Gospel Centered Thanksgiving

Dustin Alley

Thanksgiving • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

Philippians 4:4–7

Philippians 2:14–18

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Introduction

Thank you to our youth and those who worked with them to get them prepared for this amazing day. I’m grateful for their flexibility along with their parents.

Thanksgiving is this coming week and across our nation we are seeing people being asked to limit or not celebrate this important Holiday. I’m thankful that in our state, or at least to my knowledge, there have been no calls like this from the political officials.

Before we get into the message this morning I want us to have a confession time. Confession is good for the soul. (White collar)

How many of you by show of hands, believe it’s ok to listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving?

OK…no judgement here…yet...

How many of you are the holy and righteous people, that believe that Christmas music and decorations comes AFTER thanksgiving?

I’m typically in that second crowd. However, in 2020, I’m all about some jingle bells right now.

Bring on Frosty and Rudolph, let’s get this going. Away in a manger, angels we have heard on high, let’s do this!

Why? Because 2020. That’s why.

It’s been crazy so if you want to put up Valentines decorations already, go for it. Why not?

I’m thankful our standing with God isn’t based upon decision like that, arent’ you? some of ya’ll would have to do some real confession and repenting if it was.

Now, my reasoning for not getting into the Christmas spirit before Thanksgiving is to ensure that we do not overlook this important Holiday. A holiday that can’t be commercialized. Yes, the day after has been, but the day. Not that Thursday. Not that day where you get to enjoy time with family and friends and give thanks for all that God has done.

But the question I have to ask myself in passing my harsh judgement of those who put up their tree Nov 1st is this “Does decorating for Christmas detract from my giving of thanks?” And I know the answer…no…not really.

What does detract from our giving of thanks? I believe we are unable to give thanks to God when we find ourselves motivated by the wrong things. When our perspective of the situation is skewed by our motivation we won’t see things clearly and will view the world through the wrong lens causing our response to our circumstances to lead us away from Christ, rather than closer to Him.

Paul wrote about this in the book of Philippians. Philippians is a book in the New Testament written by the Apostle Paul while in prison. He wrote this letter to the church at Philippi under inspiration of the Holy Spirit to speak to them about joy during difficult times.

Today we are going to look at two different passages of Scripture that compliment one another and will help us see how to have Gospel Centered Thanksgiving.

Follow along with me as I read Phil 4:4-7 and Phil 2:14-18

Philippians 4:4–7 KJV 1900

4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:14–18 KJV 1900

14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

Pray

See first how

I. Your Response to Your Circumstances is Based on your Perspective

Philippians 4:4–7 KJV 1900

To better comprehend just what Paul is writing in the this passage and the entire book of Philippians, we need to know what was happening in Philippi.

Notice

Phil 1:27-30

Philippians 1:27–30 KJV 1900

27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

In verse 30 he speaks of the conflict that he faced and they now face. In Thessalonica Paul was run out of the city by Judiazers that did not like what he was teaching. They followed Him to Berea, another town near Thessalonica where Paul preached and ran him out of there.

Paul is now in prison for preaching Jesus and is writing to this church saying they are facing the same conflicts that he is.

In their persecution Paul is telling them to let their conversation become the gospel, to Rejoice, to let their moderation (gentleness, graciousness) be known to all men, to not be full of care and worry, and to go to God with thanksgiving.

Can you believe the audacity of Paul in these moments? He acknowledges their plight and terrible situation and doesn’t comfort them. Doesn’t appease them by trying to relate and discuss how bad things are.

In recent weeks we have heard of new social media platforms like Parler and MeWe. Places where there isn’t supposed to be censorship. I’m all for unfiltered and uncensored conversation. I believe in Freedom of Speech as I believe it is an intregal piece to our Freedom of Religion. However, I’m afraid too many are going to these new platforms in an effort to find an echo chamber of their own thoughts and ideas.Why? Why do we, no matter what side of the aisle your own, want these things?

Because we wan’t people to not only hear our opinion but agree with it and tell us either how bad the situation is or how right we are.

Paul could have wrote to the Philippians and said “You guys have it bad over there. Can you believe what the government is doing to you? What about those left wing Judiazers and their crazy ideas? They are awful aren’t they? You all are justified in being mad and lashing out, you should focus all your efforts on stopping them.”

