Sometimes it s hard to be grateful. It s hard to be grateful at all times.

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1 IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS? 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18 A few years ago the London Times reported about the many letters that are sent to God from around the world. Many of those letters end up at the post office in Jerusalem in the undeliverable mail department. We have hundreds of thousands of letters sent either to God or Jesus Christ, and for some reason they come to Jerusalem, said the post office spokesman, Yitzak Rabihiya. He told about one letter they opened that asked God for 5,000 shekels (about $1,000) to ease his poverty. His letter was moving enough that the postal workers took a collection and sent him 4,300 shekels. About a month later this same man sent another letter to God that again ended up in the Jerusalem post office. But this time he wrote, Thank you, God, for the contribution, but next time please don t send it through these postmen. They re thieves; they stole 700 shekels. Sometimes it s hard to be grateful. It s hard to be grateful at all times. But the Scriptures are filled with reminders of the necessity for being thankful. And one of the clearest and simplest exhortations is found at the end of the book of 1 Thessalonians. I am sure you re familiar with the passage, but it is worth looking at again as we enter a season of Thanksgiving. While addressing more than just the attitude of thanksgiving, Paul s point is that GRATITUDE IS ALWAYS APPROPRIATE FOR THE BELIEVER. Here are three commands for every believer in every circumstance, and one reason these attitudes are so very important: Context: The Environment for Cultivating Gratitude (vv ) 1. ALWAYS Rejoice (v. 16) 2. WITHOUT CEASING, Pray (v. 17) 3. ALWAYS Give Thanks In Everything (v. 18a) 4. Why These Three Commands Are Essential (v. 18b) page 1 / 7

2 GRATITUDE IS ALWAYS APPROPRIATE FOR THE BELIEVER. Context: The Environment for Cultivating Gratitude (vv ) Some of the early churches had significant problems Corinth is one of those churches. Other churches were persecuted, and Thessalonica was one of those cf. Acts 17:4-10a. A primary reason that Paul s time in Thessalonica was limited was because of persecution. And Paul affirmed them for their faithfulness in persecution (e.g., 1:6-7; 2:2, 14; 3:2-4). For a church that was in persecution, it might be tempting to think that the persecution became a unifying factor in the church and that there were no other problems. But there were. It doesn t seem that the Thessalonian church was anything like the Corinthian church, but there were problems.! In 5:12-13a Paul had to exhort the body to respect and love the leaders of the church.! In 5:13b Paul had to remind the entire church body to live peaceably.! In 5:14 Paul had to remind the leaders to care faithfully for all the members of the church the unruly, the fainthearted, and the weak included. And to be patient with everyone.! And in 5:15 Paul addressed everyone, reminding them to not be evil toward anyone, but only to do good to one another. What we need to see is that the simple, final commands of Paul in vv are written to a persecuted church and a church that was on the brink of disunity if it wasn t already experiencing it.! Life wasn t easy for these believers in the world, because the world was against them.! Life wasn t easy for these believers in the church, because the flesh was enticing them to disunity.! And these commands that he gives are a means to them both enduring in their suffering and cultivating a harmonious and peaceful church. What are those commands? As one writer says, they are diamond drops in the life of the church 1. ALWAYS Rejoice (v. 16) The outline is stated the way it is because that is the order of the Greek words. It s Paul s way of emphasizing the need to always rejoice. The emphasis is not on rejoicing, but on the length of rejoicing.! They are to rejoice even when they suffer in the world.! They are to rejoice even when there are difficulties (and difficult people) in the church.! There is no time when it isn t appropriate to rejoice and to pursue joy. Now that doesn t sound right to us. In fact, one commentator said, This injunction can hardly be interpreted as a general exhortation to Christians to be joyful always (NIV) for joy and happiness are not at our command and cannot be turned on and off like a tap. [Stott] So what does Paul mean by rejoice?! The basic dictionary meaning is what it sounds like gladness and happiness.! And it is a present tense, which means that it should be done regularly and habitually. page 2 / 7

