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Devotional for the week – 3 November 2008 Sermon Title: Inward, Upward, Outward Some palm trees can withstand huge storms and that is because their roots grow deep into the soil, 3 to 4 feet deep. The world is now facing a financial crisis and some of us may be affected too. Others are affected by other “storms”, perhaps of a personal nature. Whatever the crisis, will we be able to bear fruit during those times just like we read in Psalms 92? In today’s passage, we will concentrate on 2 verses, namely verses 6 and 7. The emphasis in these 2 verses is to walk in Christ Jesus. “Christ” is not Jesus’ surname. It means the “anointed one”. We learn of this in Luke 4:18-19 when Jesus read the words in the scroll and declared that it is fulfilled in Him. Jesus was saying that the spirit of God has anointed him. Jesus was anointed to preach the gospel and this was His mission. Anointing empowered Him for His ministry. When we walk in Christ Jesus, we are to experience the same transformation and the freedom that Christ gave. We are also to effect the same transformation by ministering to others about Christ. However, in order to change the lives of others, we should first begin with ourselves. Colossians 2 verse 7 tells us that when we walk in Christ, we are rooted in Him. Christ has rooted us. This is not something we do and we know that this is the correct interpretation because of the grammar that is being used. “rooted” is perfect participle, the passive voice. This refers to an action that is already done. Therefore, if we walk in Christ, we will be rooted in Him. Verse 7 also tells us that as we walk in Christ, we are “building” up in Him. The word “building” is present participle, the passive voice. This means something that happens right now. This is also something that Christ does for us and is not something that we can do for ourselves. Lastly, we are reminded to “abound in thankfulness”. “abounding” is present participle, active voice which means that this is something we are to do all the time. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, we are told to give thanks to God for everything. In whatever state you are in, you can always find something to give thanks for. One example is Matthew Henry, a renowned bible scholar. When he was robbed, he was able to give thanks that this was only the first time he had been robbed and that whilst he lost his money, he did not lose his life. Lastly, he was also thankful that he was not the one who robbed. Thankfulness triggers the grace of God. Do you realize that abundant sincere thanksgiving is an act of faith and it releases the blessings of God? When you thank God, you are acknowledging that whatever the circumstance, you still believe in God and that you know that your life is in good hands. When you express your faith in God, the Bible tells us that you will be blessed for your faith. In Ephesians 1 v 3, we read that God has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. “has blessed us” is the present perfect tense which means that what has been done back then is effective today. Jesus has finished His work on the cross and this has made it possible for us to be blessed for our faith. We need to cultivate a life of thankfulness because through thankfulness, we are releasing faith and when we release faith, God hears our prayers. In 2 Chronicles 20 & 21, we read of King Jehoshaphat and how he was in great fear as a large army of Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites was marching against him. King Jehoshaphat held a nationwide fast and then he prayed. He recalled God’s promises of deliverance and appropriated God’s promises for the Israelites in their time of calamity. God spoke through a prophet and assured King Jehoshaphat that the battle was the Lord’s. Thanksgiving is an expression of faith that what the Lord has done for you, He will do again. King Jehoshaphat rode out to war with men appointed to march ahead singing hymns of thanksgiving to God. This was his expression of faith and God delivered him in an incredible way from the mighty armies of the Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites that day. King Jehoshaphat did not even have to fight as the Bible tells us that the Lord set ambushes for his enemies and caused them to turn against each other and kill each other. We can thank God for what He has done for us but we should also remember to thank Him for what He has done or can do for others. God is well pleased when we share what He has given to us with others. Always remember that when we give, the Lord will replenish and He will never run out of supplies. Prayer: Dear God, thank you for today’s message. Please help me to live a life of thankfulness and that in every situation, even grave situations, cause me to recognise something that I can give thanks for. Help me also to share with others the blessings that you have so generously given to me. Devotional based on a sermon by Rev Dr Wee Boon Hup
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