Bible Studies & Devotionals
From Olive Branch Ministries
By Mark and Tinsley Baker
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http://www.olivebranchministries.us
Be Thankful
Psalms 92:1-2. It is good to give thanks to the Lord, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night,
This week we are celebrating a great American Tradition - Thanksgiving Day. You may have spent time with family and friends eating a large meal, visiting, or watching football. However did you stop and think what we have to be really thankful for - God’s Love.
The most important thing we can be thankful for, as Christians is that God loved us enough to send His Son to die for us.
John 14:19-21,25-27. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. A little while longer and the world will see me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
If it had not been for God’s love in providing a perfect atonement for us, in the death of Jesus, His own Son, on the cross of Calvary, we would be doomed to an eternity in hell with no hope of redemption.
If Jesus Christ, the Eternal Word of God had not put aside all the glory of Heaven and given his precious blood for us, we would have no hope.
But God did love us enough to send Jesus. Jesus loved us enough to do God’s will not His own, and die for us. He loved us enough to pray and ask God to send the Helper, in the person of the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, to lead us, teach us and chastise us. He loved us enough to make sure we had a way to lead a victorious life through His Son, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
It is the Holy Spirit dwelling in you that gives you peace, your strength, and your joy. He will teach you and guide you in all spiritual knowledge.
Philippians 2:5-11. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Christ humbled himself and became obedient to death for you and me, and now He is highly exalted. God has highly exalted Jesus.
Ephesians 1:19-23. And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
God seated Christ at His right hand, far above all rule, authority, and dominion on this earth. Everything is subject to Jesus. Jesus is the head of the Church, His body and we are its members! We have this authority and victory.
1 John 3:8. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, and that is what He did the three days He laid in the grave. He went to Hell for you - defeated Satan for you and by the mighty power of God was raising from the dead and now sits at the right hand of God - interceding for you! He overcame Satan for you, and because He now dwells in you by the Holy Spirit, you are an over comer too!
1 John 4:4. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
God is greater!! Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world! Praise God!
God’s life by the Holy Spirit dwells in you - You are an over comer!
1 Peter 1:6-7. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,"
You will have trials, you will have storms, and Satan is a thief that comes to kill, steal and destroy you and your faith. But you have the life of God in you, you have the Word of God in you and Greater is HE that is in you than he that is in the world!
No matter what the enemy throws at you, illness, debts, unemployment, untimely death of loved one, prison, or divorce… no matter what - Greater is He that is in you!!!
Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Trust completely in the Lord - lean on Him, not on your understanding, not on the world or the world’s answers, and He will direct your path.. He will get you through the storm.. He will solve all your problems… If you rely on, trust in and believe in Jesus and His answers!
Do not be swayed by what you see, feel or hear. Believe only what the Word says!
God’s Word says you are a conqueror! Romans 8:37
God’s Word says you are joint heirs with Christ! Romans 8:17
God’s Word says you have the mind of Christ! 1 Cor. 2:16
Remember who you are in Christ, Satan is a defeated foe!
1 Peter 5:6-9. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
James 4:7,10. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you…Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you.
God loves you, He has provided a way for you to be victorious, but you must walk in it… You must draw on, lean on and rely in God’s life, strength, peace, joy and wisdom that dwell in you through the Holy Spirit.
Psalms 92:12-15. The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him
Praise God!
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Father, I know that you are my rock and no unrighteousness dwells in you.
Thank you, Lord for the Holy Spirit that dwells in me, to lead me, direct me, guide me, strengthen me and teach me in your ways.
Thank you that I am more that a conqueror, that I will flourish like a palm tree, that because I am planted in the House of the Lord, I will flourish and prosper.
Thank you for destroying the works of the enemy in my life and now Lord, I draw closer to you. I resist the lies of the devil. I submit to you. I know Your Word promises me that you will lift me up and and I that I will be victorious. Thank you Lord, In Jesus name, Amen.