The Power of Thanksgiving

This is the Truth Network. Welcome to Truth Talk Live. All right. Let's talk the truth, Niger. I can't hide it.

A daily program powered by the Truth Network. This is kind of a great thing, and I'll tell you what. Where pop culture, current events, and theology all come together. Speak your mind. And now, here's today's Truth Talk Live host.

The importance of giving thanks to God. Hello, I'm Dr. Gregg Hennett, host of Until He Comes with Doctor Gregg Hennett, and I'm your guest host today on Truth Talk Live.

Now, during our program, we want to hear from you. Yes, you. Please call us at 1-866-348-7884. As we delve into this most important topic.

Now, let me clarify. I'm not talking about The American Uh festival. The fall festival of Thanksgiving. That's a wonderful thing. I'm talking about the Christian.

That is you. Learning how to give thanks in every circumstance of life and what this does for you. And for the honor of God. You know, thanksgiving is a command, it's not a suggestion. We're told in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 by the most experienced and outstanding Christian of the age, the Apostle Paul.

In everything, give thanks, because This is the will of God. In Christ Jesus concerning you. You know, this statement is so important because here we have, and I think this is typical of many scriptures, both in the Old and New Testament. God gives us a command. And then he gives us An explanation behind the command.

You know, he could just say to us, I'm Almighty God, and do what I say. And of course, that would be a very convincing argument. But in his love, he wants us to understand why he wants us To obey a particular command.

Now, in this case, The first part of this Very important text. 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 18 says, In everything give thanks. This is the command. Then, for this is the will of God is God's explanation. Let's look at the first part of this statement.

In everything, give thanks. Everything is an all inclusive term. Nothing escapes its grasp and its reach, its purview. And God says in Everything gives thanks.

Now, you know, my friend, you'll agree, I'm sure, that it's not hard to give thanks in a blessing. When you're prospering and thriving, everything is going your way. Hallelujahs The sky is blue, the sun is shining, and the enemy is not raining adversity on your life. It's easy to give thanks then. But what do you do when you've got a report that you've got cancer?

What do you do when you're Child. Suddenly, his Is that a bad accident? had a failure experience. What do you do when The money in your bank account just doesn't cover the bills. My friend, in that situation, hear me, in it.

Give God thanks. This is the command. In that situation.

Some of us want to wait till it's over. You know, Lord, just bless me now, get me out of this situation. And I promise, I promise, I promise, I promise. I'll give you thanks then. How many of those vows have been made but not kept?

So, what I'm talking about today is radically different in everything. Give thanks. In the situation, Paul gave thanks. in the Philippian jail, and I'll tell you why he did it, my friend. He had already formed.

the habit of Thanksgiving long before that um dreadful day. And when he was down in that stinking, filthy, dark, dungeon, and oh, my goodness, you cannot imagine How terrible it was and his back was ripped open. He had been either caned or Uh lashed with a whip. And his back was lacerated, he was in terrible pain. No first aid had been administered.

They didn't do that to a prisoner. He was in the stocks, he and Sallas, so I'm going to include Sallas. as I give him honour. He and Salas were in the stocks, and this meant that your legs were placed in a certain position. held in by wood or chains, And it was uncomfortable and painful.

You couldn't move?

So if you went to the bathroom, you did so right where you were. And this was the condition this man was in. I think it's fair to say it's the worst possible condition you could be in. Barring death, And of course, for the Christian, that's not a bad situation. We just go.

right into the arms of Jesus. to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord. But there in that terribly low, dark, seemingly Godforsaken moment, But Paul knew God was with him. He and Silas began to raised their hands, and pray And give thanks to God. Oh, my goodness.

Oh my goodness, he was receiving a double. Doctorate. in the overcoming life. And therefore, God shook that place and released him. and set an example for the ages.

In everything give thanks.

Now, everything means, as I said earlier, every possible situation of life. The good, the bad, and the In between. And as I also stated, it's easy to thank the Lord when things go your way. It's difficult. to thank him.

When things go Just the opposite.

Now don't forget as we're having this chat today? I want you to join us. Calling us at one eight six six three four eight seven eight eight four. And Asking a question that you have had about Thanksgiving or some related issue, praise, worship. singing unto the Lord, or complaining in discontent.

which is the obverse side of this subject.

