'' Psalm 35 :18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly. ''
''Colossians 4 : 2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.''
'' Colossians 3 : 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. ''
Dear People of God, is Thanksgiving, just a verbal expression of gratitude to God?
Is it only pouring out our joy filled hearts before him because he sent his blessings?
Or is there any divine mystery in ''Thanksgiving''?
Certainly there is !
Lets meditate from John 8 : 9-11 to understand the revelation, as the Spirit of God helps us:
''John 8:9 Here is a small boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many? ''
''John 8: 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.''
This is a wonderful example of Thanksgiving, where Jesus took the five loaves and two fish and ''gave Thanks'' to God.
And when He gave thanks, he distributed it to five thousand people.
Now:
'' 2 Corinthians 9:11, 12 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every ocassion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. ''
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. ''
When Apostle Paul is speaking about generosity in 2 Corinthians, he says that their ''generous'' cheerful giving results in Thanksgiving to God, through them.
If we meditate on these Scriptures, we can clearly discern that just saying '' Thanks '' verbally, for what we have in hand, is not what is happening in the ''Thanksgiving'' to God.
There is surely a divine phenomenon that is involved.
Lets now meditate on John 8: 9-11, where Jesus broke the five loaves and two fish and distributed to five thousand men:
Let us make a list of some points from that miracle to help ourselves understand few things :
1. The five loaves and two fish were brought to him by a small boy.
2. This small boy gave all that he had.
3. This boy was actually functioning in God's Kingdom, when I say this, I mean to say this boy was '' Generous'' than anyone else. He did not think of his needs, but gave all he had, selflessly.
4. When it fell in the hands of Jesus, Jesus '' Gave Thanks.''
Now, it is very important for us to understand what was ''Thanks'' given for.
Dear people, ''Thanks'' was given to God, for what Jesus wanted to do. Not for what he had.
Because Jesus already knew how he is going to feed them.
1. The five loaves and two fish were brought to him by a small boy.
2. This small boy gave all that he had.
3. This boy was actually functioning in God's Kingdom, when I say this, I mean to say this boy was '' Generous'' than anyone else. He did not think of his needs, but gave all he had, selflessly.
4. When it fell in the hands of Jesus, Jesus '' Gave Thanks.''
Now, it is very important for us to understand what was ''Thanks'' given for.
Dear people, ''Thanks'' was given to God, for what Jesus wanted to do. Not for what he had.
Because Jesus already knew how he is going to feed them.
Lets read the same from the Scriptures:
''John 6:5,6 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, '' Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?'' He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. ''
''John 6:5,6 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, '' Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?'' He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. ''
So, When Jesus gave thanks, this was not for what he was seeing in his hand, but what He was about to do. And that was to feed the five thousand men who were hungry.
Let us understand the divine phenomenon that is involved in this process:
When Jesus ''Gave thanks'', He actually gave thanks for the will of God, that is about to manifest from those five loaves and two fish, which were given by the small boy wilfully, out of rich generosity.
Here the spirit of the small boy was in reconciliation to the Spirit of God, through his generous heart. ( Having a generous heart comes from God's Spirit )
Let us understand the divine phenomenon that is involved in this process:
When Jesus ''Gave thanks'', He actually gave thanks for the will of God, that is about to manifest from those five loaves and two fish, which were given by the small boy wilfully, out of rich generosity.
Here the spirit of the small boy was in reconciliation to the Spirit of God, through his generous heart. ( Having a generous heart comes from God's Spirit )
And God's Spirit ( in Jesus) knows the will of God, that is, to divide them among the the five thousand.
And that is why Jesus gave thanks for this will of God.
This means, when our spirit is reconciled with God's Spirit, Spirit of God will intercede on our behalf in accordance with the will of God.
On receiving His will in our spirits, when we '' give thanks, '' God will release His will into our lives according to our belief.
Here the little kid was generous and pure in his spirit, and the Son of God interceded according to the will of God, and when He gave thanks to what He wanted to do, i.e, to feed the five thousand, the miracle manifested.
Therefore dear people, we must always stay connected to God's Spirit, if our thanksgiving must yield results. And we must constantly keep stepping up with God's Spirit.
This means, when God's Spirit testifies to us the will of God, our spirit must step up with God's Spirit, and keep our belief accordingly.
This means, when God's Spirit testifies to us the will of God, our spirit must step up with God's Spirit, and keep our belief accordingly.
Its only then we can walk in the will of God, and when we Thank him for what the Spirit of God is testifying to us, this only means we are actually receiving what the Spirit has asked God for us on our behalf.
And Thanksgiving affirms our belief, and thereby the miracle manifests.
