A Thankful Life
Thanksliving • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
A story is told of a Texas businessman who sent a request to the Library of Congress for the copyright of his book idea. He intended to publish a book entitled, A Million Thanks. It was to be a book that consisted of the word “thanks” repeated one million times. His reply from the powers to be at the Library of Congress was two words: “no thanks.”
Have you ever offered thankfulness to someone only to be be told “no thanks?” I would imagine it would be quite devastating.
I am certain that if you and I were to offer thankfulness to our God, it certainly would not be rejected. The Bible, on multiple occasions, tells us to give thanks. Well over 100 times, the Bible has a verse that says in some form or fashion, give thanks to the Lord.
Our lives can be offerings of thankfulness to our Lord. We can live in such a way that we can show God indeed that we are thankful. So how do we do that? Our memory verse for the month gives us an outline to live a life of thankfulness. It spells it out in a very simple way to do so.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Three simple phrases and one dynamic summation.
Rejoice Always
Rejoice Always
The shortest verse in the Greek text is pantote chairete. It translates, “at all times, be joyful.” We have it translated as “rejoice always.” It is an integral part of the Christian life. In , it is listed as part of the fruit of the Spirit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
In , it is worth repeating.
Paul wrote in that it comes from the Spirit:
You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 1:6
In , it is worth repeating.
In , it is worth repeating.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Paul wro
What does it mean to rejoice and to rejoice always?
Theologian Charles Wannamaker defines it this way: “To rejoice always means to see the hand of God in whatever is happening and to remain certain of God’s future salvation.” He goes on to say, “Without such conviction, joy would not be possible in the face of affliction, suffering and death.”
Our text says “Rejoice always.” It doesn’t say if you feel like it or if you want to. It is pretty straight forward. It is not one of the 10 commandments but it seems pretty commanding. I really don’t believe it is just a passing thought. Christian joy does not spring from one’s circumstances and it is not to be confused with feelings of shallow happiness.
It is something that is a gift from God Himself. Charles Spurgeon wrote that “we ought to rejoice for a command to rejoice!” He continues by saying, “Glory be unto the God of happiness who bids His children to be happy.”
Theologian and author A.J. Mason wrote: :The Christian who remains in sadness and depression really breaks a commandment; in some direction or other, he mistrusts God - His power, providence, and forgiveness.” That’s a tough statement to swallow. The Bible, however, will never give us instruction that leaves us with the inability to carry it out.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
So when the Bible tells us to “rejoice always,” you can trust that there is a way to do it. There are three choices we can make when learning that you and I can rejoice always. First, rejoicing always is a personal choice. tells us that “the joy of the Lord is our strength.” When we choose the Lord, we are allowing Him to give not just joy, but joy that gives us strength. In doing so, we can choose whether or not we can trust His power, His providence and His forgiveness. No one else can decide that for us. Just like our salvation, we have to decide if we want that free gift or not.
Joshua, in the Old Testament, shows us the power of personal choice:
Joshua 2
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
A second choice we must realize is that rejoicing always is a present choice. We will be bombarded with things each moment of the day that will force us to rejoice or to reject. We can get better or we can get bitter. We have to choose constantly the path we are going to take. One of my life verses is .
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.
When I decide in the present that whatever is happening in my world God can work it for my good, then I am able to rejoice always. It is an everyday, moment by moment occurence.
This leads me to a third choice in that rejoicing always is a permanent choice. God never changes. He is faithful and His love endures forever. Since He is the same in all seasons, my rejoicing can remain in all seasons. We are called to constant joy. This means when hardships and difficulties come our way, we are to rejoice always. We are to let our hearts be sanctified, but we are not to let our hearts be troubled. No where in the Bible does it say to groan in the Lord always and again I say groan.
Charles Spurgeon wrote: “Every attribute of God, every characteristic of God, is an inexhaustible gold mine of precious joy to every person that is reconciled with God.”
If you and I are aligned with God, then every doctrine, promise, and precept of the Gospel will make us glad. As you get into God’s Word, God’s Word gets into you. Remember, according to ,
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
God’s Word will help you change from being downcast to being able to rejoice at all times. As you believe and trust in God’s Word, as you put your faith in it as trust the thousands of blessings God has given, joy will flood your soul. As a result, your faith will give birth to hope. Your hope will give birth to love and your love for God, your love for yourself, and your love for people will also grow. You will have a love even for those that do not know God and in turn give them faith, hope, love and then joy is again produced.
But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
Just by trusting in God’s unfailing love our hearts can rejoice!
