Sermon Title: Gratitude: the key to activating your S.H.I.E.L.D. of Faith!
“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Ephesians 6:16)
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
To be contend for the day; be grateful to others.
To be contend forevermore; be grateful to God, our Heavenly Father.
Gratitude to God is the only key to activating your faith in Christ.
All other means of activating your faith in Christ are merely attempts at fulfilling your personal goal of ‘being’ a christian; failing to ever achieve true faith in Jesus as one who is “joined with Him” (1 Corinthians 6:17)
In solely desiring to be ‘known’ as a Christian – without the gratuitous resolve to “know Christ” (Philippians 3:10) - the true wickedness of the person is revealed as a charlatan who has successfully deceived himself or herself, whilst deceiving the rest of the world.
Bitterness is the only outcome of those who pursue Christianity merely as a lifestyle or religion.
No.
The true Christian pursues Christ alone; and the true Christian cannot exist without an eternal and infinite gratitude to the Heavenly Father.
To know Christ is “to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10); of which, the only real response is an infinite and immense gratitude to God.
Unless gratitude to God becomes the only impulse and impetus for Christian life, the seeker is inclined and doomed to a life of deep bitterness and contempt; till such time they die to self, and become unreservedly grateful to God.
An authentic faith in Jesus comes about only if you are grateful for His Salvation.
A faith that transcends every trial and tribulation is a faith that is centred solely and wholly on Jesus Christ by means of the utterly thankful heart for what it costs God to save us.
Are you grateful for His Salvation?
If you are, you would be grateful that you are called to this spiritual war that is waged against the forces of darkness.
If you are truly grateful for His Salvation, you would be grateful to be called to:
- A life of Holiness;
- A life of integrity;
- A life empowered by the Holy Spirit to be Christ’s witness to the world;
- A life manifesting God’s love; and
- A life completely devoted to His Kingdom’s cause.
Why would you choose holiness over worldliness?
Because you are grateful to God; in utter appreciation that you must be holy – just as He is holy. (Ref: Leviticus 11:44)
Why would you choose the discipline of spiritual integrity?
Because you are grateful to God; in utter appreciation for the life of absolute commitment and strictest discipleship unto Christ – such that your pre-occupation in life is to die to self, daily pick up your cross and follow Jesus. (Ref: Matthew 16:24, Romans 6:6)
Why would you choose to be filled with the Power of the Holy Spirit and preach the good news with your very life?
Because you are grateful to God – and for His Salvation over you – to the point that you would freely risk your reputation and even life, to preach His good news.
Why would you choose to manifest the love of God; and reject every way, form or shape of love that is not of God?
Because you are grateful to God – having experienced His love that you have decided to never desire anything else but to solely love God and love our neighbours as He has commanded us. (Mark 12:30-31)
Why would you choose to devote your entire life to the Kingdom of God, instead of fulfilling your own dreams or silencing your own anxieties?
Because you are grateful to God – having personally experienced that in Him, you lack nothing. (Ref: Psalm 23:1)
Your faith in Christ is activated when you are grateful that faith comes from God; and that – like a shield - it can indeed “extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
Be grateful that God has given you the shield of faith; use it!
Fight every fear with faith in God!
Faith is real! Fear is not!
Danger is real. That is why we steer clear of danger. Sin is dangerous, and thus, real. We can lose our lives if we keep on sinning. For that reason, we steer clear of sin and live holy lives in Christ. (Ref: Hebrews 10:26-30)
If your faith has truly triumph over fear, what should remain is that fear stops being real to you – only your faith in God.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)
To the Christian, fear cannot be real; for Christ has overcome the world. (Ref: John 16:33)
There is nothing we should fear, except the Lord our God (Ref: Psalm 33:8, Matthew 10:28) – who loved us, saved us, and given us the gift of eternal life. (Romans 6:23)
Fear is the irrational and unwarranted anxiety of a negative outcome which would mostly never happen; but if it does, is mitigated by the knowledge that our God is also our loving, faithful and victorious Saviour!
When you are grateful to the Lord for everything, fear would immediately cease to exist in your life.
Which is why, our prayers must manifest our loudest shouts of thanksgiving and our deepest expressions of gratitude for His goodness in our lives – in spite of our circumstances.
