Thanksgiving!   By James Lantz

      Many of us have been taught to be thankful, or at least to say thank you, when we were helped by others.  We need to understand that our heartfelt gratitude and expressed thanksgiving to God is not only appropriate, but a determining factor of how much of God’s grace we are able to receive. I do not know about you, but I desire to receive more and more of God’s grace. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. God has so graciously offered eternal life, peace, joy, healing and health, protection, prosperity and blessing to all, but not all will receive.  John 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, to them that believe on his name.  Understanding God’s desire to bless and to be intimately involved in each of our lives is crucial to our believing for God’s grace to be manifested in our lives. God did not turn his back on us after Adam’s betrayal, but rather paid for the sins of each of us through the sending and sacrificing of his Son, the Lord Jesus. We are counted just as precious to the Father as Jesus is! God did not create us and then say you will have to make it on your own from now on. We have been redeemed back into the family of God with full privileges and equal access to God’s grace. Jesus told us we are so valuable to the Father that he knows the number of hairs on our head and how willing he is to meet each need in our life.  Colossians 1:16 – 18  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all he might have the preeminence.

Our ability to receive of God’s grace is directly connected to our enthusiasm and thankfulness to do the work that God has prepared for us to do.  James 1:17   Every good and perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.  Knowing that every good thing is given by God’s grace and received by heart faith puts the redeemed in good position to receive more and more of his goodness. Because of what God has already done for us in redemption we can praise and thank him continuously.  Eph. 5:4  Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.  Eph. 5:20  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;   Our giving of thanks to God blesses him, helps us keep our mind stayed on him, and is a release of faith for what you are expecting to receive. Faith rejoices, gives thanks, and is glad!  Doubt despairs, complains, and is sad!   It really is that

Faith Rejoices, Gives Thanks, And Is Glad!

easy, take a look at the expression on our face, listen to the words coming out of our mouth, and check to see if there is peace and joy in our heart and be honest with ourselves. The Bible says we are to examine ourselves to see if we are in faith. (2 Cor.13:5)  Heb.13:15   By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.  The child of God who sees the truth of what Jesus has redeemed us from and what he is yet going to do for us will be thanking God continually! He who has been forgiven much, loves much. Righteous people (those who receive God’s righteousness by faith) live and walk by faith. Faith calls those things which be not as though they were. In other words those who are expecting God to prosper, heal, deliver and protect them are rejoicing before the symptoms of lack and sickness are gone, knowing they will be gone soon. Rejoicing and giving God thanks keeps are faith active as God brings the victory. The joy of the Lord is our strength. If we have no joy, we have no strength, and if we have no strength we do not prosper, we are not healed, we are not delivered.  1 John 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  God is a God of victory! God is pleased when his children walk free from sin, resist the devil’s temptations, prosper, receive their healing that Jesus paid for, live out their full number of days, and experience victory in every way.  Heb. 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  We can not please God if we shut off the flow of blessings that he gave us through Jesus Christ. Every godly parent wants to see their children saved, healed, and prosperous.  1 Cor. 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Today we would say, God gives us the victory! The word giveth (or gives) includes past, present and future tense, so we are thanking God for the victory that Christ has given, is giving, and will give. Faith does not wait for the walls to fall down, faith shouts and then the walls fall down. Faith thanks God for victory over evil, for provision, and health before it shows up. When Elijah knew God was bringing the rain, he sent his servant seven times to look for the rain cloud. When we know what God has said, we can speak it out, and expect it to come to pass. Spiritual warfare is not spooky, nor praying or speaking the word as loud as you can (not normally). Spiritual warfare is being a doer of the word and most specifically, using your God given authority to resist evil, by casting down reasonings and every thought that is contrary to what God said.  2 Cor. 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.  God has supernaturally empowered us to cast down wrong thoughts, but we must purpose to cast them down by faith. For example, every time the enemy brings the thought to you, you are a sinner, you are not even saved, you need to reply, I called on the name of the Lord and he forgave me of my sins and received me as his child. Acts 2:21  .  .  .  whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.  Rom.10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  Every time the devil says, you really acted stupid, God is not going to prosper you this time. You need to cast this thought out of your mind and meditate and think about what God said.  1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  I have now repented and know that God is not holding anything against me. Rom. 4:7&8  Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.  Ps. 112:3  Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever. If Satan is bombarding your thoughts with, you are not going to get your healing this time. Cast those wrong thoughts out, and think God’s thoughts.  Ps. 103:3  Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.  Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.  There is no such thing as a person God will not save, heal, or deliver. There are only people who will not receive forgiveness, salvation, healing, and deliverance, or who have forsaken God’s mercy. Do not be deceived, everyone who desires to receive of God’s mercy may receive by faith. Do not allow the traditions of men to stop you from receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. You do not have to believe the lies of the enemy, like, God would never give you the gift of the infilling of the Holy Spirit.  Acts 2:4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  Faith begins when the will of God is known. Thanksgiving is to begin in us when we realize that Christ has qualified us to receive of the inheritance along with the other saints who walk in the light. God is expecting us to be thankful for the very privilege to receive of his great grace through faith. Col. 1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:  We can begin to thank God right now for whatever it is that we need from him because every need has been supplied for us in Christ Jesus!  2 Cor. 2:14  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. Finally, giving thanks unto God is a characteristic of a believer who is filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will always lead us in line with God’s will.  Ephesians 5:18-21  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.  Thanks be unto God!