2024 Thanksgiving Part 1

Colossians 3:15

Psalm 7:17 - I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praises to the name of the Lord, the Most High.

Psalm 100:4-5 - Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 107:1 - Oh give thanks to the lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

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Colossians 3:15 and Colossians 4:2

It is a different book, but we are still looking at the same command: “Put on the New man.”

Christian: You are a New Creation, created in Christ Jesus, God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works.

We have received the Gospel, and now we are living out of the Gospel, out of the Good News, everywhere we are.

We are walking out our faith. Our faith is with us where are, wherever we are, and wherever we go.

We walk by faith… live by faith...

This produces a different walk, a different life, a different attitude… all the way from the market place, work place, to home, and all the way until heaven.

And here, we are commanded to first:

Let the peace of God Rule in your Hearts

There is a peace I have come to know, though my heart and flesh may fail. There is an anchor for my soul; I can say “It is well.”

Everyone is looking for peace, but not everyone is looking to Christ. Everyone wants to know peace, but not everyone knows that it is found through a Person: God Himself.

Where is your mind today? What do you think about the most? What is your mind filled with, and are you left with anxiety and fear at the end of the day?

Romans 8:6 - The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.

What or Who is controlling your peace? You or Christ? Family members or Christ? Work or Christ? The government or Christ?

Ephesians 2:14 - Christ is our peace. He is called the Lord of Peace. He is called the prince of Peace.

Jesus said in John 14:27 - Peace I leave you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

So get this responsibility and command: Do not let your hearts be troubled. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.

What do we do and How do we do this?

John 15:4-5 - Jesus says “abide in Me… you cannot produce this fruit on your own; for without Me you can do nothing...”

We are looking to Christ and we are saying “Thank you.” We are looking to His work and His promises… and we are saying, “Thank you.”

Listen: There is a Peace…(Phil. 4:7) which surpasses all understanding, that transcends understanding… In other words: There is a peace that does not make sense. There is a peace which is above and beyond the here and now...

There is a peace which is above and beyond my circumstances and situations.

There is a peace that is above and beyond me, my earthly knowledge, my natural mind and natural thinking.

There is a Priest, Prophet, Provider, and Protector… Who is over my life.

There is One who is greater than my pain and sorrow.

There is One who is above and beyond this world and all its worries.

Let the Peace of God… Let the Peace of Christ… Rule your Hearts!

Listen: We have a Person who is our peace. We have a person who has brought us peace. We have a God who has made peace between us and God and we have a God who has made peace between Jews and Gentiles.

God has brought us to Himself. God has brought us to one another through the Cross.

You have peace with God. God is not angry with you Christian. God has made you family, and has made you a family together as the Church.

Sin has separated, but the Cross has liberated.

The Law condemns, but Jesus mends.

For now there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ...

The walls are down and God’s people have come in together. He is your Father and we are His Children.

You have access to Him 24/7.

He is on His throne and the earth is His footstool.

Church: Where is your mind/heart today? Let the Peace of Christ Rule Your Hearts!

“Ok, brother… I need help… How can I grow in peace? How can I grow in this?”

Answer: Through Prayer with Thanksgiving

I do not want to say: “Prayer and Thanksgiving… but Prayer with Thanksgiving.” Every time you give thanks to God… you are praying… after all...

Prayer and Thanksgiving is the antidote for worry. It is the cure for most all of our cases of depression and anxiety… There can be some chemical things going on inside of us and we understand this…But most of this is caused by not letting Christ Rule in our minds and hearts.

Look at verse 16 - Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly...

This is very important to us as we pray and speak. We need to know the Word of Christ in order to have our minds renewed. And then we can pray rightly. And then we will know riches of His grace and we can be very thankful as we go through life.

*(Here are some scenarios)

A. People are giving you a hard time. Work people are giving you a hard time. Family members are giving you a hard time. Church folks are giving you a hard time...

Where will my mind go?

To the people… Or to Christ? To their words or to Christ’s words? What is going to give me peace?

