“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:” Psalms 92:1.
Being grateful and expressing gratitude is a good thing. Interestingly, even natural medicine knows that being grateful is good for you. People who express gratitude are healthier and happier than those who do not.
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7. Those that are grateful because they trust in God, will have peace that passes understanding. This is not just spiritual health, but even natural health as well.
This should not come as a surprise, since God created us and He certainly knows what is best for us. However, I want to consider more about what might cause us to be grateful. I suppose that it might be easy to be grateful for something really good that happens to us, but what about those days when everything seems to go wrong?
“In every thing (all circumstances) give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1Thessalonians 5:18. Why would we want to give thanks in all circumstances? Because we need to recognize that all of our circumstances are allowed by God. Even when we make some bad choice and are suffering the consequences (it does happen), God knows and we can turn even that over to Him and He will bring it out for our good.
Job is the best example of this. Even though he did not understand why God was allowing the trial in his life, he bowed and worshiped God. “What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” This is what Job said to his wife. It is easy to be grateful in the good times, but we are encouraged to be grateful in all times.
Gratitude is very much about recognizing God is good and He does what is best for us. “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.” Psalms 107:21-22. It is a sacrifice because we do not just naturally want to be thankful for something we don’t like. As we come to know our Lord better, the gratitude is easier because we come to realize His goodness in our lives.
God deserves our gratitude just for being who He is. His very character is deserving of our gratitude. “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” Psalms 136:1. God doesn’t just do good things for us, He IS good. It is His character.
Certainly, when we see God’s hand in our life, we should be grateful. Remember the ten lepers. They were all healed, but only one came back. Sometimes, even as God’s children, we might tend to move on and enjoy something God has done for us. Let us not be like the other nine that did not turn back to give thanks.
We have many things about which to be grateful. “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15. We certainly should start with the gift of His Son Jesus. Nothing else would be available to us without Jesus coming and giving Himself to make it possible. Every single day we should be grateful for Jesus.
“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57. He gives us victory that we cannot get for ourselves. This particular reference is about getting victory over death. Are you grateful for victory over death? I am, every day.
“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;” 1 Timothy 1:12. He enables us every day for whatever He calls us to. He is always faithful to enable us. And, if you think you do not have a ministry, you are mistaken. Every part of the body of Christ has something God has called them to.
“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. And here is the conclusion of the matter. Gratitude is an attitude that should be continual. Not sure what to be thankful for? Just read God’s Word. You will begin to understand that you have everything to be grateful for. You will also understand that gratitude is a continual attitude that is not dependent upon our circumstances. It flows from the life of Christ in us.
I pray that you have a very happy Thanksgiving. If you are truly grateful, to God first, and also to others, you will indeed be happy.
Are you a hoarder? You may not be in the natural and may even be repulsed by the very thought of it. But it’s possible that you may know someone who has that problem. What about in the spiritual? Are we spiritual hoarders? Before we answer that question we need to understand what constitutes hoarding disorder. Hoarding disorder does not mean just being unable to keep up with your house cleaning or having some clutter in your house.
According to the Mayo Clinic, hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them. As a result, excessive accumulation of items, regardless of value, occurs. Some people even have trouble throwing away such things as junk mail, old newspapers, empty food containers or worn-out clothing.
It often creates cramped living quarters that fill homes to capacity with stuff, resulting in narrow pathways winding through stacks of clutter. All of the accumulated clutter puts them at risk of falling because even the floor itself may become covered with items. Some hoarders are unable to sleep in their own beds because their beds and their bedrooms are also overrun with stuff. All surfaces, stairways, and sometimes even their cars become piled with stuff.
They have difficulty discarding things and become upset when someone tries to remove the clutter. They feel safer and more secure when surrounded by the things that they save. This disorder is often associated with other psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, OCD and ADHD. It is different than collecting. People who collect certain items which they are interested in usually have them organized in an orderly manner, and the items which they collect have some value or potential value. The things that hoarders keep are actually detrimental, as they can become a health hazard, a fire hazard and a fall hazard.
But what does all of this have to do with us spiritually? Satan desires that we become so attached to the things of this world that we are not willing to let them go. He wants us to feel comfortable and safe with all those things. If we become spiritual hoarders, then we begin to esteem earthly things to be of greater value than spiritual things. Those things which we accumulate by spiritual hoarding soon begin to affect our spiritual walk and put us at risk of stumbling and falling.
