Thanksgiving everyday

Are you thankful no matter what?

Some are going thru struggles at the moment

lost your job

lost your health or a loved one

can’t seem to catch a break

There is a man that I’d like to tell you about who had every right to be bitter

wrongly put into prison

facing potential execution

separated from friends

treated brutally

This was the Apostle Paul

Ephesians 5:19–20 NIV

speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

ALWAYS Give thanks for EVERYTHING

for Paul Thanksgiving was not a once a year celebration

daily reality that changed his life

made him a joyful person

Thanksgiving - giving of thankds

should be a distinctive mark of the believers in Jesus

let us not become ungrateful

Being ungrateful causes us to become biter, selfish, dissatisfied people

contentment and joy are found in a spirit of thankfulness

Many years ago leprosy was a terrible disease

it hopelessly disfigured those who had it

permanently cut them off from normal society

all who had it greatly desired to be healed

One day 10 lepers approached Jesus outside of a village

they were loudly pleading to be healed

In an instant Jesus restored them all to perfect health

They all left without a word of thanks except ONE

preoccupied with themselves

with the blessing

One came and thanked Jesus

Today ingratitude and thanklessness are far too common

children forget to thank their parents for all that they do

husbands and wives take for granted the things that are done for one another

common courtesy seems like it’s out of style

we fail to thank God for His blessings in our lives

Ingratitude is a sin

just like

lying

stealing

immorality

or any other sin condemned in the Bible

Look at this picture

Romans 1:21 ESV

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Romans 12:1 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

An ungrateful heart is one that is cold towards God

indifferent towards His mercy and love

One that has forgotten how dependent we are upon God for everything

In the psalmist declared “Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving”

Paul simply wrote “Be thankful” in

a spirit of thanksgiving is always a mark of a joyous Christian

So, some may ask why should I be thankful?

Simply because God has blessed us beyond measure

What can we be thankful for?

Thank God for the material blessings that He gives you

We seem to never be satisfied with what we have

rich or poor

healthy or sick

What a blessing to know that what we have has been given to us by God

change your perspective

“Wealth and honor come from you … We give you thanks, and praise your glorious name … Everything comes from you” (, NIV)

I have met people who are successful and wealthy

if you didn’t know their circumstance would think that they coud barely get by

because they just wanted more

I have met people who seemed to struggle to keep the necessities

but yet they were full of thankfulness

Papaw Johnson

Johnny Deskins

Philippians 4:12 NIV

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Are you constantly preoccupied with what you do not have?

OR have you learned to thank God for what you have?

Thank God for the people in your life

It is easy to take people for granted

or even complain and become angry because they do not meet our every wish

BUT we need to give thanks for those around us

spouses

children

relatives

friends

others who help us in some way

Newly weds:

quickest way to destroy your relationship is to stop being thankful for what your husband or wife brings to the marriage

DO YOU LET OTHERS KNOW THAT YOU APPRECIATE THEM AND ARE THANKFUL FOR THEM?

Paul wrote a letter to the church in Corinth

they were just like the people in your life...

FAR FROM PERFECT

But Paul began his letter like this

“I always thank God for you”

another time a group of Christians who Paul didn’t even know personally came to greet him as he came to Rome

says that “at the sight of these me Paul thanked God and was encouraged”

Thank God for those who touch your life

Thank God in the midst of Trials and even persecution

we tend to draw back from difficulties

but none of us are exempt from trouble

In the midst of trials we can thank God

because He has promised to be with us AND to help us

because times of difficulty can draw us closer to God

James 1:2–3 ESV

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

*********When Daniel learned that evil men were plotting against him to destroy him () “He got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before”********

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thes 5:18

Colossians 1:12 NLT

always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

I don’t know what kind of trials that you might be facing right now

BUT GOD DOES

He loves you

He is with you by His Holy Spirit

Learn to cultivate a spirit of thankfulness even in the midst of trials

Thank God especially for His Salvation in Jesus Christ

God has given us the greatest gift of all

His Son

who died on the cross and rose again

SO THAT we could know Him personally

SO THAT we could spend eternity with Him in Heaven

2 Corinthians 9:15 ESV

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

The Bible teaches us that we are separated from God b/c of our sin

BUT GOD loves us

wants us in His family forever

so much that He sent His Son to die as a sacrifice for our sins

Have you turned your heart and life over to Jesus?

If not turn to Him with a simple prayer of repentance and faith

and thank Him for what He has done for you

If you do know Christ, how long has it been since you thanked Him for your Salvation?

Thank God for His continued presence and power in your life

When we come to Jesus, it is not the end but the beginning of a new life!

HE IS WITH US

He wants to help us follow Him and His Word

In ourselves we do not have the strength that we need to live the way that God wants us to live

BUT when we turn to Him we learn

Philippians 2:13 ESV

for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

We have Thanksgiving quickly approaching

Jesus promised His disciples in the Great Commision Matt 28:18

Matthew 28:18 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

this day when we celebrate what we are thankful for

Matthew 18:18 ESV

Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

but as Christians this should be our everyday

Matthew 28:20 ESV

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Ephesians 5:20 ESV

giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,