This is the Truth Network. My friend, what is it that is an act of obedience to God's word? It puts us in the will of God and humbles us. It's one of King David's ways. It ensures answers to prayer and it sets us apart from unthankful Christians.
Well, stay with us, listen, and learn. You're listening to Until He Comes, a blend of prophetic and practical biblical studies with Dr. Greg Hinnant, author of The Second Coming of Christ, His Appearing, His Return, Our Preparation. And now, author and teacher Greg Hinnant. Welcome to the broadcast, my friend.
Today, we're going to continue our discussion of the importance of giving thanks to God.
Now, in our previous lesson, we ended our comments. By discussing King David's habit of praise that's recorded in Psalm 34, verse 1: I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Now, listen to that language. At all times, and continually. Hmm.
Sounds exactly Like what Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, in everything. Give thanks. This is the will of God.
Well, clearly then, thanksgiving was one of King David's personal. Habits. One of his ways, David was a thankful man. You know, in 2 Chronicles 17, verse 3, we have the record of another great king of Israel named Jehoshaphat. Let's see what happened in his life.
This is Second Chronicles seventeen, beginning with verse three. We will read through verse six. And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat. because he walked in the first ways of his father David. and sought not unto Balaam, that is the various Balaam the various Baals of the nation at that time.
Welcome to the broadcast, my friend. Today, we're discussing the importance of giving thanks. We're extending our message, which we began last week.
Now in our previous episode, we discussed King David's habit of giving thanks to God. He said in Psalm thirty four, verse one, I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Now, those words at all times and continually tell us that David formed a habit. of giving praise to Yahweh.
Now let's turn our attention to another great king of Israel. His name was Jehoshaphat. we will read from Second Chronicles seventeen, verses three through six. And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, Because he walked in the first ways of his father David. Note that phrase.
He walked. In the first ways, of his father David.
Now this means that He lived And pattern his lifestyle after the ways of David before David sinned in the matter of. Bathsheba. And Uriah.
So he walked in the first ways of David. And he sought not unto Balaam, so it meant this meant he had nothing to do with BAAL worship. He rejected it. But he sought The Lord God of his Father. And he walked in his commandments and not after the doings of Israel.
This is a reference to the northern kingdom of Israel, which. As you know, Was formed in idolatry from the very beginning, from the days of Rehoboam when the nation was split. Jeroboam. Immediately established the northern kingdom of Israel in idolatry. And so Jehoshaphat had nothing to do with the idolatrous ways of the northern kingdom of Israel.
Instead, he walked in the commandments, he kept the Torah. Verse 5: Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presence. And he had riches and honor in abundance, and his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord. He experienced holy exhilaration in God. Moreover, he took away the high places and the groves, the idol groves, out of Judah.
Now, these verses are telling us the reasons why God established the kingdom of this great king. Jehoshaphat. One of those reasons was that he walked in the first ways of his father David. This tells me that he would have been a thankful man, he would have practiced thanksgiving. he would have known of David's psalm.
And so he would have Practiced that in his own personal experience and given thanks and worshiped God continually. He would have formed the habit of thanksgiving. This was one of the reasons God established his kingdom. You know, Each one of us needs to have the authority of Christ active in our life. We know about the name of Jesus.
We know his authority. He said, I have all authority in heaven and earth. And we know we're sent by him. He said, go and. Make disciples, go and preach the gospels, go and be my witnesses.
What we fail to realize sometimes is that the authority of Jesus. is resident in us. We have that within us because we have Christ in us. And we need to exert that authority at times in our prayer life. And in our speech, and in our teaching, and in our preaching, and in our witnessing, our words.
need to be with authority.
Now, if we are walking in submissive trust and obedience to God, and specifically in thanksgiving, the habit of thanks. Then God is going to establish our kingdom just as He did Jehoshaphat's. What do I mean? Will He make us a monarch? I hope not.
I don't want to be a king. Yeah. No, but he will establish the authority of the King of Kings. in my life and yours. When I'm living under that authority.
And clearly, by giving thanks to the Lord at all times, in every circumstance. We are showing beautiful submission to the authority of Christ in our life. We're trusting that He controls our circumstances. Everything that's outside of our control is in His. And we're trusting that nothing will touch our life.
Except that which comes. From the hand of our loving Heavenly Father.
So we're giving thanks as a habit in every situation, every circumstance. And so, as we do this, the Lord will. in our lives. In our circle of contacts, in our sphere. Uh Work.