Satan also desires that we live in the past, that we cling to our old ways, the ways of the old creation. We may not only cling to some of our old habits, but also to our own self-works, our accomplishments and our self-righteousness. According to Isa. 64:6, those things are only garbage in God’s eyes: “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…”
We need to count them as dung, or refuse, and take out the trash, as the apostle Paul did after he came face to face with Jesus in a vision on the road to Damascus. In Phil. 3:4-6, Paul lists some things that he once considered valuable and worth keeping. The things that he had been clinging to include his Jewish pedigree, his religious accomplishments, his zeal and self-works, as well as his boasting in self-righteousness through trying to keep the Law as a Pharisee.
But after his encounter with the risen Christ, his blinded eyes were opened to the fact that all of those things were nothing but refuse. He had become a spiritual hoarder and was strangulating himself with garbage. By faith, he was able to count all the religious things which he had collected as dung. Not only were they of no value, but they were also detrimental and harmful to the health of his new man, the new creation life in him. The old Saul had been pleased and content to dwell among the stuff, but now he was able to smell the stench of the garbage, and so he took out the trash.
In I Sam. 10 we find another example of a man named Saul who apparently collected stuff of no value. Verse one tells us that Samuel anointed Saul as king over Israel. But later in the chapter, when Samuel called the people to come to Mizpeh to present Saul as king, Saul was nowhere around. Verses 21-22 state “…when they sought him he could not be found. Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.” King Saul was not a man after God’s heart as David was and never did get rid of his stuff. Because Saul was not obedient to God’s Word, God later rejected him as king and gave the kingdom to David.
We need to rid ourselves of the stuff instead of hiding among it. It is impossible to do God’s will if we are hiding among the stuff. The stuff of this world will choke the new man so that he becomes unfruitful. Jesus informs us of this in the parable of the Sower, which is found in Mark 4:3-20. The Sower was sowing the seed, the Word of God. Verse 7 states that some of the seed fell among thorns, “…and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.” The interpretation of this is given in vv. 18-19: “And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”
The cares of this world, the riches and lust of “things” are those worthless items that the “old man” tends to want to hoard and cling to and not let go of. We become spiritual hoarders when we yield to the desires of the flesh. The Word of God will not produce fruit in our lives if all of our accumulated “stuff” prevents us from having the time to read it and to meditate upon it. We must give our “stuff” to the Lord and cast our cares upon Him. I Peter 5:7: “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” “All our care” includes all the stuff and problems which we have accumulated and tried to take care of ourselves instead of casting them upon the Lord.
So, what is the cure for spiritual hoarding? It is found in Col. 3:1-2: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things of the earth.” We can stop setting our affection on “stuff” by setting our affection on Christ and heavenly things. The more that we read the Word and yield to the Holy Spirit, the less that we will desire earthly things. Earthly things will only weigh us down and keep us from running the race. We are instructed by Paul in Heb. 12:1 to “lay aside every weight,” so that we may run with patience the race that is set before us. Don’t let your “stuff” keep you from winning the prize. It’s time to clean house!
I have a God,
Who is with me each day.
He knows my heart,
He hears what I say.
And I have His peace,
which nothing can take,
And the bond of His love,
so strong it won’t break.
The depth of His love,
Reaches out to us all,
Holding us up,
lest we should fall.
And if we reach and
grasp His hand,
It is His strength
that helps us stand.
For we are weak,
when on our own.
It is our faith,
in Him alone.
That gives us hope,
to meet each day.
To look for Him,
to watch and pray.
Debra Isenbletter
Springfield, Missouri
“From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” Ephesians 4:16-28.
Notice here that Jesus is the one that “fits” the parts of the body together correctly, and only by His effectual working is any part of the body useful. I cannot try to do something in the body that Jesus did not call me to and expect it to be useful.
Every part of the body is useful in its proper place. When God’s people are willing to let Him use them in the place He wants, then there will be real edification of the body. This is always Paul’s concern. He reminds us over and over again about the body of Christ so that we don’t forget that, although we are in an individual relationship with Jesus, we are part of a body that needs one another. And so, we strive to let Jesus use us to edify others as ourselves.
It follows then that we must allow the life of Christ to be formed in us. Not just a little, but fully formed into a mature child of His. This brings a change that is noticeable. He says our “walk” (manner of life) should not be as unbelieves who live in the vanity of their minds. We cannot expect unbelievers to behave in a Christian manner since they do not have the power of the Life of Christ to enable them.
