Thanksgiving Message

Intro

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I am so excited that you took time out of your thanksgiving traditions to spend some time with us. I hope that coming together as the body of believers is a signficant part of your thanksgiving tradition.

This morning is just simply a thanksgiving message. It is not part of a series, we’re not kicking anything off. This is a one off message, but I hope to give you something to chew on as we prepare to have Clarence Mitchell here next week, talking about biblically strong finances and helping people with their wills and what not. We are really excited to have Clarence come for a visit and share from his heart.

As we get ready to dive into the message, you can turn in your bibles to Philippians 4, as that will be the passage we are going to walk through this morning.

As you turn there, I want you share at your table something you have trouble being thankful for. What is something you have trouble being thankful for? Take a couple minutes and share at your table.

Hand out the discussion questions

what did you come up with at your table?

blank

I intentionally kept the time short because there is no shortage of things in this life that we are less than thankful for. In fact, I may even go so far to say that there is no shortage of things for us to complain about.

This is only added to by the way people share on social media. Most people use their social media platform to complain about something that isn’t going their way in life. It is almost the default setting in most posts and even some conversations. Our society loves to complain.

This almost makes Thanksgiving harder to celebrate. For some, Thanksgiving is steeped in rich tradition; for others, it is simply another day off of work because the idea of thankfulness is almost foreign to them.

Yet when we read through scripture, especially Philippians 4, we are reminded that as disciples, we are called to have an attitude of thankfulness; that being thankful should be our default position.

So with that, let’s dive into the chapter, and I will give you 3 reasons to be thankful, and a reminder that thankfulness is a choice.

we pick it up in verse 4. The first couple of verses of chapter 4 is Paul addressing specific people who are serving in the Philippian church.

Philippians 4:4–5 NLT

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

blank

Always be full of joy. Always be thankful. It is really hard to complain and be thankful at the same time.

Why? The first point this morning is that we should be thankful because Jesus is returning soon. Everyday, every moment we draw closer and closer to the second coming of Jesus, when the kingdom of God will be fully established, and sin and of its fall out will fade away.

This world is not the be all end all. This world, with all of its problems and illnesses will fade away, and the perfect kingdom of Christ will be fully realized.

Paul is saying when we want to complain about something that is wrong in this world, we are encouraged to take a breath and praise God it will all be over soon. Thank you Jesus you are returning soon.

Philippians 4:6–7 NLT

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

blank

Just like it is hard to be thankful and complain at the same time, it is hard to be thankful and worried at the same time. Paul reminds us to pray, talk to your heavenly Father about whatever you are worried about, and remember all the good things He has done.

When we remember how good God has been to us in the past, it is reminder that He will continue to be good to us moving forward. Then that worry will be replaced with peace.

Paul says this to the Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 NLT

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

blank

Paul has given us a literary sandwich. Just like an actual sandwich, the bread should be good, but it is the inside that we really enjoy. Be thankful, be joyful are the the bread, with never stop praying being the good stuff.

If we maintain a posture of prayer in our life, the peace and joy of the Lord will fill us.

The second thing we should be thankful for is that we serve a good God that we can go to with everything going on in our lives.

Philippians 4:8–9 NLT

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

blank

This is both something to be thankful for and a reminder about our minds. Paul tells us to fix our thoughts… think about… put into practice

You can choose what your mind focuses on. You can choose what you think about. You have more control over your life then you maybe realize.

You don’t have to be a victim of your thoughts. You don’t have to be a victim of your fears and anxieties. God has given you the ability to choose what you think about. So choose to think about good things. Something that might help is watch what you fill your mind with. If you struggle with your thought life, start memorizing scripture. Paul says in Romans 12 that you can be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Your mind is renewed by the Spirit of God working in you, and by getting more of God’s word in there.

The reminder is that you can choose what you think about, and so choose to think about the things that you are thankful for.

Philippians 4:10–14 NLT

How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

blank

I have learned to be content in whatever I have, even if I have nothing and my stomach is empty. This is epitome of having nothing, to have so little that you can’t even eat.

yet Paul says he was content.

remember in 1 Timothy, Paul said that true wealth was contentment with godliness.

The secret to contentment for Paul was the truth that as long as he has Jesus, he had everything he needed in life. This is what he means when he says that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

When you declare Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you receive everything you need in life. You will never face a situation alone because Christ is always with you. You never have to rely on your own wisdom because the wisdom that formed all creation resides in you. You never have to attempt something with your own strength because the power that rose Jesus from the dead dwells in you.

You are a new creation in Christ Jesus. The last reason you should be thankful is because the Spirit of Christ lives in you, and that changes everything when we let it. The Holy Spirit may dwell within you, but He will not force himself on you. You need to choose to follow, and if you’re willing to lay down your will, the Spirit will lead you into a fullness and purpose that surpasses everything in this world.

Be thankful because Jesus is returning soon

Be thankful because you can go to God about anything that going on in life

Be thankful because you can choose what you think about. Remember you have the power to choose to think about good things

Be thankful because Jesus has made you into something new, and your life will never be the same because of what He has done.

This morning, I want to close with something different. In my first year of college, the dorm I was in had a week of silence and solitude. Over the course of the week, we would have dorm devotions every night, being taught a new discipline. One night we talked about being constantly in prayer. To help with this practice, we were given a piece of string, tie 5 knots in it, and keep it in our pockets. Everytime we reached into our pocket, we would feel the string and be reminded to pray.

I want to do the same. On your table there is string for each of you, beads if you are so inclined, and as you discuss, I invite you to tie knots in your string. Keep it in your pocket, and everytime you reach into your pocket or purse and feel or see the string, remember to pray, and thank God for the good things He is doing in your life.

1. What is something you are thankful for?

2. When you are tempted to complain, how can you redirect your mind to being thankful?

3. How does being more prayerful combat a complaining mindset?