“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
To be thankful to God is His Will for us in Christ Jesus; for if we already have victory over death through our Lord Jesus Christ, what more do we need? What more can we want?
“ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,” (Hebrews 12:28)
Our eternal reality in the Kingdom of God is fully established through Christ’s finished work on the Cross.
What remains for us is to simply live by faith; and be thankful to God – which would posture us to “worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”
The Apostle Paul also shows us in Colossians 2:6-7:
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
To live our lives in Christ is to constantly overflow with thanksgiving unto Him; and be assured that we would be strengthened in the faith – having been “rooted and built upon in Him.”
In our lives, we must constantly be found in the presence of Christ, our Saviour and Shepherd; and the only expression necessary from us in word and deed – that awakens our unshakable and unstoppable faith in Him – is when we conscientiously draw from the deepest well of gratitude from within us and give our utmost thanks to Him.
In this uncertain world fraught with brokenness, death and despair, we all need faith in the living God, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who has conquered the grave; and has a perfect plan for the world.
May you never “be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
You may be faced with an impossibly difficult and disturbing situation in your life – immediately give thanks to the Lord who will help and deliver you, giving you courage and wisdom to traverse the storm in the strength of His peace.
Remember. This is through His divine means, and in His divine time – not yours.
You may be faced with a crippling sickness or even death – immediately give thanks to the Lord for His assurance of eternal life, having been given an imperishable body; and citizenship in His Coming, Perfect Kingdom.
In all circumstances, give thanks to God.
Remember.
In Christ, you are saved even though you are going through the fiercest storms of life. (Ref: Isaiah 43:2, John 16:33)
In Christ, you have eternal life even though your body is wasting away. (Ref: John 10:10, 2 Corinthians 4:16)
Gratitude to God is the only key to activating your faith in Christ.
In all circumstances, give thanks to God - your faith in Christ will surely grow more and more; and your relationship with Him established for all eternity.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Lord, I am grateful to You in every circumstance; for I know that You are a good, faithful, and loving God.
In my uttermost gratitude to You, O God, I ask that You would activate supernatural faith in Christ Jesus my Lord and Saviour all the days of my life.
That just as Christ is unshakable and unstoppable, my faith would be unshakable and unstoppable; that just as Christ is victorious, I would be victorious over all trials and tribulation.
May I be joined with You, Lord Jesus (Ref: 1 Corinthians 6:17); that with gratuitous resolve, I would come into the deepest, and most personal relationship with You.
Holy Spirit, help me to know Christ, and “to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death” (Philippians 3:10).
I am infinitely and immensely grateful for the divine privilege of knowing You, my Lord; I am grateful for Your Love and Salvation over my life; I am grateful to be called to this spiritual war against the forces of darkness – empowered by the Holy Spirit to be Your Witness to the world (Ref: Acts 1:8) – and called to a life of divine holiness, integrity, love and devotion to You and Your Kingdom’s cause.
With Your Power in my life, I raise my faith-shield to “extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
I fight every fear with faith in God!
I reject all forms and notions of fear in my life, save my fear for You, O God!
In my faith and gratitude unto You, O Lord, I declare that all fear cease to exist in my life and paradigm with immediate effect!
I place my trust in You alone! You are my Lord, my Light and my Salvation! (Ref: Psalm 27:1); You have given me victory over darkness and death, Lord Jesus! (Ref: 1 Corinthians 15:57)
With utter gratefulness to You, O God, I receive Your guaranteed gift of an eternal and unshakable Kingdom.
I will rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances – for this is Your Will for me in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
I choose to live by faith, and not by sight (Ref: 2 Corinthians 5:7) – and be constantly found in the holy posture to “worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”
Holy Spirit, fill me with Your Presence, Purpose and Power – and bring me into real relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ref: Ephesians 5:18-20)
Though I may be “pressed on every side”, perplexed, persecuted and struck down (Ref: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9), I will unceasingly thank You for Your healing; for Your deliverance; and for Your Power to always be faithful and grateful unto You.
And thank You for Your gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus. (Ref: Romans 6:23)
May Your Life be revealed in my body. (Ref: 2 Corinthians 4:10)
May my life overflow with thanksgiving unto You; and may my heart overflow with faith in You – from now unto eternity.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Ephesians 6:16)
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
To be contend for the day; be grateful to others.