But he didn’t do that. What did he do? He gave them a proper perspective.

He took their situation, acknowledged it, and then showed them what it means to have a gospel cetnered persepctive. What does changing their perspective do? It changes everything.

In your bulletin there should have been some blue red 3d glasses. Get those out.

We are going to put a picture on the screen and I want you to look at it without the glasses. Go ahead.

You can kind of make out what this image is right? You can see the stairs and everything but you can’t make it out clearly. It’s like there is something between you and this image that is distorting it.

Let’s go off the image for a second.

As you look out at your life and what’s happening around you, it’s very easy for us to allow the situation we are in financially, spiritually, personally with others, politically, and professionally, to skew our perspective.

If you were to be walking towards those stairs and as you were looking at them you saw them the same way as you did in that image, what would you do?

I would not go near that area. I would tell others that area is bad, weird, strange, different, potentially dangerous, and that there is nothing good about going near those stairs.

Now, put your glasses on. Let’s bring that image back up.

Now what does it look like?

Looks clear…or atleast a lot better. Now…the image is the same. Take the glasses off and check. Your are looking at the exact same area. Yet, your perspective has changed. Now what is your response?

You would walk up those stairs. You would go in that field. It’s not as dangerous or bad as you thought is it?

Paul gave the Philippians a persepctive on their situation that I want to share with you and yours.

Philippians 4:4–7 KJV 1900

(End of V6) And what does this perspective bring?

(read Verse 7)

When we have this peace, when we have it in our hearts and we have the mind of Christ, we will respond in a gospel centered manner.

Your Response to your circumstances is determined by your perspective.

Where does that perspective come from though?

2. Your Perspective is Based Upon Your Motive

Philippians 2:14–15 KJV 1900

Teenagers, I believe this passage may have been written specifically to you but I’m sure we can all benefit from hearing this.

Let’s define some words because I know I don’t use a few of these on a regular basis.

(Please place the definitions on the screen, not the bulletin)

Murmuring-Grumbling, complaining in a low voice

Disputing- Arguing, debating the truth

Blameless- Without fault

harmless- Innocent

Rebuke- Same room as blameless, unblameable

Crooked- Perverse

Perverse- Corrupt

(end what’s on screen)

Now, let’s look at that verse again

Phil 2:14-15

Philippians 2:14–15 KJV 1900

Do all things without complaining in a low voice and disputing the truth and debating it. So that you may be considered w/o fault and innocent, as Sons of God, without blame, in front of the perverted and corrupt nation so that you may shine as lights in the world.

Wow…I don’t know about you but that one convicts me. That one brings my complaining, my whining about the situation my questioning of truth , into consideration as to how it affects my testimony in front of others.

Does this mean we should never question what we see or are being told? I don’t believe so. However, if our actions are guided by our assumptions then are they founded on known truth? no.

Conducting our lives based upon perceived realities is the same thing as worrying or being anxious. Which we saw in chapter 4 we are not to do this.

What are some reasons why?

If you have ever worried about something, like I have, you have probably realized that what you were worried about, didn’t actually happen and wasn’t even close to it.

We often find ourselves worrying about situations that are unrealistic and when we begin living based upon those worries, we are living a false reality. We are making decisions based upon a false narrative that we have built in our heads and then when it doesn’t come to pass, now we feel guilty for worrying, we may feel embarrassed by our decisions, and that leads to a whole nother set of worries and anxieties.

It’s a vicious cycle. Whereas when we seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness…we find that we are no longer going in circles, we are on a path, a straight an narrow one, that leads us to trusting Jesus more.

We can’t get on that path unless we have the right perspective. That perspective comes from our motives.

When you are living your life for the glory of God and not for self, you find the right perspective in life’s circumstances. However, when you choose to allow your perspective to be skewed by your own misgivings rather than have it focused by the truths of the Bible, you will find your self travelling the path of many in a circle of anxiety, fear, and worry.

There is freedom in living a life of faith in Jesus. You may be thinking to yourself “Pastor, that sounds great. You’re young, you don’t know what it’s like for me. You don’t deal with the anxiety and worry I do.”

To those of you having thoughts similar to that, let me help you.

I do deal with anxiety and worry. Maybe not the same as yours but I promise you it’s there.

