Thanksgiving With Paul

Introduction

2 Corinthians 9:15 KJV 1900

15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Romans 1:8–11 KJV 1900

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established;

Some great portions on thanksgiving in the Bible

Exodus 15 - Song of praise and thanksgiving

Exodus 16 - Began to murmur and complain again

Psalm 100 - David’s song of thanksgiving

Psalm 100 KJV 1900

A Psalm of praise. 1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness: Come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; And his truth endureth to all generations.

Body

Paul Thankful for Christ

The two great things about salvation in Christ to Paul:

The Empty Grave

1 Corinthians 15:55–57 KJV 1900

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul’s hatred of Christ before the cross

Finally, Paul’s friends had crucified Jesus to end it all

Then, suddenly, He was there again: the resurrection!

Paul guards the coats of those who stone Stephen

Paul puts many to death

The encounter with Christ on the Damascus road (Acts 9:1-9)

Then Paul knew that Jesus was alive

The eternal gift

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV 1900

8 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.

Paul had tried so hard before, had been so religious

Found that salvation was a gift to receive

Paul was thankful for Christians

Philippians 1:3 KJV 1900

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

“Upon every remembrance of you”

Paul had a great love for the saints

John 13:35 KJV 1900

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Love longs for fellowship

What brings you back to church?

We ought to long to see the saints

Sometimes Christians do not live up to their potential

Sometimes they do not talk like Christians

Sometimes they do not walk like Christians

But there ought to be fierce loyalty among Christians

Unity

Esteem our brother and sister above ourselves

Paul was thankful for everything else

1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV 1900

18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

“In everything give thanks”

Stoned, shipwrecked, imprisoned - he gave thanks

Poor eyesight, not handsome, short - he gave thanks

Not enough gifts from the churches - he gave thanks

The secret of thanksgiving for the Thessalonians

The letter concludes with Christ’s return

Every day we expect to see Jesus return for His church

Conclusion

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 KJV 1900

1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.