In Everything Give Thanks
Holiday messages • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 1 viewNotes
Transcript
text
16 Rejoice at all times.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
King James Version Chapter 5
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Introduction: Thanksgiving: History of the Holiday
Source of information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States)
There is quite a bit of debate over when the first Thanksgiving celebration took place on this Continent. What we do know is that the first official Thanksgiving celebrations here on this continent were made by the Puritans and Pilgrims (Christians) who arrived in the early 1600s. These were special times of celebration when work and other regular activities were stopped for a day (sometimes up to 3 days!) to recognize God’s providence and express gratitude for His goodness, His protection, and His provision.
Thanksgiving has been an important part of our country’s history, since the time of the great War of Independence in the 1770s and continuing through today.
Several official proclamations have been made in our country’s history regarding the celebration of a day of Thanksgiving.
From the Continental Congress in 1777, written by Samuel Adams, one of the Founding Fathers and signers of the Declaration of Independence:
“it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore the superintending Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with Gratitude their Obligation to him for Benefits received, and to implore such farther Blessings as they stand in Need of...” - Samuel Adams
Quote from George Washington in his proclamation of the first national observance of Thanksgiving in the United States in 1789:
“it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor” - George Washington
Quote from Abraham Lincoln in 1863, in the middle of the Civil War:
“The year that is drawing towards its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.” - Abraham Lincoln
Thanksgiving has been celebrated every year since 1863.
And in 1941, less than 3 weeks into the United States’s participation in World War II, Franklin Roosevelt signed the law which is still in effect today, declaring the 4th Thursday of November the official United States celebration of Thanksgiving.
Several of these Thanksgiving celebrations and proclamations took place during times of war, famine, or disease. Thanksgiving wasn’t celebrated or promoted because everything was perfect, but because in the midst of the difficulties and suffering of this life, there is a good God who is working all things for good for those who love Him - including things like war, famine, and disease.
As William Cowper said in his great poem, Light Shining out of Darkness: “Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.”
Light Shining out of Darkness
God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sov'reign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding ev'ry hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flow'r.
Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.
Interestingly, Thomas Jefferson, our 3rd president, refused to acknowledge a Thanksgiving holiday. He was a Deist, which means that he believed that God created the world and then left it alone and is uninvolved in the world He made. Consistent with his beliefs, if God were not sustaining this world and caring for it, there would be no one to whom we must give thanks. Though his beliefs were wrong, he at least was consistent in his application of his beliefs, unlike many today who claim that Thanksgiving can be a secular holiday. In its very nature, Thanksgiving is a religious holiday, and even more specifically, a Christian holiday.
1. Give Thanks in Everything Because You Are in Christ Jesus
As Christians, we have more reasons than anyone else to give thanks.
This is why Paul commands us,
Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Because we are “in Christ Jesus” - that is, united to Him by faith, we have all the more reason to give thanks.
Thanksgiving is due to God from all people everywhere. But because of the depravity of the human heart, people try to suppress their knowledge of God, and they refuse to acknowledge Him or give thanks to Him, as Paul says in Romans 1.
Romans 1:21 (BSB)
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him…
But for those of us who have come to know Jesus Christ, our lives ought to increasingly be characterized by thanksgiving, as Paul says in Colossians 2:6-7
Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him,
rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Paul was an example of giving thanks
Even though he suffered in many ways, in almost all his letters we find him giving thanks for someone or something. His grateful attitude especially stands out during the times we know he was in prison, such as when he wrote Philippians. Nevertheless, we find him thanking God for these believers
I thank my God every time I remember you.
1. Give Thanks in Everything Because You Are in Christ Jesus
___________
2. Give Thanks in Everything Because This Is the Will of God
Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Many people ask, “What is God’s will for my life?”
Here’s one answer the Bible gives: Give Thanks! - always, in every circumstance, give thanks; this is God’s will for you
That is, this is a command from God; it is not optional. It’s not a suggestion or just a good idea. We are commanded by God’s Word to give thanks.