He mentions a couple of things the we see in the world today, and we should understand that this is not an exhaustive list. It is simply to remind us that we have been delivered from that mindset.
We have not learned this mindset from Jesus. On the contrary, He has taught us love which is the antithesis of the worldly mindset. And, not just taught us, but by giving us His life, He makes it possible for us to live a life that shows, not just some morality, but actually Jesus.
Put off the “old man” which is our old nature that we are born with. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20. Paul is clear that the old nature must be accounted as crucified with Christ so that the life that people see is the life of Christ.
As we account the old creation to be crucified, we will be renewed in our minds. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2. “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:” Colossians 3:10.
We are renewed as we spend time in God’s Word learning more about our Lord. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16. “Let” is the key word here. We must allow the Word to dwell (have root) in our lives.
It is the Holy Spirit that works the Word in our lives effectually renewing our mind and making us more like Jesus. “Putting on the new man” That “new man” is created in righteousness and true holiness, because it is the life of Jesus. Not because we have willed ourselves to be righteous or holy.
Now we have a list of some things that are part of the old man that need to be “put off”. He is not trying to create an exhaustive list, but really letting us know that if these things still are part of your life, you might not be yielding to the Christ life in you. These things cannot come from that righteous life. As we yield to the Christ life in us we will see these things being “put away”.
Paul never tries to get us to figure out how to make ourselves more like Jesus. This is the problem in much of Christianity today. They are trying to create some plan for how they will be “better” people. Paul only points us in one direction. YIELD.
Israel, led by Joshua had entered the Promise Land, Jericho and Ai had been defeated by them. The city of Gibeon chose to be their servants – Chapter 9. That takes us to chapter 10. When 5 surrounding kings saw what Gibeon had done, they joined together to destroy Gibeon. The Gibeonites went to Joshua and asked for help. The 5 kings were defeated.
Joshua is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, the name Joshua and Jesus are the same. The Gibeonites are a type of our flesh, our bodies. In Romans 12:1 we are told to “…present our bodies a living sacrifice…into God…”When we choose to do this, it does not make Satan happy. He will raise up all kinds of “kings,” so to speak, to come against us. We do, what they did, Go to Jesus.
These Isralities were in the Promised Land. They were taking what God had given them. Every step that the sole of their feet tread upon was theirs as they followed Joshua. Then they come upon 5 kings that were in cities that did not belong to them. Jerusalem did not belong to King Adonizedek; Hebron did not belong to King Hoham; Jarmuth did not belong to King Piram; Lachish did not belong to King Japhia; Eglon did not belong to King Debir. They were occupying what God said belonged to His people. It is what Joshua did with these 5 kings that we want to notice.
Joshua, after defeating these kings, took them and called for all the men of Israel and said unto the captains of the men of war to “Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings and they came forth and put their feet upon the necks of them. And Joshua said not them, “Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all hour enemies against whom ye fight.”
Why is this important for us to see? Because we are a heavenly people with a heavenly inheritance. We have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in the Heavenlies in Christ Jesus. Satan does not want us to put our feet on land that belongs to us.
But, praise God, our Joshua – Jesus – would let us know – that because we are part of Him – because we are His body – these enemies that He defeated at the cross are under His feet. If they are under His feet, they are under ours. He would have us place our feet upon the necks of enemies He already defeated. Whether it is storms or doubts or troubles or Satanic forces, we have already won. The Land is ours – so go forward – every place the sole of your feet tread upon is yours.
Closing with Ephesians 1:18-23: “…And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power. Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead, and set (rested) him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power; and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
We are first introduced to Moses in the second chapter of Exodus. His name means “drawn forth” or “taken out of the water.” Exodus 2:10 records, “...and she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.” From the very beginning of his life, Moses was set apart by God for a special purpose.
As we study the life of Moses, we discover numerous parallels between him and the Lord Jesus Christ. Moses is often viewed as a type of Christ—a prophetic foreshadowing of the Savior who would come. Throughout the Old Testament, God masterfully points forward to Jesus Christ, who fulfills prophecy and stands as the ultimate Deliverer, Prophet, and Mediator between God and humanity.
