THANKSGIVING YEAR ROUND

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Have you ever had a friend or acquaintance that gave, what I call airtime, to all that is going wrong in the world? The things mentioned are certainly true, and they are indeed indicative of living in the end times. The biblical comparisons to what God says shall come to pass are becoming reality. But God… (Ps. 71:19; Rom. 5:8; Eph. 2:4)

Let us remember where our focus should be and how a heart set upon praising Jesus Christ can’t help but tell others about Him. Tell of His goodness, mercy, desire to save souls, commune with, and comfort the weary hearted. Lest our focus on all the grief and pain a sin sick world produces, becomes all that we see. Which could lead to anxiety and fretting over circumstances that only God can change. (Heb. 12:2)

So, look to Jesus and faithfully proclaim His power and great love. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…” (Heb. 12:2) Remind the broken hearted that His redeeming blood mends and restores hearts and lives as no other can. Share the power of the Gospel message so that more may be added to the family of God. (Mk. 16:15; Rom. 1:16)

“But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.”

— ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭22‬‬

Both Matthew 9:22 and Luke 8:48 refer to physical healing, yet Jesus repeatedly emphasized the spiritual healing that comes only by genuine faith in Him. “Thy faith hath made thee whole…”

Our wholeness comes from the God who created us for relationship and communion. It does not come from the things, people, prominence, or the positions this world promotes.  Not even the best of circumstances we may experience, can give us the sense of wholeness we can have through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Because circumstantial happiness is only momentary, while our position in Christ is eternal. “And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” (Jn. 17:3)

Faith expressed in Jesus Christ is our only hope. Such faith brings with it eternal salvation and relief from all that weighs us down here on earth. We each must turn to Him and rely on what He has done for us upon the cross, if we are going to experience the gift of redemption and eternal life in His presence. “Now the God of hope full you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Rom. 15:13)

“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.”

God does not deal in generalities. Our holy omnipotent God has a very definite plan and purpose for each of His children. (Jer. 29:11-13) We can know His will and He makes it clear that He desires to reveal it to the humble and seeking heart. (I Chron. 16:11 , Ps. 27:8) So, let us pray specifically and earnestly as we expect a specific answer from our heavenly Father. 

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (Jas. 5:16b)

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Cor. 5:19)

The word of reconciliation would not be possible without the shed blood of Jesus Christ:

The cleansing blood ~ It’s available to whom ever will acknowledge their sinfulness and turn to Jesus Christ by faith.  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.“(1 John 1:9)

The redeeming blood ~  We no longer have to be slaves to sin. Christ has paid the price in blood to buy us from the depravity of sin and hell. No longer are we in the grips of eternal death, which is what God’s holiness required. “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.“ (Galatians 4:4-5)

The life giving blood ~ Not only are we rescued from spiritual death and hell, but the blood of Jesus Christ affords us life eternal, sealed and secure by His indwelling Holy Spirit. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.“ (Romans 6:23)

The blood of hope and restoration ~ Through Christ we have a hope firmly fixed upon the Savior.  Through His Spirit, we may bear His fruit in our life, of peace, joy, strength, and blessings beyond human comprehension. “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.“ (Romans 15:13)

 “And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.”  (Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭47‬-‭48‬)

“But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.” (Matthew 9:22)

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Our wholeness comes from the God who created us for relationship and communion. It does not come from the things, people, prominence, or the positions this world promotes.  Not even the best of circumstances can give us the sense of wholeness we can have through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Because circumstantial happiness is only momentary, while our position in Christ is eternal.

These verses refer to physical healing, yet Jesus repeatedly emphasized the spiritual healing that comes only by genuine faith in Him. Faith expressed in Jesus Christ is our greatest hope and brings with it salvation from all that weighs us down. We each must turn to Him and rely on what He has done for us upon the cross, if we are going to experience the gift of redemption and eternal life in His presence.

(Hebrews 6:17-20)

17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (Heb. 6:17-20)