Give Thanks in Everything 1 Thessalonians 5:16 18

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1 CAPITAL BIBLE CHURCH NOVEMBER 23, 2008 SERMON NOTES PASTOR BILL HAKEN Give Thanks in Everything 1 Thessalonians 5:16 18 Intro: The Scottish minister Alexander Whyte was known for his uplifting prayers in the pulpit. He always found something to be thankful for. One Sunday morning, the weather was stormy. And dark. And one of the deacons said, "The preacher won t be able to thank God for anything on a day like this. It s absolutely horrible outside!" But much to his surprise, Rev. Whyte began the service by praying, "We thank thee, O God, that it is not always like this." One day a TV reporter asked a mason, "How do you like your job? I hate it, he said. It s this most boring job in the world." That same reporter asked another mason on the other side of the building the same question. "Oh it s great because I see myself building an architectural masterpiece." Same situation, two different perspectives. One of the greatest privileges of being a Christian is to have the capacity to give thanks regardless of what happens. It is easy to be thankful when things are going our way, but a Christian can rise above any situation to thank God. That s why Paul, the apostle, even though he was a man who suffered a great deal of pain and suffering, could write, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God s will for you in Christ Jesus." (I Thes. 5: 16-18) Let s take a closer look at it. 1. When should I be thankful? In other words, how long do we have to keep up this gratitude stuff? That one is pretty easy to answer: always, and in every situation. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19-20 (NIV) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:16-17 (NIV) I don t know about you, but I find these verses very challenging. They present thankfulness as a constant attitude of the heart. No matter what you re doing, no matter what s going on in your life, no matter what your circumstances, you are supposed to be thankful.

2 Always In every circumstance In good times and bad times In one of her books Corrie Ten Boom talks about a time when she was at the concentration camp, she stayed in Barracks number 28. And it was infested with fleas. It was almost unbearable. But one night, they read the same passage of scripture we re looking at now: "Give thanks in all circumstances." And Corrie s sister said, "God wants us to thank him for the fleas." Corrie said, "No way! That s taking religion just a little bit too far! I m NOT going to thank God for these infernal fleas!" After a while, the nightly Bible studies attracted more and more women. And Corrie started wondering if they would get caught. And so she asked one of the women, "Why don t the Nazis ever come in and check on us?" She said, "It s because of the fleas. They won t come near this place for that reason." And then Corrie remembered this Bible verse and said, "God, thank you for the fleas!" Now, is that the way it usually works? No. When things are going well, we re thankful. When things are going badly, we re not. We complain and whine and moan about how badly life is treating us. But God s Word says, be thankful in all circumstances. God says always giving thanks. God says, whatever you re doing, give thanks. * Whether you re eating dinner at a nice restaurant or cleaning the toilet, give thanks. * Whether you get a promotion and raise, or get a pick slip and shown the door, be thankful. * Whether you re strong and healthy and full of life, or sick and diseased, be grateful. * Whether your marriage is rewarding and satisfying, or whether it s a painful struggle, give thanks. In every situation, we are to have an attitude of thankfulness toward God. 2. Why should I be thankful? God is in control. Psalm 103:19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven and his kingdom rules over all. Isaiah 46: 8 11 vs. 10 my counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure. v.11 I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it; I will also do it. God is always good. all the time. The goodness of God endures continually. Psalm 52:1 Matt. 19:17 Jesus said, No one is good but One; that is God.

