THANKLESSNESS IS A RISK – BISHOP DAVID OYEDEPO.
THANKSGIVING IS THE EASIEST WAY OF OVERCOMING UNTHANKFULNESS.
THANKSGIVING IS A CHOICE, NOT A GIFT.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO BE THANKFUL, GOD WILL ENSURE YOUR TANK IS FULL.
TO BE UNGRATEFUL IS TO BE A GREAT FOOL.
THANKSGIVING IS THE GLUE THAT HELPS TO FIRMLY ATTACH YOUR BLESSINGS TO YOU – PAPA ENOCH ADEBOYE.
THOSE WHO ARE GRATEFUL ALWAYS END UP GREAT.
ETERNAL LIFE IS A GIFT. WE MUST LEARN TO FOCUS ON THE GIVER (GOD) SO WE CAN ENJOY THE GIFT.
THANKSGIVING HELPS US TO FOCUS ON GOD.
YOU MAY NOT BE WHERE YOU WISH TO BE BUT YOU ARE NOT WHERE YOU USED TO BE. BE THANKFUL.
IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THE MINISTRY, WE HAD ONE PERSON USING 3 BENCHES TO HIMSELF DURING SERVICES BECAUSE WE WERE JUST 17 MEMBERS.
NOW, GOD HAS MOVED US FROM THAT TO THE FAITH TABERNACLE AND VERY SOON, TO THE ARK.
IF YOU DON’T WANT GOD’s BLESSING UPON YOUR LIFE TO BE CORRUPTED, BE THANKFUL.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO FEEL LIKE IT BEFORE GIVING THANKS. WE WALK BY FAITH NOT BY FEELINGS.
NO MATTER YOUR PRESENT SITUATION, DON’T LOSE YOUR JOY.
NO ONE WANTS TO GET MARRIED TO SOMEONE WHO IS NEVER JOYFUL.
GOD’s RESOURCES ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH TO MEET OUR NEEDS.
AS LONG AS WE KEEP APPRECIATING GOD, OUR SOURCE, WE WILL EASILY CONNECT TO HIS RESOURCES.
– Pastor Faith Oyedepo on “ENGAGING THE MYSTERY OF THANKSGIVING TO FLOURISHING IN HARD TIMES” || SHILOH 2023 HOUR OF VISITATION, THIRD WORD SESSION || REDEEMED TO FLOURISH IN HARD TIMES || Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota. ||
In this segment, we are looking at this subject captioned ‘ENGAGING THE MYSTERY OF THANKSGIVING TO FLOURISHING IN HARD TIMES’. By way of introduction, it is very important for us to understand that the Scripture makes it very clear that thanksgiving or lack of thanksgiving is one of the end time plagues. Church Gist. Thanklessness is one of the end time plagues. 2 Timothy 3:1,2. ‘Unthankful’ So, thanklessness is one of the plagues this end time.
– That plague will not succeed in catching you and I.
God’s Servant, Bishop David Oyedepo, has said that thanklessness is a risk. It’s a terrible risk and it’s catching the World like wildfire. Church Gist. Of course, as the times begin to get harder, men shall begin to complain more, grumble the more, become unthankful the more because of the hardness of the season.
– But I’ve got good news for somebody here today. No matter how unthankful men in this World might become, that plague will not catch you or I.
Can I hear the loudest Amen?
It’s a plague. You find many complaining on our streets today of every…many things that don’t even concern them. They complain about the weather. If it’s hot, they complain it’s hot. If it rains, they complain it’s cold. Complain of traffic, complain of hikes in prices of things, complain even about their husbands, wives, children, jobs. Many are looking for jobs, yet many have jobs, they are complaining of it. Complaints on the streets is (are) just beginning. It is one of the plagues and the mystery of thanksgiving is one of the easiest ways of overcoming it.
– You and I will overcome.
Thanksgiving, we must understand, is one of the mysteries of the Kingdom ordained for our mastery.
– Whatever may be pulling others down, with thanksgiving, you and I will rise up.
Thanksgiving is ordained for our flourishing, especially in hard times and you know what? The good news is, thanksgiving is a choice, it is not a gift. Church Gist. No one has the gift of Thanksgiving. To be thankful is a choice and you and I have the power to make that choice.
