THE GOOD LIFE

 

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, the Apostle Paul writes, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Paul simply says very directly: No exceptions, no excuses, nothing is outside this parameter—in everything give thanks. No matter the situation, we are to find a reason to thank God.

 

I want to spend a few minutes creating for us an attitude of gratitude.  To many people focus on the bad and not the good.  Some people are half full cup and other are half empty.  We use to sing a song years back.  Here’s my cup Lord I lift it up Lord.  God wants us to learn to be grateful.  So for a few minutes I want to give you a list of things to be thankful. 

 

   I am thankful for my health. modern medicine and a God that heals.  I am thankful to have a God

who loves me and is with me no matter where I am.  I am thankful for the freedom of worship that we

have.  I am thankful for my mom.  I am thankful for my wife who loves me and has been my life

partner. I am thankful for my sons and daughters and grandchildren.  I am thankful for my two

brothers and one sister.  I am for my family members that are serving the Lord.  I thankful for my dogs,

puppy and cat.  Hey give unconditional love.  I am thankful for my home there are many who do not

have one.  I am thankful for my cars and my bike that God has provided transportation to come here

today.  I am thankful for the clothes on my back and my wives shopping sprees even though I get

annoyed when I have to go along

     I am thankful for Alberta and its beauty and majesty, for beautiful sunrises and the amazing sunsets here in this province.  I am thankful for the stars in the sky and the rainbow after a storm.  God is a wonderful creator,  I am thankful for our military and veterans for the current people who serve in our military.  I am thankful for heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer.  I am thankful for the right to vote and the freedom to choose I vote for.  Many countries in the world do not have this.

     I am thankful for the Internet, smartphones, tablets, google and modern social media.  We can learn so much and express our faith so much more today.  I am thankful for electricity, indoor plumbing hot showers and modern sanitation.

     I am thankful for Holidays and the time I can spend with my loved ones so many people do not have

this .  I am thankful for my brother and sister in law.  I am thankful for home cook meals I do not have

to make.  I am thankful for road trips and holidays with my family.  I am thankful for good

restaurants, hot pizza, KFC, Tim Hortons and freshly baked cookies and all the conveniences of our

modern communities.  I am thankful for steep tea a double double.

     I am thankful for my education and the privilege of having an opportunity for education.  So many do not have that privilege.  The opportunity to follow my dreams.  I am thankful for dollar stores and places where I can get modestly price goods, especially tools.  I am thankful for my pillow and mattress topper.  I am thankful for cheezies, sun chips and coca cola even though they are contraban to me.  I am no suppose too have them but you did not hear that from me.  I am thankful for fitness equipment that I can use when I indulge in my forbidden contraban.   I am thankful for the different flavors of ice cream and for popcorn I can eat when I want to watch Bollywood or man did I say that out loud.    I am thankful for clean air good water, Am 930 the light, for red tag sales and the many wonderful holidays we have in Canada.  Did you know we have one every month? 

     I am thankful for the forgiveness, mercy, grace, peace and the love of God none of which I deserved.  I am thankful for you my church family.  I cannot believe I get the privilege of sharing the word with you every week this is such a privilege.  I am thankful for the kindness of others and the privilege of being able to be kind to others.  What a joy to be an encouragement and blessing to others.  I am thankful for the wisdom of others people who have sown good words in my life.  Thank you.  I am thankful for The Father who accepted Jesus sacrifice.  For Jesus Christ who gave His life that I might have eternal and abundant life.  I am thankful for the great teacher, comforter and helper the Holy Spirit who regenerated me and made me His home.  I am so thankful and grateful for the eternal and abundant life I have been given.  I am thankful for prayer, the bible, worship and evangelism.  I cannot believe I get the privilege to tell others what Jesus has done for me and you do as well.

     I am thankful for this time that we have spent together.  Doris Day said that gratitude is riches and complaining is poverty.  “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” ―William Arthur Ward.  “Appreciation can make a day—even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.” ―Margaret Cousins.  “Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity… it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” ―Melody Beattie.  “When we focus on our gratitude, the tide of disappointment goes out and the tide of love rushes in.” ―Kristin Armstrong

 

So remember in everything give thanks this is the will of God.  You want to do God’s will start with thankfulness and gratitude.  Today cultivate an attitude of gratitude.  Be the person everyone wants to be around and like.  Be that everyone wants to be.  You and you will if you seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you.  One more thankful.  Thank you coming and listening to me here and spending time with me online through my videos, posts and writings. 

QUOTES FOR JULY 30, 2026

 

AN EXAMPLE

 

     Our scripture we will look at today is where John is described as the one to prepare the way of the Lord.  Listen to what Jesus says about John the Baptist.  In Matt 11:9-10, “Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:” ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.

 

John was an amazing man he was definitely a unique man.  He was very much like Elijah.  He wore camel skin clothing and ate wild locust and honey, a very unusual diet.  John was also a man who had a special call of God.  Over the next Three Sundays we are going to examine nine characteristics that made John who he was.  Today we will look at three characteristics that John displayed and a great list that we can emulate, copy and exhibit. 

 

1.      Self denial:  The definition of this term is the denial of one's own interests and needs; self-sacrifice, or an act or instance of restraining or curbing one's desires.  In the Christian sense Self-denial is saying “no, to ungodliness and worldly passions and living our lives within the righteous framework God has established.  Self-denial requires that our desire to obey God overrule our destructive desires to find satisfaction outside of what God has for us.  In Matt 3:4, John knew that the only way to serve God is make sure that the world did not influence him but that he influenced the world.  Jesus said that if you are not willing to deny ourselves and follow him that we are not worthy of him.  Matt 16:24 – Then Jesus said unto his disciples “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”  This is done by submitting yourself to God and resisting the devil and he will flee from you.  Denial of yourself, leads to purity, power and perspective.  Jesus said that friendship with the world is being an enemy of God.  I am advocating is a lifestyle where your first priority is God, His will, desire and goals.

 

2.       Courage.  Matt 3:7, 14:4, John demonstrated courage.  A definition of courage is the ability to do something that frightens oneself.  A second thought is strength in the face of pain or grief.  He spoke fearlessly to the religious leaders, the Romans, the common people and the King who was Herod.  This courage would eventually lead to his death.  Courage is being willing to do something no one else wants to do.  It is being able to overcome your natural fear and do what needs to be done.  Courage in the things of God is realizing you are doing God’s work, in God’s way, in God’s will, in His power, and wisdom.  Being courageous is not being afraid.  It is overcoming your fear and being willing to do what is right, truthful, honest and fair.  It means confronting evil when no one else wants to.  It means being God’s person who stands in the gap.  Wikipedia says courage is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty.  We have all four of these things working in 2020.  These need to be courageously confronted.  People need the church to be the church.  It will take courage to confront the darkness and evil of this world.  Love does not allow selfishness, greed, and foolishness to prevail.  James puts it this way.  If you rescue someone from a path of self -destruction you are saving them from a multitude of sins they will inflict on themselves and others.   “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”  Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”  Be brave to stand for what you believe in even if you stand alone.” 

 

3.      Obedience:  Matt 3:15, John did what he was asked to do.  In the Bible it means to "to hear," "to listen and then do.  Obedience is the supreme test of faith in God and reverence for Him.  He learned the truth of 1 Sam 15:22, that obedience is better than sacrifice.  Andrew Murray states in his book in the School of Obedience that God is looking for someone to simply obey.  God is looking for a willing vessel.  When you obey God the supernatural happens.  The Bible says that Jesus learned obedience by the things he suffered.  God is not looking for a debate on his will what he looking for is someone who will say, “Yes Lord us me.”  You said, Yes, to God and no to you.  There will be many times you will not understand, or even like what God wants but if you do it you will prosper.  You need to be faithful where you are because in obedience we learn patience, trust and endurance.  John did and Jesus called him the greatest of all.  I thought this was an interesting point to close on.  John called himself the least and Jesus called him the greatest. A great lesson for us to learn here is that if you want to be great in God’s kingdom, learn to be the servant of all.  If you want be first choose to be last. 

 

FORGIVENESS

 

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

 

     This morning as we look at Pau’s exhortation it almost sounds like he is giving a list of rules and regulations for life.  A behavior list that if you do this you will be a good person.  Paul has made it clear in the previous part of this chapter and book that faith in Christ alone will save you.  In 1 Timothy Paul reminded Timothy that the world is watching and that our influence and testimony are dampened and hindered when we are inconsistent in our character and public testimony.  In Rev 12:11, it states that we overcome by the blood of the lamb, the word of our testimony and being willing to die for the faith.

 

1.      So in Vs 29, Paul starts with the most obvious our speech.  He says do not let unwholesome talk come out of our mouth.  Gossip, slander, curses, questionable jokes, sarcasm, profanity, outbursts of anger, and questionable conversation.  Whatever is pure, lovely, wholeness, noble, praise worthy, right and holy is what we should be talking.  David asked the Lord to put a watchman at the door of his mouth so he would not sin against the Lord.  James says blessing and curses should not come out of the same mouth.  The mouth will eventually speak what is in the heart.  That is why we must guard our hearts.

 

a.      Paul says that we should only speak what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.  I remember when I got saved the first thing that got cleaned up with my language.  Last time I swore was Aug 15, 1977. 

b.      We are called to speak the truth in love.  Love should be the foundation of any conversation we have.  Encourage, affirm and build others up in your conversations. 

c.      Here are five ways to build others up in conversations.

 

1.       Active listening.

2.      Use their name.

3.      Let them talk about themselves.

4.      Make them feel important.

5.      Emphasize similarities.

 

d.      James says be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.  When you do this Paul says this will benefit those who listen.  When we have wholesome conversation it really stands out in our profane world.  Solomon says a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.  I like that.

 

2.      In Vs 30, Paul says do not grieve the Holy Spirit with whom you were sealed for day of redemption.  First, this shows the Holy Spirit is a person.  You cannot hurt a thing, force or object.  I like how Ernest Angley puts it.  It means to burden. When the Holy Spirit is grieved, He is burdened. To grieve is to oppress.

 

a.      To grieve is to afflict with deep, acute sorrow—to afflict the Holy Spirit with deep sorrow because of saying and doing the wrong things.

b.      To grieve is to make sad, to distress. We make the Holy Spirit sad, distressed when we disobey the Lord. God’s own people can make the Holy Spirit sad by some of the things they do, cause Him to mourn. He cannot possibly mix with that which is foreign to His personality.

c.      To grieve the Holy Spirit is to make Him lament; many have done this to Him.  We do not want to do it because we are His temple, dwelling place and we are heading for eternity a place of peace, love and completeness. 

 

3.      In Vs 31, He then says to get rid of the following five things.  First, get rid of bitterness which is caused by being hurt and wronged then letting it go unchecked until it poisons your whole perspective and life.  That is why forgiveness is essential.  Explain how thought process works and why we must forgive immediately.

 

a.      Rage and anger.  Paul puts them together.  Rage is feeling the need to express violent uncontrollable anger.  You lose it and there are always consequences.  Anger is a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility.  Anger is an emotion caused by a perception of being wronged.  It can be good or bad depending on what is angering us.  Selfish anger leads to wrong reactions.  Righteous anger moves us to defend others and right wrongs.  The cause is the key.  But rage and anger uncontrolled is the issue here with Paul.   The key to anger to being quick to hear and slow to speak.

b.      Brawling which means getting into fights whether physical or talking.  People get into fights.  When they feel threatened or wrong.  They do not respect a person, are self- involved, don’t get enough sleep, substance abused, you have personal problems or self- esteem problems and deflect or attack others. 

c.      Slander is making false and damaging statements about someone.  Christians should never do that.  Satan is accuser of the brethren.  You are doing satan’s work when you slander.

d.      Any form of malice which is the intention or desire to do evil or ill will.  Paul says put it away and don’t let it use you.  I love the illustration the old native said.  The one who rules your life is the one you feed.  So feed your inner man with the word of God and prayer. 

 

4.      In Vs 32, Paul says let these three qualities be the evidence of God’s control of your life.  Be kind.  It is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.  It flows from love, mercy and grace. 

 

a.      Be compassionate.  This is a feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others.  Understanding, concern and empathy towards other.  Any outward sign of love.  Jesus said people will know we are his disciples by the way we love one another. 

b.      Forgive one another.  This is a choice and must be done immediately.  Paul says you do it because you have been forgiven.  This is the reason we forgive.  We also know forgiveness is the key to get rid of all these negative expressions Paul talked about. 

ARMOR OF GOD

 

Ephesians 6:10-18

 

 

Vs 10 - Be strong in the Lord.  Let your strength come from Him and remember you can do all things through Christ’s strength.  The Lord is all powerful.  We have resurrection power.  It is His mighty power that we rely on.

 

Vs 11 – Put on the full armor.  Don’t let one piece be missing in this armor.  This enables you to stand.  This word stand will be repeated four times in this passage.  The armor will enable you to stand against the devil’s schemes of accusation, temptation and deception and you will understand his motive of operation which is to rob, kill and destroy.

 

Vs 12 – Our struggle is not against flesh and blood.  If it was we could use manmade armor and weapons.  It is against rulers or territorial spirits.  Against authorities whether, human, worldly or demonic.  Powers working and in control of this dark world.  Remember satan is the god of this world.  It is his agents and representatives we are facing.  Spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  That is why our fight is not carnal or natural but spiritual.