And authority and relationships, He will establish Christ's authority in us. That means when you have an open door to speak the gospel to someone. And you speak it? Your words will pierce their hearts. Turn them.
Change their lives.
Now, because of the way you speak or your cleverness or your intelligence, not at all, by the power of the Holy Spirit flowing through your words. And usually you will not be aware. that such a change has occurred. You just thought you had a conversation with someone, and you just did your Christian duty and spoke to them from your heart about Jesus. You didn't know that those words pierced them and gripped them.
and turned them from Siyan. And perhaps from hell. and turn them to God. Why? Because the Lord had established His kingdom authority in your life because.
You were walking in the first ways of David. Who said, I will bless the Lord at all times, and his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
So let us learn this lesson. From King Jehoshaphat, who walked in the first ways of his forbear his father David, and let us. Do the same. Thanksgiving also strengthens our confidence or our faith that God has answered prayer. You know, it's one thing to pray, it's another thing to pray with confidence.
Many Christians pray because we know that's what a Christian ought to do. We know that Jesus' disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray. And we know that Jesus said. When you enter into your closet and pray, to your Father in heaven. He didn't say if you Choose to pray.
He said, when you pray, go into your closet and pray to your Father who is in secret. And that Father who sees in secret. shall reward thee. Openly, Matthew 6.
So we know prayer Should be a part of a Christian life, but it's a huge difference between praying for prayer's sake and praying. with complete confidence. In God. You know, our faith really is our faith in God's faithfulness. Our faith is not our faith in ourselves.
When we go to pray, our confidence has to be in the faithfulness of the character of God to whom we pray.
So Thanksgiving fits right in here. How? Because in Philippians 4, verses 6 and 7, again, Paul is giving us instructions, and I'm convinced this too came right out of his own experience. He said, Be anxious. For nothing.
But in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, Let your request be made known unto God. And then he added, And the peace of God that passes all understanding shall guard your heart. What a wonderful statement. First of all, Before we can pray in confidence, we have to refuse to worry. You know, while you're listening to me today, you might.
be anxious about the situation. You might be worried about What's about to envelop You What's coming on you in your life, some situation that's been coming on for some time. You might be worried about what someone's going to think of you or say about you. You might have all kinds of anxieties. Maybe it's a health need, a money need, a relationship need.
Family need. Maybe your neighbors are giving you a hard time. You got anxiety.
Well, the first thing to do, my friend, is to face the truth about yourself. If you have anxiety, you will not get rid of it until you come to God and say, you know, Lord, I'm anxious about this situation, and then tell him what it is. Psalm 62 says Pour out your hearts before him. You see, we need to come to our Father just like children. Our children come to us, little children come to you, and they just tell you all about it.
They don't cover it. They don't put up a religious front, they just say, Daddy, Billy. Tip ma Mike from me.
So then you talk to him. Your child about what happened with Billy in the bike. In the same way, we should come to our Heavenly Father. with childlike humility and openness and Tell Him what is making us anxious, what we're nervous about, what we're worried about, and unload on God. Not angrily, not with a complaint, but just tell him all about it.
That's the first step. And then you must refuse to be anxious. This is something where you must put your foot down. Paul says be anxious for nothing. That is in the imperative mood.
He didn't say try to not be anxious. He said, do not be anxious. Why? Because When the Christian has anxiety. And it goes on and on.
This is. Plain evidence that we're not trusting God. We feel like God is either not up to the task, or for some reason, God will not help us in both. Thoughts. Against the faithfulness of God and the love of God.
He is so interested in you, my friend. He knows every detail. About your life. Jesus said He knows the hairs on our head, He knows when a sparrow falls from the sky.
So he certainly knows about that situation that's making you anxious. Go tell him about it. But that's not the end of it. You must refuse to be anxious about it because you're going to choose, it is a choice. to put your trust in God.
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Now, again, Dr. Hinnant. You're going to rest on the faithfulness of God. I think it's a perfect image of faith when you sit down in a chair. I'm sitting in a chair at the moment, and I'm trusting that this chair is going to keep me from falling out on the floor.
If I fall out on the floor, you will hear it. And if you put your trust in Jesus Christ, you're trusting that his faithfulness is going to keep you from failing. failing in life. from making a big mess of your life. But instead, your life will come out Victorious in the end, victorious over sin, victorious over self, victorious over Satan as he tries to stumble you in your walk with Christ.
