Thanking God for his Sovereignty in Answering Prayers

Psalm 107:21-22

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 22And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

JESUS WOULD GIVE THANKS EVEN BEFORE HIS PRAYER WAS ANSWERED

‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭41‬-‭43‬

“Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!””

EVEN IF YOUR PRAYERS HAVE NOT YET BEEN ANSWERED THANK GOD BECAUSE HE IS A PRAYER HEARING GOD, AND HE WILL ANSWER IN HIS OWN TIME.

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭65‬:‭2‬

“O You who hear prayer, To You all flesh will come.”

Ephesians 5:19-20

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

Gratitude, rejoicing, benevolence, trust in God’s love and care—these are health’s greatest safeguard. To the Israelites they were to be the very keynote of life. - (Ministry of Healing p. 281)

Philippians 4:6

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Let us not be always thinking of our wants and never of the benefits we receive. We do not pray any too much, but we are too sparing of giving thanks. We are the constant recipients of God’s mercies, and yet how little gratitude we express, how little we praise Him for what He has done for us. – {Steps to Christ p.102.2}

Psalm 103:1-5

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

THANK GOD EVEN FOR UNANSWERED PRAYERS ACCORDING TO HIS SOVEREIGNT. JESUS, MOSES AND PAUL WERE DENIED OF THEIR REQUESTS

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭39‬

“He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.””

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭3‬:‭25‬-‭26‬

“I pray, let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, those pleasant mountains, and Lebanon.’ “But the Lord was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me. So the Lord said to me: ‘Enough of that! Speak no more to Me of this matter.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬-‭10‬

“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

When our prayers seem not to be answered, we are to cling to the promise; for the time of answering will surely come, and we shall receive the blessing we need most. But to claim that prayer will always be answered in the very way and for the particular thing that we desire, is presumption. God is too wise to err, and too good to withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly. Then do not fear to trust Him, even though you do not see the immediate answer to your prayers. Rely upon His sure promise, “Ask, and it shall be given you.” – {Steps to Christ p. 96.2}

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭71‬

“It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.”

Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” ‭‭

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18‬

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Day 10 UNLEASHED FOR MISSION! Practice Radical Generosity

NO ONE WILL EVER BE POOR BY BEING GENEROUS

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭28‬:‭27‬

“He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.”

The spirit of liberality is the spirit of heaven. This spirit finds its highest manifestation in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross...The cross of Calvary should appeal to the benevolence of every follower of the Saviour. The principle there illustrated is to give, give... On the other hand, the spirit of selfishness is the spirit of Satan. The principle illustrated in the lives of worldlings is to get, get. Thus they hope to secure happiness and ease, but the fruit of their sowing is misery and death. – {Acts of the Apostles p. 339}

1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭18‬

“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

Search heaven and earth, and there is no truth revealed more powerful than that which is made manifest in works of mercy to those who need our sympathy and aid. This is the truth as it is in Jesus. When those who profess the name of Christ shall practice the principles of the golden rule, the same power will attend the gospel as in apostolic times. (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 137)

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭32‬-‭37‬

“Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

This liberality on the part of the believers was the result of the outpouring of the Spirit. The converts to the gospel were “of one heart and of one soul.” One common interest controlled them—the success of the mission entrusted to them; and covetousness had no place in their lives. Their love for their brethren and the cause they had espoused, was greater than their love of money and possessions. Their works testified that they accounted the souls of men of higher value than earthly wealth. (The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 70, 71)

THIS LIBERALITY WAS NOT FORCED BUT WAS VOLUNTARY PROMPTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬-‭7‬

“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”

God does not compel men to give. All that they give must be voluntary. He will not have His treasury replenished with unwilling offerings. – {Counsels on Stewardship p. 69.2}

WE SHOULD NOT PRESSURE PEOPLE TO GIVE BEYOND THEIR CAPACITY. THEY ARE TO GIVE CONSTRAINED BY THE LOVE OF CHRIST

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭12‬-‭14‬

Thus it will ever be when the Spirit of God takes possession of the life. Those whose hearts are filled with the love of Christ, will follow the example of Him who for our sake became poor, that through His poverty we might be made rich. Money, time, influence—all the gifts they have received from God's hand, they will value only as a means of advancing the work of the gospel. (The Acts of the Apostles, p. 71)

2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬-‭15‬

“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”

Day 9 UNLEASHED FOR MISSION! See and Care for the Forgotten

THERE ARE BLESSING UNTOLD IN HAVING COMPASSION AND CARE FOR THE UNDERPRIVILEGED

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭41‬:‭1‬-‭3‬

“Blessed is he who considers the poor; The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive, And he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭17‬

“He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭37‬-‭40‬

““Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”

LOVE AND CARE FOR PEOPLE SHOULD GO BEYOND THE MATERIAL

‭‭Acts‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭8‬

“Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.”

Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, “Follow Me.” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 143).

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭35‬-‭36‬

“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.”

There is need of coming close to the people by personal effort. If less time were given to sermonizing, and more time were spent in personal ministry, greater results would be seen. The poor are to be relieved, the sick cared for, the sorrowing and the bereaved comforted, the ignorant instructed, the inexperienced counseled. We are to weep with those that weep, and rejoice with those that rejoice. Accompanied by the power of persuasion, the power of prayer, the power of the love of God, this work will not, cannot, be without fruit. (The Ministry of Healing, pp. 143, 144)

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭37‬-‭38‬

“Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.””