– Would you lift your right hand to God and say with me loud and clear ‘I choose to be thankful’ Say it like you believe it.
– If you make that choice, then God will empower your choice and my choice and today, I see God empowering our choice to be thankful.
We’ve been told over and again, when things get tough and you don’t know what else to do, thanksgiving is what to do. I don’t know who you are this morning, I don’t know the challenge of life you might be confronted with, maybe your career, family, finances, your health, whatever it may be. Church Gist. I’ve got good news for you today, if you choose to be thankful, God will ensure your tank is full.
– Can I hear a believing Amen?
It’s very important for us to join the Psalmist. Psalm 139:14. Say with me, ‘I am fearfully and wonderfully made’ Please, turn to your neighbour, convince him or her ‘You are fearfully and wonderfully made’
– Shout a believing Amen.
Therefore, as believers, we must learn to be thankful. We must learn, we must make a choice and make it a lifestyle to be thankful. Think of this. We are told that the human body is made of 78 major organs. As you are seated, or you are standing, wherever you may be right now, outside or anywhere across the Globe. That you that is sitting down there or standing, we are told it is made up of 78 major organs. Church Gist. How many? In case we don’t know all of them, at least, we know some of them. These organs can be divided into 2 major parts. External organs that you and I can see physically with our eyes and the internal ones that we may not be able to see physically. Now, imagine, let’s start from the top. You have a head, can you touch your head, please? You have the eyes, touch your eyes. The ear, you can continue to name the organs, right? The ear. Next? Yes, the nose. What are you using to speak right now? (Mouth) Inside your mouth, you have what? (teeth) and then next what? (tongue) and then you have your neck. You keep going down, your shoulder, your hand. Church Gist. Lift your hand. Your fingers, wave it. You can see how many organs are there in your body. Your waist, yes. Your knee, your leg, your toes and then, the list goes on and on. God has given you wonderful feet that some persons are even wearing right now as shoes. Given you a wonderful head. We have men with all kinds of haircuts and ladies with all kinds of hairstyles. External organs.
Now, let’s take a look at the internal ones that we may not be able to see right now with our physical eyes. You have the heart. Isn’t it? You have your brain. You have your scalp. Your lungs. Can you see your lungs right now? Your liver. Your intestine. The bone, your muscles and then, the list goes on and on. Church Gist. Minimum, 78 major organs. How many of your organs are working? So, why should you and I not be thankful? Even if only one seems not to be working. Take 1 out of 78, what percentage is that? Is that an A in an examination? Or a B? or a C? So, why should you and I not be thankful?
– Lift your right hand again to God and say with me ‘Father, I am thankful’
– Shout a believing Amen.
Do you know that we are told that your heart beats 115,000 times every day? Has your heart ever stopped beating for one day? What’s your answer, please? Definitely no! If it stops beating 1 minute, that will be the end.
– But that’s not you!
God has kept your heart and my heart beating since the day you were born, 115,000 times every day. I don’t know how old you are. Please multiply that with your age. Church Gist. How many times has it been beating? Hello? How many times has it been beating? Can you calculate it?
– Say, ‘My Father, I thank you’
You know, the challenges most of the time, we only appreciate those organs when they are not functioning well. Sometime this year, I had a challenge with some of my tooth (teeth) and then, for that period of time, I couldn’t eat with one side of my mouth, then I realized how important my teeth were.
– May you not lose any of your organs.
You know, when you are eating, I never realized before then that I needed both sides of my mouth to be able to chew. Church Gist. At that period, I had to eat more slowly. Why? Because just one of the organs was challenged.
– But no matter where you may be right now and no matter what organ of your body may be challenged. With the mystery of Thanksgiving, you are coming out.
We’ve heard this here over and again, to be ungrateful is to be a great fool and those who are grateful always end up great.
– You shall be great.
Psalm 34:1. Somebody says ‘Well, I’ve been going through things o. You don’t know my situation or condition’ The truth is, you might have gone through the water and the fire that the Bible tells us, but you are going through, you are not staying there. Church Gist. You are going where? You are going through. You are not staying there.
