Every week, we seek the Lord for the timely revelation in the Word to be released to you.
So, what does the Lord say to us for this week?
"Keep giving thanks and do not cease giving thanks, even giving thanks in advance for your breakthrough or miracle, whatever your situation or problem may be at the moment. As you give thanks, and as you keep looking to Me, you will begin to see My hand working even in ways you cannot imagine."
So, give thanks in everything, even in advance for the things to come. Believe that God is going to show you many more good things that you cannot imagine!
Psalm 107:1-2 says, 'Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy.'
Indeed, as a believer, you are the redeemed of the Lord! And let the redeemed of the Lord give thanks! Give thanks to the Lord because He has set you free and has redeemed you from the hand of the enemy!
The words 'give thanks' here is 'yada' in Hebrew. Very interestingly, it literally means 'to shoot out your adoration and gratitude (in this context, towards the Lord)'. In other words, you express your thanksgiving to Him even as you praise Him and honor Him! What a privilege to be able to give thanks to the Lord - as the redeemed of the Lord!
Philippians 4:4-7 says, 'Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.'
So, choose to rejoice, in spite of all the sorrows or chaos of this world. Rejoice always! And that's what Apostle Paul wrote! Give thanks in all circumstances! Give thanks because God is still here, and God will know how to make a way for you, going forward!
The word 'thanksgiving' here is 'eucaristia' in Greek. It means 'gratitude as an act of worship'. You see, giving thanks is an act of worship! In other words, being grateful to God is part of your worship to God! Remember this!
For some of you, you may be anxious or worried about your future. Maybe there's just no headway, no inkling, or no clear guidance (yet) how your future is going to be like. Now, even if this is the case, just give thanks in advance. Because when the time comes, the Lord will let you know. Remember, God is never behind time. God is always on time!
Colossians 2:6-7 says, 'As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.'
Give thanks as well because your spiritual eyes are open and you have Christ in your life. The fact that you have Christ living in you, unlike some people in the world, is reason enough for you to give thanks!
So, beloved, as you walk this walk of faith, and as you are being rooted and built up in Him, let your thanksgiving be abounding! Live a lifestyle of thanksgiving everyday! In every time and season, whether it's good time or not-so-good time, give thanks to the Lord!
Maybe you think you have no reason to give thanks at the moment. Maybe it's because of the current economic downturn, and you have been affected in one way or another. But just give thanks knowing that God will make the way clear for you and secure your future!
1 Corinthians 15:57-58 says, 'But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.'
Give thanks for the victory that God has given to you, through the Lord Jesus Christ! With such assurance and revelation that He has overcome for you and has the final victory for you (no matter how the forces of darkness try to create or wreak havoc in this world), you can therefore continue to abound in all that God has called you to be (or do) on earth!
So, don't be overly engrossed with who that Anti-Christ is. And don't be so engrossed about trying to relate the world events with the Tribulation. But focus on the Lord instead, knowing that in John 16:33, Jesus has said, 'Be of good cheer! I have overcome the world."
You see, there are so many verses in the Scripture that we can count on about thanksgiving! So, make no mistake about why it's so important to give thanks to the Lord!
Now, here's a wonderful part about giving thanks: How giving thanks will lead to your breakthrough, miracle, and even provision! And I'm pointing you to none other but Jesus!
John 11:41 says, 'They took away the stone from the place where the dead man (Lazarus) was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me."'
The background here is Lazarus was already dead for four days, and there was already a stench. But Jesus said to take away the stone from the place where Lazarus was lying. You see, Lazarus was not arisen yet at that time, and there was no result yet. But Jesus gave thanks first in advance. And then He said, "Lazarus, come forth!" And the rest is history.
So, beloved, whatever situation in your life that is hopeless, dead, or seemingly dead-end road, let's learn from Jesus. Even before you see any results, just give thanks in advance! Give thanks for the answer. Give thanks because God knows how to clear the way for you. Give thanks because God knows how to turn a dead-end situation into 'rivers' and 'garden' for you!
Let me show you another example how giving thanks will lead you to your breakthrough, miracles, or even provision!
In Matthew 15:36, Jesus saw the multitude, and there were four thousand men besides the women and children; and there was nothing to eat, except seven loaves of bread and a few little fish. As He gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to His disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitude, multiplication happened! A miracle of supernatural provision happened! And all those people who were there ate and were filled, with seven large baskets full of fragments (leftover)!
So, beloved, if you have been suffering or going through lack at the moment, give thanks in advance for your provision that's coming!
I know some of you may be saying, "But that's Jesus. That's not me! That's Jesus! Jesus gave thanks, and He got the results!" I want to tell you something. You can see your results too, because you have the name of Jesus! As a believer, you can use the name of Jesus, and you too can see your miracle in your own unique situation! Why? Because the same Jesus those days is the same Jesus who lives in you today!