So if we are not giving thanks, we are living in disobedience to God’s commands.
2. Give Thanks in Everything Because This Is the Will of God
3. Give Thanks in Everything Because You Know That God Is Always Good
God’s Providence and His Promises are the basis for giving thanks.
That is, when we trust that God is in control of all things, and we believe His promise to work all things together for our good, we will be grateful and express our thanks to Him.
Remember the Character of God
Whether we believe it or not, God is who He says He is, and He does what He says He does.
God is perfectly sovereign, He is always in control of all things (nothing is outside His control);
God is perfectly wise, always choosing the best goals and the best means of reaching His goals;
God is perfectly good, always doing what brings the greatest good to His people and the greatest glory to Himself
God is sovereign, wise, and good
Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
One important thing we should not about this verse is that it says, “Give thanks in every circumstance,” not “Give thanks for every circumstance.”
Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Thessalonians Grateful in Attitude (1 Thess 5:18)
Paul says we are to “give thanks in everything” and not for everything.
Because of our confidence in the character and work of God, we can give thanks in every circumstance - no matter what we’re going through, whether life is great and everything’s going well, or if life is terrible and everything’s falling apart - no matter our situation or circumstances we can and must give thanks to God, because though our circumstances change, He does not. He is always the same. And He is always good!
Give Thanks in Times of Blessing
Maybe it’s obvious, but we ought to give thanks to God in times of blessing.
In times of financial prosperity
In times of loving family relationships
In times of deep and close friendships
In times of success at work
In times of good physical health
In times of mental health and clarity
In times of church growth
And in every other positive circumstance in life, when things are going well according to our perspective, give thanks to God. Remember that all these good things come from His good hand and are demonstrations of His grace and kindness to you.
Give Thanks in Times of Suffering
What about when things aren’t going well? When everything seems to be falling apart? We are still commanded to give thanks during times of suffering.
In times of financial hardship
In times of broken family relationships
In times of loneliness and broken friendships
In times of failure at work
In times of poor health or disease
In times of discouragement or mental confusion
In times of people leaving the church
And in every other negative circumstance in life, when things are not going well from our point of view, when life is falling apart, give thanks to God. Remember that in all things God is working for the good of His people.
Remember the Promises of God
Let’s remind ourselves of some of the promises He’s given us:
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.
God works ALL THINGS together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose - All things, both the good and the bad, the positive and the negative, when life is great and when it’s awful, in all these things God is working for our good.
And specifically, the good that God has in mind is in v. 29: that we would be conformed to the image of His Son - Jesus Christ. That is, God’s purpose for our lives as believers is that we would grow to look more and more like Jesus in the way that we act, speak, think, and desire. He wants us to look like His Son! And He brings together all the different circumstances of our lives - the good, the bad, and the ugly - to shape us into the kind of people that He wants us to be.
Knowing this, we can give thanks in all circumstances - because we know that God is good, and He is working all things for our good as His children.
Paul puts it this way earlier in Romans:
Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
perseverance, character; and character, hope.
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.
The various suffering we experience in this life are God’s way of developing godly character in us and helping us become more like Christ.
James says it like this:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Trials and sufferings are producing spiritual maturity - growth in Christlike character. So even in our trials we can rejoice and give thanks, because we know God is going to bring great good even out of our suffering.
And when times are good, we also need to be reminded of this truth:
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.
It all comes from God, and for this reason, we must give thanks.
Give Thanks in Everything Because You Know That God Is Always Good
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Application: (bowed heads)
Do you know Jesus Christ? Have you trusted in His death on the cross and His resurrection? Have you given your life to Him?
Are you a thankful person? Would other people say that you are thankful? (maybe even ask someone who knows you well)
Commit yourself to obey God’s command and give thanks in everything, knowing that God is always good, and He is working all things for the good of His people.
PRAY