"Combative Praise"
One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"
"It was great, Dad."
"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.
"Oh yeah," said the son.
"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father. The son answered: "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to
protect us, they have friends to protect them."
The boy’s father was speechless. Then his son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are."
Isn’t perspective a wonderful thing? There is plenty to be thankful for, if you will take the time to look for it, isn't there? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks more often for what we have, instead of worrying about what we don’t have.
Moving Illus. This week, I moved. And one thing moving does, it makes you realize just how much stuff you have and how much stuff you don't need! The moving experience is one that everyone dreads, one that no one wants to do, one that separates friends from acquaintances and one that you are truly thankful when it's over and the last box is stuck back in the next closet, it won't see the light of day until the next time you move!
Hebrews 13:15
15. Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
Everyone knows, that lifting up your hands and thanking God is very easy, when someone has been a blessing to you.
Or when you have been praying for a specific need to be met and the breakthrough comes! Everyone knows the phrase God is good all the time. But it's when you go through something that's not so good, you find out how good God truly is!
If you'll bare with me, even though it may not be theologically correct, I want you to consider something. Even though God never stops doing His job of being God all the time! That doesn't mean there will always be a continual yes' to everything that comes into your mind that you think you want or need. Part of God's being good to all of us, is knowing when to say no! Just like any great loving father would.
It's in those times we need to learn to be thankful and realize that no for now, doesn't always mean no forever...
Psalms 91:9-11 NKJ
9. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10. No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11. For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.
Yes its true, even in the times when things don’t always go our way, we need to be thankful for the no’s, that God throws in the mix and I'll tell you why.
Because He knows the future, more importantly He knows our future, He knows your future! He knows what’s around the corner, He knows what’s coming on the horizon and therefore we can and should trust Him to always do what's in our best interest! Amen?
He knows and the hard thing to realize and accept is, that’s all we need to know! The fact that He knows is enough! But still we always feel like we need to know more! We were created to be inquisitive, but I think everybody knows what Curiosity did to the cat?
Hebrews 11:1-6 MSG
11 1-2 The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.
3 By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see.
4 By an act of faith, Abel brought a better sacrifice to God than Cain. It was what he believed, not what he brought, that made the difference. That’s what God noticed and approved as righteous. After all these centuries, that belief continues to catch our notice.
5-6 By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely. “They looked all over and couldn’t find him because God had taken him.” We know on the basis of reliable testimony that before he was taken “he pleased God.” It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.
TBS. He will open doors that no man can shut and close doors that no man can open.
Sometimes its kind of hard though to not help Him be the doorman, isn't it?
If He says no its in our best interest, so He can say yes to something bigger and better down the road. And His blessings always exceed our expectations, every time!
If you have ever arrived at a God ordained destination that He has directed and steered you to. Then you have probably said to yourself, I never would have expected it to turn out so well and be so wonderful... Only God could've done this!
Its during those times in the between, where the real test of faith and being thankful comes in. It's when you don’t even feel like lifting up your hands to thank and praise God, but you do it anyways and it becomes a sacrifice of praise! And when you are willing to do that, God realizes that you're in the position of faith to receive a great reward!
TBS (The Bible says) His angels go to and fro looking opportunities to keep His word and His promises!
Remember what TBS in Hebrews 11:6 NKJ
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
It doesn't say that "He" offers "a" reward to those who diligently seek him! Because if it said it that way, it would mean that it was a one time reward!
What it says is, that "He" is a rewarder. When were in the position of diligently seeking Him! It's continual, it's something that he does over and over and over! It's for a lifetime and He never gets tired of rewarding diligent praise! Praise God for His faithfulness towards his children!!!
There may even be times when your body doesn't want to and sometimes refuses to cooperate with your mind. I call it combative praise, where the mind defeats the body and the accuser and says;
"In the name of Jesus you're going to be healed wether you like it or not , Praise God!"
There will be times when you will have to fight for your miracle, not with God but with yourself! "The Word Declares" that’s where the diligence of faith and praise is, it's rewarded.
1 Thess. 5:16-20 NKJ
16. Rejoice always,
17. pray without ceasing,
18. in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19. Do not quench the Spirit.
20. Do not despise prophecies.
21. Test all things; hold fast what is good.
22. Abstain from every form of evil.
Rejoice always?, "this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
It also says to pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks, how is that possible?
We read about it earlier, by diligently seeking the things of God and having faith that He will do what He has promised He will do!
When you are willing to trust God and truly have and develop a "relationship with Him" through His Son Jesus! That's when you enter into what the word calls "The peace that passes all understanding."
It's when you know that you know that you know and you realize that's enough. And that's all you need to know!
Philippians 4:6,7 NKJ
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus
Philippians 4:6-9 MSG
6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
8-9 Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies
"Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies."
*Things like working on your behalf, on things coming down the pike that you don‘t even have a clue about,
*Helping you live the life He has always had planned for you
*Getting you ready for the blessings that God already has prepared for you,
*Not only prepared, but Getting you in the position to receive them as well!
Its in those times you learn to trust and realize that what God has planned for you, is always better than any plans you may have for you!
*That’s when you open your mouth and begin to praise Him even though you really don’t feel like doing it.
*That’s when you praise Him and thank Him, that He is your righteousness in spite of everything else that is happening around you.
*That’s when your diligence of thanksgiving becomes a sweet fragrance of praise and its reward is released and the breakthrough comes,
Your praise and thanksgiving during such times moves God to action!
In other words "when your in the valley and you know it's ok, because you know there is nothing to fear!"
And when you choose to thank Him for His Favor, Mercy, and unfailing love, no matter what happens, you will find yourself experiencing and enjoying the extravagant blessings, That He has been waiting on you to get ready to receive, Praise God!
Illus. By Michael Belcher
Two men were walking through a field one day when they spotted an enraged bull. Instantly they darted toward the nearest fence. The storming bull followed in hot pursuit, and it was soon apparent they wouldn’t make it. Terrified, the one shouted to the other, "Put up a prayer, John. We’re in for it!" John answered, "I can’t. I’ve never made a public prayer in my life." "But you must!" implored his companion. "The bull is catching up to us." "All right," panted John, "I’ll say the only prayer I know, the one my father used to repeat at the table: ’O Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful.’"
While we may laugh, it is truly a continual prayer we should offer to God on a nonstop basis! Because God stands by ready to bless and take care of us the same way, on a nonstop basis!
Psalms 23:1-6 the Voice
1 The Eternal is my shepherd, He cares for me always.
2 He provides me rest in rich, green fields
beside streams of refreshing water.
He soothes my fears;
3 He makes me whole again,
steering me off worn, hard paths
to roads where truth and righteousness echo His name.
4 Even in the unending shadows of death’s darkness,
I am not overcome by fear.
Because You are with me in those dark moments,
near with Your protection and guidance,
I am comforted.
5 You spread out a table before me,
provisions in the midst of attack from my enemies;
You care for all my needs, anointing my head with soothing, fragrant oil,
filling my cup again and again with Your grace.
6 Certainly Your faithful protection and loving provision will pursue me
where I go, always, everywhere.
I will always be with the Eternal,
in Your house forever.
God is Good, is and understatement!
What a fantastic, caring loving God we have the privilege of knowing and serving!
Do you know Him today? Are you serving Him today?
Are you living a life worthy of His reward?
I'm reminded of two questions that will determine what a persons life holds for all of humanity.
How much do you want out of life?
How much do you want of God?
The second one always determines the first!
Amen?
Lets pray!
