28 Nov 2010
November 28, 2010
Colossians 3:17
Thanks....
Colossians
And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.
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Thoughts.....
Hello to all! This morning, as the last few Sundays, and through the rest of November we will be looking at ways of saying and feeling thanks. You may see some repeated words or phrases. This is just to reinforce or let others new to the site know what we are doing.
This month in the United States of America, we celebrate Thanksgiving...a day set aside to give thanks to God and for everything God has given us....family, friends, gifts. But every day should be a day of thanksgiving. This whole month, I thought we could look at what words are used in the Bible regarding giving thanks and the meanings behind them.
This may appear to be an English grammar class of sorts, but it is really going to be inclusive of Hebrew-Aramaic, and Greek. I am going to provide for you what The Strongest Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible has for references and definitions. I would like you to take the time to review the scripture references and do the brief exercise I will provide in a bit. The number at the end of the reference refers to the location of the definitions in the dictionary in the back of the book, for both the Old and New Testaments. I will note the actual word, word source and definitions. Please note the references given are from a compilation of the King James Version and the New International Version. If you do not have either of these Bibles, you will find minor variations, and perhaps not the actual word, but the thought intent instead.
Hold on....this study is going to be a long one!
May blessings abound as you offer thanks to God and others.
THANKS (73 references).
2 Samuel 22:50 3034 Old Testament Hebrew-Aramaic Old TO
1 Chronicles 16:8 3034 "
16:34 3034 "
16:35 3034 "
16:41 3034 "
25:3 3034 "
2 Chronicles 31:2 3034 "
Ezra 3:11 3034 "
Nehemiah 12:24 3034 "
12:31 8426 "
12:38 8426 "
12:40 8426 "
Psalm 6:5 3034 "
Psalm 18:49 3034 "
Psalm 30:4 3034 "
Psalm 30:12 3034 "
Psalm 35:18 3034 "
Psalm 75:1 3034 "
Psalm 79:13 3034 "
Psalm 92:1 3034 "
Psalm 97:12 3034 "
Psalm 105:1 3034 "
106:1 3034 "
106:47 3034 "
107:1 3034 "
118:1 3034 "
118:29 3034 "
119:62 3034 "
122:4 3034 "
136:1 3034 "
136:2 3034 "
136:3 3034 "
136:26 3034 "
140:13 3034 "
David 6:10 3029 "
Matthew 15:36 2168 New Testament Greek
14:23 2168 "
Luke 2:38 437 "
17:16 2168 "
22:17 2168 "
22:19 2168 "
John 6:11 2168 "
6:23 2168 "
Acts 27:35 2168 "
Romans 14:6 2168 "
16:4 2168 "
1 Corinthians 10:30 2168 " ent Greek
11:24 2168 "
14:16 2169 "
14:17 2168 "
15:57 5485 "
2 Corinthians 1:11 2168 "
2:14 5485 "
8:16 5485 "
9:15 5485 "
Ephesians 1:16 2168 "
5:4 2169 "
5:20 2168 "
Colossians 1:3 2168 "
1:12 2168 "
3:17 2168 "
1 Thessalonians 1:2 2168 "
3:9 2169 "
5:18 2168 "
2 Thessalonians 2:13 2168 "
1 Timothy 2:1 2169 "
Hebrews 13:15 3670 "
Revelations 4:9 2169 "
11:17 2168 "
Old Testament Hebrew-Aramaic (chronological)
3029 y da (Aram) v. GK, to give thanks, confess praise.
3034 yada, v. GK, to express praise, give thanks, extol, make a public confession, make an admission; to praise is to speak of the excellence of someone or something; to give thanks has a focus on the gratitude of the speaker.
8426 toda, n.f., GK, thank, offering; thanksgiving, confessions of thankfulness; song of thanksgiving; thanks is the speaking of the excellence of a person or object, with a focus on the personal gratitiude of the speaker.
New Testament Greek (chronological)
437 anthomologeomai, v. GK, 469 + 473+ 3670, to give thanks, praise. 469: antapodosis, n. GK, reward, repayment. 473: anti, pp. GK, in exchange for (often as a sign of benefaction). 3670: homologeo, v. GK, to confess, acknowledge, agree, admit, declare.
2168 eucharisteo, v. GK, to thank, give thanks, render gratitude; this can mean words that rxpress gratitude, or the emotion of gratitude.
2169 eucharistia, n, GK, expressions of thanks, thanksgiving, gratitude.
