NOVEMBER 29

The A-TEAM: Appreciation

The word Appreciation is not in the Bible. But GRATITUDE and THANKSGIVING are.

Today we’re talking about Thanksgiving in the context of the A-Team. Apostolic Thanksgiving.

THANKSGIVING & GATES:

In the Bible, gates are a significant place. They’re where the elders of the city meet and make decisions. They’re where political, military, and Judicial Decisions are made.
Deuteronomy 21:18-21
Ruth 4:1-11
2 Samuel 18:1-5

When we enter into God’s gates, we’re entering into his presence, AND along with that, his PURPOSE. We enter into our heavenly delegation as a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD.

THE PRESENCE!
Acts 3:19
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

THE GIFT OF TONGUES
1 Corinthians 14:16 - Speaking in tongues is thanksgiving.
Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?

Jude 20 - Building up our spirits.
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

MUSIC, THANKSGIVING & TONGUES!
Ephesians 5:18-20
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

- BE filled, it’s a repetitive exercise.
- We're told to understand the will of God. SO WHY WOULD WE BE TOLD THIS UNLESS IT’S TOTALLY NORMAL AND POSSIBLE?
- The Music Aspect of MEGA

THE GIFT OF FOOD
Romans 14:1-2
14 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.

Verse 6
6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks

Verse 23 "….whatever is not from faith is sin.”

FACT: BILLIONS of animals are killed every year to farm vegetables

Matthew Evans “On eating meat"

A-TEAM Appreciation

INCREASE IN VALUE

MATTHEW 25:14-30

The Parable of the Talents
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

A-TEAM APPRECIATION

EVERYTHING we do Is apostolic. Jesus is our chief apostle. We are to follow in HIS lead with the delegated authority He has given us. This includes changing nations. Changing Nations involves chaining people. A key bringing the change we want to see is Appreciating people. Expressing appreciation itself SHIFTS the atmosphere. AND the greatest way to appreciate people, as in, increase their value, is to lead them into their identity in CHRIST.

WHAT is of higher value than being an heir of the king of the universe?

THANKSGIVING IS A WEAPON!

WE’VE OVERCOME BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB AND THE WORD OF OUR TESTIMONY. THANKSGIVING IS GRATITUDE BASED TESTIMONY.

Jesus gave thanks in a manner that was for those around him. Hey prayed to God before situation of Lazarus so that he could make a point to those listening. Prayer doesn’t have to be in private! Prayer can even be used to make a point to those present.
John 11:40-42
40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”

ADVANCING THE KINGDOM
Giving thanks is prophetic. It’s tone setting. It’s not just what God has done, but it's for what God CAN and WILL do. Expressing thanks is an act of faith “THANK YOU” for this miracle as apposed to “Please Lord I’m so unworthy please just do this for me”

Romans 4:17 - GOD CALLS THINGS THAT A REN’T, AS THOUGH THEY ARE.
17 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;

GRATITUDE CAN CHANGE A NATION - LACK OF GRATEFULNESS LEADS TO UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.

Romans 1:20-32
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

BID

FOR THE UNSAVED - SALVATION

FOR THE SAVED - WEAPONIZED GRATITUDE