And your life's going to come to a wonderful God-honoring. Conclusion that will be a blessing to your heart, and particularly. Christ will be able to use your life to reach others. to bring them into the kingdom of God. or to strengthen and bless them and help them along the way.
So, it is most important that we refuse to be anxious about our troubles and put our trust in God. Paul goes on to say. But in everything by prayer and supplication, Let your request be made known unto God and He adds, with thanksgiving. Ah, so thanksgiving is an integral part of the prayer of faith. There is no such thing as a prayer of faith that doesn't include.
Thanksgiving. You see, when Jesus stood at Lazarus' tomb, oh, it was quite a situation. He had every reason to be anxious. Lazarus had been dead for four days. Decomposition had already progressed.
Everyone there thought, what is he doing here? Why has Jesus of Nazareth come? He was asked for days ago and did not respond to his own best friend. Oh, my goodness, what thoughts were swirling around in the minds of not only Mary and Martha, we know they were quite offended, but their relatives. who knew well that They had spoken to them of this Jesus of Nazareth, and now he had just let everyone down.
But Jesus stood there publicly Well, they thought whatever they thought. And he looked up unto heaven, and he gave thanks to his Father in heaven. He said, Father, I thank the That thou hast heard me Note that. I'm thanking you. Not that you're going to hear me, he said, but that you have heard me.
Plainly then Jesus had already done his praying. When he stood and spoke these words publicly, he had already had a private interview with his father about the situation.
Now, if we would parallel that, he would have refused to be anxious that he seemed to be late. Too late. to help his best friend. Maybe you're thinking right now that some situation is. Too late in your life.
It's too late for this person to come to Christ. It's too late. For you to reverse a failure. It's too late. For you to live a fruitful Christian life.
You've made so many failures. It's too late for you to bring honor to Christ because you brought so much shame to Him. My friend, it's never too late. If you're drawing breath as you hear my voice, it is not too late. Hear me.
Better yet, hear Christ speaking through me. It's not too late. He can take your broken life and put it back together again in an instant. And then set your feet on a path to ultimate victory that will honor him. Enlarge his kingdom and bless many lives.
Yes, through your life. And it begins. When you do what Jesus did at Lazarus' tomb, Father, I thank you, you've heard me. If you've already been praying about a situation, instead of just repeating that prayer anxiously, Before the Father, come before the throne of God and say, Father, I know. That you've heard me when I prayed about this or that or the other.
And today, I want to affirm that you have not only heard me, But you have answered me.
So Jesus at Lazarus' tomb was confident that the Father had already heard his prayer. And so he said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And then he added, And I know that you hear me always. Listen to that confidence. But because of the people who stand by, I said it, that they may also believe that you have sent me.
Then he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and Lazarus came out.
So thanksgiving was an integral part of Jesus' prayer life. Again, I thank the. that thou hast heard me. Every time you pray, Never rise and go about your business until you have said, Father. O Lord Jesus.
I want to thank you today. You've heard everything I've said. I want to thank you that you've answered these prayers, and you can know that He answers you if you're praying according to His will. Because 1 John 5 tells us In verses 14 and 15, this is the confidence that we have in Him that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know He hears us, we know we have, not that we're going to have, but we have right now, that is, in the court of heaven where Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father as our high priest.
We know we have the petitions we've desired. Of him. That, my friend. is the prayer of faith. You see in James Chapter 5, James says the prayer of faith Shell Heal the sick, save the sick.
The Greek word there is sozo, it means heal or deliver. or save or release. Give victory to.
So he plainly says it's the prayer of faith. That gets the job done. Not the prayer of doubt. Not the prayer of religious phraseology, covering up a heart. That doesn't believe God has heard.
or that God will act.
So We need to take this to heart, and every time you pray, Begin to thank God that He hears you then. And you know You have that answer in heaven. And you believe it's on the way. Angels are being sent. to bring that answer Into the realm of the visible, the tangible, material world in which we live.
Then also, Paul promises that the peace of God. which passes all understanding. will guard your heart.
Now, that word guard is a military term, means mount guard over. Boy, do I love this. I wouldn't rate anything. I wouldn't trade my peace for all the treasures of King Tutankhamun. Not a one of them when Howard Carter in the nineteen twenties looked into that tomb Of King Tut It had never been unopened.
And he looked into there, he just He he dug a small hole and looked through there. And he said. I see wonderful things. Wonderful things.
