Introduction: How can you tell that you have a heart of Gratitude? See if any of these responses reveal you?

1. A Heart of Thanksgiving! (Luke 17:15 -19)“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”

As you know, it just so happened that 10 lepers approached Jesus in order to be healed. But only one came back to “GIVE THANKS”! Look around today, you can see the same response.

2. A Gift of Gratitude! (Mark 14:3)“And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.”

With a heart overflowing with gratitude for “who” Jesus was, and “what” He had done, this woman gives a most generous gift. Will you first give of yourselves to Jesus and then your service to Him?

3. A Posture of Worship & Thanksgiving! (Rev 7:11,12) “And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.”

Introduction: Did you know there is going to be perpetual THANKSGIVING in heaven! 

Every CHRISTian is blood-bought! The blood of Jesus REDEEMS! Are you THANKFUL?

“Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.”

Jesus desires that our THANKSGIVING turn into THANKSLIVING! Are you serving our Lord with the right motives?

“And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.”

This is both a posture and a place where we (blood-bought) CHRISTIANS will spend eternity.

Conclusion: The bottom line: Everyday is THANKSGIVING DAY! Even in heaven we will celebrate THANKSGIVING for Jesus Christ’s SACRIFICIAL GIVING!

Introduction: When you are in a storm give THANKS! When you are on the mountaintop give THANKS. When you are in the valley give THANKS.

Paul wrote to the Thessalonica believers, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Does this really mean in everything give thanks?

“And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

“Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. 10But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.” (Job 2:9-10)

Job faced some of the most difficult days anyone could ever endure. Yet, he did not curse God! Would we do the same?

“They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:”

Truthfully, do you take your blessings for granted? Most of us do. Stop and thank God for His wonderful works.

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Did you notice? “…this is the Will of God.”

Conclusion: Have you given Thanks for your daily bread? Health? Family? Home? Church? Job? Government? Adversity?

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Introduction: God bless America! Lord make America blessable! How should we pray for our country?

Here are some ways we need to pray for America:

1. For Righteousness to reign! (Prov 14:34)

“34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”

Doing those things that please the Lord is mandatory!

2. Don’t forget God! (Psa 9:17)

 “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”

Have we forgotten the God of the Bible? God help us not to forget Your blessings!

3. Check the Foundation for cracks! (Psa 11:3)

“If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

Sin erodes the foundation. America’s foundation is cracked.

Conclusion: America is in need of prayer. Will you pray for our nation?

Introduction: Have you ever felt down? Discouraged? What can you do? How can we stay encouraged in a discouraging world?

Checking out the life and times of David helps us to know what to do in a time of discouragement.

“And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way. So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.”

It was a bad day for David and the men along with their families.

“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”

Even in bad times, our Lord is there with us! Never forget, He promised not to leave us or forsake us. David knew where to turn in troubled times. Do you? Will you?

“And David inquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.”

God’s Word cannot fail. Jesus Christ will prevail. After inquiring of his Lord, he was given a promise. Therefore, he had to trust the Lord. Will we trust the Lord?

Conclusion: Will you follow these steps to get up when you are down? God’s Word was given to us as an example with principles to follow.

Our God is faithful!

Introduction: Why does Jesus save us, and forgive us? Just to take us to heaven when we die – those who trust in Him? The answer is that is not all. We become His children by His “Grace” thru “Faith” to multiply His family with “Good Works.” But how are good works produced?

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath be fore ordained that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2:10)

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath be fore ordained that we should walk in them.”

The word is ποίημα,(poy’-ay-mah). It means a thing made, a work, workmanship. In other words, God made us. But why did He make us?

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.”

Our God made us in order to produce “Good Works”! How does that make you feel? It should create within us a sense of responsibility. After all, there will be a day of accountability – at the JUDGEMENT SEAT of CHRIST (2Cor 5:10).

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

The word “ordain” is προετοιμάζω: (pro-et-oy-mad’-zo). By definition it means to prepare before, or to prepare or appoint beforehand, to predestine. In other words, our Lord is telling us that His purpose for making us a “workmanship” was to produce “Good Works”!

