Thanksgiving as the basis of worship II

ByPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 4 minutes
Greetings to you, dear friends! Grace and peace to you from Father God and our Lord Jesus Christ! The Bible calls us to always rejoice and give thanks in everything. Yesterday we discussed that God seeks worshippers, because He wants to give them peace and fulfilment! Worship is the source of fulfilment, and thanksgiving is the foundation of true worship. We also talked about how the lack of gratitude robs a person of the joy of fellowship with God and the joy of the ministry to God. Today let’s look at the life of Joseph and see what the place of thanksgiving was in his life. God did so much for Joseph. He saved his life when his brothers wanted to kill him. God showed him favor when he was sold into slavery. God abundantly blessed the work of his hands that his master placed him over his whole property. Joseph never forgot these blessings from the Lord. The realizations of God’s mercy filled Joseph’s heart with gratitude toward God and his master. It was his grateful heart that did not allow Joseph to hurt or grieve God: 
 «And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, „Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”»(Genesis, 39:7-9).
 If we forget where God has brought us from, then our hearts get filled with arrogance and pride and our bond with God weakens. A grateful heart always ties a person to God. Many of us today could have been alcoholics if not for God’s grace that touched our lives. Many of us could have destroyed our lives if not for God Who intervened and changed our lives. Many of us would have been slaves to sin, if not for God’s great mercy that made us the servants of God. That is why Apostle Paul wrote: 
 «I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be confirmed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God» (Romans, 12:1-2).
 Pall calls us to remember God’s mercy, give ourselves to Him, serve Him, seek His will and live for Him. When you live having a realization of God’s mercy, then your heart is filled with gratitude and then it is easy to live for God and other people. Gratitude births sacrificial living and ministry, and a sacrificial living kills lust. The world today is destroyed by different forms of lust. Sacrificial living is the alternative of lust! 
«…by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust» (2 Peter, 1:4).
 Lust means to seek self-gratification. The Bible says though: 
 «Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interest of others» (Philippians, 2:4).
 When a person realizes the part God and other people play in his life, he cannot keep living for himself only. Gratitude causes a desire to live sacrificially and help others. First of all, we must give thanks to God Who has given us life. It says in the Bible for all that have breath to praise God: 
«Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD! » (Psalm, 150:6).
 Our every breath is a gift from God. We must be grateful to God for our every breath. A grateful heart makes a person into an effective minister to God. Commitment to God and ministry to people are expressions of our gratitude to God Who shows us mercy. Just like faith without works is dead, so our gratitude cannot be expressed in words only. True gratitude will inevitable be confirmed by the work of ministry of God and people. May this day be the day when you will look out not only for yourself, but also for the others! We will continue tomorrow! God bless you! Pastor Rufus Ajiboye

Support us so we can do more

We’ll get right to the point: we’re asking you to help us support our Church online minisry. We’re a nonprofit that relies on support from people like you. If everyone reading this gives €12 monthly, Spirit and Truth city Church can continue to thrive for years.

Similar Posts

  • The implanted Word of God changes an individual: his reactions, emotions, behaviour III

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 5 minutes
    «For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope»(Jeremiah, 29:11)I just want to tell you one important thing today; this might apply to just one, two or three people, but it is worth mentioning: if you have been filling your heart with God’s Word for a long time and have been guarding your heart, but you do not yet see the results or fruit, it means God is putting in you a very deep and solid foundation, because He is going to raise a strong and important structure.

  • Discipline opens the door for success and promotion in our lives!

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 3 minutes
    So, we get different ideas about changing our life, but these ideas do not come to pass automatically. An idea must grow into a desire. Then as a desire grows stronger, a person makes a decision, and that’s when it gets more serious! But many people stop at this point. The thing is that you must go from a decision to some actions. A decision must turn into actions if you want to see any real changes in your life.

  • What is a breakthrough?

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 4 minutes
    In order to experience a breakthrough, it is necessary to understand what it is and why we need it.These are some explanations what is meant when we talk about breakthrough:Breakthrough – it destroys any barriers (satanic or human) that put limitations in our lives. Breakthrough – it changes your tragedies into testimonies. Breakthrough – it turns your illnesses into wellbeing. Breakthrough – it changes your disappointments into opportunities. Breakthrough – it provides transition from hardships to comfort.

  • The lordship of Jesus Christ V

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 4 minutes
    «All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…» (Mathew, 28:18-19).Jesus told us to walk through this life, being armed with the understanding that all God’s authority is behind us. The will of God for us contains prosperity, health, salvation (both for us personally and for our families), peace and harmony; the will of God is for all people to come to salvation and knowledge of truth. But too often we see discrepancies in many areas of our life. Those areas where the will of God is not fulfilled are actually ruled by the devil; somehow we have given him a place and control over these areas.

  • Fear not, stand up and go and God will be with you!

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 4 minutes
    It´s also important to know that Jesus knows everything, He possesses all hidden information, necessary for our mission. That´s why obedience to the Lord who knows everything is vitally important! When Jesus had a need for a donkey to ride upon to Jerusalem, He knew where to find the animal. He knew where to go and find that donkey. He knew how to bring that donkey to Him.