3 ! And it is a command, which means that it can be obeyed. Joy is not something that happens to us, it is an attitude that we cultivate through our thoughts and our obedience. Is that really true? In this passage, Paul tells us when we are to rejoice (always), but not the object of our joy. So what are the things that the Scriptures say we should rejoice in?! Rejoice that no one can take your joy away (Jn. 16:22)! Rejoice when you hear of the salvation of others (Acts 15:3)! Rejoice when you observe God caring for others in the church body (Rom. 12:15; Phil. 4:10)! Rejoice that you have the Holy Spirit who will produce His joy in you (Gal. 5:22)! Rejoice when you are being used up in serving the church body (Phil. 2:17-18, 29-30)! Rejoice when you see the godly character of other believers (Col. 2:5)! Rejoice when you hear that others are walking in the truth (1 Thess. 3:9; 2 Jn. 4; 3 Jn. 3) And why should we rejoice in all things? There are many reasons, but let me offer just three:! We have salvation that secures us for all eternity (Mt. 5:12; Lk. 10:20; Rom. 12:12)! We have salvation and we have been granted ministry opportunities (2 Cor. 13:9)!! When we suffer, we demonstrate to the world the sufferings of Christ (Acts 5:41; 1 Pt. 4:13) Summary:! All these things are founded in the gospel and the truths and privileges that come from the gospel.! None of these things are about fixing our problems here. We tend to pursue and be satisfied with far too little. We want the pleasures that take pain away for five minutes but we are not pursuing the joys that take pain away for eternity.! Our joy is because of what we have in Christ as one writer said, the believer s spiritual resources are so great that earthly things cannot disturb his composure [Morris]! The joyful person is the one who meditates more on his spiritual provisions than his personal poverty or pain (1 Pt. 1:6-7; 4:13; 5:10). So even when we suffer persecution and even when there are unruly people in the church who sin against us and when there are weak people who demand our time and difficult people who tempt us to be impatient, Paul says, Rejoice. Always. The second command this church is given is 2. WITHOUT CEASING, Pray (v. 17) Instead of saying, Always pray Paul says without ceasing, pray! Without ceasing was generally used with tasks that were done repeatedly paying taxes, doing one s job, a persistent cough, repeated military attacks, and the regular production of fruit. page 3 / 7

4 ! Paul is using it similarly; he doesn t mean, every moment of every day one should be praying, but he does mean, prayer should be constantly recurring. It should happen throughout the day; one should constantly be ready to pray and in an attitude of prayer. The believer is always fit to pray.! The word means, constantly recurring, not constantly occurring. And of course the believer should pray.! This word also is a present tense, so it reinforces the idea of praying continually and habitually.! And it is a command, which means it isn t optional. This is part of the normal Christian life.! There are several different words in the NT for prayer; the word that Paul uses here is very broad it includes the ideas of submission, confession, petition (for oneself), intercession (for others), praise, and thanksgiving. And because it is so broad, it can be offered at any time; there is no time of day where this kind of prayer can t be made to God. Virtually any moment of the day is right to ask for help, or confess sin, or praise, or give thanks, or intercede for others! We see this kind of spontaneous prayer in Paul s own writings cf. 3:11-12; 2 Thess. 2:16-17; Eph. 3:14-21 (a benediction in the middle of the book).! And we see this example in Christ s life (Mt. 14:23; Mk. 1:35; 6:46; Lk. 9:18, 28; 21:37; Jn. 6:15; 8:1-2; 17:1ff). Notice this as well:! Because God commands us to pray, and we are to pray to Him, it follows that He wants to hear from us. He isn t just adding some duty to our day; He wants the fellowship with us that we were created by Him to have. We have access to Him (Heb. 10:19-22) and He wants us to use it.! Because He commands us to pray about all things, it also follows that He has ability to give us exactly what we need (and He loves to give to us, Mt. 7:11). In fact, not only does He have the resources to give us exactly what we need, He has the resources to give us beyond what we can conceive to ask Him (you can never ask beyond God s ability to give, Eph. 3:20).! There is also a connection between rejoicing and praying. Because it is hard at times to rejoice, we need to pray, asking for help to rejoice. And when we pray, we are equipping ourselves to rejoice.! And there is a connection to the next principle as well when we rejoice and when we pray, then we will be equipped to always give thanks in everything. 3. ALWAYS Give Thanks In Everything (v. 18a) Paul s first words are in everything.! By that he does not mean for everything (i.e., we can t give thanks for sin).! But he does mean, in every circumstance and situation, give thanks. There are no exceptions for giving thanks. It is possible to give thanks in any situation. Giving thanks is always good. page 4 / 7

