(In Everything Give Thanks) 1 Thes. 5:15-18 (Kjv)

1 Thes. 5:15-18 (KJV) See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

[16] Rejoice evermore.

[17] Pray without ceasing.

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

WITH THE HELP OF THE LORD AND THE

GUIDIANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE

PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS -VERY BRIEFLY I WANT

TO REASON WITH YOU ON THE THOUGHT

(IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS)

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS

SOMETIMES THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF OUR LIVES

ARE NOT ALWAYS THE BEST

AND SOMETIMES THEY CAN BE DOWNRIGHT BAD

BUT IN THE MIDIST OF IT ALL WE STILL HAVE

SOMETHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR

BECAUSE GIVING THANKS IS MUCH MORE THAN

BEING THANKFUL FOR OUR PRESENT

CIRCUMSTANCES

BUT THANKFULNESS IS A WAY OF LIFE FOR A BLOOD BOUGHT SON OR DAUGHTER OF GOD

AND WHEN WE LIVE OUR LIVES WITH A SPIRIT OF

THANKFULNESS

WE WILL THEN REALIZE THAT OUR LIVES ARE A

PRECIOUS GIFT FROM GOD

BECAUSE A THANKFUL SPIRIT IS ONE OF THE KEY

DISTINGUISHING MARKS OF A CHRISTIAN

BECAUSE IF THE TRUTH BE TOLD YOU CAN`T

THINK WITHOUT THANKING

BECAUSE WHEN I THINK ABOUT HOW GOOD THE

LORD HAS BEEN TO ME

I HAVE TO LOOK TOWARD HEAVEN AND TELL THE

LORD THANK YOU

IN THE TEXT BEFORE US

REVEREND DR PREACH BROTHER PAUL EN ROUTE

TO ROME WITH A LAY-OVER IN CORINTH

AND HE WRITE THIS 1ST LETTER TO THE YOUNG

CHURCH AT THESSALONICA

AND PAUL WAS AWARE THAT THIS YOUNG

CHURCH WOULD HAVE IT`S UP`S AND DOWNS IT`S

RISING AND FALLINGS

HE WAS AWARE THAT THIS YOUNG BODY OF

BAPTIZE BELIEVERS

WOULD HAVE IT`S SHARE OF GOOD DAYS AND

BAD DAYS

AND HE WROTE THEM WORDS OF

ENCOURAGEMENT

THAT THERE FAITH WOULD BE WELL FOUNDED

AND THERE HOPE MIGHT BE SUSTIANED

SO PAUL SENDS THEM A LETTER CONCERNING

CHURCH ETIQUETTES

FRIST OF ALL PAUL TELLS THE YOUNG CHURCH

SEE THAT NO ONE RENDER EVIL FOR EVIL

BECAUSE AS CHILDREN OF GOD WE CAN`T LIVE A

LIFE PLEASING TO GOD -ON THE PAY-BACK

PHILOSOPHY

BECAUSE IF THE CHURCH LIVED ON THE PAY

BACK PHILOSOPHY

THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF ONE EYED AND

SNAGGLE TOOTH CHRISTIAN

AS WELL IT WOULD HINDER OUR TESTIMONY OF

BEING CHRIST-LIKE

SECONDLY-PAUL TELLS THE CHURCH TO REJOICE

REGARDLESS OF WHAT COME OUR WAY -WE ARE

TO REJOICE AND GIVE GOD SOME PRAISE

THIRDLY- PAUL TELLS THE CHURCH TO PRAY

WITHOUT CEASING - HE ENCOURAGES THE

CHUCH TO NEVER CEASE PRAYING

FOR PAUL REALIZE THAT IF THE HAD A HEART TO

PRAY THAT HEAVEN STILL HAD A AN EAR TO

HEAR ----BECAUSE PRAYER CHANGES THINGS

FORUTHLY -PAUL TELLS THE CHURCH

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

PAUL REMINDS THE THEALONIAN THAT THE

ZENITH OF CHRISTIAN CONDUCT IS TO BE ABLE

TO SAY THANK YOU

NOTICE -NOTICE- NOTICE

PAUL SAYS IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS

HE DOSEN`T SAY FOR EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS

BUT IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS

PAUL REMINDS THE CHURCH THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN THERE LIVES THAT

THEY STILL OUGHT -TO TELL THE LORD THANK

AND 1 OF THE REASON WHY SOME OF US HAVE A

HARD TIME GIVING THANKS IN EVERYTHING

BECAUSE WE TEND TO LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE

GOING THROUGH FROM A PHYSICAL POINT OF

VIEW

AND IT`S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THAT GIVING

THANKS IS NOT A PASSIVE WORD BUT IT`S AND

ACTIVE WORD

IN OTHERS WORDS IT`S NOT FOR YOU BUT IT

DOES COME FROM YOU

YOU SEE IT`S EASY TO SAY THANK YOU WHEN

THE SUN IS SHINNING

BUT WE HAVE TO ALSO THANK HIM IN OUR

MIDNIGHT HOURS

IT`S EASY THANKING WHEN WE`RE ON THE

MOUNTIAN TOP

BUT WE HAVE TO ALSO THANK HIM DOWN IN

OUR VALLEYS

PAUL SAYS IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS

BECAUSE IN THE MIDIST OF OUR TRIALS -HEARTACHE AND TRIBULATIONS WE ALL HAVE

SOMETHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR

BUT NOT ONLY DO PAUL TELL US TO BE

THANKFUL IN EVERYTHING

BUT HE ALSO TELL THEM WHY WE SHOULD BE

THANKFUL

BECAUSE IT IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS

CONCERNING YOU

PAUL USED HIS THEOGLY OF ALL ENCOMPASSING

GOOD TO REMIND THE THESSALONIANS AND US

THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR THE

GOOD OF THEM THAT LOVE THE LORD

YOU SEE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS

GOD SPECIALIZES IN TAKING WHAT LOOKS LIKE

DEFEAT AND TURNING IT INTO VICTORY

HE SPCIALIZES IN THE MIDIST OF DISASTER AND

TURNING IT INTO TRIUMPH

GOD SPECIALIZES IN TAKING THE ROTTEN

GRAPES OF THE WICKED AND TURNING THEM

INTO SWEET WINE FOR THE RIGHTEOUS

GOD SPECIALIZES IN WHAT THE WORLD MEAN FOR EVIL AND TURNING IT AROUND AND MAKE IT

WORK OUT FOR OUR GOOD

WELL IF YOU WOULD ALLOW ME TO USE THE

FAMOUS WORDS

OF THE LATE REVEREND DR LEROY BULLOCK

AS I GO TO MY SEAT

(RICH AND POOR MAN) EXPOUND