ACTS: Adoration, Confession, THANKSGIVING, Supplication

Thanksgiving should be always on our lips and in our hearts. More often than not, it is usually the first part of any prayers to God that comes out of my mouth, just as an instant reminder of how far I've been and how far I've come in my Christian life. We should not forget the first part of this acronym though, 'Adoration'. It is not we ourselves who have made us but God, the all powerful and omnipotent ruler of all the Universe.

Philippians 2:10 - 2:11

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;

11 And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Philippians-2-10_2-11/

We should never be like the nine of ten lepers who were cleansed by Jesus Christ. Only one leper returned to give thanks to God. Maybe none of us were cleansed of leprosy today, but a fate worse than death could have surely been given us if we were not Christians. Thankfulness should always be in our hearts and our minds, not just on a particularly American holiday called Thanksgiving.

Luke 17:11 - 17:19

11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

13 And they lifted up [their] voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

14 And when he saw [them], he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

16 And fell down on [his] face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where [are] the nine?

18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Luke-17-11_17-19/

We should also be thankful to all the relatives and friends who helped us along the way, lifting them up to God in thanksgiving, just as the first Americans who came from Europe did to their local benefactors who brought them corn, wild meat, and other food, during those first cold winters on American soil. The local Indian population was probably not aware of the first gifts of disease that the Europeans brought to them, like smallpox and other unknown curses at the time, but the holiday has been handed down as memorable and thankful, just the same. The people who win the wars get to write the history. It seems that tradition has it that all groups were thankful on that momentous day of Thanksgiving, when they all came together with loads of good food and great companionship.

The rest of the world knows almost nothing of the US American holiday called Thanksgiving, and many Christians are continually tormented and persecuted throughout the entire world. The spread of Christianity is of the utmost paramount importance of all the good works that are going on today. Food and clothing to the needy is not as important as the spread of Christianity to a continuously more and more evil world.

PERSECUTION

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN

https://www.persecution.org/

Understanding Persecution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCE1eIvTuOY

Seeking the Living Water this Thanksgiving

https://t.e2ma.net/share/inbound/t/2sps8g/mkgznpc

Luke 10:39 - 10:42

39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Luke-10-39_10-42/

Maybe all of us are a little too much like Martha, concerned about the serving of food on a beautiful day of Thanksgiving and should be more like Mary, who had chosen that better part, to be listening to the words of Jesus Christ. Gather your friends and relatives around you today and be thankful, but also giving attention to and speaking the words of Jesus Christ to a world that is completely lost. Reinforce the teachings of Christianity to all your family and friends, not just the parts about enjoying the benefits of a benevolent society. Remember always, that there is a whole other world out there, who thinks a warlord that was a mass murderer of Christians and Jews was the ultimate prophet of peace, and that his religion, which is really just a totalitarian political death cult, should be growing faster than Christianity.

John 14:27

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-14-27_Inspirational_Image/

November 22, 2018

Cliff Rhodes Christian Ministry