Greetings in the Name of Jesus and welcome to the PLN Sunday Night Bible Fellowship!

 

I hope you'll make a special effort to read this issue because it concludes the special topic we've been discussing now for twenty-seven weeks on the relationship between THANKSGIVING and connecting to God's POWER. If you've been tracking with us then you know that we've looked at this from a number of different angles and God has given us some new things to think about. If you missed any of the previous messages or you want to go back and "refresh" your memory about some of them, you can click above on the ARCHIVE link to access all of those previous newsletters, and many others as well.

 

In short, here's the point of this series: there's a really great way, a bible-based, relatively EASY way to connect to the GRACE of God (His favor and empowerment) whenever we need it so that we can be victorious in every area of life, every day of the week and year and in every situation or circumstance or trial or tribulation or problem or difficulty or whatever. And that way according to Scripture is to PURSUE a lifestyle, a mindset, a resolute unshakable attitude of GRATITUDE AND THANKSGIVING. God is good (Mark 10:18) and because He's good, because He IS LOVE (1 John 4:8), He wants His children to ALWAYS achieve the VICTORY (2 Corinthians 2:14). In fact, Jesus shed His blood at Calvary to purchase that VICTORY and by a NEW Covenant between Him and the Father (Hebrews 7:22, 13:20), it's ALREADY available to those of us who'll believe, agree with the Word and receive it by FAITH.

 

Believing God for VICTORY is not just about believing Him for salvation and eternal life. It starts there but beyond that starting point there's a way of life to learn about in the Kingdom of God that makes available the possibility of VICTORY in every area of life NOW. GRACE is not just some one-purpose idea that God had so that people could get saved and go to Heaven someday. No, in addition to salvation, the GRACE of God is exactly what we each need right NOW. It's the precisely required EMPOWERMENT to connect to by FAITH so we can OVERCOME THE WORLD (1 John 5:4), become fruitful disciples of Christ and live our lives in VICTORY. Indeed, the Bible says that Jesus gave Himself for our sins in order to rescue us from this present evil age/world (Galatians 1:4).  

 

Once Again, the Example of the Israelites

 

In past articles we've looked at the fact that IN-gratitude was the very character flaw that got the Israelites into trouble. Even though they'd seen at least 12 major miracles as they were being delivered from Egypt, they couldn't bring themselves to believe that God would show up again to take care of their new problems. Instead of being GRATEFUL that He'd delivered them from bondage, they were UN-grateful because their new surroundings, their new challenges and circumstances didn't meet all their immediate desires and expectations. Their IN-gratitude was tied to a lack of trust which led to a lack of faith which led to unbelief which led eventually to disobedience and rebellion. Just a few days after their rescue from Egypt they wanted to go back there where their flesh could be more in control instead of trusting God for a better way in an unfamiliar place where they would have to depend on Him.

 

Friend, this is NOT just some nice little story about Jewish history. There's a reason why the New Testament has an ABUNDANCE of scriptures encouraging us, instructing us to be GRATEFUL and full of continuous THANKSGIVING. And it's not just about some religious exercise either. No, it's all about you and me and the Body of Christ and the Kingdom of God. It's for our benefit that we learn to be GRATEFUL people so we don't repeat the mistakes of the Israelites and come to the same results.

 

The fact is your Bible says that the story of the Israelites has been written down to INSTRUCT us on how NOT to conduct ourselves (1 Corinthians 10:11) as we go through life. Indeed, those Israelites are to be a specific EXAMPLE of an attitude that impairs FAITH and makes it impossible to RECEIVE the benefits of the New Covenant keeping in mind that without FAITH it's impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Believers under the New Covenant are REQUIRED to live by FAITH (Romans 1:17) and it's only by FAITH that we receive anything of true benefit. I'm only reporting to you what your Bible actually says and if you haven't done so already, you should consider looking up these things for yourself. And when you do, you'll find that there's still more to consider which will take the rest of your life.

 

The Bible says also that most of those Israelites were DESTROYED because of the way they had acted and consequently never got to go into the Promised Land. Yes, the Bible uses the word DESTROYED and you can look that up too in 1 Corinthians 10:10. And so my question tonight is this: who does it say was the one that DESTROYED all those Israelites? How did it happen that one whole generation of God's chosen people was DESTROYED instead of accomplishing what God had called them to do? Most Believers have been taught that God did away with those rebellious Israelites out of His wrath but your Bible says that it was the DESTROYER who did it. Who's the DESTROYER? Is he not the one who comes ONLY to steal and kill and DESTROY (John 10:10)? Is he not the enemy who stands against the work of the Kingdom of God since the Garden and whose works Jesus came to DESTROY (1 John 3:8)?    

 

Understanding the Good News

 

A couple of years ago a young Christian man came to our home in Granbury, Texas. As we talked for a while he told us about a situation in his church earlier that very day that had involved the death of a young mother's child and the grief that event had produced for the family and the members of his rather large church. He went on to tell us that God had taken that child so the mother could learn some important things for her life and so the members of their church could also be taught from their experience of mourning.