– God is not through with you yet and He is bringing you out.
God’s Servant has said over and again, if you have lost anything, know that God is the reason why you have not lost everything.
– No matter what the enemy might have stolen from you before now, as you put the mystery of Thanksgiving to work, it shall be restored to you 7 fold.
Our father in the Faith, Papa Adeboye has said ‘Thanksgiving is the glue that helps to firmly attach your blessings to you’
– God’s blessings in your life and my life shall never be lost.
Why must we be thankful? Let’s take a brief look at that right now. Why must we be thankful?
1: We must be thankful because God deserves and demands it. God deserves and demands our thanksgiving. Luke 17. Remember the 10 lepers that were cleansed and then 1 returned. Luke 17:17,18. He (Jesus) was waiting for their thanksgiving, the same way God is waiting for your thanksgiving and my thanksgiving. Church Gist. For putting breath in our nostrils, food on our table and the list goes on and on. God is waiting so, we must thank God because He demands for it and He deserves it. Isaiah 51:11. God is waiting for our thanksgiving.
– May He find us thankful.
2: Life, both physical and spiritual is a gift. Life is a gift. Your physical and my physical life is a gift. How many of us contributed anything to our being born to this World? Did you make a contribution? Did you decide which country you wanted to be born into? Did you have any hand in deciding who your father, your mother, biologically should be? Can you answer me, please? Hello? Church Gist. We didn’t make any contribution…and how about you and my spiritual life? Eternal life is a gift. Salvation is a gift. We didn’t pay for it. So, life both physical and spiritual is a gift. We must learn to focus on the Giver so we can enjoy the gift. If we must enjoy the gift, our focus must be on who? On the Giver and thanksgiving helps us to focus on God who is the Giver.
The truth of the matter is, you may not be where you want to be right now, but if you look back at where you were, you will discover that you were not where you used to be.
Our resident pastor here has told us over and again that whatever your present situation might be, it is somebody else’s prayer point. ‘Oh! I need a wife or a husband’ Why not thank God that you are even qualified to be believing God for one? If you were leprous, God forbid, would you be thinking of a wife or husband? ‘Oh! I need children’ Thank God you are even married and you qualify. ‘Oh! I need a job’ Thank God you are even a candidate. Church Gist. ‘Oh! I need a breakthrough’ Thank God your mind is even working to think of that. So, wherever you may be right now, is someone else’s prayer point. Therefore, give what? (thanks) Unto who? (God). Give thanks unto God. Life is a gift. Let’s begin to focus on the Giver and then we will keep on enjoying more of life.
I can never forget the season when the enemy radically attacked my health and my physical body. I realized then much more than ever before that to sleep and wake up is the gift of God. Church Gist. You may set your alarm clock. It’s not your clock that woke you up. Who woke you up? Even this morning, who woke you up? (God)…and beginning from that season in my life, once my eyes open in the morning, the first thing I say is ‘Thank you, Jesus’
-Lift your hand again and say ‘Thank you Jesus’ Now, personalize it ‘I thank you, Jesus’
– Shout a loud Amen!
Every blessed day is a gift. Let’s begin to focus on the giver. That you lay on the bed by yourself is a gift. I realized it then much more than ever before because to even lay on the bed, I needed assistance. To turn to any side on the bed, I needed assistance. Church Gist. To get out of bed, I needed assistance. To eat, to drink, to toilet, I needed assistance and you, you easily go to the toilet and release and come out. No problem. Amen. Even as we are in service right now, some of you have gone to the toilet and come back. That is the gift of (God).
Let’s begin to focus on the Giver and so when challenging times come upon the World and various kinds of sicknesses and diseases that have never been begin to surface, with the mystery of Thanksgiving, you and I shall be exempted.
– Can I hear a louder Amen?
We’ve heard testimonies of miracles of all kinds of healings with the mystery and the weapon of thanksgiving, including the raising of the dead. It has happened before, it will happen again.
A lady stood here, I will never forget her testimony, after service one day and gave thanks to God 7000 times because she was believing God for breakthrough maritally. The Husband showed up.
