PIBC24-Thursday

Introduction - We have been speaking about the biblical truth, that we are “More Than Conquerors” according to Romans 8:37.

A Christian is more than a conqueror.

And with that thought we have been looking at some Bible words that help us to understand about those that conquer and those who do not.

From yesterday were the four points from yesterday out of Romans 6 concerning righteousness and unrighteousness?

Think like a Christian.

Fight like a Christian.

Act like a Christian.

Victory is for the Christian.

Someone stopped after the morning time yesterday and asked me about these two words:

Proud versus Humility

Humility always wins and here is why, because God resisteth the proud…

1 Peter 5:5 “5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”

Humility - is a right understanding of who you are in relation to God.

In the book of Isaiah, we have one of the few visions in the Bible that show us the throne room of God.

In it Isaiah saw the Lord Jesus Christ on the throne—

It is then that Isaiah understood better who He was in relation to the Lord.

Isaiah 6:5 “5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

But today just for a moment I want us to look at one bible word that I believe is severely lacking today.

As a matter of fact, I would say that it is epidemic—-

You will remember during the height of COVID that news outlets were saying this is an epidemic.

An epidemic according to Websters dictionary means something that affects many people.

Well unthankfulness unfortunately is epidemic— and worse than this it is epidemic among Christians.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Be Thankful In Everything

You might say “Well I’ll show them, I am not going to thank the, because they didn’t thank me.”

Luke 6:35 tells us, “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” The Bible does not say whatever someone does to you—you do to them two times worse…

The Lord said Luke 6:31 “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18, again says, “18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

In that verse —someone tell me what is the Bible saying —- what are we to give thanks for?

In every thing…

‘You see this is demonstrated even more so when you read Philippians 4:6. The Bible says,

Philippians 4:6 “6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

Don’t Worry—- pray—- Don’t Fret—-Pray—— but did you hear what the Bible says—-Pray —-with thanksgiving…

Now to me this is kind of unusual, If I am anxious—- If I have a reason for worry—that means perhaps there is something going on that would be a cause folks would say to worry—-

But in Philippians 4:6 it tells us even in the difficult times, even when you could be worrying —- even though you should not—- your prayers always ought to be clothed in thanksgiving.

One of the characteristics of an obedient Christian is thankfulness.

We could say it this way, one of the characteristics of an obedient Christian— one that is in fellowship with the Lord… is a thankful Christian.

What do I mean by fellowship? Someone give me a definition of fellowship?

Two fellows in a ship— If we are in the boat together—- we are headed in the same direction… We have the same captain—

1 John 1:7 “7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Turn with me to Romans 1:21. Brother Barry brought this up either last year or the year before— and I thought I would remind us this morning.

Romans 1:21 says, “21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but [they] became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

One of the characteristics of a lost person— one who is not saved, one who is not a Christian is unthankfulness..

In Romans 1:21 it says neither were they thankful, so if they are not thankful—- what are they?

Unthankful

Romans chapter 1 is speaking about someone who is not saved—-folks who have rejected God.

It says they glorified him not as God—- even though they knew something of God—- then it says —- neither were they thankful.

So we could come to this conclusion, couldn’t we, that when we as a Christian choose to be unthankful—- we don’t look like a Christian—-but rather look like we are not a Christian.

Turn over to 2 Timothy 3.

The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 3:1–5 “1 This know also, that in the last days perilous [dangerous] times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

Here again is a warning from Paul to Timothy—- Paul is telling Timothy what is ahead— quite honestly, I believe we could say we see these things lister all around us.

One of those characteristics of lost men— again says unthankful—- and sadly enough right next to unthankful on the left we see, disobedient to parents, and on the right unholy…

We are going to exercise ourselves in this right now…

Tell me something you are thankful for.