5 ! This is similar to what Paul says in Rom. 8: When we believe that God is working good in us by transforming us to the image of His Son, then it will be possible to give thanks in everything.! Sure, trials are difficult and unpleasant. But when we know that God is behind the trial and that God has given us the resources to endure the trial and that God is doing good in and through the trial, and that we have a certain hope and treasure beyond the trial, then it is possible to give thanks in and even for the trial. So Paul again makes a command in everything give thanks.! This command is not optional. It is essential to what the believer is and does.! This command is a present tense, so it is repeated and perpetual and habitual. We are regularly and continually offering thanks.! The life of a believer should be marked by continual expressions of gratitude. And it should be that way, in part, because ingratitude is the particular mark of an unbeliever (Rom. 1:21). That s why MacArthur is right when he says, It is spiritually abnormal for Christians to be unthankful.! And gratitude should terminate on God (which is what unbelievers in Rom. 1:21 do not do).! Another writer says, It may not be easy to see the bright side of a particular trial, but if God is over all, then his hand is in that trial; his own cannot but recognize his goodness and make their thanksgiving. [Morris] Does Paul follow his own admonition? Does Paul give thanks in all things?! He was thankful for the faith of the Romans which was spreading around the world (Rom. 1:8)! He was thankful for Priscilla and Aquila and their sacrificial service (Rom. 16:4)! He was thankful for the opportunity to be sacrificially used for the progress of the Corinthians faith (2 Cor. 4:11-15)! He was thankful for the faith and love of the Ephesians (Eph. 1:15-16).! He was thankful to God for all that he had in Christ rather than finding joy in various kinds of sin (Eph. 5:4)! He was thankful for the participation of the Philippians in the gospel (Phil. 1:3, 5) even if it meant that unscrupulous men seemed to prosper in their ministries (vv. 12ff)! Instead of being anxious over circumstances, he cultivated gratitude to God (Phil. 4:6, 11-13)! He was thankful for the faith and love of the Colossians (Col. 1:3-4).! He was thankful for His eternal inheritance (Col. 1:12)! He was thankful for God s strength to carry out difficult ministry (1 Tim. 1:12ff) Friends, we need gratitude in every circumstance of our lives. We need to, we must, thank God for His work in us, and His strength for us in every circumstance of our lives.! Have you thanked God for His salvation, given to you? For His sanctifying work in your life?! What are the blessings of your life? Have you thanked God for them? page 5 / 7

6 ! Have you thanked God that your sacrifices have worked out to the spiritual benefit of others?! What are the troubles of your life? The physical ailments and financial troubles? Have you thanked God?! Have you thanked God for what He has worked in you through the sins that others have sinned against you?! Have you thanked God for how He has redeemed your own sins and how He has transformed and is transforming you?! Can I make a simple suggestion? Too often we spend time begging God for gifts and graces. It s appropriate to ask, but most of the time we don t have to be reminded to ask. But we do need to be reminded to give thanks. So look for ways to express gratitude to God: Spend a day (or a week) only giving thanks to God in your prayers. No requests. Just gratitude. For 24 hours, give thanks to God for every situation you find yourself the long line at the grocery, paying bills, an interrupting phone call, a cough that arises, the vegetables you don t care for at dinner, the plumbing in your house, the forgiveness of your spouse, etc Every time you say, thank you to some individual (for a meal, for service at a store, for holding a door, etc.), take a moment and express thanks to God for that gift to you. Think of specific ways that you have been ungrateful to God (or lax in your gratitude) and confess all those sins and ask Him to make you more grateful. A gracious soul is thankful and rejoices that he is drawn nearer to God, though it may be by the cords of affliction. When God has a rod in his hand, a godly man will have a psalm in his mouth. [Thomas Watson] If a man be free from discontent and worry it is not enough merely not to murmur but you must be active in sanctifying God s name in the affliction. [Jeremiah Burroughs] 4. Why These Three Commands Are Essential (v. 18b) Three times Paul has said, always and persistently, and without ceasing, do these things. It s his way of saying that these things are not optional. They are required. They are essential. And at the end of v. 18, Paul says it another way This is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.! When Paul says this, he means all three of these they all are part of God s intent for man.! This is what God has decreed. It s not Paul s suggestion; it s God s commanded will.! We may not always feel like rejoicing, praying, or giving thanks, but it s all God s will for us (and God s best for us it s always good to rejoice, pray, and give thanks). And this will is connected to Christ Jesus. He is the source and means by which we can be obedient to God s will. He has made it possible for us to do these things by the power of Christ liberating us from sin and by Christ dwelling in us through the Spirit of God. page 6 / 7

7 And notice that this will is for us. Literally it is into you. Paul is not saying, You must do it, because this is God s will, but Knowing that this is God s will, because of Christ, you can do it. You can rejoice and you can pray, and you can give thanks. He has redeemed you for the very purpose of doing that. As one writer said God does not demand that which he does not give the power to perform. These commands are essential because they are given by God. These commands are possible because they are given and empowered through Christ. CONCLUSION: A couple of decades ago, National Geographic wrote about a young man from Hanover, PA who was injured in a boiler explosion. Doctors saved his life by covering him with almost 1,000 sq. inches of donor skin along with sheets of skin that were cultured from a stamp-sized piece of his own unburned skin. He was asked by a writer, Do you ever think about the donor who saved you? He replied, To be alive because of a dead donor is too big, too much, so I don t think about it. He is alive because someone died. And he can t bring himself to think on it and apparently then is also not grateful. It really seems incomprehensible. Friends, whatever our circumstances, there is still every reason for you and I to always rejoice, always pray, and always give thanks. Our situation may not be what we desire. But it is what God desires for us and it is His best for us. Let us rejoice. Let us pray. Let us give thanks. That s His will. BENEDICTION: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 page 7 / 7