A Thankful Life
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Philippians is written by the apostle Paul to encourage the believers at Philippi to experience the “Joy Filled Life”. Ironically, Paul is writing on the subject of joy from a Roman prison. As we are learning on Wednesday nights, happiness is dependent upon our happenings, but our joy is dependent upon Christ. Here in this passage, we see five evidences of a thankful life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
1. A Thankful Person Rejoices in Christ (v. 4)
- Because of Who Christ Is: Sovereign
As Psalm 139 says - Christ is all-knowing, all-holy, and all-present. He knows us, is with us, and allows us to know Him.
- Because of What Christ Has Done: Savior
Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.”
2. A Thankful Person Respects Life (v. 5)
The word moderation means gentleness. It comes with the idea of sweet reasonableness and a willingness to give up one’s own way. It has the idea of a humble expression of grace.
3. A Thankful Person Rejects Anxiety (v. 6a)
anxiety is worry because of impending danger or misfortune
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
4. A Thankful Person Regularly Prays (v. 6b)
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
"The secret of all failure is our failure in secret prayer."
“ The greatest tragedy in life is not the unanswered prayer, but the unoffered prayer.” - EM BOUNDS
5. A Thankful Person Receives God’s Peace (v. 7)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Peace is a product of faith. Faith is the opposite of fear. Therefore peace does not abide where fear is present!
Conclusion:
Thankfulness involves both an attitude and action.
The Attitude of Gratitude
- Often involves a deliberate change of mind
1. I must realize what I really deserve! –
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2. I must realize I have it better than most!
3. I must realize that God is in control!
A. I must trust Him to meet my needs.
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
B. I must trust Him regardless of my understanding.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
C. I must rest in the peace that only God can give.
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
The Action of Gratitude
1. A thankful heart is evidenced through thankful speech.
34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
2. A thankful heart recognizes God’s blessings in life.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
3. A thankful heart does not complain about the negative.
14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,
15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
The way we think determines how we act.
Do you know Christ personally? Do you experience His peace?
Unlike the cultural pulls of our day, vying for your affection, never fully satisfying, Christ wants to give you what nothing and no one else can: A Thankful Life!