GIVING THANKS WITH A GREAT PROFESSION!
Ephesians 5:20
giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Ephesians 5:20 NKJV)
1Thessa5:18
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (I Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV)
###To be thankful :
-is to be grateful,
-Is to be appreciative,
-is expressing fully from our heart the worth of God's virtues & nature with our all.
- to regard the works of the Lord & acknowledge the operation of God's hand
Ps 28:5
Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up. (Psalms 28:5 KJV)
- to enhance His blessings in our lives & affairs by giving glory unto His name.
Mal 2:1-3
And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it. (Malachi 2:1-3 KJV)
WHAT IS THE GREAT PROFESSION ?
-The great profession is faith.
## Giving thanks with faith.
Heb 11:1-6
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
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. (Hebrews 11:1-6 NKJV)
1-Faith is therefore no mere confession,it is a great profession.
Just like every profession has its required skills in order to generate exploits,even so it is with the profession of faith.
Heb 10:23
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) (Hebrews 10:23 KJV)
2-No blessing of God can be delivered without faith.
Heb11:6a
3- Faith is what triggers off performance from heaven
4- your faith is what determines the events of your life.
Heb 4:2-3
For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. (Hebrews 4:2-3 NKJV)
5- It is one thing to have the word,it is another thing to mix it with faith on your inside.
Until that happens,it does not deliver.
-you can't obtain good report, or good testimonies without faith.
Heb11:6
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. (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV)
6- the word of God when mixed with faith provides access to everything that the word promises. Eph 1 :3;ps68:19;ps1:3
Rom 10:10-13,17
For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.
For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:10-13, 17 NKJV)
1 john 5:4
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. (I John 5:4 NKJV)
Gen 1:26,28;ps115:16;john1:12
7- faith is an active living force.
Something that controls your attitude & your actions as you allow the word you have encountered to direct & control you.
WHAT ARE EVIDENCES OF FAITH?
True love for God will always result in genuine love of mankind ,& that is what empowers our faith to produce maximally, & that is what establishes one in the failure proof realm of life because love never fails.
Gal 5:6;1cor13:1-3,8
Lets see Abraham as a case study:
In Gen 12:1-4
God said to Abram ," Get thee out ......to a land that I will show you."
"And so Abram departed ........", because that word from God had taken control of his entire being. If it were mental agreement, he would have sat down first to begin to organise his departure.
But the bible says, "And so Abram departed."
PASTOR! HOW DO I KNOW WHEN FAITH IS AT WORK?
Three things:
1- YOUR ACTION
It is your actions that will tell whether you believe what has been said or not.
james 2:18
But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (James 2:18 NKJV)
The word translated WORKS is ACTION.
-Abraham believed God,so everything God told him to do ,he was on the move immediately.
"Get thee out of thy country",and so Abram departed.
-In Gen 22:2-18
"Take now thy son , thine only son Isaac,whom thou lovest, & get thee into the land of Moriah; & offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
So what is your response to scriptures?
Prov 20:20;
Eph6:1-3
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. (Ephesians 6:1-3 KJV)
Luke6:38
Prov 3:9-10
Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. (Proverbs 3:9-10 KJV)
Mal 3:8
Acts 20:35
You agree , but do nothing about it. That's not faith.
Show me your faith without works & I will show you my faith by my works!
1 Sam 2:3b
“....... For the LORD is the God of knowledge; And by Him actions are weighed. (I Samuel 2:3b NKJV)
God weighs actions! To prove your faith ,your action either betrays or authenticates your claim of faith.
When your action is negative ,it only betrays you before God.
Faith is an active living force that controls its possessor.
It is a living force that controls your mentality.
When you are not according to the word you have heard , you are not in faith!
Abraham said, "I know God can raise up children for me from stones."
And he took Isaac to go & slay him.
That is faith in action!
2- YOUR UTTERANCES
Joshua 1:8
Mark11:24
2 cor 4:13
Let faith be in your mouth! You shall have whatsoever you say.
In the school of faith your tongue draws the conclusion.
One of the laws of the Spirit of life is the law of RIGHT SPEAKING.
And functions according to the content of your heart.
Prov 23:7
LET FAITH BE IN YOUR MOUTH!
3- YOUR OBEDIENCE
The connection between faith & covenant wealth is obedience- WALKING IN OBEDIENCE TO WHAT THE COVENANT DEMANDS.
1 Sam 15:22 obedience is better than sacrifice.
Obedience will always lead to prosperity.
Job 36:11
Isaiah 1:19
Remember , faith is not in confessing it, but in professing it.
Confession is mere talk of the mouth.
Profession is your actual practical commitment & involvement.
Heb 10:23 Holding fast the profession of our faith.......He is faithful that promised.
Profession is your stepping out to work it the way God has commanded it.
John 2:5 says, DO THE WORD!
Faith is it!
It 's our covenant access into kingdom prosperity.
- tithe & tithing
- kingdom demands ( Altar of Sacrifice)
- honoring & giving to parents ( spiritual & biological)
- giving & caring for the poor.
Luke1:45
Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:45 NKJV)
- WHAT SHALL WE DO NOW ?
Giving thanks with great profession
ACT ON HIS WORD WITH TOTAL OBEDIENCE
-Turn to God as your source:
-The word of God is the channel & avenue of God.
-God's word carries God's nature. 2peter1:4
- So engage the word of God now . Do not delay!
Ezekiel 22:30
####Prov 3:27
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. (Proverbs 3:27 KJV)
2chron 9:27
2 chron 25:9
2 Sam 24:24
3John2
2cor 8:9
2 Cor 9:8
Rom 14:23
Phillipians 4:19
Now is the day.
Every day is God's day. The day you get your miracle , is your day.
Gen 8:22
2 chron 20:20b
Let's raise an altar for God sacrificially for our monumental turnaround, restoration, repositioning.
It is a new beginning for the better with speed by His goodness.
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