Think and Thanks!

 

The Bible has much to say about expressing gratitude unto the Lord by having a heart full of thinks giving and expressing that gratitude verbally unto the Lord. The Bible also tells us that we are to enter His gates with praise and thanksgiving.  All through out the Bible the Word of God demands and commands that men, women, boys and girls be thankful to God for all things good, and bad.

 

2 Samuel 22:50 King James Version

50.  Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.

 

I Chronicles 16:8 King James Version

8.  Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.

 

I Chronicles 16:34 King James Version

34.  O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

 

I Chronicles 16:34 King James Version

35.  And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise.

 

 Psalms 100:4 King James Version

 4.  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

 

Psalms 100:4 King James Version tells us that we are to enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise.  This is a very popular scripture in the body of Christ.  Most people who do not normally memorize scriptures, will know John 3:16 and Psalms 100:4 Yet often sometime when I go to visit different churches to observe the people as an Evangelist, I will often notice or find most of the people in the services are sitting on the pews are not being thankful.  Many times, these people are just sitting while emotional stirring movement of the Holy Ghost is rushing across the church, yet some of these people will just sit in their seats with a dead emotional look on their faces as if to say, “I am bore with this service, and it does not take all of that!”  God has done nothing for me that I should say thank you for in their action or lack of action, and we know that actions speak louder than words. 

 

I want to break this expression down, “give thanks”. I believe that we can learn so much about God when we break words down, because we have learn and been taught in the Bible, contrary to what many, others may think, sticks and stones will break your bones and words do harms us, because our words have so much power and meaning.  We as true believers have learned that words are spiritual and even affect us internally, even though we cannot see words, yet we can feel words.  Words can make you feel good on the inside, but word can take the very life out of you if they are word of hate.  In addition, we know that Jesus is the Word made flesh, to understand Jesus I must understand what certain words mean in the Bible.  This is why teaching the Word of God in the Body of Christ is so important.

To “give” means to turn over the possession, ownership or control of, to someone without cost. God gave us Jesus to die for our sins and it cost us nothing. To give is an act of trusting the person I am giving to.  If I do not trust you, I will not give to you. If I give thanks then I am trusting God that He will do what His says He will do and I am giving God thanks without a cost.

 

To give thanks is to “think”!  I was amaze and surprise, when I looked up the   word “thanks” and saw one of the definitions, “to thank” is “to think”. Suddenly, I realize what the mothers, in what we call traditional churches, were talking about, strong mighty women of God, would testify to us in testimony service, “when I think of the goodness of Jesus and all that He has done for me my soul cries out hallelujah I praise and thank God for saving me.”  When I consider all that God had brought me through and out of during the year 2009, I thank Him. I then said to the Lord, people do not  desire to give you “thanks,” because they do not “think.” If people were to “think” back, or just “think” they would see, that it was you who was there guiding, protecting, providing saving loving on them, during the year of 2009 and they would have an overwhelm driving emotional desire to  thank you.   

 

 

Romans 12:2 King James Version

2.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

“Think!”

Ephesians 4:23 King James Version

 

23.  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

 

“Think!”

 

 

Alternatively, have you ever had your mother or someone to tell you to think! My mom did, I would be struggling with a math problem, late at night, brain done went to bed, and my Mom would say I am not going to help you with this one, Debbie think!  God is telling us to think! Then we will thank Him. The thanks is in the thinking. Listen to what the Psalmist says.

 

Psalms 8

 

 1.  O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

 2.  Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

 3.  When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

 4.  What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

 5.  For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

 6.  Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

 7.  All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

 8.  The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

 9.  O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

 

 

The Psalmist begins to “consider”, he is thinking, he sees how the glory, magnificence, and beauty of God’ creation fills the earth and overflows into the heavens in the sky.  I remember when I was station on the Island of Oahu in Hawaii, when I was in the Navy. There was a group of very steep and real high mountains, line in a row call the Pyle Look Out. This mountain was at least about thousands feet about sea level; the view from the cliff was breath taking.  I have never seen anything so beautiful in my life looking at the valley blending into the ocean. The wind was so furious and powerful, legend was that King Kamayamaya was fighting an army on the cliffs there and when his army pushed their enemies off the cliff, the locals stated that, the wind was so powerful that it was able to lift the men from the opposing army and blew them back up on to the cliff. I believe this, my eyes beholding such beauty, looking at how the different blues from the shore to the deep parts of the ocean blended in with the blue of the sky, and looking out further, you could see the outer islands; it made me “think”, so I thanked God for creating such beauty.  It was in Hawaii that I began my search for the Lord Jesus redeeming feature.