How are you doing?

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

The words “walk in them” are the word “περιπατέω” (per-ee-pat-eh’-o). Breaking it down, it means how we conduct our life, or how we live. In other words, it means lifestyle. It does matter. We are stewards of the Grace of God.

Conclusion: Putting those words together it spells the following: God made us. He placed us in God the Son, Jesus Christ. His intention was that since we were in Christ, we would produce good works, which was His main objective for leaving us here on earth.

Jesus came to earth to live a life without sin and ultimately die for our sins. From there He arose sending His Spirit to live in us and thus produce the GOOD WORKS. And in so doing, that He would be glorified!

A Great Plan from a Great God!

Introduction: Jesus lovingly warned His disciples to pray when things look bad. This is in the context just before He returns in glory and power.

Are you praying about the End Time Events? If not, why not? And if so, how should we pray?

A closer look at the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ help us understand the importance of prayer during the end time of God’s economy.

“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36).

We will all stand before Jesus whether at the Great White Throne Judgment (for unbelievers) or at the Judgment Seat of Christ (for believers).

“Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.”

Does it seem to you the world is at war, whether directly or indirectly? Greed, hate, and selfishness are driving nations against nations. Jesus forewarned us that it would be this way.

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.”

Today CHRISTians are in  the fire stoked by hatred and hostility from the Antichristian governments. Groups claiming to be followers of Jesus are twisting the Scriptures (2 Peter 3:16), and attempting through ungodly laws to force everyone to go along with their views. If anyone objects because of conscience or conviction they will be lambasted, persecuted and perhaps thrown in jail.

But why should we be surprised? Jesus was crucified and all of His disciples were martyred (except John), not including Judas Iscariot who betrayed our Lord. Are we exempt from being lightning rods? The blood of the martyrs runs knee deep down through the centuries. Satan knows his time is short. Therefore, we can expect more to come. Our Lord prewarned us of these days.

Stand strong. Keep fighting the “Good Fight of Faith”! Choose to love and forgive without compromising truth!! Our Lord will bless you.

“Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”

Fear is the opposite of Faith. How can we have Faith if we live in Fear. While we are to FEAR the Lord (Prov 1:7 – reverence), Jesus encouraged us not to fear man. Furthermore, if we are aware of the TIMES explained in the Scriptures, then we should have confidence that our God is in control of the nations, kings, and events to come in the future. Why “fear” when Jesus is “near”? Besides that, why “fear” when Jesus  is “here”!

Are you afraid?

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

Life is short. Eternity is long. Heaven is real. Jesus is coming. Are you ready? Pray.

Introduction: This devotion will be in two parts, the BAD NEWS and then the GOOD NEWS. By the way, the word “Quicken” means to come alive!

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.”

“2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

* What does it mean to be “dead in trespasses and sin”?

The word “trespasses” is παράπτωμα,(par-ap’-to-mah), which means a false step, a trespass: a falling away, lapse, slip, sin. We have all gone astray, like sheep without a shepherd. But the Great Shepherd sought us and bought us!

* What does it mean to “walk according to the prince of the power of the air?”

Who is this? How do we see this playing out today? No doubt this is a description of Satan. Certainly the spirit of Antichrist is prevalent today. He uses this world system which is diametrically opposed to the Will of God. Yet, the Lord is still in control.

* Explain – our “conversation in the lusts of the flesh, by nature children of wrath”?

We were born with a sin nature; we choose to sin against God; i.e. it is our very nature. Go ahead and admit it.

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”

This does not mean just to know “about” Him, but instead to really have a relationship with Him. Do you? First, we have to be born into His family.

“Being conformable unto his death..Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Jesus lived obediently to His Father’s Will, even to the point of death. Are we willing?

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

If Paul had not arrived, then none of us have arrived. Do you agree?

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

The past, present or future can weigh you down. The key to focusing correctly is forgetting the water already under the bridge and looking forward to what is in front of the boat…. to what lies ahead… as the Lord wills.

Are you doing that?

Conclusion: Make it your life’s goal. To Know Jesus & let Him be known!!