CHRISTMAS - 3 REACTIONS

Matthew 2: 1-11

(Read this account and mark the reactions to the Birth of JESUS)

There are three reactions to the Birth of JESUS: 1. the Herod reaction; 2. the Scribes and Priests reaction; and 3. the Wise men reaction.  We note these reactions, because they are very active today in the world in which we live. These reactions to the LORD have been since the world began and have their root in the same spirit. Let's look at each this week and see if we can spot these reactions, as we approach the celebration of the birth of JESUS.

The Herod reaction was one of evil, jealousy, hatred, manipulation, anger and hostility. He was intent on killing, stealing and destroying, even the Son of GOD.  The Priest and Scribe reaction was indifference to the coming of the Christ, which had been proclaimed in the Scriptures that the Priests and Scribes studied. The Wise men reaction was joy and worship, they recognized the Christ and came to worship Him.

O COME, LET US ADORE HIM, CHRIST THE LORD.  

LIVE 2 GIVE THANKS

Luke 17: 15-19

And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified GOD. And fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks; and he was a Samaritan. And JESUS answering, said, Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to GOD, except this stranger. and He said unto him, Arise, go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.

HEALING AND WHOLENESS

JESUS healed ten men of leprosy. They were sent to the Priest to be declared clean and able to return to  society, but one of the ten gave thanks to JESUS in a loud voice, falling at His feet in worship.  This man was made whole. What is the distinction between healing and wholeness?

First of all, JESUS healed all of the men in their body, they were made clean in body. I am sure that they were touched in their emotions as the Priest declared them clean and part of the society again. So it is truthful to say that the nine were healed in body and soul. The one man was touched in His spirit and he fell down and worshiped JESUS, glorifying GOD for His healing; HE GAVE THANKS. This man was healed in body, soul and spirit through His faith in JESUS. HE WAS MADE WHOLE.

All of humankind is made up of three parts; a trinity. The body, the soul and the spirit of every person is active in all that we do. When a person is sick, they are more concerned with the body and the emotions of the soul; GOD, however, is more concerned with the spirit of man, because that is eternal. GOD wants wholeness for everyone; the door to wholeness is THANKSGIVING FOR ALL THAT THE LORD HAS DONE.

IN ALL THINGS GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR HE IS WORTHY TO BE PRAISED.

LIVE 2 GIVE THANKS

SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF 

LIVE 2 GIVE THANKS

1. IT GLORIFIES GOD; PSALM 69:30

2. IT IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS: I THESS. 5: 18, 19

3. OPENS HEAVENS GATES: PSALM 100: 4

4. EVIDENCE OF ESTABLISHED FAITH: COL. 2: 6, 7

5. MAKES PRAYER EFFECTIVE: PHILIPPIANS 4:6

6. EVIDENCE OF BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD: EPHESIANS 5: 18-20

7. RELEASES THE SUPERNATURAL: JOHN 6: 9-11, 22.

Living to give thanks is both evidence and blessing. It is evidence of the life of JESUS in a person and it is a blessing to the person. More than evidence and blessing, it is the life of JESUS living through every part of the person and blessing others with the character of JESUS. The one who lives 2 give thanks is so occupied with giving thanks to GOD that they are unaware that GOD is working miracles through them and speaking His word to the world around them, BECAUSE THE SUPERNATURAL IS RELEASED.

How do we achieve this life of total submission to the power of GOD? Humble thanksgiving, praise and worship of JESUS Christ. It is only through Him that we have access to the Father and that the Holy Spirit dwells in us. Humble submission and ceaseless thanksgiving is the key.

LIVE 2 GIVE THANKS

Acts 27: 35

And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to GOD in the presence of them all; and when he had spoken it, he began to eat.

In the midst of a terrible voyage, which ends in a shipwreck, the Apostle Paul breaks bread and gives thanks to GOD. He distributes the bread to the men of the ship, who had been fasting for fourteen days.  Paul gives the men Communion with thanksgiving to GOD for all that GOD has done for them. In Paul's life, circumstances did not dictate his praise and thanksgiving to GOD.

In the midst of our storms of life, we are to stay the course and not loose heart. In the storms of life, we are to always give thanks to GOD for what He has done for us. In the storms of life, we are to remember and declare that the precious Body of JESUS, broken for us, and the Holy Blood of JESUS shed for our redemption, sealing the Covenant between us and GOD, is alive, true and for our wholeness; giving thanks always. 

