Brothers, Sisters and Friends,
In the book of Ephesians chapter 5:20 one of the subordinate clauses that proves that you are continually filled with the Spirit is....
Giving thanks always for all things
unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ........
As a sinner it has been hard to do this.....it is easy to preach this and or teach this, but when the rubber meets the road it seems to be very difficult, if not impossible for the natural man to thank God for everything that happens both good and bad!
I had to take my child to Children’s Hospital in St. Louis a couple of days ago for normal (if you can call it that) appointments and the whole way there were sloooooooooooow vehicles and 18 wheelers to follow through the curvy roads of Washington county and I never griped once....
My wife commented and said, “You have done a good job today” and I said, “Doing what”....
She said, “You haven’t griped and or complained the whole way there and back.”....
I thought about 2 seconds and said, “That is because I reminded myself about 387 times that I am to be thankful for all things!...................................
Why should it be a spiritual proof of being filled with the Spirit?----->to be thankful for all things that is.....
All things work together for good
to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
We cannot see the future and or the end results of our actions today.....or the actions of others around us...At the end of the day it is like a friend who had a flat recently.....I reminded him of the above scripture in Ephesians and He said.....”I am glad I had the flat here instead of on the highway.”
That is what I am talking about.........AMEN for sure!
In the book of Ephesians chapter 5:20 one of the subordinate clauses that proves that you are continually filled with the Spirit is....
Giving thanks always for all things
unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ........
As a sinner it has been hard to do this.....it is easy to preach this and or teach this, but when the rubber meets the road it seems to be very difficult, if not impossible for the natural man to thank God for everything that happens both good and bad!
I had to take my child to Children’s Hospital in St. Louis a couple of days ago for normal (if you can call it that) appointments and the whole way there were sloooooooooooow vehicles and 18 wheelers to follow through the curvy roads of Washington county and I never griped once....
My wife commented and said, “You have done a good job today” and I said, “Doing what”....
She said, “You haven’t griped and or complained the whole way there and back.”....
I thought about 2 seconds and said, “That is because I reminded myself about 387 times that I am to be thankful for all things!...................................
Why should it be a spiritual proof of being filled with the Spirit?----->to be thankful for all things that is.....
All things work together for good
to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
We cannot see the future and or the end results of our actions today.....or the actions of others around us...At the end of the day it is like a friend who had a flat recently.....I reminded him of the above scripture in Ephesians and He said.....”I am glad I had the flat here instead of on the highway.”
That is what I am talking about.........AMEN for sure!