So they began to praise the Lord, and the Lord set them free. In everything, give thanks, every possible situation of life. If you will commit to this, my friend, And make it a spiritual discipline in your life. I promise you this. I absolutely promise you this.

It will transform Your attitude and your character. And when your attitude and character are transformed, let me tell you, your life will be transformed. And Others around you will be Infected. For good? And their labs will also be changed, and Christ will be pleased.

So take this. New Testament command to heart. In everything give thanks.

Now that thanksgiving can be, of course, it can be internal and silent, and you look up in your heart and say, Thank you, Lord. It can be quiet on your lips. In everything give thanks.

And it also can be Well, it can be exuberant. When you praise the Lord. and exalt him. And exult before him. And you Have a big time rejoicing.

Oh, that's wonderful. You know, sometimes when I'm blessed in a special way, I Take time. Alone. Praise and worship and thank the Lord. Sing to him.

I may lay prostrate on the Floor. In silent awe of him, but I'm returning to him thanks. In the situation. be it good or bad.

Now, in everything you think is the commander, what about the Explanation For meaning because, This is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. What do I mean by that?

Well This meaning Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is God's will. And to take that a step further, the Christian who is habitually thanking God is. the will of God incarnate. Just as Christ was the Word of God incarnate, you, my friend, Yes, you you're listening to me now.

You are the will of God incarnate as you live a life of thanking God in every situation. This is a transformative truth, if you put it into practice.

Now, this also. has us another meeting. Uh it also means This situation This situation that's touched your life. It also is the will of God. How can I tell?

Because he's controlling everything in your life. Nothing touches your life. Unless it comes. from the hand of your loving Heavenly Father. He is in control of everything and if you stay Trusting and obedient, he will turn it.

For your good.

Now, we're going to come back and talk about this in just a minute. Please call us here at Truth Network. It's 866-348-7884 with your questions about Thanksgiving. Truth Talk Live. You're listening to the Truth Network and TruthNetwork.com.

The importance of giving thanks to God. That is our subject on Truth Talk Live, and I'm your guest host, Dr. Greg Hennett. And my podcast is Until He Comes with Dr. Greg Henna.

This is a blend of practical and prophetic. Biblical instruction. to prepare you for For the second coming of Christ, which is drawing nearer. Very near. The sands of the times were abundant, And Christ is soon to awaken his church, as he foretold in the parable of the ten bridesmaids.

And when he does, every Christian on the planet will be aware that Christ is really coming this time. He's coming soon. And each of us has two. trim the lamps of our hearts, build a close walk with Christ, Go through our testing process so we'll be ready. when our beloved, the bridegroom, comes to take away is purified Taught Tested, Transformed Rod.

Now, our topic today is Thanksgiving, and I can think of no more central. Same. to bear on Christian maturity in preparing the bride.

Now, as we're talking, you be sure to call us at one eight six six three four eight seven eight eight four with your questions related to thanksgiving or praise or worship. singing unto the Lord, or, on the other side of that, complaining. mean discontent, etcetera.

Now continuing where we left off. Our text is 1 Thessalonians 5:18, which says, In everything give thanks, because this is. The will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Now we said that this. represents Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is his will, and by the way, that means any time you begin to thank God in your situation, no matter how bad, and no matter how perhaps bad your failures have been in the last few minutes, or hours, or days, or months, or years, When you begin to give thanks, you begin To get back into the center of the will of God. You begin to move from Your Your plan. into God's order.

If you're listening to me today. and you're in trouble or Your spirit is in trouble because you're discouraged. You're offended with God. Wondering, why did you do this, Lord? Why did you allow this, Lord?

Let me encourage you. The way back. is Thanksgiving. The way home is give him thanks. And that will take you all the way.

to our True horn. the kingdom of God.

Now, the second part of this statement, in everything you think this is the will of God, means this circumstance. This situation. Whatever situation touches your life, comes from the hand. Of your loving Heavenly Father, who is omnipotent, controlling all. What you can control, you should control, but what is beyond your control.

He controls. Think about that. Everything? Yes. Everything.

Every single thing that touches your life. Every phone call, Every circumstance Every person you meet. every situation you're introduced into. Every test that you're overtaken by, it comes from his hand.

Now, you know, when it's a blessing, as I stated earlier, you don't need a theologian or Bible expositor such as myself to explain the situation to you. You're just blessed naturally. Things have gone your way. Your heart's desire has been given But then you should give thanks in that hour.