Rejoicing provides for others the opportunity to receive joy, but it also will keep us from temptation. If one is happy in the Lord, the bait will not be so tempting. The Joy of the Lord is far greater that what the evil one can provide. The Lord’s is everlasting and his is temporary.
Rejoicing is also an encouragement to others. When we rejoice, it is contagious and others catch it and rejoice also.
Rejoicing
Rejoicing is also attracts those that do not know the Lord.
As you see, there are many benefits to rejoicing in the Lord always. So how do you do that?
If we take our text, we see a simple next step: Praying Continually.
The more praying the more rejoicing. Praying flows into worship and worship produces more rejoicing.
Praying Continually
Praying Continually
I used to think that this verse meant that I never said amen to my prayers. Actually, I was close. It means that I am always in an attitude of prayer. You and I should be so close to the Father that His ways are my ways and my ways are His. That is the ideal. So let’s look a bit closer at exactly what this phrase means and doesn’t mean.
First, let’s define prayer. Prayer is any type of meditation, conversation or pattern of thought that keeps us in contact with God. Sometimes we think it is actually using our voice. We do not have to use our voice all the time. Audible language is not essential to prayer. We see several examples of this in Scripture. One such example is found in .
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.
If you study the previous verses, there are no recorded words of Moses or evidence of Moses talking to God. God hears his crying out when Moses has not said a word. Even though my voice is not necessary, it helps me to voice my prayer even when I am alone, just so I can hear it and be reminded that God hears it as well.
When I pray, I don’t have to be in a certain position. I couldn’t pray continually if I had to be on my knees while in prayer. Physically, I could not do it with the way my knees are. Prayer can take place flat on your face, kneeling, standing, sitting or hanging upside down! The position of the body does not matter. The position of the heart does matter.
For this is what the high and lofty One says—
he who lives forever, whose name is holy:
“I live in a high and holy place,
but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
The place of prayer does not matter as well. Our government says we can not pray in schools. I assure you that a tremendous amount of prayer happens in school, especially before an exam! Because our Lord is omnipresent, meaning He is everywhere, I can pray anywhere at anytime about anything.
There are not suitable or required times to pray. Whenever we seek the Lord, He is there. Some religions require to pray at a certain time, in a certain position, facing a certain direction. Aren’t you glad that you and I can pray to the Holy God every day on the calendar at any moment on the clock at every place in the world?
When we pray continually, we should pray in accordance to the things of God and not ask His blessings on things not of His will. Do you walk into a place that you should not be and ask the Lord’s blessing? Do you ask the Lord to help you rob a bank? Of course not. We should pray those things that might glorify heaven and no pray for that which God would not approve.
When we pray continually, we can pray with assurance that our prayers are heard. I have read of kings in certain lands that would have appointed times when the people would present requests. Praise God that the King of Kings is always available to hear our requests.
One king I read about would not allow anyone to approach him unless he called for them. Praise God that the King of Kings has called for all people and wants them to come to Him at all times.
The King of kings has given us permission to pour out our hearts at all times about anything. He is never too busy, too tired, or too preoccupied to give us His full attention.
So what does it mean? It means to never give up on prayer. There is never a wrong time, place or position in which you cannot pray. Having set times of prayer is not necessary, but it is biblical and worthy of practicing. David prayed 3 times a day and others prayed as much as 10 times a day. Praying continually means that you are also praying in between those set times. You are always in conversation with God.
We should always be in the spirit of prayer with your heart always pointed toward God. In doing so, we are allowing our actions to be consistent with our prayers. Praying continuously means that we not allowing unnecessary and sinful interruptions.
Prayer is worship. When we pray continuously, we pray in a way to be a blessing to both God and others.
Unless the Lord builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.
When we rejoice always, we will pray continuously and we will give thanks in all circumstances.
Give Thanks in All Circumstances
Give Thanks in All Circumstances
The word for circumstances is panti. It is very similar to the word we discussed earlier in the phrase rejoice always. It means all and every. So as we rejoice all the time, we give thanks in all things.
The word for thanks is eucharisteo. In some churches, a form of that word, eucharist, is used for the the Lord’s Supper. It comes from the idea of Jesus giving thanks during the Lord’s supper. What a beautiful example of giving thanks in all circumstances.
We are to rejoice always, pray continuously, and give thanks in all circumstances. Why? Because “this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” It says so right here in our text.
We are going to experience eucharist this morning. As we do, let us remember the example set for us by Jesus.
Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
1 Corinthians 11:27-28
Let us prepare ourselves for this meal.