Wisdom From the Word

August 10, 2005


Ephesians 5:15-20: Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I want to focus one more week on the last verse in this passage, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here again is my list of 25 Biblical truths for which we can thank God. I will complete my comments this week on these Biblical truths.

  1. He chose us.
  2. He blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
  3. He predestined us to be adopted as sons.
  4. He redeemed us through his blood.
  5. He forgave our sins.
  6. He lavishes the riches of his grace on us.
  7. He marked us with the seal of the Holy Spirit.
  8. He seated us with Christ in heavenly places.
  9. He is preparing a place for our eternal future.
  10. He made us his workmanship to do good works.
  11. He is our peace.
  12. He is our righteousness.
  13. He is our provider.
  14. He is our shepherd.
  15. He is the author and finisher of our faith.
  16. He placed us in a great body of believers in which he dwells.
  17. He shares with us the treasures of his wisdom and knowledge.
  18. He gave ministry gifts to perfect us in him.
  19. He provided total victory.
  20. He provided our healing.
  21. He freed us from condemnation.
  22. He gives us all things.
  23. He never leaves us or forsakes us.
  24. He is our perpetual hope.
  25. He chose to live in us.
17. He shares with us the treasures of his wisdom and knowledge. Paul said of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:3 NIV) God desires to share the treasures of his wisdom and knowledge with his children.

Look at parts of two of Paul's prayers.

I mentioned last week that eternal life begins when a person is born again. Through the endless ages of eternity, God will reveal more and more of his wisdom and knowledge to us. There is an inexhaustible supply. God has begun the process of revelation in this life. Open your heart to receive the treasures of his wisdom and knowledge.

I thank God for the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, that he desires to share with me in Jesus Christ.

18. He gave ministry gifts to perfect us in him. God placed apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers in the church, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of God. (Ephesians 4:12-13 NIV)

God expects excellence and productive, fruitful ministry. So, he gifted and equipped men and women to function in these five ministry gifts to prepare God's people to mature, and to do the work of the ministry. God will always supply every tool that you need to obey him.

I thank God for the five fold ministry that God placed in the church to equip the church to fulfill her purpose in him.

19. He provided total victory. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:37 NIV)

Jesus provided total victory for us at the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. (Colossians 2:15 NIV)

Regardless of the situation you face today, God has provided total victory for you.

I thank God for total victory through Jesus.

20. He provided our healing. God has always desired health for his covenant children. The Word of God is chock-full of references to healing, and clearly expresses God's desire for his children to walk in health. In Exodus 15:26 God reveals himself as Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who is our healer. In Psalm 103 David said that God forgives all of our sins and heals all of our diseases. The Gospel writers recorded numerous accounts of healing in the ministry of Jesus. It is vital to note that Jesus never refused to heal anyone who approached him in faith. Matthew tied healing to the plan of redemption at the cross, when he said, "He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases." (Matthew 8:17b NIV) The book of Acts records the explosive growth of the church. That growth was greatly aided by regular demonstrations of the healing power of God. And James said, Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. (James 5:14-15 NIV)

I thank God for his provision of health and healing.

21. He freed us from condemnation. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1 NIV)

Condemnation is a common weapon of the adversary. God never condemns you. He may correct you, or even rebuke you strongly, but he never condemns you.

Satan is the "accuser of the brethern." When those negative, dark thoughts of condemnation attack your mind, recognize the source. Your loving God wants to encourage you and to build you up. Remember the accuser is a loser.

I thank God that he has set me free from condemnation.

22. He gives us all things. He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32 NIV)

No good thing does God withhold from his children. He wants to bless us beyond our wildest dreams. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. (Psalm 84:11 NIV)

I thank God that he desires to give to me and not to withhold.

23. He never leaves us or forsakes us. Because God has said, "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? (Hebrews 13:5b-6 NIV)

Because God never leaves us, we can speak and act with confidence. Because God never forsakes us, we can live without fear.

I think God for his abiding presence. I thank God that he will never leave me or forsake me.

24. He is our perpetual hope. One of the saddest conditions in life is hopelessness. Without hope we cannot function in this life in a productive manner. Without hope we cannot operate in faith because faith is being sure of what we hope for. (Hebrews 11:1a NIV)

But, we are not among those who have no hope. In Jesus Christ there is always hope. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27 NIV)

I thank God that Jesus Christ is my hope of glory.

25. He chose to live in us. God chose to never leave us or forsake us. In addition, under the New Covenant, he chose to live in us. The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (I John 4:4b NIV)

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you. (I Corinthians 3:16 NIV)

I am thankful that God lives in me through the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion

Continue to develop the habit of thanksgiving in your daily life. My list of 25 Biblical truths is the tip of the iceberg. There is so much for which we can thank God. When times are good, thank God. When times are bad, thank God.

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:15 KJV)

Thank God!!!




Wayne L. Williams
wayne@fotwm.org
Wisdom From the Word
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