– There are some of you under the sound of my voice today, no matter where you may be across the Globe, believing God for marital breakthrough, if you will begin to put to work this mystery of Thanksgiving, your marital settlement is settled.
– Shiloh next year by the grace of God, you will testify.
3: When we thank God for what has happened, it preserves, multiplies and perfects God’s blessings upon our lives. Malachi 2:1-3 tells us, if you don’t want God’s blessings upon your life to be corrupted, then be thankful. That is one of the secrets of this Commission. From the early days of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 17 people. First Sunday Service I attended, we were about 17 people, children and adult…and like I usually share, each person, you had 3 benches to yourself. Not 3 chairs but 3 benches. Church Gist. You sit on one bench, one person. Put your Bible (on) the one in front of you and then your hand on the one behind you. 3 benches, one person. We were all sitting together, children and adults. No children’s Church because we were all children of (God). But today, see what the Lord has done. Are you still sitting on benches now? We are here at the Faith Tabernacle and very soon we are moving again to the (Ark).
– You will be there oo! I said you will be there. When the Ark is being dedicated, you will be there.
– Let me hear your loud and believing Amen!
One thing you cannot succeed in doing around the life of God’s Servant, Bishop Oyedepo, is complaining, murmuring and grumbling. He lives a life of thanksgiving. Often, again and again, you will hear him say ‘Thank you Jesus’ and we all picked it up at home. It’s the same thing in my home. You are not allowed to complain. Church Gist. You can’t even say something has finished. Everybody that works in the home with us knows that. If something is about finishing in the house, you don’t tell me or tell anybody there ‘Oh! This is finished’ It is plenty. Food is what? (Plenty) It is what? and when you declare it, God will make it (happen) and because we have always made that declaration, it has never finished. We have never lacked. We have never borrowed. Why? Because the law and the mystery of Thanksgiving is being put to work.
– From today, nothing good will finish in your life.
Thanksgiving preserves, thanksgiving multiplies. Jesus gave thanks and then the bread multiplied. John 6:6 It multiplied. Church Gist. I can never forget the Family that gave thanks, they didn’t have what to eat for dinner and then they gathered the Family around the table, gave thanks to God, served water as dinner and they went to bed. The next morning, food physically arrived for them. Why? Thanksgiving.
– Nothing good will finish in your life again…and then it perfects our blessings.
Now, as we begin to round off, it is important for us to take a look at how Thanksgiving enhances flourishing in hard times. How does it enhance our flourishing in hard times?
1: Thanksgiving provokes continuous flow of fresh oil. Psalm 92:1,10. It provokes the flow of fresh oil and this fresh oil keeps us flourishing in hard times. Psalm 92:12,13.
– Say with me ‘I will flourish’ Tell your neighbour ‘You will flourish’
– Say a loud Amen!
So, thanksgiving provokes continuous flow of fresh oil which in turn makes us to flourish in and out of season.
– From this Mountain of Shiloh 2023, the fresh oil of God will be going home with us and with that, you and I will continue to flourish.
– No matter how hard it may become therefore for the World, when for the World they say there is a casting down, you will be saying what? (there is a lifting up)
– When they are selling off their businesses, you will be (flourishing).
– When they are going around borrowing, you will have to give.
– When they are losing their jobs, you will be having multiple jobs.
– There are certain people under the sound of my voice today, with the mystery of thanksgiving, you have been believing God for miracle jobs. Church Gist. Some of you will get telephone alerts before the end of today and it shall be an alert of good news.
– That business breakthrough you have been looking for shall be delivered into your hands.
– That miracle husband and wife you have been looking for and believing God for shall be delivered unto you.
– Miracles babies, with the mystery of thanksgiving, shall be delivered.
– There are some persons under the sound of my voice today, you have been believing God for the fruit of the womb. Shiloh next year, you are returning with your testimony. You are returning with either your babies in your hands or in your (womb).
– Shout a loud Amen!
