Post by jazzlover on May 12, 2006 22:09:45 GMT -5
Ephesians 5: 18-21
ALWAYS THANKFUL
MEMORY VERSE: Ephesians 5:20: Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revival times are joyous times, whether they are great national spiritual awakenings or days of personal victory. Some have pictured revivals as experiences of continual weeping over sin. Not so! Tears may come in the initial time of conviction of sin, but after all is right with God, the only tears are tears of joy or tears over lost people. The revived heart is abounding in the goodness and grace of God.
Giving thanks always is characteristic of the person whose lifestyle is anchored in faith and submission. Faith says -- "God is in this and my Father never makes a mistake. Though I cannot see the reason for this test, I know He only sends the best." Submission says: "Not my will but thine be done."
Too many Christians just endure the Christian life. They seem to feel that all of God's children are traveling to heaven second class. Their long faces evidence their unhappiness. They are poor advertisements for the Gospel and few would want what they have in life. The surrendered person really believes Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." That being the case, we can give thanks for everything.
Spurgeon wrote: "When we bless God for mercies, we prolong them. When we bless God for miseries, we usually end them. Praise is the honey of life which a devout heart extracts from every bloom of providence and grace."
Your spiritual temperature can be measured by your degree of thankfulness.
ALWAYS THANKFUL
MEMORY VERSE: Ephesians 5:20: Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revival times are joyous times, whether they are great national spiritual awakenings or days of personal victory. Some have pictured revivals as experiences of continual weeping over sin. Not so! Tears may come in the initial time of conviction of sin, but after all is right with God, the only tears are tears of joy or tears over lost people. The revived heart is abounding in the goodness and grace of God.
Giving thanks always is characteristic of the person whose lifestyle is anchored in faith and submission. Faith says -- "God is in this and my Father never makes a mistake. Though I cannot see the reason for this test, I know He only sends the best." Submission says: "Not my will but thine be done."
Too many Christians just endure the Christian life. They seem to feel that all of God's children are traveling to heaven second class. Their long faces evidence their unhappiness. They are poor advertisements for the Gospel and few would want what they have in life. The surrendered person really believes Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." That being the case, we can give thanks for everything.
Spurgeon wrote: "When we bless God for mercies, we prolong them. When we bless God for miseries, we usually end them. Praise is the honey of life which a devout heart extracts from every bloom of providence and grace."
Your spiritual temperature can be measured by your degree of thankfulness.