November 26, 2025

Thanksgiving: The Communion Meal

Tomorrow we will celebrate one of America’s greatest holidays. Today’s post will help you do so with greater understanding and, hopefully, an even greater appreciation for our many blessings. Although not widely known among most Americans, the holiday is linked to the Cross, our redemption, and the matchless grace of God.

Grace The word “grace” is one of the most important terms in our language. In its broader application, “grace” encompasses the incarnation of Christ (His becoming human), His sufferings, the gift of our rebirth into God’s family, and every benefit we receive from this. We neither earned nor deserved any of these blessings; they are ours only through God’s grace, His “unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15), bestowed on us from His great love. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

“Grace” is derived from the Greek word charis,(1) a significant term that also conveys “goodwill, loving-kindness, or favor.” It is also translated as “thanks,” the response offered for benefits or favor.(2)

Never at a loss for words, “Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament defines grace (charis) as the ‘spontaneous act of God that came from the infinite love in His heart, in which He stepped down from His judgment throne to take upon Himself the guilt and penalty of human sin, thus satisfying His justice, maintaining His government, and making possible the bestowal of salvation upon the sinner who receives it by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who became a Sin-offering for him on the Cross’”(3) Wow!

“The New Testament also uses other forms of this word: charizomai, ‘to give graciously’(4); and charisma, ‘a gift that is graciously given.’(5) For example, in 1 Corinthians 12:4, 9, 28, 30, and 31, the term charisma features prominently in Paul’s teaching about spiritual gifts. Paul stresses that the gifts of the Spirit are gifts of God’s grace. These spiritual ‘grace gifts’ are not developed through natural talent, but instead bestowed upon believers by God. In The Dynamics of Spiritual Gifts, William McRae defines a spiritual gift as ‘a divine endowment of a special ability for service upon a member of the body of Christ.’”(6)

Mary and the Church Charis was also the root word used by Gabriel to Mary in Luke 1:28, telling her she was “highly favored” (charitoo),(7) Indeed! The honor of being entrusted to carry Christ in her womb, birth the Savior of the world, and then to nurture Him for Yahweh, was truly immeasurable favor. Yet, the same word is used one other time in Scripture, Ephesians 1:6, when describing the great favor granted to us as believers, who also now carry Christ in our spiritual wombs! Almighty God is in us!!! The fountain of life, the breath of God, the nature of God Himself is in us in the spirit of Christ. That gift comes from charis, grace.

Thanksgiving Now, would it surprise you to know that charis, this Greek word for grace, is the root word for “thanksgiving”? Thanksgiving, or “the giving of thanks,” comes from the Greek word eucharistia. The word could also be translated “giving thanks for our grace gifts.” When America set aside a day “of public Thanksgiving and Prayer” to “Almighty God,” as George Washington stated in his official proclamation (which I will include in tomorrow’s post), it was to thank God for His incomparable benefits of grace through His Son, Jesus Christ! We aren’t simply giving thanks for the physical freedom, prosperity, and abundant blessings we enjoy in this great nation; we are acknowledging that we enjoy these things because of the grace of God and the gift of His Son!

Communion And for the icing on the cake, or should we say the stuffing in the turkey, this Greek word for Thanksgiving (eucharistia) is also the word for the Eucharist, the Lord’s Table: Communion. This covenant meal is called the Eucharist, not just by Catholics but also by many evangelicals, because it’s a word Jesus used when initiating the meal: “when He had given thanks” (eucharisteo). He then gave the disciples the bread and wine, which represented His body and blood (1 Corinthians 11:23-25). “Thanksgiving” originated, not with the Pilgrims, but at the Last Supper, when God’s “grace meal” was inaugurated!

Tomorrow, when sharing the meal with family and friends, remember that Thanksgiving is rooted in the Lord’s Table, Communion, through which we celebrate God’s “grace gift” of His Son to us.

Pray with me:

Father, we thank You for Your unspeakable gift, Yeshua, and His sacrifice. Through Him, we have been welcomed into Your family, made Your heirs and His joint-heirs. As we Americans celebrate our many blessings this week, we remember that these blessings come through this grace-gift. Thank You!