So you don't Get puffed up with pride and take credit to yourself. And forget God. It's easy to do. But when everything's going against you and you give thanks to him, it is an immense. Growth mark in your life as a Christian.

You are maturing when you begin to do this, and as I said earlier, when you make a habit of it. And it is most pleasing to God because you're being obedient. And You can say, How can I, doctor Hannett, give thanks when some terrible adversity strikes my life, something which from every angle that I see it is only dark. satanic and evil. How can I give thanks in it?

Well, look at Job, my friend. Job was a man blessed beyond measure. He was unique in that he was both God's most materially blessed man on earth, And also, The most spiritually mat mature man on earth Oh, my goodness Oh my goodness. And so you know the story, you read in Job chapter 1, ending Job chapter 2. Twice God drew Satan's attention to Job.

Now I'll repeat that. God. started it. By Calling to Satan's attention this man Job. Immediately Satan challenged him and said, You know, if If you just touch this man's blessings, He'll curse you and that is, he'll break a relationship with you in a minute, God.

And, you know. And then he went on to say, that's got Does does Job Serve God. For nothing. Ah, the devil's always insulting God. And he wants to use your life and mine.

to prove that his insults are correct. You see, he was challenging God and saying to God, You know, the only reason Job pays any attention to you. is for what you give him. In other words, you're not worth praising for yourself. Jub doesn't truly love You?

He only loves what he hopes to get from you.

So God, you know, being the divine competitor that he is, said, game on. He said have at him But you cannot touch his person. Later in the test recorded in the second chapter. He said um You can touch his person, but you cannot take his life.

So we see the precise control of God. Over. Job's life, and he's a type of the righteous. He's the type of the born again Christian today. God's care was specific and minute.

Satan did everything he could against Job, but he had to stop. Where God told him to. He could not pass that barrier.

Now, in both situations, Job's response was. Wonderful. The Lord gave and the Lord is taken away. Blessed be the name. of the Lord.

And he fell down and worshipped God. What a awesome picture. of what we should do when adverse circumstances strike our life.

So there We learn that even those adverse circumstances came from God.

Now, when you fast forward to the end of the story, we see Job repenting of the pride that arose in his heart when he began to complain about God. He had been in the spirit up till that point, and then he turned aside and began to walk in the flesh, and had quite an epic argument with his three friends, who had become his worst critics. But when he repented of that pride of justifying himself instead of justifying God, Immediately he was forgiven. Immediately God then turned to his three fins and humbled them. and said, Go to Job, Mm-hmm.

He will pray for you and then I'll forgive you. They did. And he did. And we came to the end of the story. And God forgave Job, and he turned his captivity.

when he prayed for his friends, and he gave him twice as much as we had as he had before. And then he goes on to talk about Job's family being restored. And he ends by saying he lived a hundred and forty more years. What a wonderful end of story. What did God do in this story?

And I'm going to throw this in too. We're told in chapter three that Job had had a prolific effective ministry, wide and effective prior to His great great test. He had obviously been through many other tests before that as well, because we know God said he's a perfect and an upright man, one who fears God and eschews evil. That, my friend, cannot be said of an untested. Person.

So Job had already gone through test prior to this Great story. And then he went through this terrible test. Oh, my goodness This terrible test involving all his possessions, all his relationships. his friends, even his wife, who turned on him in the midst of it and said, Curse God and die.

So, we're going to come back in a minute and talk about Job a little bit more and why it's so important for you to, in everything, give thanks. Truth Talk Live You're listening to the Truth Network and truthnetwork.com. The importance of giving thanks to God. That is our subject today on Truth Talk Live. I am your guest host, Dr.

Greg Hennett, host of Until he comes with Dr. Hennett, a Blend of prophetic and practical instruction to prepare you for the second coming of Christ.

Now, we have a couple of callers on the line here before we get them on the phone. I just want to add to the point we were previously making that Job, when he emerged from his Great Crucible. In Job 42, came out. a much better man.

So we see in this Story, this epic biblical account that God took his best man. Took him through the worst adversities and made him a better man and, I believe, a better minister.

So, with that said, Let's start. First, talk to Edie in Salisbury, North Carolina. Edie, you are on Truth Talk Live. What is your question, ma'am? My question is, how can someone encourage others to thank God in all things when everything really seems to be falling apart and they're really discouraged?

Oh, that's an excellent question, Edie. And this is how. This is a good question. Because as believers, we kind of have to see our way through. We have to grab onto something that's.