3670 homologeo, v. GK to confess, acknowledge, agree, admit, declare; this can be a profession of allegiance, an admission of bad behavior, or an emphatic declaration of truth.
5485 charis, n, GK, grace, the state of kindness and favor toward someone, often with a focus on a benefit given to the object; by extension; gift, benefit; credit; words of kindness and benefit: thanks, blessing.
If you've been studying this month you see we have patterns. Feel it, express it, confess it, offer it, sing it, give praise with it. Read the scriptures and see which words pop out at you. Think about whether you have felt, done, acted on, performed any of these recently....and whether you are willing to do this today....for all eternity? It's really important to read at least some of the references (either as given or in complete text) to get a feel for what occured before and after...the why...the thanks....a miracle? How will you express thanks to our Lord? What gift of gratitude will you give him and others?
Let's look a little bit at the scriptures together.
2 Samuel indicates David was filled with thanks for being rescued from his enemies. Do you feel you have enemies? Do you feel the world is against you? Do you feel weak or unsafe? Has your faithfulness and integrity been questioned? Do you need victory in your life? This reading will show you all the reasons David gave thanks and why you can, too. Need more war/battle/victory strategies? See the directives given in 2 Chronicles 20: 15b-30. "Stand still and watch the Lord's victory...for the LORD is with you!"
Ezra 3:11 tells us of how the people gave thanks for the foundation of the LORD's temple had been laid. Is your foundation in Christ laid? Is your foundation in Christ strong enough to be built upon? "Ready up."
In Psalm 20:12b David sang praises at the dedication of the temple. "O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever!" Your body and life is a temple for God. Have you dedicated it to the LORD? Can you sing giving thanks? If not, why not? Why not go to the Lord now and talk with him about your life? Consider making your life a temple for the living LORD and dedicating it today...and give thanks!
Luke 2:38 is special to me. Anna, 84 years old, a prophet, was living in the Temple worshiping God with fasting and prayer awaiting the Savior. When Mary and Joseph took the child Jesus to the Temple upon direction of the Spirit and as the law directed, Anna was there and immediately began thanking [praising] God for the Savior had arrived, and, she began telling 'everyone who had been waiting for the promised King to come and deliver Jerusalem' about Jesus. This moment in history takes my breath away as I consider how she felt. Do you feel as excited as Anna about Jesus coming into your life? Oh, please.....consider asking him into your life today if you have not. Await the newborn king....he'll come to you today, if you ask. Let him be reborn in your life, in your heart, if you have walked away. Feel the excitement, the thrill that he LIVES and can live in you.
Take a moment to at least read Ephesians 1:15-23. For this, you will give thanks.
And Thessalonians 5:16-18 reminds us to "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." NIV Please note that it says 'give thanks IN all circumstances'. Good or bad, IN THE MIDST OF, give thanks. This is pleasing to God and will help you be richly blessed.
These are just a few of the references given above. I do hope you will study more to show yourself approved by him above. To learn how wonderful he is and all he has to offer you in life as you worship him giving him thanks and praise.
I hope you will see the peace, the glory, the blessings for and from God in offering thanks. Will you offer thanks continually, following Jesus Christ? Will you be able to say, "I give thanks to my Lord daily for who he is, and all he has done for me in dying for me, and given me in offering me a new life. " And I thank others around me as well."
I'd like you to make a list of those to whom you feel you can offer THANKS. And also a list of those you can offer THANKS for in your life....recently and over your life. Relax. I am not going to ask for your list. This is not going to be graded. This is for you...and for God. It is an attempt to help you realize what a major, or not so major, role God plays in your life....and others. It is also an opportunity for you realize all you have been given in life, whether it be mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, or material. Perhaps just friendship....a monumental gift. A moment to offer thanks to those who have stepped up, embraced, reached out. You may not be able to say thank you directly. Someone may have died. Offer thanks anyway. Someone may live elsewhere or be lost to you. Offer thanks anyway. God will know and the thanks will be showered on that person in another way...and upon you from God. The world is round. Perhaps they are filled with thanks for you. Have you considered what you have done for others? Will you be found worthy of thanks? And what have you done for yourself that is good? Have you been offering up thanks that you live? That Jesus died for you?
Have you asked God for forgiveness for any sins you may have committed? Have you given thanks to him? Have you been giving thanks to him for giving you Jesus? Have you been giving thanks to Jesus for dying for you? Now may be a good time if you have not. Have you been giving thanks to Holy Spirit for enlightening you? Giving thanks is something that should be done all the time. We need to be continually offering up thanks to him for all he has done.
