An Attitude of Gratitude

Pray

Give Honor

Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (NKJV)

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

“ People don’t have to be nice, the least you can do is tell them thank you”

Paul writes this letter to the Church of Thesslonicia

to Encourage and Inspire the new believers who were getting persecuted because of their Faith.

Paul is now giving his final remarks for those who are in Thessolonica

and

Paul Charges them with the responsibility to

Rejoice always,

Pray without ceasing,

and in everything give thanks

The first Charge that Paul gives them is to

1. Be Joyful-

This is hard for me to wrap my mind around and It almost seems Imposible.

(rejoice always)

These are people,

that have been persecuted, for believing this God that Paul tells them to believe

and all Paul says is “Rejoice always?”

now these people have been hurting.

these people have to be scared

There has to be a level of uncertainty, yet he says “Rejoice always?”

Can you imagine being a new convert to Christianity and here comes persecution?.

Just starting the journey and here comes persecution.

Not quite made it to know God personally, but I gave my life to him, and sure enough, here comes persecution.

This is a response, that does not quite match the situation (Rejoice Always)

Problems everywhere around me, and the answer to this problem is to rejoice always.

Paul is telling the people to rejoice, and at this point it seems as though there is nothing to rejoice about.

How can we rejoice? When times are this hard

How can we rejoice? When gas is this high

How can we rejoice? When there are mass shootings all over

How can we rejoice? When there is racism all around us

How can we rejoice? When life puts me on my back

How can we rejoice? When the marriage is on the rocks.

HOW CAN WE REJOICE?

and family I’ve come to the resolve,

that the reason we CAN rejoice is because

we do not rejoice BECAUSE OF,

But we rejoice INSPITE OF.

Paul did not say, BE HAPPY,

but paul says REJOICE.

Paul does not say shout

but Paul says Rejoice.

because rejoicing is more that a feeling, but rejoicing is a decision.

and I’m not going to let something that I can’t control, mess up something I can control.

“This Joy I have, the world didnt give it and the world can’t take it away.

Paul does not just say rejoice, but he says rejoice ALWAYS.

always, in the good, In the bad ALWAYS,

IN THE HAPPY OR SAD, ALWAYS.

Paul says,

Be Joyful,

but then paul says,

BE Prayerful.

He tells the church, to pray without ceasing.

So not only do we have to rejoice always, but we have to PRAY without ceasing.

Prayer, Constant communication with us and the creator,

Prayer, Telling God all of your problems

Prayer, the one on one time with you and God.

I was reading an article one day and the article said

“. Prayer is the difference between what we can do and what God can do.”

God provides the POWER, but we have to Provide the PRAYER

and if we want to be in constant relationship and communion with the father,

we have to talk to him.

Paul says PRAY without ceasing.

Now this does not mean every waking moment you are praying.

But this means to live a life style of prayer.

This means to make God the top priority.

why should we pray without ceasing.

because he listens

because he cares

because he can fix it.

he says be JOYFUL

Be PRAYERFUL

but lastly he says,

Be thankful

HE says IN EVERYTHING. give thanks

and the truth is, There’s always something to be thankful for.

Times can be hard.

Life can be rough

Bills can be due

Family can be on the rocks, but there’s always something to be thankful for.

Life has a way of making you feel like there’s no hope.

but I’ve come to bear good news and that it,

As long as you have breath in your body,

As long as you have life in your lungs,

There is always enough to Give God praise for.

IN EVERYTHING give thanks.

as hard as it may seem,

As rough as it can possibly get,

IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS.

Life is on the rocks

Family members are tripping,

THERE MAY NOT BE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS because your “thankfulness is not predicated on the things going on around you,

your thankfulness is predicated on the God made you.

I’m not thankful because things are good,

I am just thankful that HE IS GOD.

close. As we go forward with this holiday, always remember to keep an attitude of gratitude.

be joyful, Don’t let anything our anyone steal your joy

be prayerful, keep constant communication with the father.

and be thankful, There is always something to thank God for.

Keep an attitude of Gratitude because above all, This is a God that sent his son to die for your sins.

That is enough to tell him thank you.

if you do not know this God, in the pardon of your sins, now is the time to get to know him.

if you need prayer We have altar counselors waiting for you