Sermon Tone Analysis

During the month of November we are talking about having an *Attitude of Gratitude*.

Last week we looked at the story about the 10 lepers who were healed by Jesus and only one returned to give thanks—and he was a Samaritan.

We learned that God notices when we have an *attitude of gratitude *or an *attitude of ingratitude*.

Today I’d like to look at a passage written by Paul that tells us to give thanks *in* everything.

¨     Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV) *4* Rejoice in the Lord always.

I will say it again: Rejoice! *5* Let your gentleness be evident to all.

The Lord is near.

*6* Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. *7* And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Paul starts out in this scripture by giving us a command to rejoice.

Not only does he say to rejoice, but he repeats himself and the second time he says it with greater emphasis (notice the exclamation mark).

Now you may say that was easy for Paul to say, right?

He didn’t have all the problems we have to deal with today—finances, schedules, bosses and jobs that we don’t like, family problems, etc.  Well let’s see how he describes his life in 2 Cor 11:23b-27 (NIV)

¨     *23b* I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.

*24* Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.

*25* Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, *26* I have been constantly on the move.

I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.

*27* I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

We may think we have had a bad day, but none of us have had to suffer like that!

In fact, Paul was writing this letter from a Roman prison.

So when Paul tells us to rejoice, I think he knew what he was talking about.

The key for why we can rejoice always is found in vs. 4 in the phrase “*in the Lord*.”

Our Lord is always with us, even in the times of suffering and adversity.

So matter how dark and gloomy it may seem, we are not alone and therefore we can rejoice in our Lord’s presence and power in our life.

Paul commands the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord.

This joy doesn’t depend on good circumstances or happy feelings.

It is the deep satisfaction that comes from belonging to Christ and being united in His love and purpose.

But now look at Paul’s instructions in vs. 6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”  Let’s break this down and see what Paul was saying in this verse.

The first thing is “*do not be anxious about anything*.”

What is anxiousness?

Worry—being troubled with the cares of this life—constantly thinking about the problems.

Jesus addressed the fact that we should not worry in Matt 6:25-34 (NIV):

¨      *25 *“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.

Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

*26* Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not much more valuable than they?

*27* Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

*28* “And why do you worry about clothes?

See how the lilies of the field grow.

They do not labor or spin.

*29* Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

*30* If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

*31* So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ *32* For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

*33* But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

*34* Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Jesus says that we do not add anything to our life by worrying.

The reason we should not worry is because we know that our heavenly Father cares about us.

If we worry then we are saying our heavenly Father does not care about us and is not caring for us.

Fretting and worry indicate a lack of trust in God’s wisdom, sovereignty, and power.

Worrying is sin, because it allows unbelief to set in and unbelief is what kept the Israelites wandering in the wilderness for 40 years (Heb 3:7-19)!

Delighting ourselves in the Lord and meditating on His Word are a great cure for worry (Ps.

1:2).

*Vs.

6 “but in everything.”*

The solution to unnecessary anxiety is prayer* in every thing.*

The way to be worry free is to be prayerful about everything.

Paul doesn’t just tell us not to worry, but he tells us what we need to do to not worry—pray!

Anxiety and prayer are opposites.

Prayer is the key to having a worry free life.

Now that may sound too simple for us, but when we take everything to God in prayer we are showing that we trust Him and declaring that we cannot handle the situation on our own.

This is praising Him for His goodness to us and acknowledging His sovereignty over our life.

When we take our cares and concerns to Him in prayer, He starts working on our behalf to meet our needs.

I know sometimes it seems like our prayers don’t work, but that is where faith comes in.

We must give Him our situations and then let Him work them out as only He can.

Peter said it clearly in 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

¨     “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

There is a little word that is used here in vs. 6 that we must not miss—“*in*.”

We are told “*in* everything” to pray and not worry, not “*for* everything.”

God does not tell us to thank Him *for* everything, but *in* everything.

We don’t thank Him that we had an accident and totaled the car, but we do thank Him that through the accident His will for our life will be revealed and His goodness and mercy will be shown to us.

When we sin or fail, we don’t say, “Thank you Lord that I sinned.”

But we do thank Him that *in* our sin, we can find His mercy and grace.

We don’t thank God for being robbed, raped, lied about, or betrayed, but we do thank Him that in these situations He is working in us and through us to bless others through the power of forgiveness.

We are not to be thankful *for* the adversities of life, but rather *in* them.

Paul said this again in 1 Thess 5:16-18 (NIV)

¨     *16 *Be joyful always; *17* pray continually; *18* give thanks *in* all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Why are we to give thanks to God *in* everything?

Because it shows that we are trusting Him to work out His will in our life.

We know that somehow God will work it out for our good and His glory (Rom 8:28).

I like what R. T. Kendall says in his book /Just Say Thanks!/, “Every trial has a built-in time scale.

It /will/ end!  God will see to that.[i]

While God is glad to hear our requests, they are to be made* “with thanksgiving.”

*Here is the key to powerful prayer—coming to God *with thanksgiving* in our hearts.

Not bellyaching and complaining about the circumstances we are in, but giving God thanks in the midst of the circumstances.

We may use the words thanksgiving, praise, and worship interchangeably, but they have different meanings.

“Thanksgiving relates to God’s deeds, what He has done.

Praise relates to God’s character, who He is.

Worship relates directly to God’s holiness.”[ii]

So when we pray with thanksgiving, we are acknowledging God’s faithfulness in the past and this gives us confidence that He will be faithful to answer our prayers now.

*But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.*  Prayer is the essence of worship and devotion.

Supplication is entreating, earnest pleading for personal needs.

Prayer is a general term; supplication is definite and detailed.

Thanksgiving should always accompany a prayer or a petition.

Thanksgiving for past blessings is good preparation for successful supplications. . . .

We should be anxious for nothing, prayerful for everything, and thankful for anything.

[iii]

 

When we present our prayers and supplications to God *with thanksgiving*, we are acknowledging that He cares for us and showing Him our *attitude of gratitude*.

Now here is a great truth that excites me—when we show gratitude to God, He shows gratitude to us! 

“. . .

He delights in rewarding those who show that they are grateful to Him.  God does have to promise to bless us if we tithe, but He does (See Malachi 3:10).

God does not have to promise us blessing for forgiveness, not judging, and giving to others, but He does (Luke 6:37-38).”

[iv]