Keys To A Successful Thanksgiving Series

Title: Keys to a Successful Thanksgiving

Theme: To show the importance of being thankful Christians.

Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

In just a few days we are going to celebrate what I consider, next to the celebration of Christ Birth and Resurrection, the most important holiday of the year. Even though America has seemed to turn its back to this holiday I still believe as a Christian this is important. We have a reason to be thankful. We have a reason to celebrate a year of thankfulness. Think back upon this last year. From November to November, has the Lord been good to you? So shouldn’t we take a day of celebration and thanksgiving and give it to him, just as David did and just as the pilgrims did.

Today what I would like to talk about is the three ways to have a thankful heart. Three ways that are built upon one another. If you would please turn in your Bibles to the book of I Thessalonians. I Thessalonians 5:16-18

1 Thessalonians 5:16. Rejoice evermore 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Here we have the answer to having a really special Thanksgiving. Let us look at these

I. 16. Rejoice evermore.

Paul explains this better in writing to the Philippians he says in chapter 4 and verse 4, "Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice."

The first key to a happy Thanksgiving is to "rejoice". And as the Revised Standard Version reads, "Rejoice always". Be joyous. This is not just being happy for the moment but being joyous always.

So you ask why? Just as the Thessalonian Christians ask. What is it that I have to be joyous for? Why should I walk around with a smile on my face. Preacher you don’t know my pains. You don’t know what I am going through. You don’t even understand my situation. Well I am here to tell you that you are right. I don’t know but God does. He knows and he listens and he gives us reasons to rejoice. Why rejoice?

A. We have forgiveness of sins

How about because of forgiveness of sins, isn’t that a reason to be joyous about. The world things that we are a religion of condemnation. We look at everyone as being "feeble, despicable sinners." And in one sense we do but over all we know and believe that there is a forgiver for all sinners just as he has forgiven us. He is a redeemer. Isn’t this a reason to be joyous, to be happy in Christianity.

B. Our name is written in heaven

How about because of our name is written in heaven. Luke 10:20-AV "Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." We have access to a place far better than this old world. We have a better vacation than this world can offer we have a heavenly place to go to. We have a reservation.

C. We have a reward up in heaven

And when we get there we can rejoice because we have a reward up in heaven. All our pains and tribulations will all be worth it.

Matthew 5:11-AV Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12-AV Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

So this thanksgiving let us rejoice and be glad for what God has done for us and most of all for what he is going to do for us.

II. 17 Pray without ceasing

Also we see Paul gives us another command that goes right along with rejoicing always and is a complement to this and that is to "Pray without ceasing"

As I began to study this verse I began to look at the opinion of others to see what they thought of this verse. In each book that I read I seemed to find a different interpretation of what Paul was saying. As I studied more I realized they were all right. Let us look at these.

A. Always be in a spirit of prayer

This is a way of life that all believers should lead. Prayer is not just talking to God. I have listened to some people pray and they seem to just have a one sided conversation with God. God I need you to do this for me and oh yea bless Aunt Jane. And you know I’ve been needing a new car, a Cadallic with nice rims would work. No. Prayer should be a communion with God. It is having a relationship with God. Not only talking but listening. Have you ever just sit and listened to God. Sometimes before I pray I just get real still and focus on God and just listen. Other times I do this after I have prayed but just listening and communing with God that is praying with out ceasing