You know, that gives us hope.

So I would say you should direct them to Romans eight. twenty eight and twenty nine.

Now, Romans 8.28 You almost know it by heart. We know God causes all things to work together for good to those who are called according to his purpose, that means they are responding obediently to the call of God. And who love God. And to love God means you obey Him. you're obeying him at that moment.

In your life.

So, when great adversities come in that are dark and mean-spirited, and you know the people who are involved, perhaps, if there are people involved, they certainly mean you no good. That's when the believer needs to look higher. from the carnal to the spiritual man and remember, wait a minute, Wait a minute. This isn't a good thing. This is unfair.

This is injurious. This is cruel. This is unjust. But... My Father in heaven, who sent it, who permitted it, as in the case of Job.

He is going to turn it. For some good purpose.

Now, you know, your name is Edie, is that correct? Yes. Well, I'm going to say, Edie, there's two good that are. involved here. And uh the first good is the will of God.

We're all here to serve God's will, and His will comes first.

So, the first thing that God is working toward in the adversity He sends into your life is that He's going to bring something good for His honor and His glory. You know, in the Bible, there's never a situation, not even one, where God raised up a strong character and did not put Him or her through great adversity.

So, Adversity is the path to glory. Adversity is the path to kingdom fruitfulness. Adversity is the path to power. Would you agree? Yes, I would.

Have you known situations like that and people like that? Um yes, I have.

Well, you know, they're all around us, but sometimes you don't notice it.

So that's the first thing. He's going to turn this evil into something good. We see in the case of Joseph, he said to his brothers, you know. You meant it evil, but what? Can you remember that verse?

God, what? A minute Unto good. And so, of course, those are two correlating texts: Genesis 50, verse 20. Which I just quoted in Romans 8:28.

So if you can tell your friend who is in great adversity, hey, look, brother, sister, I don't know what God's up to ultimately, but I know He's going to turn it for good. It's not good, but He's going to turn it. And He's going to work it together with other circumstances.

So when we look at our life, it's sort of a mosaic. Or as Dr. Dwayne Carson has given the example of making chocolate chip cookies. There are sweet things involved, and there's some things which are not so sweet. But when it all comes out, it's delicious.

So, I don't know if you're a cookie maker. Are you a cookie maker, Edie? Um, no, but I eat them. Then you qualify. You qualify.

You sound like a fine, strong Christian, Edie.

So and let's let's complete this point by saying that Romans eight, twenty nine connects with 28. And sometimes we forget that. Which says For whom he did foreknow. He did also predestinate, meaning to mark out one's path beforehand. To Predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son.

So, the first thing God is doing by sending adverse circumstances into our life as we respond with trust and obedience and humility and submission, in that process, he is molding us like a potter has the clay on the wheel down in Seagrove, North Carolina, and He's molding us into the image of His Son Jesus.

So, you know, He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. How can we be like him if we don't have anything that goes against us?

So this is a powerful encouragement to any friend you may be you may have you know be referring to. Encourage them. God will turn it for good. It doesn't look good now, but he'll put it with other s circumstances, and it will come out for the good. Of you being conformed to the image of Christ, if you just stay surrendered and go through the process, Edie encouraged them to not quit, to go through the process, to endure.

If there's one thing I know, in these last days. Luke eighteen, one through eight tells us that Jesus is looking for enduring faith. You know? You remember there about the woman who kept coming to the judge? Mhm.

Yeah, yes. She had an injustice, didn't she? Yes. She said, you know, avenge me of my adversary.

So she clearly had an injustice. And so Jesus said, and shall not God? First of all, he said, Hear what the unjust judge said. And the unjust said, Judge, the unjust judge said, I'm going to help this woman because she's driving me crazy.

So I don't think he was too compassionate, do you? No, he could have cared less, but. But Jesus said Hear what the unjust judge said. And. shall not God that is making the contrast.

Shall not God who is totally unlike that guy. He's not like that unjust jest. Shall a God... avenge his own elect, that is, his own dear ones, his own family. who cry unto him day and night, that is the prayer warriors.

I tell you, he will avenge them speedily. That is, when his time comes, He will act swiftly. And then he adds, But when the Son of Man comes, shall he find faith On the earth.

Now, Edie, what he means there is this kind of faith, this enduring faith.