To be contend forevermore; be grateful to God, our Heavenly Father.
Gratitude to God is the only key to activating your faith in Christ.
All other means of activating your faith in Christ are merely attempts at fulfilling your personal goal of ‘being’ a christian; failing to ever achieve true faith in Jesus as one who is “joined with Him” (1 Corinthians 6:17)
In solely desiring to be ‘known’ as a Christian – without the gratuitous resolve to “know Christ” (Philippians 3:10) - the true wickedness of the person is revealed as a charlatan who has successfully deceived himself or herself, whilst deceiving the rest of the world.
Bitterness is the only outcome of those who pursue Christianity merely as a lifestyle or religion.
No.
The true Christian pursues Christ alone; and the true Christian cannot exist without an eternal and infinite gratitude to the Heavenly Father.
To know Christ is “to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10); of which, the only real response is an infinite and immense gratitude to God.
Unless gratitude to God becomes the only impulse and impetus for Christian life, the seeker is inclined and doomed to a life of deep bitterness and contempt; till such time they die to self, and become unreservedly grateful to God.
An authentic faith in Jesus comes about only if you are grateful for His Salvation.
A faith that transcends every trial and tribulation is a faith that is centred solely and wholly on Jesus Christ by means of the utterly thankful heart for what it costs God to save us.
Are you grateful for His Salvation?
If you are, you would be grateful that you are called to this spiritual war that is waged against the forces of darkness.
If you are truly grateful for His Salvation, you would be grateful to be called to:
- A life of Holiness;
- A life of integrity;
- A life empowered by the Holy Spirit to be Christ’s witness to the world;
- A life manifesting God’s love; and
- A life completely devoted to His Kingdom’s cause.
Why would you choose holiness over worldliness?
Because you are grateful to God; in utter appreciation that you must be holy – just as He is holy. (Ref: Leviticus 11:44)
Why would you choose the discipline of spiritual integrity?
Because you are grateful to God; in utter appreciation for the life of absolute commitment and strictest discipleship unto Christ – such that your pre-occupation in life is to die to self, daily pick up your cross and follow Jesus. (Ref: Matthew 16:24, Romans 6:6)
Why would you choose to be filled with the Power of the Holy Spirit and preach the good news with your very life?
Because you are grateful to God – and for His Salvation over you – to the point that you would freely risk your reputation and even life, to preach His good news.
Why would you choose to manifest the love of God; and reject every way, form or shape of love that is not of God?
Because you are grateful to God – having experienced His love that you have decided to never desire anything else but to solely love God and love our neighbours as He has commanded us. (Mark 12:30-31)
Why would you choose to devote your entire life to the Kingdom of God, instead of fulfilling your own dreams or silencing your own anxieties?
Because you are grateful to God – having personally experienced that in Him, you lack nothing. (Ref: Psalm 23:1)
Your faith in Christ is activated when you are grateful that faith comes from God; and that – like a shield - it can indeed “extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
Be grateful that God has given you the shield of faith; use it!
Fight every fear with faith in God!
Faith is real! Fear is not!
Danger is real. That is why we steer clear of danger. Sin is dangerous, and thus, real. We can lose our lives if we keep on sinning. For that reason, we steer clear of sin and live holy lives in Christ. (Ref: Hebrews 10:26-30)
If your faith has truly triumph over fear, what should remain is that fear stops being real to you – only your faith in God.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)
To the Christian, fear cannot be real; for Christ has overcome the world. (Ref: John 16:33)
There is nothing we should fear, except the Lord our God (Ref: Psalm 33:8, Matthew 10:28) – who loved us, saved us, and given us the gift of eternal life. (Romans 6:23)
Fear is the irrational and unwarranted anxiety of a negative outcome which would mostly never happen; but if it does, is mitigated by the knowledge that our God is also our loving, faithful and victorious Saviour!
When you are grateful to the Lord for everything, fear would immediately cease to exist in your life.
Which is why, our prayers must manifest our loudest shouts of thanksgiving and our deepest expressions of gratitude for His goodness in our lives – in spite of our circumstances.
