Who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

1. Thanksgiving is a privilege
The greatest privilege that God has given us, is to glorify Him and offer Him thanks. As the psalmist said, It is good to give thanks unto the Lord (Ps 92.1)

2. Give thanks in every situation
In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1Thess 5.18). Thank him when you travel, when you are blessed financially, when you enter your office, when you wake up, when you eat, when you lie down to sleep. When you give thanks in every circumstance of life, you are in His will. On the other hand, grumblers and faultfinders will be unable to enter His will. God will always honour a grateful heart. When you give thanks, He will raise you up in those areas where you had previously failed.

3. Thanks gives you access to God
Thanksgiving assures you entry into the presence of God. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name (Ps 100.4). Thanksgiving is your ‘entry ticket’ into God’s presence. Those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, should at all times thank the Lord. The impossible will be made possible and miracles will happen, when you glorify God with a grateful heart.

4. God awaits your thanksgiving
In Luke 17, Jesus heals 10 lepers, but only one of them – a Samaritan – returns to give thanks. The Lord was actually waiting in expectation that all 10 would return. “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?” (Luk 17.17) If you are still alive and healthy, give thanks to God. He awaits your thanksgiving. When someone has done something good for you, it is always good to say thanks.

5. Thanks will cause you to receive more
God rewards a grateful heart. When the bread and fish of the little boy was given to Jesus, he raised it up to heaven and offered thanks to the Father. The little was multiplied and they were left with 12 baskets extra! A situation of lack is transformed into abundance, when you thank God. If you want your blessings to multiply, lift up whatever little you already have to God and give thanks.

6. Thanksgiving lifts you to the next level
What we see today is only a fraction of God’s purpose for the church. As we give thanks for his faithfulness so far, those with a grateful heart will be lifted to the next level. Be it business, family life or ministry: the Holy Spirit will work for those who thank God. The Samaritan who gave thanks and worshipped Jesus was lifted to the next level. “Arise, and go your way. Your faith has made you well.” (Luk 17.19) He received not only healing, but also salvation: an experience of complete deliverance.

7. Thanksgiving makes you outstanding amongst your peers
David, a shepherd boy, was anointed to be King of Israel as he was a worshipper. The same God is faithful to honour you when you worship Him with a thankful heart. In the midst of friends, family and critics, the Holy Spirit will transform you into an outstanding vessel of honour if there is thanks and worship for God in your heart.

How do we say thanks?
It is not enough to just feel thankful in your mind: you need to speak it out. The leper showed his thanks by falling at the feet of Jesus and worshipping Him (Luk 17.16). In the Old Testament, we see the prophet Samuel give thanks by making an offering to the Lord.

As we wait with a thankful heart, the Holy Spirit will put a deposit of faith in your heart. What is this deposit? It is an anointing and grace to subdue that which earlier tried to subdue you. The devil cannot defeat or corner a child of God. In whichever area the kingdom of darkness had earlier tried to subdue you – be it health, finance or bondage of sin – in those very areas, you will, in faith, have victory.

Two people in the Bible who subdued kingdoms by faith:

DAVID
One element of David’s anointing was courage. In 1 Samuel 17, Goliath challenges Israel for 40 days. When everyone else retreated in fear, David went forward in the courage of his anointing. In fact, the Word says that he rushed towards Goliath! David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine (1 Sam 17.48). When your enemy threatens you, rush to it to claim your victory. David wanted to know the reward for overcoming Goliath (1 Sam 17.26). Similarly, a suitable reward will be released by your Father in heaven, when you subdue kingdoms in faith.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony (Rev 12.11). David spoke his testimony before overcoming his enemy: “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of the Philistine.” (1 Sam 17.37)

Look to your illness, your future, your finances – and make a positive confession with your mouth. God will establish your testimony and give you victory.

PAUL
In Acts 27, we find the Apostle Paul chained and taken forcibly on a ship to a place he didn’t want to go. For many days he was in darkness within the ship, unable to see the sun, moon or stars. Next, a tempestuous head wind wrecks the ship. Paul almost drowns, but clings on to a plank. Once ashore, he gathers a bundle of sticks to feed a fire for others, but a snake creeps out and bites his hand. However, none of this was able to subdue him, because faith burned bright within. Paul’s faith outlasted all his trials.

Perhaps you have been going around in circles for a while now; perhaps you have been in darkness for long; perhaps you have been through experiences of drowning. But, let faith be stirred up within you.

In all the areas that tried to subdue you, God is more than enough to make you victorious. With a heart of thanks, and of faith, subdue kingdoms.