Rejoice—Pray—Give Thanks

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

November 24, 1999

Goal: That the hearers be able by the power of God’s Spirit to rejoice—pray—give thanks in any circumstance.

          Do you know when Thanksgiving Day started? It has been a fixed holiday in the United States since 1941. It always falls on the fourth Thursday of November. But how did it begin, and why?

          It originated in 1621 as a harvest festival at Plymouth Colony. After the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress recommended a day of thanksgiving for the return of peace in 1784. In 1795, Washington requested a day of thanksgiving for the new nation’s welfare. After the War of 1812, President James Madison called for a day of thanksgiving, which took until 1815 to materialize. Interest seemed to wane as subsequent thanksgivings were rather sporadic.

Thanksgiving Day of Prayer

          It was not until President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation that a day of thanksgiving gained popularity as an annual holiday. Lincoln acknowledged “the ever watchful providence of almighty God” in his October 3 Thanksgiving document while noting the increased prosperity even amidst the waste of the Civil War.

          He wrote, “No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the most high God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.”  Lincoln urged all fellow citizens, both Union and Confederate, to “fervently implore the interposition of the almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.” 

          Well, that was then. What does Thanksgiving Day mean to you now? Has it lost its former focus as a day of prayer? Christians, especially, have much for which to be thankful. If someone were to ask you why you celebrate Thanksgiving Day, what would you say? Would you say, “In Jesus Christ, God overcame sin, death, and the devil for us, and I give thanks for that loving touch of grace because I am, through faith in Jesus Christ, forgiven.” Consider the Psalmist who centuries ago is enabled to say, “Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good. For his mercy endures forever.” 

Faith Fosters Fellowship

          Today’s text sums our day-to-day duties as thankful servants of a gracious God with our theme. “Rejoice—pray--give thanks.” The reason for doing this is stated as “God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” The point is this, faith in Christ Jesus fosters thankful fellowship with other parts of the body of Christ, the Church. This fellowship, fostered by faith, receives what God accomplished for us in Christ and responds obediently to his expectations of us. You see, a heart of faith not only receives, but responds in kind with new life that experiences His life and a new relationship with others.

          Thus, the Pauline-like profession of faith, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20).

A Fellowship of Service

          Every Christian who lives in fellowship with God is in the fellowship of the whole Christian community. Listen to the words of John in this regard: “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.” The Cross of Christ imprints the Christian community with its bloodstained image. And that image always brings blessings to the community. It brings forgiveness, healing, strength, and purpose.

          Many of you have expressed concern, maybe even fear, about the upcoming vacancy. “How long will the process take?” “Will this be a time of punishment for the congregation?” “Will good, faithful, honest pastors be on our call list?” “Will we be given a call list right away?” I understand your concerns and fears. But it seems to me that those questions reflect forgetfulness of who and what you are in Christ. You are not booty to be split. You are not punching bags for abuse. You are children beloved of God and precious to him. And if that be true, which it is, all of those questions find resolution in this. God is for you, not against you, in every circumstance.

Rejoice at All Times

          Consequently, the faithful band is able to “rejoice at all times.” Such an attitude of joy is peculiarly paradoxical for Christians. Our community is never without anguish, anxiety, and adversity as we anticipate our Messiah’s second advent. Being told to rejoice at such times is an affront to those among us who take ourselves too seriously. But to those who have experienced God’s love in Christ Jesus, it can be a time of joyful anticipation of where God is going to lead you next. I am quite sure that He has already picked out your new pastor, just as He has picked out one for Trinity in Lansing.

          But, to “rejoice at all times” requires us to be passive recipients of God’s grace and love. Only then, can we be the active respondents of faith He desires. Like baby birds in the nest, we must open wide our mouths to receive the food supplied for growth, His Word. Being so dependent may seem to demean one’s dignity. But you know, no bird ever took to flight independently. Again, the Psalmist gives us hopeful encouragement, “O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise” (Ps 51:15). When God opens our hearts and our mouths, He also brings forth good things. 

          Connected to this joy in life, we are encouraged to “pray unceasingly” (v 17). Happy people are devoted to God’s Word. They worship God with their attention on his saving will rather than on their own needs. Like a beautiful flower in bloom faces the sun, so a Christian is turned toward God to be nourished by his Son.

Give Thanks in All Circumstances

          With joyous attitude and prayerful posture, God’s faith-formed-folk are enabled to “give thanks in all circumstances” (v 18a). Isn’t that great?! No circumstance in life is beyond God’s loving control and preservation. Despite our backslidings, our pride, our cowardice, and our rebellion, God remains constant in mercy.

          To “give thanks in all circumstances” is to grasp that all things work for the good for us. Paul said it well, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. … What, then, shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Rom 8:28, 31-32).

          In this upcoming vacancy, it’s time to show our victorious confidence to those around us. And we can because God is for us, not against us. So, “Rejoice at all times, pray unceasingly, give thanks in all circumstances; for, you see, this is God’s will in Christ Jesus for you.” A blessed Thanksgiving Day to you!  Amen.