Thanking God for People of Faith
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 5 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
I believe that the real difference in the American church is not between conservatives and liberals its not even between the fundamentalists and charismatics its not even democrats or republicans the real difference is the Aware and the Unaware
When someone is Aware of the love that the Father has for Jesus ans the Love that Christ has for them they spontaneously are grateful, that person cries out in thanksgiving this becomes a dominit character of the persons life for the byproduct of gratefulness is Joy, We are not Joyful and become grateful -----we are grateful them become Joyful
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
Therefore, Some translations have this as wherefore other as, For this reason, When we read a therefore or another conjunctive we now that it is directly related to the prior thought
in this case we are tied to what our message last week was the Spiritual blessings and especially the last of which is the sealing of the Holy Spirit of God
in other Words Paul is saying here Therefore because of your Spiritual blessings given from the Father through the son and sealed by the Holy Spirit I also am blessed.
Oh what a blessing it is when we see the fruits of our labor when we see the evidence of faith in love in others in which we gently planted the seed
Oh what excitement there is when the lord comes and waters that Seed when he grows that seed when he establishes that seed in the Good soil
Oh what a blessing and what a Joy
Paul says because of these blessing because of the good report he has not stopped in giving thanks to the lord Jesus
Oh how we as ministers we labor hoping to see the Love of the brethren to see a passion and a love for Christ oh what great blessings is it when they spring forth like a guiser in the dry desert oh what joy it brings
When we see one in the church or we see many within the Church let us not stop in giving thanks for the goodness the love the kindness the gentleness that flows from them does not come from them but from God so let us turn our praise to the one who brings revival not the preacher not the teacher nor the evangelist or the worship leader but to God who stirs the hearts of man who causes the hardness of hearts to be warm and full of love and compassion
Look at he intentionallity of His prayers
making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
Paul makes a point to tell them that not only is he praying for them as a whole but makes the point to make mention of them before the lord not only in thankfulness for what God has done for what God has given them but also
that they would continue to grow in knowledge and wisdom and in revelation of Him
Oh brothers Oh sisters here me our prayer need not to be selfish in nature but selfless in nature we must take the time to mention those who need our prayers by name for specific things but mostly to grow in the wisdom and devotion to God. This prayer should be a example for the Parents for their Children
For husband for their Wife's
For wife and their Husbands
For the Sunday school teacher
and even for the occasional visitor we should love so much that we are intentional in our prayers for them and less for us.
His prayers that they would know and grasp those Spiritual blessings he talked about this is His desire for by these blessings we see the love that Christ has for us
To recap those blessings
You were elected by the Father
You were adapted ans sons and daughters
you have been accepted and loved
you have been redeemed by his blood
you have been forgiven
he has made known to you the mysteries of His will
you have a inheritance
you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit of God
Theses are the blessing Paul is praying that they will grasp that they will understand that they will cherish
These are the promises to those who put their faith in Christ
That our Hope is not in our strength but in His Power in His strength in His love in His redemption as a good father
Pauls Prayer that their eyes of understanding being enlightened or simply being enlightened by the revaluation of God the understanding of God the Knowledge of God
true Knowledge ........true wisdom.........is a Gift of God
im not talking about worldly wisdom though there is a argument for that too.
Im specifically speaking of the moral knowledge the core knowledge true wisdom and understanding is a gift of God
We can look to a few passages as scriptural proof though there are many we will look but at a few
But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
Spirit the same word used in the giving of Life to Adam which means breathe
It is a gift of God
but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
WE see in Col a prayer for knowledge
For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
The Natural Man
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
Proper knowledge proper understanding leads to appreciation to gratitude to giving thanks and proper worship before God
As A Father and A minister you know these two roles are not all that different. As a Father God has called me to be the Spiritual leader of my Home
AS the Pastor God has called me to be the Spiritual leader of His church
AS a father God has called me to care for my family be be a good steward with the income He has given me
AS a Pastor God too has called me to be a good steward with the resources he has given to the church
As a Father God has entrusted that I love and teach my children in love right from wrong
AS a minister he has entrusted you into my hands that I too would love and teach
So many things I can see similar as a Father and to as a minister
I know when I look out and see my children praying when I don't ask them to this brings joy into my heart
When I see them help each other when one falls down comfort one another when one is hurt it brings tears of joy to my eyes.
When I see them go to the kitchen and help without being asked oh what a joy,
When I see my little girl inviting people to church my heart leaps for the faith of a child
Same is true as a minister there is nothing that brings Joy than to see a people of faith practicing their faith in love and in truth
This was pauls message
This is our message ]WE need to live a life that reflects Christ not to bring me joy but to bring Joy to the father To glorify the Son Let us worship Him in Truth In Love and in Faith Amen