''Galatians 5 : 25 Since we live by Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.''
So, Thanksgiving, given in oneness with God's Spirit, alone, results in supernatural manifestations. If we step back looking at circumstances, then we cannot reap the miracle power of God.
Spirit of God -->Testifies to Our spirit the will of God--> Thanksgiving -->God's will manifests.
''Galatians 5 : 25 Since we live by Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.''
So, Thanksgiving, given in oneness with God's Spirit, alone, results in supernatural manifestations. If we step back looking at circumstances, then we cannot reap the miracle power of God.
Spirit of God -->Testifies to Our spirit the will of God--> Thanksgiving -->God's will manifests.
''1 Corinthians 6:17 but He who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.''
It is very imperative that we are united with God in our spirit, and we must be rich toward God.
If our spirits long for our fleshy desires and give thanks to God only from our human spirits and not in oneness with God's Spirit, then it is not true Thanksgiving, and it will not yield fruit.
Therefore we must always keep in step with the Spirit of God, to know the will of God.
'' Romans 8: 24 But hope that is seen is not hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?
'' Romans 8: 24 But hope that is seen is not hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.''
When we are rich toward God, we shall not see what is in hand, but we will see what Spirit of God is showing to our spirit, and this is in accordance to the will of God.
And this can be known through the word of God. And His promises that He has given us.
And when we believe this word, in Faith and Give Thanks, it will manifest according to God's plans, and according to His riches and glory, according to what we believed, being testified by God's Spirit.
When we are rich toward God, we shall not see what is in hand, but we will see what Spirit of God is showing to our spirit, and this is in accordance to the will of God.
And this can be known through the word of God. And His promises that He has given us.
And when we believe this word, in Faith and Give Thanks, it will manifest according to God's plans, and according to His riches and glory, according to what we believed, being testified by God's Spirit.
''1 Thessalonians 2 : 13 ..the word of God which is at work in you when you believe.''
When the small boy gave all he had, it was his generosity, which was sown.
And when it fell in the hands of God, the WORD WAS AT WORK- Jesus,the Living Word,( who was in man ), wanted to feed 5000 people, 'Gave Thanks ' to God for what He wanted to do.
And therefore, the will of God through Son, was manifested.
Hence, in 2 Corinthians Apostle Paul says that we should give willfully, and cheerfully, and be rich in generosity, which is the gift of the Spirit. And in this richness, when the offerings fall into the Apostles' hands, since they are one with the Spirit of God in their sprits, God's Spirit intercedes on their behalf for their needs, according to the will of God and when the Apostles receive in their spirits and Give Thanks, all that God desired to do through them will be manifested.
Therefore, keep your spirits always lighted by the word of God.
Let not your will collide with the will of God.
This will prevent the manifestation of God's higher plans for us.
This will prevent the manifestation of God's higher plans for us.
Light up your spirits with His Word and keep them always reconciled with the Spirit of God. Then Spirit of God will intercede on our behalf, according to the will of God, and when we ''give thanks,'' all that God purposed for our lives will manifest.
We need to be rich in the word if we need to stay one in God's Spirit.
We cannot sail on two boats - we cannot please men and we cannot please God at the same time.
Get away from every distraction that prevents in keeping in Step with the Spirit of God, and always walk in the direction God's Spirit is leading you.
Get the direction from His word, and stick to that word - keep in step with that word, irrespective of what might happen around.
Do not expect the natural circumstances to promise you of the promises of God.
Get away from every distraction that prevents in keeping in Step with the Spirit of God, and always walk in the direction God's Spirit is leading you.
Get the direction from His word, and stick to that word - keep in step with that word, irrespective of what might happen around.
Do not expect the natural circumstances to promise you of the promises of God.
All Jesus had was only five loaves and two fish. But Jesus was one with the Father and therefore, whatever He wanted to do manifested.
Through Christ, God has given us grace to be reconciled to Him. Without Christ, there is no reconciliation, there is no oneness with God.
And Christ is the Living Word.
Therefore keep in the word all the time, and nurture your spirits with the Word of God, and stay one with the Spirit of God.
Then we can know the will of our Father for our lives and when we receive and ''Give Thanks,'' God will lead us into supernatural manifestations of His glory in our lives.
Through Christ, God has given us grace to be reconciled to Him. Without Christ, there is no reconciliation, there is no oneness with God.
And Christ is the Living Word.
Therefore keep in the word all the time, and nurture your spirits with the Word of God, and stay one with the Spirit of God.
Then we can know the will of our Father for our lives and when we receive and ''Give Thanks,'' God will lead us into supernatural manifestations of His glory in our lives.
God bless You.
