This week Bro. Leo starts a new series on Christmas by studying the Hebrew and Greek word that is translated to the English word wonder.

“pele'” is translated as “wonderful” in Isa.9:6 and “pele'” means extraordinary, wonderful, miraculous, astonishing.

“thauma” is translated as “wondered” in Luke 2:18 and “marvelled” in Luke 2:33.  “thauma” means to be struck with astonishment, startling or amazing, to take your breath away, to be stopped in your tracks.
The divine intention of “thauma” is to get our attention on God.  God causes these things to happen so that we will focus our attention on Him.

Christmas is an extraordinary, wonderful, miraculous, astonishing event that happened 2000 years ago.  Christmas tests our faith and tries our faith because we have to believe these events happened.  God has always done “wonders” for His people and among His people and His intention is always to get His people to focus their attention on Him.

In Luke 2:19 the word “pondered” is translated fro the Greek word “sumballō” which means to put things together in ones mind, to consider something thoroughly or deeply, to meditate on, think about, to drink it in, have to allow it to impact or affect you, divine wonderment and curiosity.

Dan. 12:4 prophesies why it is hard for us today to ponder the events of Christmas. In verse 4 the words “shall run to and fro” is translated from the Hebrew word “shûṭ” which speaks to the pace of life.

In this weeks study Bro. Leo continues a series on “thankfulness” toward God by looking at the biblical result of being grateful towards God for His grace.

Grace can be defined as the totality of all undeserved, unmerited, unearned, mercies and blessings bestowed upon all believers.  Grace should cause two things in a Christian 1) grace produces good works through us, 2) grace produces gratitude and thankfulness toward God (2Cor. 9:8, 11 Eph.2:10).   Receiving grace should produce an outflow of the overflow that God has bestowed upon us.

No matter what storm we face in life God will strengthen us enough to endure the storm (1Cor.10:13, Deut.33:24-25, 2Cor.9:8).  Knowing that God’s grace will strengthen us in every weakness/trial we have or go through should produce gratitude towards God for the weakness/trial and for the strength He gives us to endure it (2Cor.12:8).

Scriptures used in today’s study:

2Co 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work
2Co 9:11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
2Co 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God

1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Deu 33:24 And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.
Deu 33:25 Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.

2Co 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work

2Co 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9 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.
2Co 12:10 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.

Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

In this weeks study Bro. Leo continues a series on “thankfulness” toward God, the Biblical depiction of what happens when a society or culture doesn’t have gratitude towards God.

The goal of a Christian should not be for God to increase what we have, but to increase our gratitude to Him for what we already have (Col. 1:9-12).

Romans 1:18, 23-27 depicts what happens when Christians don’t stress the need to increase their gratitude towards God by looking at the culture before the flood.  We can look at our current culture and see that we are very similar to if not identical to that culture.  The only way this will change is if Christians will stand up and acknowledge that they are thankful to God for the blessings He has bestowed upon them and upon this nation.

Col.1:12 the words “giving thanks” are translated from the Greek word “eucharisteō” which means gratefulness in ones heart and expressed by deeds and actions.
If we are truly grateful to God in our hearts it will be revealed through our deeds and actions so that folks around us will know (Col.3:15-17).

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Col 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Col 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Rom 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful;

Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

2Co 9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
2Co 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
2Co 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
2Co 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
2Co 9:9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
2Co 9:10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
2Co 9:11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

Heb 13:15 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.
Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Heb 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

In this weeks study Bro. Leo starts a series on “thankfulness” toward God, what does it mean to have a spirit of, perspective of and a mindset of gratitude.

In Col.3:15 the words “and be ye thankful” are in a command text.  Paul is telling us we should always be thankful.

In Acts 27:35 the words “gave thanks” are translated from the Greek word “eucharisteō” which means 1) to show oneself grateful, 2) to be thankful in ones heart and to express that gratitude with word or action, 3) gratefully  acknowledge acknowledgement of God’s past mercies and blessings.

Col.1:9-14 can be read as a prayer of thanksgiving every day for yourself and your loved ones.

Our gratitude is not based on the amount or quantity of material things possessed, but on the amount or quantity of gratitude you possess for what you already have.  We should be thanking God for not only the material things that you have been blessed to acquire with the money that God has provided to you, but also for all the priceless things in your life like your family and loved ones, your health and the health of your family and loved ones.

We need to praying asking God to increase our gratitude for the blessings He has already blessed us with.

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Act 27:33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
Act 27:34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.
Act 27:35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.
Act 27:36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
Act 27:37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
Act 27:38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.

Act 28:12 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
Act 28:13 And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:
Act 28:14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
Act 28:15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.

Php 1:4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
Php 1:5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

Col 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Col 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Heb 13:15 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.
Heb 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.