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The Lord is my shepherd
That’s relationship! I shall not want That’s supply! He maketh me to lie down in green pastures That’s rest! He leadeth me beside the still waters That’s refreshment! He restoreth my soul That’s healing! He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness That’s guidance! For His name’s sake That’s purpose! Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death That’s challenge! I will fear no evil That’s assurance! For thou art with me That’s faithfulness! Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me That’s shelter! Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies That’s hope! Thou anointest my head with oil That’s consecration! My cup runneth over That’s abundance! Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life That’s blessing! And I will dwell in the house of the Lord That’s security! For ever That’s eternity!
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The greatest love ever demonstrated was the Love of Jesus Christ. He lived to love others. He spent His life on earth helping those that needed help. He taught truth to them; He washed their feet; He invested His time and life in serving and caring for others. To top it off, He would give His life for those that envied Him and wanted Him dead. Then he shocked the world with his amazing statement when He hung on that rugged cross, “Father forgive them…” Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:7 “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.” It is a rare incident that one will give his life for a good and upright man; perhaps one would think twice about it. But what are the chances of a person giving his life for those that were ungodly, unthankful, disrespectful, lying, wicked, and sinful? I would say no chance. Not so with our God. His Love is beyond human comprehension, further from this world, His Love is Divine, and is demonstrated in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ! Romans 5:10 “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” The story is told of a woman who left her husband. The husband called the police and filed a “missing persons report.” A few weeks later the police found her a few counties over. They asked him if he wanted them to take him to her. By now the husband had realized how poorly he had treated his wife. He decided to write to his wife, and he kept writing for months. Finally, Christmas came, and he went to see her (she was in a run-down hotel). He asked her to come home and she did. On the way home he said, “I’ve written to you for months, why did you come home so easily now?” She replied, “Because those were just letters, this time you came in person.” Christ came in person to save us and demonstrate to us His love. In Christ Alone, C Haddad - Galatians 2:20 "Charity never faileth..." 1 Corinthians 13:8 W: www.gbbc.org.au I E: charlie@eternal.org.au I W: www.eternal.org.au M: Po Box 318 Kotara, NSW, 2289 I P: 0401 955 955 I P: (02) 4023 4889 Meeting: 207 Maryland Dr, Maryland I 10:30am & 5:30pm Sunday services
1 Corinthians 10:31“...whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” One way in which a Christian can bring glory to God is to give thanks for ALL THINGS! 1. True Love Thank God for true love; we would never know what true love is if God didn’t give us His love as the ultimate example. God’s unconditional love! “Charity never faileth” 1 Corinthians 13:8 2. The Gospel Thank God for the good news - the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; without the gospel we would have no hope for eternity. Romans 1:16 3. Trials Thank God for trials that God allows in our lives. This is certainly a tough time to give thanks, but when we understand why God allows trials in our lives, we are able to give thanks. God uses trials to help our faith, to bring us back to the fold, and to mold us into the image of Jesus Christ. God makes no mistakes. God knows best. James 1:2 4. Faithfulness Thank God for His faithfulness. When we fail, He still remains faithful. It is His faithful hand that works in our lives to enable us to be faithful to Him, to our calling, and to the end. Every Christian should desire to hear those words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” For His glory alone! Matthew 25:21 5. Prayer Thank God for prayer. Prayer is to talk with God. God is too good to us in allowing us to approach Him with confidence at any time and any place. An opportunity to pray on behalf of others, to pray for direction, wisdom, daily needs, and to cast all our cares upon Him. Colossians 4:2 6. The Great Commission Thank God for the great commission. It is a great privilege that God has chosen His church to work together with Him to reach a dying world with the precious and blessed gospel. There is no greater calling than to be part of God’s amazing plan. ~ Mark 15:16 Next week we will look at five other things to give thanks for. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Those who only praise God because he does them good should rise to a higher note and give thanks to him because he is good. ~ CH Spurgeon In Christ Alone, C Haddad - Galatians 2:20 "...whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." ~ 1 Corinthians 10:31 W: www.gbbc.org.au I E: charlie@eternal.org.au I W: www.eternal.org.au M: Po Box 318 Kotara, NSW, 2289 I P: 0401 955 955 I P: (02) 4023 4889 Meeting: 207 Maryland Dr, Maryland I 10:30am & 5:30pm Sunday services 1 Corinthians 10:31“...whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” A person certainly has many things to thank God for; if we were to write a specific list, it would take us a while. However, many live their lives without considering the one that gave them life, let alone desiring to thank Him. They are too busy living life to the max; too busy planning their lifestyle without God in it. This is sad; but what really grieves God’s heart is when His own people are not appreciative of Him. They are always complaining, murmuring for more, never happy. It can be something as simple as the weather. In Ephesians 3:20, God gives some commands. Firstly, to give thanks; secondly, always; thirdly for all things; fourthly unto God and the Father, and lastly, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1. Giving thanks To live all to the glory of God is to give Him thanks. Giving thanks to God is to appreciate Him; to be grateful for all that has done. The opposite is also true; if you do not make it a habit to thank God then you may well be an unthankful person that seeks self- glorification. 2. Always Giving thanks to God is not based on how we feel or how well things are going. Christians are to give thanks in the good times as well as the hard times. True peace is found when you make time to give thanks to God even in the tough times. To live all to the glory of God is to give Him thanks at all times. 3. For all things All things include the things that perhaps go wrong, or do not go the way we would desire them to. Joseph said these words, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” ~ Genesis 50:20. To live all to the glory of God is to give Him thanks for all things. 4. Unto God and the Father A Christian is to give thanks to God the Father. All things are given by Him. James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” 5. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ The Lord Jesus Christ has been given a name that is above every name, and it is in His name in which a Christian is to give thanks. Colossians 1:17-18 “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” vs.18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” Dear Friends,
I pray that your season will be blessed. I know Christmas to be a time of rejoicing, remembering, and reaching. Rejoicing that we have a Saviour that loves us. Remembering His promises and the day we believed on Him to save us from sin. Reaching out to others with the precious Gospel – good tidings. Matthew 1:23 "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." God with us! I heard about two missionaries who were captured and imprisoned in the same cell but forbidden to speak to each other. Christmas came. One of the missionaries, shivering and silent, sat on the floor covered with hay. As he was playing with bits of hay around him, he thought that he discovered a silent way of communicating with his friend. He spelled out the word Immanuel. As soon as his friend saw the word, immediately he lit up with joy. They were captives, but they both believed that God was with them and that ultimate triumph would be theirs. To make Christ the center of Christmas and the center of your Life will only guarantee that God will be with you now and for all eternity no matter the circumstances. Luke 2:11 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Christ for us! Many people are left empty after the Christmas holidays. As the season of eating, drinking, and merry-making passes, so does the smile on people’s faces. This temporary happiness occurs as people forget the true meaning of Christmas. People must value the gift that was born to die on the tree (Cross). Grace Davidson took her four-year-old granddaughter to “big church” for the first time. She sat quietly taking in every aspect of the service and her attentive curiosity stayed in check until the pastoral prayer. The pastor said, “We thank You, Lord, for Your presence.” The little girl’s eyes flew open and she whispered to her grandmother, “Granny, we’re gonna get presents!” When you take Christ out of Christmas your life will only be unfilled. How much better it is to keep Christ the Lord the very center of Christmas and of our lives. Keep Christ in Christmas, and Christ in your lives. Someone once said that Xmas means Xhaustion, Xcuses, Xchanges, Xcesses, Xtravagances, Xasperations, Xhibitions and worldly Xcitement. How sad to see that many people do not know the true meaning for this season of Christmas. "Jesus is the Reason for the Season." He is the promised redeemer, the one that was born to die to save His people from their sin! Jesus is the greatest gift ever given to the world. Have you considered Him and received Him? Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Without Christ we do not have a Christmas. Without Christ we do not have forgiveness. Without Christ we do not have a purpose. I challenge you to leave Christ in Christmas and in the very center of your life. In Christ Alone, C Haddad - Galatians 2:20 W: www.gbbc.org.au I E: charlie@eternal.org.au I W: www.eternal.org.au M: Po Box 318 Kotara, NSW, 2289 I P: 0401 955 955 I P: (02) 4023 4889 Meeting: 135 Ambleside Cct, Lakelands I 10:30am & 5:30pm Sunday services |
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