Gratitude for your or God

We are continuing our series this morning. The season of Thanks -Being Grateful Everyday.

During the time of Thanksgiving, a lot of people will do a gratitude challenge. This three-week series examines Scripture to see what gratitude might look like if it was practiced every day, and if we found reasons to be grateful even for the hard things in life.

This morning we will be looking at a time is Pauls life that he should not have felt very grateful because of what he was going though.

If you have you bible go head and turn to Philippians 1:3–19. if not you can follow along on the screen in a few minutes.

We have all had difficult things happen in our life. Weather it be life changing things, deaths, or even minor events that lead to a difficult time.

Paul dealt with a lot of difficult things in his life too. This morning we will be look at one of those times. A time he was in jail. Before we look at today passage. I have a question for you. So think for a moment.

What in your life has bought you difficult?

if you want to share you can.

How did you acting when you were going through this time?

Where you angry, depressed, wanted no one around you.

or did you allow God to use this time.

Philippians 1:3–7 CSB

3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.

The letter of Joy

The letter to the Philippian church is often referred to as “the letter of joy.” This is because five times Paul speaks of joy, and seven times he uses the word “rejoice.” Yet, despite the upbeat tone of the letter,

When Paul was writing this letter he was in prison. He was prisoned for share the word of God. This would have a been a great shame in the time he was living. Back then and like today. Prison was for the criminals. Not for someone share what they believed. The church in Phillia stood by Paul in all that he did. They were his partner.

Paul is grateful

Despite his imprisonment, Paul is grateful. Why?

Philippians 1:12–13 CSB

12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ.

Paul is grateful

He understood that his place that he was in put him in a different position to share the gospel with the guards.

Paul knew that every situation there is time that he could share the gospel. The source of the of his joy is that Jesus is being proclaimed.

Often, ingratitude comes as a reaction to something that happens to us that is in opposition to our understanding of the purpose of life.

If you believe the purpose of life looks a lot like the American Dream, then something that disrupts that or gets in the way will likely create ingratitude.

But if, like Paul, you believe the purpose of life is to share the good news of Jesus and glorify God, whatever happens to you doesn’t matter so long as you are still living out your purpose.

Paul was faced with a choice

he could be bitter and angry about his situation, or he could rejoice and be faithful to God.

The same is true for each one of us when something happens to us that derails our plan or disrupts the image we have for our life: we can become angry, bitter, or despondent—or we can rejoice.

Is your gratitude focused on what you get out of things or on how a situation can glorify God?

Bad situations may not help you but can still advance the

gospel.