So you can say to your friends, say, Hey, look, you're going through this situation. Be of good cheer, stay close to Christ, and don't quit. Because God is developing in you what He wants most in this hour, enduring faith. And that enduring faith. is going to trust.

That, whatever transpires, I know the character of God, I know the nature of God. And my loving Heavenly Father has allowed this. be it cruel or unjust, whatever it is. For some good purpose.

He's making me like his son. He's making me like his son. That'll encourage him. Do you think that'll help? I think that's great advice.

Well, sounds like you're a strong Christian. Edie, keep walking with the Lord. God bless you. We have another caller on the phone, Jamal from Winston-Salem. Jamal, you're on, young man.

Well, thank you for accepting my call, Dr. Pastor Hennett. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Glad to.

What's on your mind, Jabal? I know you're a thinking young man.

Well, I I try. I I gotta work on uh Thinking about things in a more biblical base and not in a carnal manner. alluded to earlier. Yes, sir. And by the way and by the way, Jamal Jamal, that's what he's working with all of us on.

He's trying the the Holy Spirit is working in the church to get Christians to stop thinking naturally or worldly. With our carnal region, and see every such situation through God. And my friend, this text that we've just been giving today, and everything you think, this is the will of God, is one of the primary ways we see God. In our circumstances, he's already there. But to be converted from carnal to spiritual thinking, this text helps us see God in this circumstance.

So go ahead, young man. Oh, yeah, yeah. Very, very good comments. I'll also recall in the opening about Kristen complaining. Yes.

So uh One of my complaints is Do Christians complain? Do any Christians you know complain, Jamal? Do you have complaining Christians in your life? Yeah, unfortunately, and I am also one of them. We all have.

We all have. That's another reason. Yeah, most definitely. That's another reason why I'm calling. Uh you know, just to kind of Air out some of my complaints and see if anybody else can reconcile some of their complaints with.

You know, me airing out some of mine. Yes. And it also some other complaints that I've heard along the way as well. Yes. So uh for instance Somebody.

has complained about um Well I'm not where I want to be. I don't have that million-dollar job in the corner office. Uh my car is beat up. you know, so on and so forth. Politics complaining about that.

Uh complaining about uh familial issues. Um Yeah. And I don't want to look down on some of these quote-unquote complaints. That's true.

However, This is again a kind of a carnal, fleshly, just kind of horizontal kind of perspective. Yes, it is a horizontal look of things rather than looking vertical, looking up. Yeah, it's ignoring revelation, right. Yeah, exactly. And Stu brought this up at Windsay in the Word Before Thanksgiving, about the guy who was.

Now, you're referring to Stuart Epperson. Are you referring to Stuart Epperson Jr.? I am a fantastic. Yes, sir. Yeah, the the big guy himself.

Yep. And he read a passage about a guy who was robbed. Oh. And he said, well,. Is is is the break coming up?

I can't hear the music. Yes. I'm sorry, I think we got cut off here for a second. There we go. I can hear you.

Are you still on? There we go. Uh-huh. Yep, yep, oh yeah. See, uh, the guy was saying, Well, I got robbed today, but Thank goodness I wasn't the guy who was on the robbing.

There we go. He was quoting. He was quoting. Yeah, he was quoting the learned and spiritually minded Reverend and Bible scholar Matthew Henry. There you go.

There you go. And the guy said, well, he got a little bit. Thank goodness he didn't get a lot. Yeah, he lobbied me, but he didn't take my life. Hey, that's right.

Those are just a few things, just to kind of keep in perspective when we, myself included, start complaining.

Okay, well, am I still alive? Yeah, that's true. I'm still alive. Then the scan goes, and God can still use me. I can still bounce back to me.

And I'll have bottom days after that. Exce excellent. mister Wumble, are you saying, then, that there is always something to give thanks for even in the darkest situation? That's what I'm saying. That's all through the scripture, and this is one of his favorite scriptures.

And everything gives thanks. Absolutely, absolutely. And I want to say this is a key point that you just brought up. A Christian who forms the habit of thanksgiving, I guarantee you, they will find something to thank God for. And Matthew Henry is giving a perfect example.

On the other hand, a Christian who has not formed a habit of thanksgiving, Is going to find something because they're going to be a complainer, complaining comes naturally to us, they're going to find something to complain about. And the more they do it, the more they complain about it.

Well, we're going to come back talking about this. Thank you, Jamal. We're going to come back talking about this subject. And God bless you. We appreciate you calling Truth Talk Live.

