Thanksgiving

As we reflect on 2024 in this episode we understand that God's mercies are new every morning and that we are more than conquerors in Jesus. 

With Thanksgiving let’s close the chapter of 2024

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;”
- Colossians‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Transcript

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Faith and Triumph in Adversity

Speaker 1 0:13

Hallelujah , this is the last Sunday of 2024 . The next Sunday that we will have will be in 2025 . The next Sunday that we will have will be in 2025 . And now you know , for some of you , this might have been a year of landmarks that were achieved Maybe a fabulous new job , a great salary hike and a new job role . Maybe a year of personal goals achieved , or a multiplication , a multiplication of friends that you wanted . Maybe your bank accounts reaching the place that you wanted them to be .

Speaker 1 1:01

For some reconciliation between a person that was needed , maybe a family member or a friend , a new relationship . For some , new beginnings . For some , a year of great health for some . For some , something that was planned for many years or was in planning for many years and has come to life now . Praise God for that and , in all , a good year .

Speaker 1 1:38

And also , for some , maybe a year gone by that was not the best . Parts that you wanted to forget , parts that you wish never happened . Lost some people who were important to you in this year . Maybe Lost some friends who you thought might be there with you always . Lost some friends who you thought might be there with you always . Maybe things didn't go well at your job and you assumed that they would go another way . Maybe your health kept you down and was not the best through the year . Maybe a financial loss not the best through the year . Maybe a financial loss . Maybe plans just didn't pan out the way you wanted them .

Speaker 1 2:35

So , in short , maybe for some of you also not the best year , and I want to tell you this morning that it happens to everyone . There are ups and downs , and the Bible even talks about there's a time to sow , a time to reap , and basically talks about opposites . So , yes , in life you will have those kind of years and there will be times that may be perfect and times that are not . And yes , it's not the easiest time be perfect and times that are not , and yes , it's not the easiest time when that happens , when things are not going well . But through the word of God , I have something lovely for you , something beautiful for you today , from the book of Lamentations , the third chapter , the 22nd verse . The book of Lamentations , the third third chapter , the 22nd and 23rd verse . Through the lord's mercies , we are not consumed , because his compassions fail not , they are new every morning . Great is your faithfulness . Hallelujah , what a beautiful passage of scripture , great is your faithfulness is what it ends with and it starts with through the lord's mercies , we are not consumed because his compassions fail not . They are new every morning I think one of one of the most beautiful scriptures that I know and praise god for that . Praise God for his wonderful mercies , for the anew every morning .

Speaker 1 4:09

This scripture says in the Bible and , as I said , I've said it in the past , I'll say it again and I will keep saying it that there are things that you don't even know that he does for you , things you don't see happening for you , things that you've not planned , but his mercies , according to this passage of scripture , are new every morning and because of that you are not consumed , hallelujah . So , whatever difficulty you went through in 2024 , I want to tell you that god has not let that situation consume you and if you think you are consumed by it , be reassured this beautiful morning through this passage of scripture that you are not consumed by it . And neither is he going to let the situation overtake you because through his mercies the bible says you are not consumed . Hallelujah , hallelujah , through his mercy , through his love , hallelujah , Hallelujah , hallelujah , through his mercy , through his love , he will not let that situation consume you . Far from it , in fact . The Bible also says A battered reed he will not break and a smoldering wick he will not put out until he brings forth justice to victory . Oh , hallelujah , hallelujah , he has ensured that your situation has not overtaken you . He has ensured that your situation has not broken . You has not broken you , and he will ensure that justice is brought to life in your situations , wherever you think you might have been wronged . Hallelujah , hallelujah . In fact , here is the truth of the matter .

Speaker 1 6:03

I'm reading to you directly from the word of here is the truth of the matter . I'm reading to you directly from the Word of God , from the Book of Romans , the 8th chapter , the 35th verse . Romans , the 8th chapter , the 35th verse , 35th verse who shall separate us from the love of Christ ? Oh hallelujah , who shall separate us from the love of Christ ? Shall tribulation or distress , or persecution , or famine , or nakedness , or peril , or sword ? These words Are such strong words and they they encompass . These words are such strong words and they encompass multiple situations . Just in one word , and I'm reading them again to you who shall separate us from the love of Christ ? Shall tribulation or distress , or persecution , or famine , or nakedness , or peril or sword , and if at any point you felt 2024 , parts of 2024 treated you according to any of these words here , here's the answer .

Speaker 1 7:12

Romans 8.37 says Yet , in all these things , we are more than conquerors , through him who loved us , oh , amen , hallelujah . Romans 8 , 37 gives you the answer . Yet , in all these things , we are more than conquerors , through him who loved us , oh , hallelujah . In all these things , excuse me , in all these things , what things are the ? Is the bible referring to over here ? All things , all these things that you want to think about and all these things that you want to consider as low points in 2024 , and all these things that you thought are downers of 2024 , things that you thought have kept you low in 2024 , things that you think brought you to your knees in 2024 . No , no , no , no , no .

Speaker 1 8:10

I want to tell you this morning through the word of God , romans 8 , 37, . Mark it down in your Bibles , in your apps or whatever it is that you like to use . Never forget this scripture . Let it not leave you ever . Is that you like to use . Never forget this scripture . Let it not leave you ever . You are more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus , oh , hallelujah , more than a conqueror , more than a conqueror . Or you go to your dictionaries or go to Google and find out the meaning of the word conqueror , and you are more than that . Hallelujah , hallelujah , hallelujah , hallelujah , hallelujah .

