Daily Bread 9/2/2023

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Daily Bread – September 2, 2023 (The Seventh Day – Genesis 2:1-3) Ephesians 5:19-20 – Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks at all times for all things to God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Giving Thanks & The Realm Of The Miraculous The giving of thanks is not only recognizing God is leading, protecting, and providing for you, but is also the realm of the Spirit where miracles take place. The first time this word ‘euchariteo’, “giving thanks” is used in the New Testament is in Matthew 15:36. At this giving of thanks by Jesus, the miraculous event of the multiplication of the seven loaves and a few fish took place. The very next time the word is used is when Jesus took the cup on Passover. He gave thanks and declared, “This is my blood of the New Testament” Matthew 26:27-28. The blood and body of Christ Jesus represents our communion, or fellowship, with God (1 Corinthians 10:16; John 6:53-58). This Eucharist, or communion, should give us confidence that the Holy Spirit is leading and guiding us into all truth, and therefore, whatever situation we find ourselves in, all things are working together for our good (Romans 8:28). Israel found themselves in many adverse situations during the first few months of their travel from Egypt to the Promised Land. Unfortunately, they were unwilling to recognize God was leading them and protecting them. As a result, they were unthankful and murmured against the situation and their leadership – which ultimately was a murmuring directed towards God, Himself. There is a warning in the book of Hebrews regarding how we should not fall into the same state of unbelief lest we end up like those unthankful Israelites (Hebrews 3:7-19). Romans 1:21 drives home the same point, emphasizing how the lack of thankfulness is a chief characteristic of the unbeliever. The passage of Scripture in Colossians which is almost a perfect match to this passage in Ephesians says, “Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do it all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him (Colossians 3:17). If we will allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with the Heavenly realm, then the Word of Christ will dwell in us richly, and we will view things from the perspective of faith realizing how all things are working together for our good. Be certain of this one thing: Whatever situation you find yourself in, God is establishing and building confidence, persistence, faithfulness, and trust (Romans 5:1-5, 8:18-30; 1 Peter 1:3-9). Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen