True thanksgiving is a lifestyle. Having a heart of thanksgiving brings God on the scene and neutralises the devil. The WORD tells us that if you pray according to God’s will, you know He hears you and you have the petitions you desired of Him (1 John 5:14 – 15). God’s WORD is His will. If you have thanksgiving in your heart, it’s going to come out of your mouth, and whatever is in your heart in abundance, your mouth will speak. This is the importance of Thanksgiving – working in partnership with God – your prayers and His powers.
Faith Involves Thanksgiving and Praise
Philippians 4:6 in the King James Bible says, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Thanksgiving and praise are integral parts of prayer. You and God are working together. It is your prayer and His power. Praise is more than just words. There is power in it. God did not ordain praise just so we could brag on Him.
Psalms 8:1-2 (KJV) says, “O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.” Jesus quoted this verse of scripture and said, “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise” (Matthew 21:16, KJV). Strength and praise are the same according to the Word of God. God ordained praise to stop Satan in his tracks.
Praise is a Lifestyle
Praise is not something you just feel once in a while. God is worthy of your praise. The Bible says to offer the sacrifice of praise. What did Israel do in the Old Testament when they had problems they could not overcome? The priest would offer sacrifices to God to bring Him on the scene and God would stop the onslaught of the enemy. As a new covenant believer, you are a priest of God. No other sacrifice can be offered. Jesus offered the ultimate blood sacrifice. As a priest, you offer the sacrifice of praise. Hebrews 13:15 (KJV) says, “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.”
God did not ordain praise just so we could brag on Him…God ordained praise to stop Satan in his tracks.
Kenneth Copeland
You want the mountain to keep moving until it sinks into the sea and is completely out of sight! Apply the force of faith by praising God that it is gone! The mountain may be sickness, disease, alcohol, family trouble, financial trouble or any evil work. The only way Satan can stop you and your faith is through unbelief. He does not have power to stop God. He cannot stop that mountain from moving into the sea. The only way he can succeed is to make you quit applying the pressure. Jesus bought and paid for the answer to all of it. You cannot face any problem that has not been taken care of through Calvary’s Cross.
The Power of Thanksgiving
Once you have believed that you received because of the Word, your faith is in action. Through praise, you are throwing your faith up against that mountain of adversity in your life. Jesus said if you have faith and doubt not, you can speak to the mountain and it will be removed. You will have what you say. If you quit applying the force of faith, the mountain will not be removed. You want the mountain to keep moving until it sinks into the sea and is completely out of sight! Apply the force of faith by praising God that it is gone!
The psalmist David said, “I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence” (Psalms 9:1-3). He did not say if. He said when the enemies fall back! As you praise God, those enemies will retreat. The Bible says He inhabits the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3). That is the kind of power you can have right now in your own life. God is faithful to perfect your praises!
Watch Brother Kenneth share on the Power of Thanksgiving
