Today's thought begins with 2Corinthians 5:17 and enlarges from their. For We are New Creatures in Christ; "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2Corinthians 5:17)
Everyone who is "in Christ," through His faith not in His name old, are a "new creation." We are a new breed of people. We are no longer who we were before we put our trust in teachings of the Lord Jesus. We are not the old person reformed or improved; we are a "new creation." Yes, we have the same outer body shell, but that is a mere tent in which we and the Spirit of GOD dwells. "For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from GOD, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2Corinthians 5:1). The worlds earthy religions tell you "Some day in glory, we will trade this temporal, earthly tent for an eternal heavenly one." Meanwhile, though we live in the same old tent we had in Adam, we are now actively new tenants, a "new creation." The old man is dead by its self-for-self-will is dead in its sin and dead nature. We may have the same old physical brain, but we are learning to think an entirely new way. "We have the mind of Christ... be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2 and 1Corinthians 2:16). GODS Spirit is Christ living in us, and His Spirit also dwells in us. His Spirit takes the word of GOD and makes it a living reality as it unfolds the thinking of our LORD for us. As we embrace GOD's way of thinking more and more, we are transformed to walk in this newness that is ours as "in Christ."
In all the ways that matter before GOD, "old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." The old guilt and shame of an evil conscience is replaced by new forgiveness. "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus... in whom we have... the forgiveness of sins" (Romans 8:1 and Colossians 1:14).
The old foolishness of this worlds religions is replaced by new wisdom. "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with GOD... But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, Who became for us wisdom from God" (1Corinthians 3:19 and 1:30). The old unrighteousness is replaced with His own righteousness. "All our righteousnesses are like filthy rags... For He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of GOD in ["en" through Christ] Him" (Isaiah 64:6 and 2Corinthians 5:21). The old hope of changing (self-help) is replaced by new hope of changing (sanctification, GOD changing us). "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength... You are in Christ Jesus, Who became for us... sanctification" (Jeremiah 17:5 and 1Corinthians 1:30). This is grace upon grace.
Now we move on to today's subject of thanksgiving being enjoined in our prayer life of communion with GOD our Master and Father.
Thanksgiving enjoined,
1Chronicles 16:8 of 7-36 "Then on that day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the LORD by Asaph and his brothers.
Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works! (Share the) Glory in His Holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that HE has done, His miracles and the judgments HE uttered, O offspring of Israel His servant, children of Jacob, His chosen ones! He is the LORD our GOD; His judgments are in all the earth. Remember His covenant forever, the word that HE commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant that HE made with Abraham, His sworn promise to Isaac, which HE confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, "'To you I will give the land of Canaan, as your portion for an inheritance.'" When you were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it, wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, HE allowed no one to oppress them; HE rebuked kings on their account, saying, "'Touch not My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm!'" Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Tell of His [Redemption that brings His] salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and HE is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens [that contain this earth]. Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and joy are in His place. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring [your worship and praise as] an offering and come before Him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of [His] Holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth; yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!" Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for HE comes to judge the earth. Oh give thanks to the LORD, for HE is good; for His steadfast love endures forever! Say also: "Save us, O GOD of our salvation, and gather and deliver us from among the [earthy] nations, that we may give thanks (to) in Your Holy name and glory in Your praise. Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!" Then all the people said, "Amen!" and praised the LORD."
Psalm 50:14 of 7-15 "Hear, O My people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am GOD, your God. Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before Me. I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds. For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is Mine. 'If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are Mine. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Offer to GOD a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me."
Psalm 92:1 of 1-4 "It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your steadfast love in the morning, and Your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For You, O LORD, have made me glad by Your work; at the works of Your hands I sing for joy."
Ephesians 5:20 of 15-22, 23-24 "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will [law of His word, plan and purpose] of the LORD is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit [His anointing], addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the LORD with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to GOD the Father in [His greatness of name] the name of our Lord Jesus, Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, His body, and is Himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands."
Philippians 4:6 of 4-7 "Rejoice in the LORD always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The LORD is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to GOD. And the peace of GOD, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
1Thessalonians 5:18 of 12-22 "We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the LORD and admonish you, to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil (calling evil good and good evil in these days of darkness), but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of GOD in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything (Deuteronomy 18:15-22); hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil."
1Timothy 4:4 of 1-5 "Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by GOD is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made Holy by the word of GOD and prayer."
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