“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
To be thankful to God is His Will for us in Christ Jesus; for if we already have victory over death through our Lord Jesus Christ, what more do we need? What more can we want?
“ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,” (Hebrews 12:28)
Our eternal reality in the Kingdom of God is fully established through Christ’s finished work on the Cross.
What remains for us is to simply live by faith; and be thankful to God – which would posture us to “worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”
The Apostle Paul also shows us in Colossians 2:6-7:
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
To live our lives in Christ is to constantly overflow with thanksgiving unto Him; and be assured that we would be strengthened in the faith – having been “rooted and built upon in Him.”
In our lives, we must constantly be found in the presence of Christ, our Saviour and Shepherd; and the only expression necessary from us in word and deed – that awakens our unshakable and unstoppable faith in Him – is when we conscientiously draw from the deepest well of gratitude from within us and give our utmost thanks to Him.
In this uncertain world fraught with brokenness, death and despair, we all need faith in the living God, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who has conquered the grave; and has a perfect plan for the world.
May you never “be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
You may be faced with an impossibly difficult and disturbing situation in your life – immediately give thanks to the Lord who will help and deliver you, giving you courage and wisdom to traverse the storm in the strength of His peace.
Remember. This is through His divine means, and in His divine time – not yours.
You may be faced with a crippling sickness or even death – immediately give thanks to the Lord for His assurance of eternal life, having been given an imperishable body; and citizenship in His Coming, Perfect Kingdom.
In all circumstances, give thanks to God.
Remember.
In Christ, you are saved even though you are going through the fiercest storms of life. (Ref: Isaiah 43:2, John 16:33)
In Christ, you have eternal life even though your body is wasting away. (Ref: John 10:10, 2 Corinthians 4:16)
Gratitude to God is the only key to activating your faith in Christ.
In all circumstances, give thanks to God - your faith in Christ will surely grow more and more; and your relationship with Him established for all eternity.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Lord, I am grateful to You in every circumstance; for I know that You are a good, faithful, and loving God.
In my uttermost gratitude to You, O God, I ask that You would activate supernatural faith in Christ Jesus my Lord and Saviour all the days of my life.
That just as Christ is unshakable and unstoppable, my faith would be unshakable and unstoppable; that just as Christ is victorious, I would be victorious over all trials and tribulation.
May I be joined with You, Lord Jesus (Ref: 1 Corinthians 6:17); that with gratuitous resolve, I would come into the deepest, and most personal relationship with You.
Holy Spirit, help me to know Christ, and “to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death” (Philippians 3:10).
I am infinitely and immensely grateful for the divine privilege of knowing You, my Lord; I am grateful for Your Love and Salvation over my life; I am grateful to be called to this spiritual war against the forces of darkness – empowered by the Holy Spirit to be Your Witness to the world (Ref: Acts 1:8) – and called to a life of divine holiness, integrity, love and devotion to You and Your Kingdom’s cause.
With Your Power in my life, I raise my faith-shield to “extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
I fight every fear with faith in God!
I reject all forms and notions of fear in my life, save my fear for You, O God!
In my faith and gratitude unto You, O Lord, I declare that all fear cease to exist in my life and paradigm with immediate effect!
I place my trust in You alone! You are my Lord, my Light and my Salvation! (Ref: Psalm 27:1); You have given me victory over darkness and death, Lord Jesus! (Ref: 1 Corinthians 15:57)
With utter gratefulness to You, O God, I receive Your guaranteed gift of an eternal and unshakable Kingdom.
I will rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances – for this is Your Will for me in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
I choose to live by faith, and not by sight (Ref: 2 Corinthians 5:7) – and be constantly found in the holy posture to “worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”
Holy Spirit, fill me with Your Presence, Purpose and Power – and bring me into real relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ref: Ephesians 5:18-20)
Though I may be “pressed on every side”, perplexed, persecuted and struck down (Ref: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9), I will unceasingly thank You for Your healing; for Your deliverance; and for Your Power to always be faithful and grateful unto You.
And thank You for Your gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus. (Ref: Romans 6:23)
May Your Life be revealed in my body. (Ref: 2 Corinthians 4:10)
May my life overflow with thanksgiving unto You; and may my heart overflow with faith in You – from now unto eternity.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.