3 Corrie Ten Boom once remarked about the goodness of God, saying "God is good when He sends good weather, but God was also good when He allowed my sister, Betsie, to starve to death in a German concentration camp." She remembered when she was discouraged and told her sister that she felt God had forgotten them. "No, Corrie," said Betsie, "He has not forgotten us. Remember His Word: For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him'" (Psalm 103:11).* In that moment, Betsie taught Corrie about the reverential reflection of God's goodness, even in her darkest hour. Often, we mistakenly believe that our circumstances reflect God's goodness and that if times are tough, God has turned away from us, but Scripture tells us that He "...is the same yesterday, today and forever" Hebrews 13:8; His goodness is certainly no exception. Whether you are struggling through a low point in life or experiencing showers of blessing, take time to meditate on Scripture that tells of His goodness and love, for it will surely strengthen and sustain you. Meet every rising sun with such sentiments of God's goodness...and under the sense of so great a blessing, let your joyful heart praise and magnify so good and glorious a Creator. William Law God is able to work all things for my good. In Daniel chapter 4, God drove King Nebuchadnezzar away from Babylon and caused him to go insane for seven years. And it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him. Because at the end of the seven years, the king looked up to God and said, "Lord, the most insane thing I could ever do is live my life without you. You alone are the Most High God. And you are sovereign over the kingdoms of men. And I humble myself before you." 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. Romans 8:28 (NIV) God has a good and wise and loving purpose for everything He allows into our lives, even pain and suffering. We can give thanks in the knowledge that He loves us and will never permit us any pain unless the ultimate benefit is worth the cost. That doesn t mean we can understand His ways. We may have no idea how anything could be worth this much pain. But God s Word tells us that it will be worth it. I ve heard people who have had to spend time in jail say the same thing. Jim Bakker said, "it was the best thing that ever happened to me because it gave me critical distance from my crazy life. I was able to look at things. And see how wrong I was. And get back to walking with God." 3. How can I be thankful in everything? 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing. Philippians 4:6, 7 Don t worry about anything, but rather, in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made know unto God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. God uses hardships and trials to make us better.

4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 (NIV) In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV) God never wastes a hardship or a trial. 2 Corinthians 1:4 says that God comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. So thank God for our troubles! Have you ever heard of Michael J Fox? He s a TV and movie actor who has Parkinson s Disease. And he said in his book that "if you made a deal with God that he would take away my Parkinson s disease and cancel out the last ten years of my life, I would tell you to take a hike. My life is so good now. I m helping a lot of people cope with the stigma of this disease. And it makes me appreciate life as a precious gift." One of the reasons that God allows us to suffer is to refine our character and strengthen our faith. The Bible tells us that our faith is worth more than gold. It s precious to God. And when Christ returns, we ll see and understand that even our greatest suffering was worth it, because it brought us closer to God. So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV) God promises that this life is just for a little while.. We can say, "Lord, I thank you that there s light at the end of the tunnel. I thank you that someday, I m going to be in heaven with you. And I m never going to have to suffer pain anymore. And I m never going to have to watch someone I love die ever again. And I m not going to get stressed out about anything anymore." Psalm 16:11 says that there are eternal pleasures at God s right hand up in heaven. 2 Corinthians 4:8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don t give up and quit. 9We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. 10Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 11Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be obvious in our dying bodies. 12So we live in the face of death, but it has resulted in eternal life for you. 15. And as God s grace brings more and more people to Christ, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

5 16That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17For our present troubles are quite small and won t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! 18So we don t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever. Phil. 1:21 For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. 4. Practice being thankful. Thank God for whatever trial you are going through right now. Say, "Lord, I know there s a reason for this. There s a lesson to be learned. And a job that has to be done. I thank you for my current situation. And may your holy will be done in my life." Thank God and focus on what you do have His blessings on you. I read this which said: "If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the six million who will not survive the week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people in the world. If you can attend a church service without fear of persecution, arrest, torture or death, you are more blessed than 3 billion people in the world. If you have food in the fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world. If you have money in the bank, money in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world s wealthy." That s something to think about as we head toward the Thanksgiving season. We might be sad about our hardships. About things we don t have anymore. But we should never forget how much God has blessed us, either. And that things could always be worse. How do you know if you re thankful? How do you know if you re thankful or not? Let me give you some help in examining your heart. * Which do you tend to talk about more your blessings, or your disappointments? * Are you a complainer, always grumbling, always finding fault with your circumstances? * Are you content with what you have, or always dissatisfied and wanting more? * Do you find it easier to count your blessings, or is it easier to count your afflictions? * Do you express thanks to others when they help you, or do you just take it as your due? * Would others say that you are a thankful person?