16:10). However, having been mingled with unbelief, jealousy and resentment, the child or fruit produced from that mingled seed would be called "a wild man, whose hand would be against every man" (Gen. 16:12). We still see today in the Middle East the resulting fruit in the ongoing enmity among Abraham's seed.

Our ways and our words are the seeds that we sow. We need to be careful to understand the future ramifications of them:

"Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! It shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him."  Isa. 3:10-11

The seed we sow by word and deed will affect the harvest that we reap. The two cannot be separated:

"A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence."   Prov. 13:2

When we are careless with our words, speaking things over and over again that should not be spoken even once, we a sowing a crop that will bring forth fruit after its kind:

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."   Prov. 18:21

While we seem to have little awareness of the power of the seed, and its direct connection to the fruit produced from it, the Devil is very aware, using that eternal seed principle for his own evil plans. Jesus revealed this in His parable of the wheat and the tares (Mt. 13:24-30). Good wheat seed (the Word) was sown in a field, but while men slept (sleep, rest, be indifferent to our salvation), an enemy came and sowed tares. Tares are a counterfeit (lying) wheat, difficult to identify until the plant matures but produces no head of valuable and desirable wheat grain. The tares and the wheat had to be left to grow together. Tearing out the closely mingled tares would also pluck up the nearby wheat plants growing with them. The separation would have to wait until the harvest. The tares would have to be allowed to continue doing their damage until then. The effects from a weary or negligent attitude regarding the seed/fruit principle can be long lasting. The enemy will use the opportunity that we give him.

The scriptures assure us that the principle of the sowing of seed and the reaping of the resulting harvest or fruit, and the seasons that accompany them, will exist as long as the earth exists (Gen. 8:22). Paul uses this same principle to teach that the connection between  sowing and reaping is a spiritual truth:

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary of well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."   Gal. 6:7-9

How much fruit is in a seed? Like the stars in the sky- too many to number.

 

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