Well, let me tell you something, friends. The peace of God that passes understanding is the most wonderful thing you will ever know in this world. Nothing compares with it. Don't trade your peace for anything. Don't trade it for a relationship outside of the will of God.
Don't trade it for You taking a job that you shouldn't take, don't trade it for someone's pleasure and someone's approval so they can smile at you. Don't trade that piece for anything. In his presence is the fullness of joy. And as Paul said, the peace of God passes human understanding. You know, that is such a powerful inner tranquility.
It is not peace from God, it is the peace. Of God in the believer's life. The very tranquility of heaven. implanted in your soul. What does that mean?
That means any situation you're in. You are impervious to Satan's attacks. That means he cannot get at you. He cannot get at the spirit in you because you are. Gripped.
Guarded. protected. Insured, if you will. by the power of the peace of God. The inner tranquility of God will be yours as you pass through life.
Money can't buy that. People's favor can't buy that. Success can't buy that. You can have all the money in the world, all the successes in the world, and still be eaten alive by anxiety. not be able to have peace.
No matter where you are, you can go to the mountains and sit on the mountainside, and it's quiet there, but inside you're in turmoil. You can go down to the beach or walk up down the beautiful coast. We have a beautiful coast here in North Carolina. But if you don't have the peace that God gives you, His own peace, You're going to be troubled even while you're in a place that people considered a place of peace.
So it's most important that we learn to give thanks when we commit our prayers to God and believe not that He's going to hear them, but that He has already heard them. What a wonderful thing. You know, this is important because Thanksgiving When it's added to the prayer of faith, proves and demonstrates we do indeed have confidence that God has heard and God will act. He'll act in his own time and his own way. but we know he will act in the matters thus resolved.
It's finished. We've transacted business with heaven.
Now in Matthew nine twenty nine When Jesus spoke to two blind men about their condition and asked what Was it that? they wanted him to do. They plainly told him it was their eyes. And so, what did he say to them? According to your faith, be it unto you.
He did not say, according to my divine ability. He said, according to your faith.
So faith is important. Again, we're saying that Thanksgiving helps strengthen and seal our faith when we're in prayer. And that is important because it helps elicit. Response from God. Why?
Because faith Is God confident? Is we're expressing, we're giving God a vote of confidence. We're saying, Lord, I know you hear me, and I know you won't fail to help me. I know. You're worthy of my trust.
I know. You're unfailingly faithful. I know your love. will not let me down. This blesses God.
Does it bless you, my friend, when someone says thank you for a job well done? Does it bless you when someone asks you to do something and then turns right around and says, and I know you're going to take care of it because you always do? Oh, my goodness, that's a blessing. How much more then? When God hears that, for from our feeble lips of flash and clay.
According to your faith be it unto you, not according to my divine abilities.
So, faith is important in moving the hand of God. And, my friend, We need to move the hand of God, not only for ourselves, but for those we are praying for. As intercessors, our faith is what enables God to reach through our prayers and touch people who have never been reached before. And that person may be the person next to you right now in your home, your husband or your wife. or your son or your daughter, or perhaps your father or mother.
Or some other relative, or your neighbor. Let him reach them through your intercessions. Bring your petitions to God according to His will. Lay them at His feet. Pour out your heart before Him, and then say, Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
And I know you won't fail. to bring this answer To pass. I'm going to see it. It's going to happen. But I believe I have it now by faith.
And then Hebrews 11:6 says, Without faith, It is impossible. to please him. Turn that around. With faith. It is possible to please him, and we do please him.
And again, we are saying here. That by giving thanks to God at the moment you offer your prayer. You are expressing your confidence in God that He will not let you down. And yes, that makes a difference. In the effectiveness, the power of your prayer life.
Why would you want to pray for the sake of praying? And then you put your little hands together and say, I have prayed today. I have done my religious duty. No, you don't want that kind of a prayer life. You want a prayer life.
that moves the hand of God to intervene in the life of people. Around you.
Well, my friend, we're going to continue this discussion of this important topic of Thanksgiving in our next lesson. God bless you. Thank you so much for visiting with us today. In our next episode, we will continue discussing the importance of giving thanks to God, and that is important.
So, bring a friend to listen with you. If this message has blessed you, tell your friends and please consider helping us stay on the air by sending your tax-deductible donation to Greg Hennett Ministries. Also, remember, you may download the Until He Comes podcast from your preferred podcast app. May you walk closely with Christ and trust and obey Him in your daily tests of faith and patience until He Comes.
