Daily Bread - Dec 6 2006
Ephesians 5:20 - "Giving thanks at all times for all things to God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
The giving of thanks is not only recognizing that God is leading, protecting, and providing for you, it is also the realm of the Spirit where miracles take place. The first time this word 'euchariteo,' "giving thanks," is used in the New Testament is in Matthew 15:36. It was at this giving of thanks by Jesus that the miraculous event of the multiplication of the seven loaves and a few fish took place.
The very next time that this is used is when Jesus took the cup on Passover. He gave thanks and declared "this is my blood of the New Testament" (Matthew 26:27). The blood and body of Christ Jesus represents our communion or fellowship with God (1 Corinthians 10:16; John 6:53-58). It is this Eucharist, or communion, that should give us confidence that the Holy Spirit is leading and guiding us into all truth, and, therefore, whatever situation we find ourselves in, all things are working together for our good (Romans 8:28).
There were many adverse situations that Israel found themselves in during the first few months of their travel from Egypt to the promised land. Unfortunately, they were unwilling to recognize that God was leading them and protecting them, and as a result they were unthankful and murmured against the situation and their leadership which ultimately was directed at God Himself. There is a warning in the book of Hebrews that we should not fall into the same state of unbelief lest we end up like those unthankful Israelites (Hebrew 3:7-19). Romans 1:21 drives home the same point emphasizing that the lack of thankfulness is a chief characteristic of the unbeliever.
The passage of scripture in Colossians that is almost a perfect match to this passage here in Ephesians says, "whatsoever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him (Colossians 3:17). If we will allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with the heavenly realm, then the word of Christ will dwell in us and we will view things from the faith perspective and realize that all things are working together for our good. Be certain of this one thing, that whatever situation you find yourself in, God is establishing and building confidence, persistence, faithfulness, and trust.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
About Me
- Carol L
- San Diego area, California, United States
- I started this blog back in 2005, but in 2006 began dedicating it solely for the purpose of posting email messages called, Daily Bread, sent out Monday through Saturday by my pastor, Mark Spitsbergen. These daily emails contain fresh revelation that Mark gets from the Word of God by the Holy Spirit for that day for the church that God has called him to pastor, Abiding Place. 1 Peter 4:11 says, "If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister let him do it as of the ability which God gives that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen." Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, (John 14:6), and He says, "The words that I speak to you are Spirit, and they are Life." (John 6:63). For the Word of God is quick (alive), and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12).
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