Verse 31b says: " Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved". In the storms of this life, we must abide in the shelter of the Almighty who is our safety. That shelter is like a ship that will never capsize or flounder in any storm. Abide in the LORD GOD all the days of your life, giving thanks to Him for wholeness, healing, safety, protection, and for His most glorious presence. 

LIVE 2 GIVE THANKS TO GOD IN ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE.

DO NOT LET CIRCUMSTANCES DICTATE YOUR PRAISE AND THANKS TO GOD 

LIVE 2 GIVE THANKS

Psalm 140: 13

Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto Thy Name; the upright shall dwell in Thy presence.

WHEN WE FAIL TO GIVE THANKS, WE BECOME LIKE THE HEATHEN

I was struck by the power of the quote from Pastor Randy's Sermon on Sunday: "When we fail to give thanks, we become like the heathen." These words ring through my mind, as I think about giving thanks and the title of this week in Word from the Word.  In whose image am I created? I am created in the image of GOD, therefore, to be rightly related to GOD and dwell in His presence, I should be "like Him".  Is GOD the GOD of praise and thanksgiving? Is it His nature to give thanks? Is JESUS Christ the body and Blood of  thanksgiving and praise? YES, YES, YES! JESUS EMBODIES THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE. JESUS, the incarnate Word of GOD, lives 2 give thanks.

As I reflected on the verse from Psalms and the quote from Pastor Randy, I discovered a deeper understanding of Praise and Thanksgiving. It is not only something we "do" to glorify GOD; it is the nature of GOD shining through us and we "become" like Him, filled with praise and thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving is not only what we "do", it is who we are.  The hallmark of a Christian is the attitude of gratitude.

JESUS always gave thanks to the Father before He did anything; JESUS lived 2 give thanks to the Father.

Literally, giving thanks and praise to the Father was the whole essence of the life of JESUS and it demonstrated His love. WE SHOULD BE LIKE HIM.

WHEN WE GIVE THANKS TO GOD, WE BECOME FULLY CHRISTIAN

LIVE 2 GIVE THANKS

Psalm 92: 1, 2

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises into Thy Name, O Most High; to show forth Thy loving-kindness in the morning, and Thy faithfulness every night.

It is interesting to note that the Tribe of Judah, from which descends the lineage of JESUS, is the Tribe of Praise. Judah means praise and Leah, when she bore Judah said, " Now will I praise the LORD." Therefore she called her son, Judah.  

I mention this, because praise and thanksgiving has been in the life of humankind since the beginning and it is part of the life of GODLY people.  When we live 2 give thanks, praise is continually in our mouth; from morning to night, in the sunshine or the darkness, praise and thanksgiving belong to the LORD, for He is good. Yes, it is good to give thanks  to the LORD for He alone is good, His mercy is everlasting and His faithfulness endures from age to age.

In a time of meditation, sit and recall, like the Jewish people do, the might acts of GOD and give thanks for all that He has done from the beginning of time. Know in your heart that the LORD, who has begun a good work in you, will continue it unto the day of redemption. The LORD has a plan for you and that plan is to prosper you and give you a hope and a future. Live to give thanks to the LORD all the days of your life.

BELIEVE HIM, FOR HE IS GOD. 

LIVE 2 GIVE THANKS

Ephesians 5: 20

Giving thanks always for all things unto GOD and the Father in the Name of our LORD JESUS Christ.

BLESSED AND HOLY ADVENT

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD

We prepare the way of the LORD by giving thanks to Him for all that He has done. Never let circumstances dictate your thanksgiving. In everything give thanks to the LORD for all His mercy and goodness; His loving-kindness and unconditional love. 

There is so much to be thankful for that if we said "thank you, LORD" every moment of every day for the rest of our life, we could not completely thank Him enough. We must live an attitude of gratitude at all times; every breath we take should be a hymn of thanksgiving. That attitude overflows into all the avenues of life, giving others a glimpse of the beauty of GOD who made is with great love and care. He gave us a purpose, a hope and a future so that we could be His witnesses in the world. What an awesome GOD we serve! He loved us and created us to be His lantern, aglow in the dark world, bringing souls to Him for salvation.

As we prepare the way of the LORD, let us lay a path of thanksgiving, honor and glory to the LORD; He is worthy to be glorified.