LISTEN! “HOW TO BE GENUINELY THANKFUL FOR BAD THINGS” (PART 8) GOSPEL LIGHT HOUSE OF PRAYER INTERNATIONAL #1620 ANNUAL THANKSGIVING DAY MESSAGE, DECEMBER 14, 2023, 2 CORINTHIANS 12:7-10 WITH DANIEL WHYTE III, PRESIDENT OF GOSPEL LIGHT SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL, PASTOR OF GOSPEL LIGHT HOUSE OF PRAYER INTERNATIONAL “CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,” “EXILED ON THE ISLE OF PATMOS,” AND “PREACHING THE GOSPEL BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.”
LISTEN! “HOW TO BE GENUINELY THANKFUL FOR BAD THINGS” (PART 8) GOSPEL LIGHT HOUSE OF PRAYER INTERNATIONAL #1620 ANNUAL THANKSGIVING DAY MESSAGE, DECEMBER 14, 2023, 2 CORINTHIANS 12:7-10 WITH DANIEL WHYTE III, PRESIDENT OF GOSPEL LIGHT SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL, PASTOR OF GOSPEL LIGHT HOUSE OF PRAYER INTERNATIONAL “CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,” “EXILED ON THE ISLE OF PATMOS,” AND “PREACHING THE GOSPEL BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.”
“HOW TO BE GENUINELY THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL FOR ‘BAD THINGS,’” SUCH AS DISTRESSES, AFFLICTIONS, PERSECUTIONS,” (WHICH INCLUDES ATTEMPTED CANCELLATIONS), INFIRMITIES (WHICH INCLUDES WEAKNESSES AND SICKNESSES), GOING WITHOUT NECESSITIES, TRIBULATIONS, TROUBLES, TRIALS, TEMPTATIONS, TESTS, TENSIONS, JUDAS BETRAYAL, ENDURING JOB’S WIFE, FORSAKEN BY FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND EVEN CHURCH BRETHREN AND SISTREN, WHICH INCLUDES THE FALSE BRETHREN AND SISTREN, MESSENGERS OF SATAN, AND THORNS IN THE FLESH AND TO ENDURE IT AND GO THROUGH IT WITH CHEERFULNESS, JOYFULNESS, PLEASURE, AND GLORYING IN IT, BEING TRULY HAPPY IN IT BECAUSE AS I HAVE TAUGHT YOU ALL, MONEY AND MATERIAL THINGS CAN NOT MAKE YOU HAPPY. ONLY GOD, JESUS CHRIST, BEING OBEDIENT TO THE LORD AND SERVING THE LORD CAN MAKE YOU HAPPY. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT IS ALL GOOD, AND IT IS ALL GOD. GLORY BE TO GOD!
1 Thessalonians 5:18
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
FOCUS WORD: necessities – the fact of being required or indispensable.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
-2 Corinthians 12:7-10
4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
-Philippians 4:4-20
-John 16:32-33
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
-Acts 14:22
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
-Romans 8:28
Key words: persecution, infirmity, reproach, distress, necessities