One of the earliest parallels is found in their infancy. Moses was born during a time when Pharaoh commanded that all Hebrew male children be killed at birth (Exodus 1). To preserve his life, his parents hid him until he could no longer be concealed. Likewise, when Jesus was born, King Herod sought to destroy Him. Warned by an angel, Joseph fled with Mary and the young Christ child into Egypt until the danger had passed (Matthew 2:13-15). In both cases, earthly rulers attempted to destroy God’s chosen deliverer.
Another similarity is seen in their experiences with temptation. Hebrews 11:24-26 tells us that Moses rejected the privileges and pleasures of Pharaoh’s palace, choosing instead to identify with God’s people and suffer affliction rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. Jesus likewise faced temptation directly when He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1). Both demonstrated unwavering obedience to God despite opportunities to choose an easier path.
Moses and Jesus also shared a remarkable period of fasting. Exodus 34:28 records that Moses spent forty days and forty nights with the Lord without eating bread or drinking water while receiving the Law. Similarly, Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights in the wilderness before beginning His public ministry (Matthew 4:2). These forty-day periods marked significant moments of preparation and communion with God.
The lives of Moses and Jesus also intersect in their encounters with the sea. In Exodus 14:21, Moses stretched out his hand over the Red Sea, and God miraculously divided the waters, allowing Israel to cross on dry ground. In Matthew 8:26, Jesus demonstrated His divine authority by rebuking the wind and the sea, bringing an immediate calm to a raging storm. Both revealed God’s power over the waters, though Jesus demonstrated authority as the very Son of God.
God used both Moses and Jesus to provide food for multitudes. During Israel’s wilderness journey, God supplied manna from heaven to sustain His people (Exodus 16). Centuries later, Jesus miraculously fed more than five thousand people with a few loaves and fishes, leaving twelve baskets of leftovers after everyone had eaten and was filled (Matthew 14:20-21). These miracles point to God’s abundant provision and ultimately to Christ as the Bread of Life.
Both men also endured constant criticism and complaints from those they served. Moses repeatedly faced the murmurings of the children of Israel. Exodus 15:24 records one of many examples: “And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?” Jesus likewise faced continual criticism from religious leaders who found fault with Him and His disciples (Mark 7:2). Despite opposition, both faithfully continued the work God had given them to do.
Neither Moses nor Jesus received much honor from those closest to them. Moses was criticized by his own brother and sister, Aaron and Miriam, because of his marriage (Numbers 12:1). Jesus experienced similar rejection, as John 7:5 states, “For neither did his brethren believe in him.” Both understood the pain of being misunderstood and rejected by family members.
Perhaps one of the greatest parallels between Moses and Christ is their role as intercessors. Throughout the Exodus account, Moses repeatedly cried out to God on behalf of the people. When Israel complained, rebelled, or faced hardship, Moses continually sought God’s mercy and intervention. When the people murmured at the Red Sea, Moses cried unto the Lord. When they thirsted in the wilderness, Moses cried unto the Lord. When Miriam was struck with leprosy, Moses prayed, “Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.” Even when the nation rebelled and sought to return to Egypt, Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before God on behalf of the congregation.
An intercessor is one who intervenes, pleads, or acts as a mediator on behalf of another. Moses faithfully fulfilled this role for Israel, but he ultimately points us to a greater Intercessor—the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ accomplished what no earthly mediator could ever achieve. Through His death, burial, and resurrection, He paid the penalty for sin. By faith in Him, we experience forgiveness, newness of life, and a right standing before God. Through Christ, believers are granted access into the very presence of God. As Jesus declared in John 14:6, “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Unlike Moses, whose ministry eventually ended, Jesus lives forever and continues His ministry of intercession today. Hebrews 7:25 declares, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Likewise, 1 John 2:1 reminds believers, “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
The Greek word translated “advocate” is parakletos, meaning one called alongside to help, an intercessor, counselor, or advocate who pleads another’s cause. This same word is also used in reference to the Holy Spirit, who comforts, guides, strengthens, and assists believers in their walk with God.
As remarkable as Moses was, his life ultimately points beyond himself to Jesus Christ. Moses delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage; Jesus delivers mankind from the bondage of sin. Moses mediated the Old Covenant; Jesus established the New Covenant through His blood. Moses interceded for a nation; Jesus intercedes for all who come to God through faith in Him. The more we study Moses, the more clearly we see the greatness of the One whom Moses foreshadowed—the Lord Jesus Christ.