And as we take time to acknowledge and thank You, we also give thanks for the grace-awakening that has begun. Thank You for the millions of grace-salvations coming soon, the grace-returning of prodigals, the grace-deliverances, the grace-miracles, and the grace-reset of America. Thank You for the grace-cleansing and grace-healing of our land. As we eat the grace-meal tomorrow, we will remember that it is a celebration of Your abounding grace!

We will also remember that Thanksgiving isn’t just America’s meal; this is the world’s meal. Thank You for saving a billion souls in the great grace-harvest that has begun. Thank You for a deluge of grace in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, North and South America. Pour it out! Flood the earth with grace! Signs, wonders, miracles, dreams, visions, deliverances, radical salvations - all poured out by the Spirit of grace! We celebrate this with You! In Yeshua’s name. Amen.

Our decree:

We decree that every good and perfect gift is from the Father through Christ, with whom there is no variableness or shadow of turning (James 1:17).

Click on the link below to watch the full video.

https://youtu.be/LQqCWHwZBc4

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1. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no.5485.

2. https://www.gotquestions.org/charis-in-the-Bible.html 

3. James Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament, Vol 21 (Eerdmans, 1997), pp. 138–139.

4. Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, ref no. 5483.

5. Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, ref no. 5486.

6. William McRae, The Dynamics of Spiritual Gifts (Zondervan, 1976), p. 18.

7. Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, ref no. 5487.

November 25, 2025

Introduction

Yesterday, I shared some thoughts from the outstanding book, Relational Authority: Authentic Leadership, written a few years back by my friend, Clay Nash. I had the privilege of writing the foreword for this insightful book. Clay effectively points out MANY important principles of leadership and authority. 

I’m going to share a few more insights from Clay’s book today: nine important traits of excellence regarding leadership. You would be wise to pick up this book. Today’s title is:

Relational Authority: Authentic Leadership - Part 2

1. Forerunner A leader is a person who moves ahead first. Therefore, true leaders are forerunners.

“Where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 6:20)

A forerunner is actually a Greek nautical term. When a ship got close to the shore, the forerunner would get out of the ship with a weighted rope and swim towards the shore, sounding the depth so the captain would know how close he could come to shore without running aground. Now, this could be pretty hazardous duty, especially at night or when the surf was rough. If the ship got in at midnight in stormy weather, it could be deadly. But the essence of the forerunner’s job was to determine suitable depth for the safety of the ship, not unlike spiritual leadership determining how much “depth” exists to safely move the organization. As such, a forerunner is a balancing force, mediating between the thrashing waves driving the ship towards a hazardous shore and the need to stabilize with an anchor. 

2. Motivator A leader motivates others for a certain purpose or goal. True leaders can take a group of people to a place they might not desire to go and cause them to discover that they have a purpose there.

The key to motivating people in less-than-desirable directions is to help them discover the purpose in being there. The thought of entering a crack-infested neighborhood is initially intimidating, threatening, and even repulsive. But the vision of saving the distraught souls caught in the web of drugs, violence, and death is inspiring to anyone inhabited with God’s redeeming nature. A leader blesses the people with the vision they need to move out into new and challenging territory. We tend to overcome our initial reluctance when we see God’s plan in a situation and when we trust the people who are leading us.

3. Attracts People Leaders attract and direct people to a certain course of action through persuasion, charisma, and example. And while the first two are important, it is the example set by the leader that seals the deal. I can be swayed by a powerful appeal; I can be drawn by personal magnetism. But when I encounter a leader willing to inhabit the same trenches that he or she is calling me to occupy, I know I have found someone worth following. I will listen to persuasion, I will notice charisma, but I will follow example…

4. Direction and Structure  A leader gives directions and structure to others’ work and effort. Wise leaders do a lot of consulting with the people under them before ever taking action - they have to ask a lot of questions to learn what is truly going on before attempting to reorganize it.

The deciding factor in true leadership is getting others on board with change, especially if that change affects their lives. It is not pleasant to face a group of people with a new plan if these people feel threatened by the plan. A true leader knows how to enlist others and can show them the benefits of embracing the changes. 

5. Coordinates Ideas A leader recognizes and coordinates other people’s ideas, bringing diverse outlooks together into a fully functioning critical mass. Everybody sees life from a unique perspective, and each viewpoint has merit - even the unusual ones. Especially the unusual ones.