2: When we are genuinely thankful, we keep provoking divine intervention. Thanksgiving provokes divine intervention. The World, definitely, will be going through a season of depression because of the hardness of times but when you and I put the mystery of Thanksgiving to work, we provoke divine intervention. Church Gist. Beginning from this moment, make it a lifestyle, just say ‘Father, I thank you’ Somebody might say ‘Well, what if I don’t feel like saying it’ You don’t have to feel like. We don’t walk by feelings, we walk by faith. Keep saying it, your feelings notwithstanding. Keep saying it and then God will put a stamp of approval on it. It will provoke divine intervention. Before Lazarus came forth, what did Jesus say? Father, I do what? (Thank thee)
– Somebody’s Lazarus is coming forth. If you are the one, let your Amen show it.
– That Lazarus may be concerning your job, your finances, your health, whatever it may be. Church Gist. That Lazarus will come forth.
– Divine intervention becomes our portion from today as we begin to engage the mystery of Thanksgiving.
– God will arise in somebody’s favour.
– If you are the one, let your Amen show it.
3: To live a thankful life is to live a life of joy and rejoicing and that in turn, supernaturally strengthens. Nehemiah 8:10. To be joyful is to be winful. To be joyful is to enjoy supernatural breakthroughs. When we live a life of joy and rejoicing, it strengthens us supernaturally. Luke 10:21. John 4:32-34. Church Gist. Therefore, no matter your present situation, don’t lose your joy. Don’t do what?
– Please, turn to your neighbour and tell him or her ‘Don’t lose your joy’
– Now, tell yourself ‘I shall not lose my joy’
– Say a believing Amen!
No matter your present situation, don’t lose your joy because your miracle is right at the door and you shall not miss it. The joy of the Lord will continue to be your strength.
Think of this. You are believing God for a miracle spouse but you are always frowning. Carrying a long face, never smiling. When you are greeted, ‘Hello’ ‘Hello!’ and then, the face is so long. That brother or that sister will quickly turn away in the opposite direction. Why? No one wants to get married to someone who is never joyful. Church Gist. Smile now where you are. Put a smile on your face. Now, laugh it out loud. Laugh, laugh. You know, you look different. Have you ever noticed that? You look different when you smile. You become more attractive when you smile. You become more handsome when you smile. Have you ever noticed? Before you take a picture, they will tell you ‘smile’.
– Tap your neighbour, tell him or her ‘Smile oo. God is on your side oo. You will flourish oo’
– Shout a loud Amen.
– From today, no more long faces.
4: To be thankful is to see the prophetic words come to pass. When you are thankful, the prophetic word is provoked to be fulfilled without stress in your life. 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Hebrews 10:36.
What is the Prophetic Word for us at Shiloh 2023? It says ‘I Am Redeemed To Flourish In Hard Times’ How about you? Personalize it now ‘I am redeemed to flourish in hard times’ Say it again like you believe it. Church Gist. One more time (I am redeemed to flourish in hard times)
– That prophetic word will come to pass in someone’s life oo! I said that prophetic word come to pass in your life.
– No matter how hard the times may be out there in the World, as for you and I, we shall flourish. We shall (flourish)
– Turn to your neighbour, tell him or her, ‘You will flourish oo’
– Now, tell yourself ‘I will flourish’
As long as we keep appreciating the Source who is God, we will always easily connect to His resources. God’s resources are more than enough to fulfill all your needs and my needs. Church Gist. But to connect with those resources that are abundant, we must put the mystery of Thanksgiving to work.
– Say a loud Amen!
Therefore, upon this Mountain of Shiloh 2023:
– I curse the spirit of murmuring.
– Everything that grumbles and complains is hereby cursed.
– Murmuring comes to an end in our lives.
– In the place of murmuring, it shall be thanksgiving.
– Therefore, in the name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, I decree the supernatural and speedy fulfillment of the Prophetic Word for Shiloh this Year in everybody’s life.
– If you receive it, say ‘I receive it’ Louder, say ‘I receive it’.
Rise up on your feet everybody, wherever you may be. Raise your right hand to God. Church Gist. Shout it loud ‘Father, I thank you’ Wave your hand to the Lord and shout it loud. Say after me, ‘My Father, I thank you’
– Say a believing Amen.
– The grace to live a lifestyle of thanksgiving becomes everyone’s portion.
– In Jesus mighty name we pray.
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