We'll be back in just a minute to discuss more on the importance of giving thanks to God. Truth talk. You're listening to the Truth Network and TruthNetwork.com. The importance of giving thanks to God, and I will add at all times and in every circumstance, that's our subject today on Truth Talk Live. I am your guest host, Dr.

Greg Hennett. Host of Until He Comes. With Dr. Greg Hennett, which is a blend of prophetic and practical biblical teaching. aimed at preparing you and every other Christian on this planet, for the soon coming of Jesus Christ.

Now we have a caller. Buxman from Dayton, Ohio. Buxman, you're on Truth Talk Live. What is your question, sir?

Well, I was going to make a comment. Nice to meet you, Greg. Good to meet you. Welcome to Truth Talk Live. Thank you, sir.

I'm a regular caller and love calling into this program. I learned so much and. Everybody at True Talk is just so wonderful, and they know the word. It's great. It's refreshing.

It's refreshing, praise God. Yes, sir. I'm glad. Yes, sir. Thank you.

Here was my my observance from uh our topic today is um the fact that I think mainly in America Greg. The idea of Christian means Things are going to go well for me now. Things are going to go good. God's going to help me with my. personal life choices and such.

But then when I look at Christians around the globe, especially like in Nigeria and in parts of the Sudan, and how these dear saints are putting on their tents where they meet and worship the Lord Jesus Christ, they put a sign out, Greg, that says this. Um If you become Christian Prepare to be killed. And that's what it says. It says, prepare to be killed. Oh, yes.

We don't experience that. At all in the Western world, I think. And I think we kind of lose track. That Jesus said. To pick up your cross.

Wait a minute. Whose cross? Whose cross? Our cross, isn't it?

Well, he picked his up. Yes, he did. We have to pick up our cross. All right, yes. Absolutely.

We have to pick up our cross and not our couch. Right. And in America, we're trained to believe that Christianity means we pick up a comfortable life, we pick up a couch. Right. Basically, Greg, and not a torture stake.

Paul basically said this many times. He said, I want to bear on my body the wounds of Christ. Mm-hmm. Not the blessings of a CEO, but the wounds of the Messiah. Yes, absolutely.

Because he was so anti- Establishment, anti-world, if you will. He was not of this world, and so should we be. Correct, Greg. I agree. His discipled followers by reading our Bibles.

doing what it says and not what we think it says. Correct. And I know that that will transform a human being Very dramatically. For instance, I lost my daughter. My daughter, is she still alive?

She's still alive. But my daughter wants nothing to do with me. You know why? I evangelize too much.

Okay. I speak of Christ too much. Yes, I understand. And I was told. That's that's Dad, I don't want to be around you anymore.

And her mother supports that. Yes, I understand. And that's just that kind of a situation that exists more than many Christians think. Yes, it certainly does. Yes, it certainly does.

And this happened over Thanksgiving. I know this is the topic was Thanksgiving. It was not a good day at my house because I got that information. And I'm like I cried. I cried, Greg.

Yeah, I'm not going to lie. No, no, I understand that. Oh, yes. I understand. Yes.

I was somewhat giving thanks that I had the strength. to tell my seventeen year old Honey, then I will pray for you, but I cannot give up my Lord Jesus Christ. That's right.

Well, absolutely. And that was the right thing to do and the right thing to say. Yes. Right. Matthew 10 gave me the strength because it's right there in those verses in Matthew chapter 10, Greg.

Absolutely. And that's where I always say people. People of God, please, please, please. Don't Focus on church so much. Focus on learning your Bibles.

Correct. Please. Correct. Yes. Yes.

And speaking. And that's what I have there, Brother Greg. Learning the truth. Excellent. That's excellent, Bucksman.

Learning the truth, speaking the truth, living the truth. You know, in the passage you alluded to, Matthew 10, that is the first time when Jesus commissioned. people to take forth his word in his name, and so they were the first light bearers. And in that discourse, it's very important that every Christian study it. We say Elements of the Christian life that every genuine disciple of Christ, not every born-again one, becomes a disciple.

They should, they can, Christ wants them to, but they don't always do it. But that tells you what you're going to run into if you're a light-bearing disciple of Jesus Christ. And that's one of the elements along in verse 34 through the end of the chapter. He says, think not that I came to bring peace, I came to bring a sword. Henceforth there will be in one house, three divided against two, and he goes on and on.