 

Vs 13 – Put on the full armor of God.  So when the day of evil comes and this is any time the enemy attacks every day and also in the future.  You stand your ground.  Like a Roman soldier you have territory you are defending.  He tells you must do everything you can to stand because if you don’t you and others can and will become victims and slaves.  This verse tells you to stand twice. 

 

Vs 14 -  The fourth exhortation to stand.  First, with the belt of truth buckled around you waist.  Jesus is the truth you stand on.  Truth will stand where a lie falls.  Truth always destroys the father of all lies.  Truth is to be produced and reproduced in your life.  The order Paul uses is how a soldier would dress himself.  The breastplate of righteous covers your heart.  Remember where your heart so is your treasure and vice versa.  This protects you from a fatal blow because your heart is clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

 

Vs 15 – You are fitted with the boots of peace.  You are ready to go wherever the Lord sends you as His ambassador of peace.  You have a peace the world can give or take away.  You are a peacemaker and a Son of God.  Wherever you go peace goes and comes with you.

 

Vs 16 – Take up the shield of faith.  Faith is your protection from the lies, accusations and tests of the enemy it puts them out completely.   You trust God, His word and you have prayer as the conveyer belt of supplies you need for your warfare. 

 

Vs 17 – Take up the helmet of salvation.  This is protection for the mind.  We are called to think on good things.  Salvation helps clean up our mind and then we are to then make sure that whatever is going into our mind is godly.  Paul then says what will protect your mind is the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.  The word of God is our offensive and defensive weapon against the lies of the enemy.  Jesus used the bible to defeat the enemy in the temptation in the wilderness and you must use the Word to defeat the lies of the enemy.  Remember truth stands on its own.  Lies have no legs they need other lies to hold them up.

 

Vs 18 – Pray in the Spirit on all occasions.  This is praying without ceasing.  Use many forms of prayers and also requests for yourself and others.  This is a wide range of prayer.  Remember to be alert, watch and awake.  Keep on praying for all God’s people whoever and wherever they are.  Pray is the glue that keeps the armor strong.  It heals and restores any weakness to the integrity of the armor. 

QUOITES FOR JULY 29, 2026

 

IDENTITY

 

The resurrection was an event that at the time made a dramatic announcement. It affected all who heard of it. Shockwaves went through the echelons of religious and secular government.

 

The resurrection continues to ‘speak’. It declares and confirms the revelation of Christ and His gospel. As Paul introduces this great doctrinal epistle, he speaks briefly of what the gospel is, and specially of the fact that it centres on the person and work of Jesus Christ. This message that was revealed by the prophets, in the scriptures, and now declared by the apostles is validated and warrantied by the resurrection.

 

I  HIS IDENTITY AS THE SON OF GOD.

 

His humanity. The resurrection certainly focuses on the humanity of Christ. Cp v3. It is His physical body and physical life that comes into prominence in that event.

His deity. Yet the truth of His deity is also asserted. He is God manifested in flesh. Cp 1 Tim 3:16. Cp Acts 13:33, Ps 2:7, Heb 1:5.

Beyond doubt. Declared has the idea of drawing a line, making an authoritative pronouncement that settles the dispute. This truth seemed to have been contradicted by His sufferings and death, Matt 27:43. Men continue to refuse this great truth.

II  HIS POWER.

 

The resurrection is a display of various aspects of the power of Christ. Several are highlighted here.

 

The power of God. Cp Eph 1:19, Jn 10:18. This power is administered by the Saviour. Again, there is an underlining of the fact of His deity.

Power to save those dead in sin. It is His gospel power that is specially on view here. He who rose from the dead can save sinners. Cp v16.

Power to constrain men to submit and serve Him, v5. This is seen in the lives of the Apostles and in bring sinners to obedience.

III   HIS HOLINESS.

 

A further reference to His deity. This expression does not refer to the Holy Spirit. Rather, the expression is the counterpart of according to the flesh, v3. It is therefore another reference to what He is as the Son of God. He was not merely flesh and blood as a natural descendent of David. He had a higher nature. It is in keeping with His deity, another declaration of His deity that He rose again.

The resurrection underscores the holy purity of the Saviour. He was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, Rom 8:3. He was made sin for us, 2Cor 5:21. Yet He is vindicated by His resurrection as being the pure, sinless Son of God. The mere fact that He triumphs over death is proof that He is without sin, Heb 9:28. The sinless purity of God Himself is seen in the risen Christ. On no other basis could He rise and ascend to the throne of God. Cp Rom 6:10—His resurrection life is a living for and to God. The argument of the Apostle is simply that this is the model of the Christian life.