1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Let’s Thank God Always!

Introduction

Thanksgiving is a time for...

It’s easy to give thanks when everything is going just the way we want.

It’s easy to give God thanks when our bodies are without sickness and pain-free.

It’s easy to give thanks when we have money left over.

But can we give thanks when we’re living in lean, uncomfortable and painful seasons?

I pray the word God has given us today will encourage us to thank Him always.

Rejoice Always

There are three important reasons why we should rejoice always.

Rejoicing and having joy is one of the fruit of the Spirit. Gal. 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”

We can’t put the joy of the Lord which is our strength on the same level as worldly joy. Worldly joy depends on possessing material things and pleasing the flesh.

Spiritual is described in Romans 14:17. It doesn’t depend on material things. Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost are important to being able to rejoice always.

Rejoicing always helps us to avoid the sin of complaining and grumbling against God when things aren’t going the way we expect them to.

People watch us and when they see our joy in situations they know would’ve crushed them. Let’s be real. Worldly people love bad news and when they see someone who is always full of joy going through a tough season, they will watch. The curiosity will get the best of them and maybe they will ask you to give a reason for your joy. Our joy opens the door for ministering to them about our Savior Jesus Christ!

We should always remember the God who created us and called us to righteousness is our Father. He is going to take care of His children as a good father does. He does good to those who love and serve Him.

Romans 8:28 “28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Pray Without Ceasing

When we consider how much we depend on God for the “Four-P’s” 1-Presence, 2-Protection, 3-Provision, and 4-Peace, we realize we should always pray and not faint (Luke 18:1)

We should never stop praying. We should pray everyday. And we should always want to hear from God when we pray. After-all, it is a two-way conversation.

And when we pray, lets pray believing.

Matthew 7:7-8 “7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

Philippians 4:6 “6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;”

I had to learn to pray. I had to learn to pray even when it seemed like God wasn’t hearing my prayers.

I had to learn the truth about the goodness of Jesus and all He’s done for me before I could pray without ceasing.

Constant prayers will open doors for healing and deliverance for us and our families.

I remember a time within the first two or three years of the Lord saving me, I was in a tough financial situation. I hadn’t learned how to pray without ceasing. I would pray and if it wasn’t answered within a few days, I would stop praying and return to worry. The devil had me walking with my head hanging down because of despair and hoping I would find some money on the ground. But God!!!

When I learned to pray without ceasing, I began to depend on the Lord and He sustained me until I could get to a place of blessings and at times overflow.

In Everything Give Thanks - It’s God’s Will

Giving thanks always is God’s will. And when we come inline with His will there’s nothing we can’t do through Christ!

Ephesians 5:20 tells us to give thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lets learn how to thank God in advance for what we need Him to do for us and our loved ones.

Conclusion

So pastor you’re saying I should give thanks when I’m sick? Yes...

You mean give thanks when I’m having trouble on my job? Yes...

Give thanks when people are lying on me? Yes...

Give thanks when I’m being discriminated against? Yes...

Give thanks when there’s all kinds of turmoil in my family? Yes...

Do you mean give thanks when prices are soaring to all time highs? Yes...

Give thanks without complaining? But it makes me feel better if I complain? So you think it does. Complianing takes you of God’s will because it’s a sin.

Jesus didn’t complain even when He knew He was about to face severe pain from unjust punishment. He knew what the whips would do to His flesh. He knew how those thorns would feel being pushed through His scalp. He knew how the nails would feel in His hands and feet. He knew He would be hung on a cross in the most humiliating way of is time. But look at His prayer in Luke 22:42 “ saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”” And Luke 22:43 tells us an angel appeared and strengthened Him.

It was our Father’s will for Jesus to die so we could have hope and be thankful for all He’s done for us!

Just Thank God Always!