 

I was not a Christian then, but I knew someone created that spectacular view of grace and majesty. The “considering” the age of the world and creation, we are just babies yet God has given us power in the name of Jesus. Our holy living is what will shame our enemies.  When looking up into the night sky and seeing twinkling stars, we are looking at the handiwork of God, should makes you “think” to say thanks. Seeing the wonder of nature  everyday, we must “think” how could God even considered puny mere man, why would God come in the flesh and dwell amongst us, we must “think”  about how Jesus die, we must think about how He brought us out of sin and “thank” Him. People are thinking about the wrong things today, they are considering things, which just does not matter.

 

Think! God has made us little lower than the angels, and has placed a crown of glory and honor upon his head. Crown means, through the death of Jesus He has put the final addition to His creation of Man. That’s is one of the definitions of the word “crown” it also means to put a finishing touch on someone or something. You are a crown of glory, you are the finishing touch of God’s brilliance and splendor. God out did Himself when He created you.  God is not going to let Satan destroy you, He has invested too much in you, through his son Jesus Christ, you need to “think” about that then you will be able to praise him. I still cannot get over the fact that the word “thanks” is a synonym of think! 

 

Ok Lord you are telling me that my thinking is hindering my thanking. I then came to realize as I was studying about the word “thanks” what the mothers in the church, would, say, “when I “think” on the goodness of Jesus and all that he has done for me my soul cries out, Hallelujah “thank” God for saving me.”

 

Colossians explains to us in details why we should “think” and “thank”

 

Colossians 3

1.  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

 2.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

 3.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

 4.  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

 5.  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

 6.  For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

 7.  In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

 8. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

Think!

 

9.  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10.  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

 

Think!

 

11.  Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12.  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13.  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14.  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

 

Think!

 

16.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

 17.  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

 18.  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

 19.  Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

 20.  Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

 21.  Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

 22.  Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

 23.  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

 24.  Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

 25.  But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

 

I feel in my spirit that God is saying, He would like us to give thanks, for salvation instead of things all the time. I do not “think” we really have stop, and thought about exactly what He has given us through Jesus. Lord I want to understand teach me, so I can think about this then say thank you, for it.

 

 

 

 

Colossian 1:3 King James Version

 3.  We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

We give thanks to God  Why?    He is the Father of  our Lord Jesus Christ

 

 

Colossian 1: 12-13 King James Version

12.  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13.  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

 

Giving thanks unto the Father, why? Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: Think!

Translated meaning God move us from one position to another, he change us from one place to another, hell bound to heaven bound. God place us in a position where we spiritually will not see death but heaven, now I want you to think about all of this, that I am conveying to you.

 

 

 

 

 

Colossians 1:21-24 King James Version

 

 21.  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

 22.  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

 23.  If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

 24.  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

 

Paul is reminding us why we should be thankful, and he is telling us what we have in Christ Jesus, think! Think of what you where before God saved you. Remember how life was hell until God brought you out.

 

Colossians 2:6-7 King James Version

6.  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

7. Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

 

Colossians 4:2 King James Version

2.  Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

 

Matthew 22:2 King James Version

42.  Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.

 

Chapter 3

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

2 Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.

3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

4 When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.

5  Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry. 3

6 Because of these the wrath of God 4 is coming (upon the disobedient).

7 By these you too once conducted yourselves, when you lived in that way.

8 But now you must put them all away:  anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths.

9 Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices

10  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator.

11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian,  slave, free; but Christ is all and in all.

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,

13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.

14 And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.

15 And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

 

Give Thanks! In order to give thanks, I must trust, trust is faith and hope. I must have this in order to give, if I just stop and think of the goodness of Jesus I will thank Him. Lord I must know more explain to me.

 

Hebrews 10:11-16 King James Version

 

11.  And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

 12.  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

 13.  From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

 14.  For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

 15.  Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

 16.  This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

 

Thank you Father for giving us your Son Jesus

Thank you Father for the sacrifice you offered for all not just some.

Thank you Father for Jesus obedient, even to the cross.

Thank you Father for setting us apart from the world of the lost

Thank you, Father for not remembering our sins.

Thank you Father for putting your laws into our hearts and in our minds so we can win.

Thank you Father for allowing us to enter into the Holies of Holies by the blood of Jesus Christ your Son, so we can come to you humbly, yet boldly.

 

Thinking is just recalling knowledge from memory, “When I think of the goodness of Jesus all he has done for me my soul cries out hallelujah I thank God for saving me.” To think, I can remember pass mercy and grace. Call up memories when the Lord brought me through. Do you not know man is the only one of God’s creations that can think? 

 

It is when we think that we can thank God, express gratitude or show the Lord appreciation. When we think of the goodness of Jesus, we will have positive emotion and attitude in acknowledgement of all the benefits that the Lord has bestow up us who believe in him. For the month of November let us reflect on the goodness of Jesus then our soul will shout hallelujah thank God for saving me.

 

Thank you Father