Keys to a Successful Thanksgiving

Keys to a Successful Thanksgiving
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Today what I would like to talk about is the three ways to have a thankful heart. Three ways that are built upon one another.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Here we have the answer to having a really special Thanksgiving. Let us look at these

I. 16. “Rejoice evermore.”

Paul explains this better in writing to the Philippians he says in chapter 4 and verse 4, "Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice."

The first key to a happy Thanksgiving is to "rejoice". Why rejoice?

          A. We have forgiveness of sins
              How about because of forgiveness of sins, isn’t that a reason to be joyous                   about. The world thinks that we are a religion of condemnation. We look                        at everyone as being "feeble, despicable sinners." And in one sense we do                  but over all we know and believe that there is a forgiver for all sinners just            as he has forgiven us. He is a redeemer. Isn’t this a reason to be joyous, to              be happy in Christianity?
          B. Our name is written in heaven
              How about because of our name is written in heaven. Luke 10:20-AV                         "Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto                  you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."                        We have access to a place far better than this old world. We have a better                        vacation than this world can offer we have a heavenly place to go to. We               have a reservation.
          C.  We have a reward up in heaven
              and when we get there we can rejoice because we have a reward up in               heaven. All our pains and tribulations will all be worth it.

              Matthew 5:11-AV  “Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and                       persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely,                   for           my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your                                 reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were                   before you.”

So this thanksgiving let us rejoice and be glad for what God has done for us and most of all for what he is going to do for us.

II. 17 “Pray without ceasing”

Also we see Paul gives us another command that goes right along with rejoicing always and is a complement to this and that is to "Pray without ceasing"

          A.  Always be in a spirit of prayer
               this is a way of life that all believers should lead. Prayer is not just                               talking to God. Prayer should be a communion with God. It is having a                  relationship with God. Not only talking but listening.
          B. Give to it all the time available
               anytime you have free time pray to God. Take time to pray to God. In                        the morning before breakfast. On your drive to work. At the office. Find                free time to pray to God. The results are rewarding. Our battles are not                  against each other in this world. It’s not even against then sinners but it is       against the spiritual realm. Against Satan and his demons.

Ephesians 6:12-18 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

So let us fight fire with fire. Pray.

          C. Don’t let anything come in between you and your time with God
              don’t make excuses.

• \\ III. 18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in
            Christ Jesus concerning you.”
            A. Then we see finally and for most how to have a wonder thanksgiving.
                Here we see the key not only to a happy thanksgiving but the key to a                          joyful and prayerful heart. That is to be thankful
            B. Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer
                and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known
                unto God.”
            C. It is very important in our walk with God that we are thankful. Paul even                   says in Romans 1:21 that it is human sinfulness if we don’t give thanks.
  
  Romans 1:21 “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not
  as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and
  their foolish heart was darkened.”
  
  
  
  Thanksgiving should be from the heart. It should ring out with praises unto God. Let us make it a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.
  
  Hebrews 13:15 reads," By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of
  praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks
  to his name."
  *