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November 27th - 30th
As we conclude this month’s focus on thanksgiving, we should ask ourselves how often we thank the Lord for:
· Spiritual gifts He has given us;
· The wisdom to use those gifts for God’s purposes;
· Evidence of the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit; and
· Evidence that the Holy Spirit is the light that draws unbelievers to desire salvation
Galatians 5:22 and 3 reminds us: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.” (KJV)
Can we see evidence in our lives that the Holy Spirit dwells in us? How often do we become aggravated with a friend or co-worker over a minor issue? How often does our behavior over that minor issue injure the relationship? And worse, how often do we take out our frustrations on those who are closet to us – our families? Are we long-suffering with an employee who takes longer to learn something than we feel they should? Do we show patience when dealing with a difficult co-worker or boss? Dos the Light shine from within you or does the “old man” that is dead to sin have a resurrection? And what about the joy that is every Believer’s inheritance? Does it show on our faces? There is a huge difference between joy and happiness; joy is not based on our circumstances, happiness is. Joy comes from the Holy Spirit and dwells within. Happiness is fleeting from one moment to the next and depends on what we are going through in our lives. The world cannot steal your joy unless you permit it.
How strong is our faith in the omnipotent, omnipresent, Holy Father and His unending love; the One Who has promised never to leave or forsake His children?
God’s Word tells us that:
“So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” Romans 10:17 (KJV)
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
“For we walk by faith, not by sight;” II Corinthians 5:7
“…Because of your unbelief: for verily I san unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of a mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you. How beit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17: 20 & 21 (KJV)
This last Scripture is part of the account of a certainly man who asked the Lord for mercy on his son. He had brought his son unto Jesus’ disciples but they could not help the boy. Verse 21 alludes to the mountain-moving kind of faith coming only by prayer and fasting; we must desperately want an answer to our supplication to the exclusion of all distraction, even food to nourish our bodies.
As we have looked at the opportunities to praise the Lord in thanksgiving, we must also understand that: “…without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
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