6. Leads In Life A leader leads in all facets of life - he lives a life of holiness to the Lord that others may know and follow. Poor leaders think it is acceptable to lead in one area but ignore consecration in other areas of their personal lives. Yet the gold standard of true leadership is personal integrity as well as outward integrity. I am not saying a leader must be excellent at everything; everyone has areas of life stronger than others. But in all areas of life, we must be answerable to inquiry and accountability. A leader’s life is an open book, as much as some would like to ignore this fact. We cannot lead without revealing much about ourselves and our lives.

7. Instructs and Corrects A leader carries the authority to lead others by instruction and correction… Leading in correction is never easy, but it is vital. Imagine a ship with a fixed rudder. Without the ability to make course corrections, the ship is vulnerable to any current or wind that comes along. If we, as an organization - as a body - are to more accurately follow our Lord, then course corrections must become the norm. A leader’s job is to administer these in ways that bring life and fulfillment to all concerned.

8. Faces Own Faults A secure leader who has faced his own weaknesses will give the people under him the freedom to make mistakes. Some of the greatest discoveries in life are made while trying to do something and failing initially. People sometimes set out to do one thing, only to discover something greater in the process, even if it is simply the folly of their ways.

Naturally, I want the people under me to avoid the pitfalls and mistakes I have made in developing my leadership skills, but I know this is not entirely possible. They will find ways to make new and novel mistakes that I never dreamed of! Such is the process we are engaged in. 

9. Vulnerability  A leader is vulnerable, developing relationships with those they lead. We cannot lead without depending on others. The relationship between the leader and subordinates is a true symbiotic relationship; each needs the other. Without a vision, the people perish. Yet, without a people, the leader is just out for a walk.

My Comments John Maxwell says, “The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.”(1) All of us should desire to be more effective leaders, whether in a home, a classroom, a business, or a Bible study. These principles, and many others found in this insightful book, will, without a doubt, aid us in this.

Pray with me:

Father, too often those in leadership lead only from the safety of their desks, not the trenches. Jesus, God in the flesh, demonstrated true leadership by serving humankind on dusty roads, in crowded markets, on storm-tossed boats, and a rugged Cross. He came not to be served, but to serve, laying down His life for all (Matthew 20:28).

We ask for more servant-leaders to be raised up in this hour. Men and women who walk in great authority and true humility. Miracle workers and foot-washers, great teachers and sincere listeners. Teach us that we go high by bowing low; our authority increases as our need for greatness decreases. Give us leaders with servant hearts in our churches and in our governments, in our homes and in our schools. May we lead by example, modeling Your heart as we lay down our lives daily. 

And in closing, we remember to call forth the harvest of the ages. We will never stop doing so. Bring it! Turn up the heat, intensify the fire of revival. In Jesus’ name we cry out. Amen. 

Our decree:

We decree that servant-leaders are on the increase, and that this will produce great leaders. 

Click on the link below to watch the full video.

https://youtu.be/7UZNdMXPecw

Today’s post was taken from the book Relationship Authority: Authentic Leadership written by Clay Nash. You can learn more about Clay at ClayNash.org.

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1. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/798495-the-pessimist-complains-about-the-wind-the-optimist-expects-it

November 24, 2025

Introduction

I’ve been rereading the outstanding book, Relational Authority: Authentic Leadership, written a few years back by my friend, Clay Nash. I had the privilege of writing the foreword for this insightful book. Clay effectively points out that effective leadership, whether in the home, a business, a church, or a nation, requires authority; for authority to be honored from the heart and be truly life-giving, it must be relational. We will follow the person we trust, and trust the person we know.

In a world where authority is often abused, it’s essential that we understand the guiding principles through which God intended it to operate. Whether it be healing the sick and casting out devils, overseeing our homes and families, running a church, operating a business, or managing a city, we must understand how God intended for authority to function. Also, to follow authority confidently, we must understand its boundaries and guidelines. I’m going to share just a few highlights from Clay’s book today and tomorrow, although I will barely scratch the surface. You would be wise to pick up this book. Today’s title is:

Relational Authority: Authentic Leadership, Part 1

Authority is powerful. Without it, nothing would ever get done. Authority is the ability to influence things, including people. The first thing God did after He made man was to give them a job. To get that job done, He gave them authority. Notice in Genesis that God brought all the animals to Adam to see what he would name them. Obviously, Adam had the authority to do what God called him to do.