Speaker 1 8:52

I have a very short word this morning , but I want to tell you and remember , you know , there is a significance in the Bible for everything and , believe me , there is a significance for the first and the last too , and this is the last Sunday of the year and it's time to just bury a few things . It's time to renew your faith . It's time to crush certain things under your feet . It's time to make way for a few things to go . It's time to stand , make some space on your right hand side and move forward . Make space for your right hand side is because he will be standing with you on your right hand side and you are more than a conqueror .

Speaker 1 9:49

Know that this beautiful day , through whatever situation you might have seen , whatever it might be , it might be really . It might be with you for many years . This is for someone . I don't know who you are , but it might be with you for many years . But you are more than a conqueror and remember , we walk by faith and not by sight . So don't go with what you're seeing right now . He will bring your situation to justice .

Speaker 1 10:08

He will , hallelujah , oh hallelujah . He has not left you and I want to tell you that he's been with you through it all . He has been with you through it all and he continues to , because the Bible says we remain faithless , but he remains faithful . He is always there with you . His word says he will never leave you nor forsake you , which means he will never leave you nor forsake you . He never has , he never will , and he hasn't today either . And with his love he comforts you , he covers you with his love , he comforts you , he covers you with his feathers . Oh , hallelujah , under his wings you will take refuge . Oh , hallelujah , under his wings you will take refuge . And I want to tell you , through 2024 , he has been your shield and buckler , hallelujah .

Speaker 1 11:16

And then Romans 8.31 says and then , what shall we say to these things ? It's coming back to that these things . What shall we say to these things ? These things , you know , those things of 2024 that you want to wipe out today , the last Sunday of the year . And it goes on to say in Romans 8 , 31, . What shall we say to these things , these things ? Here's the answer God is for us . Who can be against us ? Oh amen , hallelujah , oh hallelujah . What shall we say to these things then , this beautiful morning ? Get up , look at them and say if God is for us , who shall be against us ? God is with you , hallelujah . And this beautiful day , this last Sunday of 2024 , let's give thanks to God for whatever he has done for us . Give thanks to God for whatever he's done for us .

Speaker 1 12:27

The Bible , in the book of Colossians 4.2 , says Continue earnestly in prayer , being vigilant in it , with thanksgiving . Continue earnestly in prayer , being vigilant in it , with thanksgiving . Take some time out today , this beautiful day , just to give thanks to God for always being there for you , for always being there for us , for always being there for you and me . And his word says that he will never leave you nor forsake you , that he will never leave you nor forsake you . Colossians 4.2 Continue earnestly in prayer , being vigilant in it , with thanksgiving . That means no matter what , no matter what you have been put through , no matter what has happened in 2024 , no matter what the ups and downs , no matter what please note the ups and the downs his word says I will never leave you nor forsake you . That means he's been rejoicing with you at your times of ups and he's been with you at your times of downs , do you might think not ? Hallelujah , on this last year of 2024 , shake them all off . If there's anything that you're clinging on to for this year , shake it off . Let it go and know that you are more than conqueror in christ jesus and about . The word of god says he will never leave you nor forsake you . And this beautiful last day of last Sunday of this year , I want to leave you with this story , and some of you know the story and some of you might not , but I just love this story and I'm going to share it with you again . There's this Hallelujah , hallelujah .

Speaker 1 14:29

There's this person who has a deep relationship with God and he lives along the beach and every day , when he's done with his chores of the day , he takes a walk , takes a walk on the beach , and every time he's taking a walk there are two sets of footprints . When he looks back , that's the relationship he had with God , that every day he used to walk on the beach . God is walking with him , jesus is with him . Two sets of footprints , and when he had tough times , there was only one set of footprints on the beach and that really troubled him . You know , when there are times of downs , there's one set of footprints . When there are times of ups , there are two . What's going on ?

Speaker 1 15:59

So he decides , one day he's going to ask God . So one day it is on his one-on-one time with God he turns around and he asks him and he's like you know what my time is , when I was the lowest and I go to walk on the beach . Now , when you walk , the side of footprints , lord , why is that ? And let me tell you what God , what Jesus , replies to him . He looks at him with a smile , kisses him on his forehead and he tells him you know , son , those are the times when I was scaring you Hallelujah , hallelujah . You know , son , you know daughter , those are the times that I carried you . Hallelujah , hallelujah .

Divine Assurance and Gratitude

Speaker 1 17:18

When you are at your worst times , he is not just with you , he carries you , hallelujah . I know this is a beautiful day and on this last day of 2024 , just wipe it all out , look forward . I know who stands at your right-hand side , because when he's with you , no one is against you . No one is against you . It's the word of god , either you believe it or not . And thank god every day you get up in the morning . Thank him for his mercies , which I told you I knew every morning . You don't even know what they are , but because of his mercies , he doesn't let things consume you . It's as clear as day in the Bible .

Speaker 1 18:04

Read that passage of scripture again and meditate on it Hallelujah . Dear Lord , I thank you for this beautiful day . I thank you for this year of 2024 that you have given us . I thank you , lord , that you've always been with us . Your word says you will never leave us nor forsake us , and I thank you , lord , for this beautiful year that you've given us , no matter what has happened through that year . I thank you for this beautiful day . I thank you for the days to come , for the next year that's about to start . I thank you , lord , that your word says you're always with us . You are always at her right hand side . I thank you , lord , for being a shield and buckler . I thank you , lord , for under your wings we take refuge . Thank you for your beautiful presence . Thank you for your love that never leaves us , lord , thank , thank you for always being there for us . Thank you for being faithful , though we remain faithless . Lord Holy , are you Lord Holy ? Holy , holy , lord , god Almighty , who was and is and is to come . Hallelujah Amen .