Attitude of Gratitude 11/29/20

Attitude of Gratitude  (Deuteronomy 28:47,48)
this is a season of thanksgiving for some, but for the people of god every moment of the day is a season to give thanks


God has warned: if we don't serve Him with gladness of heart, He will cause our enemies to overtake us  Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; 48Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee. 

​War against the spirit of complaining
many things distract us and cause us to lose our praise
remember the word last week:  the power of praise!
we must be doers of the word

Think of the goodness of Jesus
understand our salvation, peace, victory over every plot and plan of the enemy
the enemy uses deception to get us into unbelief!
people focus on the confusion in the world rather than the blessings
our victory is in our praise!
we are in spiritual warfare

Praise invites the presence of the Lord
He inhabits the praises of his people
(Psalm 24 ) when we lift up our eyes, and hear the voice of God
the King of Glory shall come in
the battle is the Lord's
invite military might of the armies of the Lord!

Praise is a garment  (Isaiah 61:3) he gives us the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness
praise confounds the enemy's camp
as Gideon  the sound, the shout
Jehoshaphat sent the tribe of Judah first - praise first
depression must flee
even youth  are under anxiety and fear, hopelessness
don't be drawn into that spirit

don't  let down your weapon of praise 
Praise is a reminder to God and his angels 
let God arise and his enemies be scattered
You need to be reminded to rejoice
lose our joy, lose your strength
remember, He will fight the battles,   it is already won!

When you lose your praise:
it is the first sign of losing confidence in the faithfulness of God
you are opening the door for the spirit of unbelief
we have the warning of the lord to serve him with gladness of heart
(Deuteronomy 28:47) Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; 48Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.
we have been delivered out of darkness 
children of the light, yoked together with Christ
take my yoke upon you
do not allow the spirit of weariness to overtake you

HE IS  (see recording here)
signs of trusting Him
we are more than conquerors in Him
all things work together for our good
be encouraged to trust
(Hebrews 3)  take heed,  lest there be an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God

exhort one another daily 
many are weary, the strong bear the infirmities of the weak! (Romans 15:1)
be mindful of our brethren
lest any may seem to come short of the mark
overwhelmed by the cares of this world
take on the infirmities by intercession!
I have prayed for you that your faith fail not
that we rejoice in the Lord

Age of Deception
(Heb 3:13)  lest any be hardened through deceitfulness of sin
(Matt 24)  last days signs of His return
be not deceived,  fake news, etc.
Satan, the father of lies abode not in truth
lies of the enemy permeating the world like never before
"the very elect" would be deceived if possible
"Continue in my word"  then you shall know the truth
The devil will come in the form of a serpent
make sense to the natural mind 
challenge the enemy brings
hath God said?
Is he really involved
Satan says, "do it in our own strength"
God says, "trust in the lord with all our heart! lean not to your own understanding" (Prov. 3:5)
Satan is trying to draw us away, 

identify and agree with what God's word says
we are in a battle for the souls of men
keep the word of God in our mouths.  It gives us the victory in every battle
Israel began to question,  challenge God's love
complained to Moses, they were looking at the problems, giants and walled cities of this time
whose house are we if we hold fast to the promises unto the end
challenge people to stay focused on God not be distracted

Numbers 14
children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron  "would God we had died in the wilderness"
they forgot about the blessings God had brought them through
focused on present situations
Miriam and Israel had rejoiced in the entering in of what God promised
Christ is over his house and we continue to be if we hold fast the rejoicing to the end!

(check recording here)
hold fast, look at the finish line, don't get overwhelmed
they allowed 10 spies with an evil report,  allowed  to have their way
began to walk by sight instead of by faith
allowed the enemy to deceive
ways of man and declare it would be better

today: drawn away  into other religions, cultic practices, Catholicism, etc. - so many deceptions, mixture, and compromise
people are losing confidence in the word
be steadfast, immovable, let his praises be in our mouths! (I Corinthians 15:58)
the people wept that night lost confidence in 
god  wherefore hath the lord  brought us into this land
to destroy us
testing to endure and let us see where our confidence really is!
in the word of God or in man's political system?
God was not pleased, they could not enter in!

Don't lose hope now!  the return of the Lord is near  
(Heb 3 ) partakers if we hold firm unto the end,
why are thou disquieted within me?
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,  (Jude 1:20)
praying in the Holy Ghost stay in the love of God

if we love Him, we trust Him
TODAY if we will hear his voice harden not your hearts  (Heb 3:15)
we cannot forget what the Lord has promised
bless the Lord and forget not all his benefits
what God has already done
(2Peter 2:1)  he has given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness
Romans 8  how to live in the Spirit
(Romans 8:28)  all things work together

James (1:2) count it all joy ,  let patience have her perfect work
(verse 31) - what shall we say, if God be for us... how shall he not give us all things
in Him we have all things necessary for godliness 
victory over all deceptions of the enemy
(Romans 8:38)who shall separate us from the love of God
we are more than conquerors,  our confidence is in Him because of His love

closing:
Don't begin to murmur and complain
He has not failed you, rejoice in the Lord at all times
don't be moved by the giants
exhort one another daily with this message
He is our source!
we will continually give Him praise!