There are people that have it much worse than me or you in this life. Yet we see them with smiles on their faces and joy in their hearts as they battle poor health conditions, difficult family situations, bad financial situations, and many other problems. They are able to get through not because of how easy they have it but because their motivation for living ins’t found in their own lives but is grounded on the truths of God’s word.

So what’s your motive? What drives you? Why do you do what you do? How can you give thanks this week when there is a pandemic, political problems, financial worries, and probably some health concerns?

You change your motive for giving thanks. If your motive for giving thanks is based upon the things in your life, then your gratitude is dependent upon things that ebb and flow like the waves on a beach.

Living with thanksgiving doesn’t come from having a perfect situation. It comes from having a perfect Savior.

Your Response to your circumstances is based upon your perspective and your perspective is based upon your motive and your motive should be, Jesus and the gospel.

3. Your Motive should be Jesus and the Gospel

Phil 2:16-18

Philippians 2:16–18 KJV 1900

16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

Paul lived his life for one purpose, Jesus.

Gal 2:20

Galatians 2:20 KJV 1900

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

His perspective on the end of his life in chapter 2 shows us that he maintained that focus until the end.

He is in Rome on house arrest awaiting his death and writes about his joy. It’s hard for us to deal with a difficult coworker and be joyful. It’s hard for us to scroll past an opposing opinion on Facebook without losing our joy.

Why is that? Why is it that Paul was able to have this great joy in some very dark times?

Col 3:2

Colossians 3:2 KJV 1900

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

2 Cor 4:18

2 Corinthians 4:18 KJV 1900

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Phil 4:11-13

Philippians 4:11–13 KJV 1900

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Paul was living out what he had wrote under inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He saw his life. He lived his circumstances. He felt the thorn in the flesh. He felt the bruises from the beatings. He lived with the rejection of those that didn’t listen to his message. Paul had medical problems, financial problems, an oppressive government, and ruling religious elites that he dealt with and yet finds himself writing about joy.

What a year we have had. What a month or two its been. Promises have been fulfilled these last few months.

John 16:33

John 16:33 KJV 1900

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

We have definitely seen the tribulation but have we had the cheer? have we had the joy? Have we been spreading those feelings or have we been spreading something different?

Paul chose to spread joy. Paul chose to spread the gospel. Paul chose to live his life in such a way that no matter his circumstances, he was glorifying God.

He was thankful for the life he lived. He was grateful for the things he went through. Not because they were good things. Not because they were necessarily times of life to be thankful for but because he was motivated by something more than his own physical blessings and happiness. He was motived by Jesus and the gospel.

When your motive is the gospel, your perspective is seen through a gospel lens, and response will be gospel centered.

What motivates you? What gets you through the difficulties? What drives your response to the circumstances of life?

Time of Response

As we bow our heads to respond to the message today, I’d like to ask you determine what’s been motivating you. How has that impacted your response to your spouse, children, finances, political landscape, or anything else in life?

This week is thanksgiving. An amazing time to reset your perspective but that’s easy unless you reset your motive. Choose Christ. Choose let your life be lived for the glory of God and you will find gratitude in the darkest of times.

Take these next couple of moments with your heads bowed and write three things you can be thankful for in the bulletin. Praise God for those.

Are you here this morning and you don’t have a relationship with Jesus?

Do you not know for sure that you will go to Heaven when you die?

The Bible has a clear way of entering into a relationship with God where you can know Heaven is your home and you don’t have to go through life alone.

Maybe you’ve never heard

John 3:16 KJV 190016 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God does love you. Loves you so much He sent Jesus to die for you.

Now you are faced with a decision…will you continue finding salvation in your own works or in the finished work of Christ?

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV 19008 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Your first have to admit your sinner

Romans 3:23 KJV 190023 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

I’m sure each of us could do that.Next you believe

Romans 10:9 KJV 19009 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Then confess. Confess Jesus as your Savior and call out to Him

Romans 10:13 KJV 190013 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

IF you’d like to do that today I’d like to help.

“Dear Jesus, I know I’m a sinner, I believe you came to die on the cross and rose from the dead. I put my faith right now in you and ask you to come into my life and change me from the inside out. Amen.”

Believers, will you reset your motive so that your perspective on situations can be seen through a gospel lens that will affect your response to them allowing you live with Thanksgiving?