 

Friends, may I please tell you once and for all that God doesn't TAKE anyone by death and He particularly doesn't TAKE children. God is not a baby killer and you're not going to find any bible scriptures that say God ever kills His own people especially under the New Covenant. No, it's LIFE that comes from God (Deuteronomy 30:19, John 10:10); DEATH COMES FROM THE DESTROYER. It came with the Curse (Genesis 2:17) which was the result of sin (Romans 6:23), not only our individual sins but the condition of the sin of mankind on the earth. Besides, it's the Holy Spirit who teaches us ALL things (John 14:26) not the works of the devil that Jesus was sent to DESTROY. It is absolutely ludicrous that so many Christians believe that God sends the devil to teach us stuff when the reality is He's ALREADY set things up so you and I can EASILY overcome the devil by our FAITH and UNDERSTANDING of the Word (Romans 10:17).

 

We tried to explain to the young man that it hadn't been God who took the child and that God doesn't work that way, but it was like speaking to a wall. It was as if he couldn't hear us because he had become so dependent on, so conditioned to RELIGION to explain the things in life that are difficult to understand because he had not studied the Word to know what it actually says (or doesn't say). In case you don't know, RELIGION is in essence when people develop ways of relating to God that disagree with what the Word actually teaches.

 

I bring this up in closing only to say that RELIGION and ignorance have made so many of us overlook the simple but essential role of THANKSGIVING in the life of a Believer. Most Christians are griping and complaining or blaming God all the time for their troubles ignoring the scriptures that say to RESIST the enemy (James 4:7), to OVERCOME the World by our FAITH (1 John 5:4) and to SEPARATE from the World (1 John 2:15-17). Jesus DID destroy the works of the devil and has rendered him powerless to prevail in your life, but you have to RESIST him with your FAITH AND AUTHORITY AND KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM.

 

And so, all the ones who're constantly griping and complaining and blaming God about everything they don't understand are sowing to their own DESTRUCTION. Jesus came so we can have FAITH and the means to not be DESTROYED. All we have to do in order to improve our circumstances in life is to become sensitive to the POWER of THANKSGIVING and to change what we're focusing our attention on so we can become GRATEFUL people instead of complainers. By doing that we sow to our VICTORY, glorify Christ and become His disciples. Here once again in closing are the key scriptures in the New Testament that are there for the purpose of connecting Believers to the POWER of God's GRACE:

 

1 Corinthians 15:57 - Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:14 - Thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph in Christ.

Ephesians 5:20 - Give thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:12 - Give thanks to the Father for the inheritance we have received.

Colossians 2:7 - We are to be firmly rooted in Christ, established in our faith and overflowing with thanksgiving.

Colossians 3:17 - In all that we do we are to do it in the name of Jesus giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Colossians 4:2 - We are to devote ourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 - It is God's WILL for us who are in Christ that we give thanks for everything.

1 Timothy 4:4 - Everything created by God is good and should be received with thanksgiving.

Hebrews 13:15 - Let us continually give thanks to the name of Jesus.

 

May the Lord open your UNDERSTANDING to this concept so you can use it to its fullest potential in your life to produce VICTORY AND BLESSING!

 

Thanks for stopping by tonight. We'll be looking for you again NEXT Sunday night on July 20. In the meantime may the Lord bless you with every spiritual blessing, compelling you to PROSPER in every area of life!

 

Sinners' Prayer

 

If you've never invited Jesus to be the Lord of your life, you need to and you can do it today just by saying out loud the following simple prayer:

 

Jesus I declare today with all my heart that I believe in you and that God raised you from the dead. I acknowledge that my sins have been forgiven and I ask you to come into my life today and be my Lord and Savior. Thank you for salvation and eternal life.

 

If you were sincere as you prayed this prayer, God has already come into your life and you are a new creation, a totally new species recreated in His image. Now ask the Lord to lead you to a good faith-based, bible-teaching church where you can be equipped to fulfill your potential in the Kingdom of God.

 

And, when you get a chance have someone help you look up the following scriptures because they confirm what you've done by saying this prayer today and believing what you said:

 

Romans 10:9

2 Corinthians 5:17

Ephesians 2:8

 

Prayer Requests

 

If you have a Prayer Request, please connect to the Link below and follow the promptings. The PLN staff members pray over Prayer Requests every Tuesday morning at 10:00 AM eastern time. Agree with us for God to answer your petition.

 

http://www.creditcounseling.net/prayer-request.aspx 

 

Donations

 

If you've been edified by Prosperous Life Newsletter, you may want to consider making a SEED FAITH offering to support the Ministry (Galatians 6:6-7). God has instructed us to simply provide folks with an opportunity to sow seed into good ground so in due season you'll be eligible to reap a harvest and the rest is up to you as the Spirit leads. For your information PLN is a nonprofit gift to the Body of Christ so your financial offerings will usually be tax deductible (consult your tax advisor). Just go to the secure Shopping Cart on the Cornerstone web site by connecting through the following link. We appreciate your support and generosity.

 

http://www.creditcounseling.net/shop/item.aspx?itemid=1 

 

About Prosperous Life Newsletter

 

PLN is an outreach ministry of Make A Way Ministries domiciled in Miami, Florida. It is in its 17th year of distribution and has been published continuously since January 1998. It's an e-publication primarily about finances in the Kingdom of God and is sent ONLY to our email list of MINISTRY MEMBERS. If you're reading this and aren't yet on our growing email list, please let us know and we'll be so very happy to add you to the list.

 

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