And he's very explicit. Then he says, He that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. He that loves uh father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. He that does not pick up his cross. And follow me.

He's not worthy of me.

So clearly, he's attaching the cross in this context. to family relations where there is a division. For his sake, and that's what he means by the sword. Truth brings division.

Some people accept it, some do not. And you'll find that the division is not only between believers and non-believers, but it's between spiritually-minded believers and carnal believers, those who live for God and those who live for self. And to your point that you made, Yeah. In America, we've been blessed a lot. You know, we've lived um I think it's fair to say, it's my opinion anyway.

That After the Second World War, American Christianity sort of settled into comfortable materialistic living. And um it's taken a toll on us spiritually. It's it's drug us down. And we don't have any Apostle Paul's round, but instead, we have those who are. Um those who are Excuse me.

We have those who are living and serving Christ for self. And it was I want to find out what Jesus can do for me. If I can borrow the words of John Fitzgerald Kennedy on his inauguration, he said, ask not. What your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.

Well, it's the same principle. It's a biblical principle. We should not ask, what can Jesus do to improve my present temporal worldly life? Because, see, that's fleeting. It's gone in the snap of a finger.

But what can I do to help build the eternal kingdom of God while I'm here in time, while I have an opportunity to witness to my daughter, to witness to people on the street or whoever Christ puts me in touch with?

So, this is what's important. And what you said earlier was that Christ told us that if we would be His disciple, We would have our own cross to carry. And that cross, you know, was a symbol, the Roman cross was a symbol of strong rejection. In other words, if you were put on a Roman cross, you were a pariah. You were the lowest of the low.

But Jesus went on that cross, didn't he? And he went on that for our salvation. And we will have our. Yes, and we will have our own crosses if we're true to Christ. Not to save our souls or anyone else's, but to.

But to be conformed to the image of Christ by those sufferings, because he too suffered, also to have compassion for others who suffer, also to have ministerial capacity and willingness. 2 Corinthians 1 talks about that. Amen. The God of all comfort comforts us in our affliction, so we can. comfort others in their affliction.

Key verse that comes to mind in all of this. is uh 2 Timothy chapter 3, verse 12. Yea, all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. And perhaps this Yeah, and perhaps this text, Bucksman, explains the radical difference between the experience of Christians in America right now at this time, and I believe it's going to change, my friend. And that Of our Christian brothers in other countries.

You listen to Nigeria and other countries where they're under severe persecution. I've just come back from two weeks of ministry, nearly two weeks of ministry in India. And went out into the rural areas there and saw. I was in situations four different nights where easily we could have been attacked by the RSS. We were not.

Thank the Lord.

So I'm not trying to say that. Oh, praise God. Psalm 91. Oh, yeah. The protection of God's angels.

It's real. And but we had successful missions. I was teaching a pastor's conference on the second coming there, and it was a great time. But I got a taste of what it was to be in a country. Where you are subject to persecution by the very fact you're a Christian there.

And I think in my book on the Second Coming, in the first two chapters I'm talking about the various signs that we're living near the coming of Christ. And I list in that end of chapters, I list the nations. Which are least desirable for Christians to live in. And if I recall correctly, India has now become, I think, they're in the number 11 spot. Certainly between twenty ten and twelve.

So it's not easy being a Christian in India, but the the saints there are just very joyful in coming to the Lord. But your point is well made and well taken, and everyone else listening should pay attention to what Bucksman has said, because it is the truth. It is the truth. I've taught for at least a couple of decades, that we have developed In American Christianity, slowly, but definitely, a cross-less Christianity. That is We have marketed Jesus.

And so, you know, when you have a market, We want to market something, what do you do? anything which you see as being distasteful to the potential buyer. And so we presented the gospel that way, and we have, I will say it, perverted it. We perverted it. We have a self-serving gospel in many churches.

Not all. We have great churches in America, great pastors, but we have far too many. That are serving self and training others to serve self. And my friend, that just doesn't fly with Jesus. And particularly in this hour when He's about to come.

So, Bucksman, thank you so much for sharing your insights. It was a pleasure to meet you here on Truth Talk Live.

Now, you remember to listen in, my friends. Every weekday at 4 a.m., 4 p.m. to Truth Talk Live, where many important subjects are raised by either Stu Epperson, who hosts this program, or one of his many Guest hosts.