Everything about God is filled with authority. His love is filled with authority. His correction is filled with authority. His grace is filled with authority. Anything God commissions receives a portion of His authority. When God says to do something, the authority to accomplish it is delegated from Him:

“God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply: fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” (Genesis 1:28)

By virtue of the fact that God told man to fill the earth and subdue it, we can understand that man was also given the authority to accomplish this great commission. We can see clearly the importance of authority when we realize that a large part of what mankind lost in the fall was his God-given authority. This is why Jesus’ great triumph was in regaining authority - the authority originally given to man. Look at what scripture says about Jesus:

“Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, ‘What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.’” (Mark 1:27)

“Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.” (Luke 9:1)

One of the last things Jesus spoke on earth to His disciples before ascending to heaven signified the key aspect of His ministry:

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you...’” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Notice the connection between Jesus’ declaration of authority and the clear mandate to His disciples, “Go therefore…” The disciples received authority, and they were sent out.

[Clay thoroughly addresses the subject of illegitimate authority. Here are a few comments.]

Yes, authority has been mishandled, misunderstood, and mistaken throughout the Body of Christ. In my thirty [now forty plus] plus years in the Lord’s ministry, I have seen the rich fruit of authentic authority, the ravages of lifeless authority, and everything in between. I have also seen how often authority is abused in the hierarchy of church government.

Legitimate authentic authority must be discerned from false authority. False authority is not from God, nor does it serve God. It comes from the enemy, and in the long run, it seeks to destroy the things of God. John told us to try the spirits. When someone in our midst is prophesying - speaking words purported to be from God - I teach my people to sense the spirit in which the message is given. The spirit is more important than the words. Before we can allow someone’s spiritual energy to touch ours, we had better know the well from which they are drawing.

But authority is our friend if we understand how to operate in it. Remember: authentic authority gets things done. It works together with us for our good. It propels us into greater works and richer lives. It is what Jesus came to earth to give us.

[Clay points out the critical fact that those in authority are called to help us as servants.] It can often be a far stretch to see those in authority as servants, yet that is exactly what we read in Romans 13:

“For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” (Romans 13:4)

The key here is in accepting a better translation of the word minister in this passage. The word actually means servant. Whoever bears authority in your life is also a servant of God sent to help you. The policeman who gave me my first ticket was certainly not apologetic for the service he was providing, but in the long run, he may very well have saved my young, reckless life.

My Finishing Comments What a different world it would be if everyone saw leadership authority as a responsibility to serve. Families would be healthier, churches would be stronger, businesses would be more productive, and nations would be more prosperous. Tomorrow, I’m going to share with you nine important traits regarding excellence in leadership, as outlined by Clay in his book.

Pray with me:

Father, in a power-hungry and money-hungry world, filled with leaders trying to satisfy their illegitimate cravings, people are looking for servant-motivated individuals. Jesus modeled this for us, and clearly said that true greatness in His kingdom required servanthood. Yet, it seems that so often the higher people climb the ladder of influence and power, the more they want to be served rather than serve.

Teach us Your ways, for it is in Your precepts that we find true wisdom with which to lead. Work into us Your nature of humility that seeks to advance and serve others, not ourselves. Give us more leaders in our government who manifest this, and also in the church, as we begin mentoring the great harvest you are bringing into the Kingdom. Those who are saved will need humble and wise leaders to follow.

Heal those who have been abused by authority and remove from them their fear. Give them the ability to trust once again. Place them in safe environments where they can receive help, grow, and safely develop their gifts. We pray these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Our decree:

We decree that the coming revival will be led by servant-hearted leaders, which will generate great authority, power, and fruitfulness.

Click on the link below to watch the full video.

https://youtu.be/W3s9dgwZkes

Today’s post was taken from the book Relationship Authority, Authentic Leadership, written by Clay Nash. You can learn more about Clay at ClayNash.org.