Not them! Not their words; not their attitudes; not their complaints and bickering!

Where will my mind Go and How am I going to respond to this?

Christ died for them. Christ died for me. Christ is the healer. Christ is my Victorious Warrior. Christ will fight for me; He will be my Avenger. Christ is above all people. Christ is supreme over all people and their actions. My Jesus is sovereign and in control. My Jesus is working in and through my life. My Jesus is working through their lives.

God is allowing me to go through this, so He will get me through this.

And so… We open our mouths, speak God’s truth, pray Gods truth, and give thanks to God for Who He is, and for what He is doing.

My God, Your God… Is Over This!

Pray this out loud to Him. Cast all your cares on Him and sing His praises with thanksgiving. Confess your fears and Confess the Name of Jesus and His Promises over you… And give Him Thanks!

Let the Peace of God Rule Your Hearts!

B. There are issues in this world, wars and rumors of wars, political drama, Biden, Trump, Russia, China, and the economy is on the roller coaster ride once again...

Where will my mind go?

Isaiah 6 - I see the Lord sitting on the Throne, High and Lifted up… The Nations are a drop in the bucket compared to Him. He is the Lord over all creation and the earth is His footstool. Where can I go where He is not there?

Christ is Supreme. Christ is above all powers, above all things. My Jesus is in control. My God has been working from beginning to end, and He is going to accomplish what He started. He is the Alpha and the Omega, He is the beginning and end. He made all things and will end all things… When He gets ready… And it will be right on time.

This Lord is my Shepherd… I shall not want… He will lead me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the household of God forever.

I have riches now and forever. I have a home and citizenship in heaven. And though all the nations of the world will be shaken, the mountains may crumble… and all will fall into the sea… The Word of the Lord Shall Endure Forever!

So, Therefore… I shall not be moved!

Let the Peace of God Rule in Your Hearts! How?

Let the Word Dwell Richly Inside of You!

Let the Word come out of you through Prayer, Praise and Singing… With Thanksgiving!

With Thanksgiving… How much of our Bible study leads us to thanksgiving? How many songs focus on thanksgiving… How many prayers include thanksgiving to God?

This may be our big problem: Thanksgiving is being left out.

We come to the Bible to get, to get knowledge, wisdom, and understanding… but it doesn’t lead us to thanksgiving.

Many church folks have a lot of word in them… but it dwells in them poorly… not richly. The Word has no power over them. They do not pray it, sing it, confess it, or give it to others… It dwells in them poorly.

The soul prospers… the mind and heart prospers… When we are filled with the Word and we delight ourselves in it… and use it moment by moment and day by day.

The soul/mind/heart that prays and sings the Scriptures with gratitude… With thankful hearts… That soul will prosper… That soul will have joy and peace.

The soul that prays… and there are different prayers to pray. At times we ask, we request, we cry out, beg and plead, we talk with God about our day, about life and all kinds of different things...

We pray the Scriptures… We pray the Lord’s prayer, the Psalms, Psalm 23, and other Scripture...

But how often do we pray… and just give thanks?

Let the Peace of God Rule Your Hearts. How?

Let the Word of God Dwell Richly inside you. Let the Word come out through Prayer, Praise, and Singing… With Thanksgiving… With Much Thanksgiving!

Whatever you do in word or deed… Remember to give thanks.

This is God’s will… “In everything give thanks...”

Phil. 4:6-7 - Be anxious for nothing… nothing… nothing...

But in everything… in everything… in everything...

By prayer and supplication… with thanksgiving… let your requests be made known to God… and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Do you see a problem? Do you see issues? Are you going through trials of some kind?

Where is your mind? What do you see? What do you hear?

Is the Word dwelling in you richly?

Can you not see the Lord on the Throne today?

Can you not hear the Master’s Words?

This is why we do not have peace. This is why the Peace of God is not ruling you.

Is it time to delight ourselves in the Word again? Is it time pray, praise, and sing the Word of God… with much thanksgiving?

Romans 15:13 - As you obey God’s Word today: “Now may the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace in believing… that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”