I hope this will be an emotional journey for you...that you will take the time to let this soak into the core of your being....and that you will 'echo charis'....as we learned a few weeks ago....'repeat charity....thanks'.
May you keep God close to your heart and bless God with many thanks. May he keep you always, feel thanks for and bless you!
"Let the words of Christ, in all their richness live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father." Colossians 3: 16-17
For the record, I thank God for you. Thanks for being there....all of you. And for being a part of the Church of the Holy Spirit on a regular basis. Your presence has made my life more meaningful. Next week I will not be doing structured study, but I will get back to regular 'Thoughts'. And the people cried, "Amen!" ; )
GIVE THANKS WITH A GRATEFUL HEART *
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks unto the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son.
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks unto the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son.
And now let the weak say, "I am strong"
Let the poor say, "I am rich"
Because of what the Lord has done for us.
And now let the weak say, "I am strong"
Let the poor say, "I am rich"
Because of what the Lord has done for us.
Give thanks
Give thanks. '
Psalm 100
Shout with joy to the LORD, O earth! Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name.
For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
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Let Us Pray
Dear Heavenly Father God, Lord Jesus, and Teacher...Comforter Holy Spirit. Thank you....for everything. I come to your presence with an abundance of thanks. I am blessed to know you love me and that you have given me the opportunity to be forgiven of my sins...if I ask, and, that I might receive eternal life, if I live a life of obedience to you expressing thanks. Help me to I learn to continually give thanks to you. Please forgive me of my sins, and instill in me the desire to be a promise child. Please Holy Spirit, come into my life fully. Baptise me all in your fullness. Please fill me to overflowing with all those things I need by and of your grace, to be everything I need to be for you, those in the world to whom YOU send me, and for myself. Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but say the word and I shall be healed. All are called to be ministers of Jesus Christ. Now send me forth to do all you have called me to do and be for the people that so desperately need to hear your message...or be reminded. Help me be encouraged to live the life I have started with you. Help me to always give thanks and say thank you to you and to others. I pray I will always be able to continually praise your Holy name in worship giving thanks. Keep me strong. Help me to pronounce to the world who you are, that you are, and how wonderful you are, and help them understand, and me as well, that we can have you in our lives. Help me to bring all to Holy Spirit that he might baptise them with the fullness of your love, your saving grace, your guiding grace. May they, and I, always give thanks to you for what you have given and been to them and me. And for who and what we have all been filled. Help me encourage others...and be encouraged. Give me and all in the world a new life in you. And help me and others be worthy to receive the prize of the high calling of God...eternal life. I am grateful that you love me...thank you. I bow down to you, my Father, God, and, Glorious Love....Jesus, Holy Spirit Sanctifier. Help me to always be real...be true...be right...be loving...and...give you thanks. As I speak thanks now....thank you. Amen.
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More love....
Benediction...Blessing
Let us hear from Paul as he prays:
When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT
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Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rythms of Grace'.
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Definition of a Christian: Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior. Regardless of church name or religious affiliation.
It is not how we worship, but that we worship!
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If you feel that the Church of the Holy Spirit has inspired or helped you, we'd like you to prayerfully consider tithing regulary to us or gifting us, so that we can further the work and carry out the will of the Father as proclaimed in Matthew 28:19-20 NLT
to
"Go and make disciples out of all the nations
baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this:
I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
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Our Current Cause
It is time to reach into the community and the world around you to see wherein lies the greatest need. As you choose to focus on these areas, do so with a servant's heart. Whether the need is for children, adults, or animals, or any cause in between that will help those in need, ask God how you can best serve his needs, what path you must take, and how long you should persevere. Sometimes we are to be in the lives of others merely as stepping stones. Sometimes we are to touch those lives forever. Whatever journey you are called to take, whatever team you will be a member of, know this: God is with you always...even til the end of time. He loves you, is grateful for you, and will help you along life's way, especially if you are helping others along theirs, persevering with a servant's heart.
Please accept my sincerest thanks....and God's....and may God richly bless you!
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One last thing....
Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving
'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'
"Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."
Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. "The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.
Matthew 11: 25-30
The Message
And the people said,
"Amen."
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I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God. Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided.
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*The words and music to "Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart" are by Henry Smith.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
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Bible Authors and Minister
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