"In Everything Give Thanks II"
1 Chronicles 15:25-29 & 1 Thessalonians 5:18
26 August 2007
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
Fort Ord Chapel
Seaside, California
BIG IDEA: BELIEVERS SHOULD GIVE THANKS TO GOD IN EVERYTHING.
REFERENCES: 2 Samuel 6:1-23 (The story of David and his 30,000 men; and “how they brought the Ark of The Covenant to Jerusalem”); 1 Chronicles Chapters 13-16; 1 Chronicles 16:34 (O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever); 1 Corinthians 4:10 (We are fools for Christ sake); Numbers 4 (God’s standard for moving The Ark of The Lord); 2 Samuel 6:4-8 (Uzzah is killed); 1 Chronicles 15:27-29 (The record of Queen Michal); 1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV (In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you); Psalm 118:1 - Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever; Psalm 138:2 NLT - I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I will give thanks to your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness, because your promises are backed by all the honor of your name; Ephesians 5:20 - And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: 1 Chronicles 15:25-29 &
1 Thessalonians 5:16-23 NIV
II. READ THE PERICOPE: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-23 (NIV)
III. READ THE TEXT: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV - (In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you).
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to go all out and give God thanks in every thing.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “In Everything Give Thanks”
INTRODUCTION: Good Morning Fort ORD! This morning, we have read the scriptures; and we have heard God’s guidance (through Pastor Paul) on HOW WE SHOULD LIVE TOWARDS GOD;
AND … HOW WE SHOULD RESPOND TO various SITUATIONS and circumstances.
In fact, if Pastor Paul was present this morning – he would probably EXPRESS SOME CONCERNS … REGARDING … HOW WE LIVE AS CHRISTIANS; AND HOW WE EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO GOD.
For it has been said that “Christians should give thanks to God for everything – including WHO GOD IS, … and because He’s ALWAYS NEAR.”
In the New Living Translation (NLT) … David said unto the LORD - in Psalms 138:2 - I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I will give thanks to your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness, … because your promises … are backed … by all the honor of your name.
Yet … In another place (Psalm 118:1) David encourages us all to … “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love … endures forever”;
*******************TAKE 5 BEATS***********************
MOVE 1: A couple of years ago, during the Thanksgiving Season in South Korea, our congregation hosted an Ecumenical event for all of the services in our community of faith.
a. We all came together at the chapel to collectively worship and give God thanks.
b. Their were folk from many of the worship services on post – collectively worshipping and giving God thanks together.
c. In fact, the service was well represented by our Catholic Community, Multicultural Gospel Service Community, Camp Henry Gospel Service Community, and our Protestant Community.
d. Well, I can’t speak for you, but personally, I was guilty of initially holding back and trying not to offend anyone with my style of worship.
e. I tried not to raise my hands;
***********************TAKE 5 BEATS***************
MOVE 2: I tried not to offend anyone by avoiding my usual blurts of amen;
a. I tried not to offend anyone by not standing and clapping my hands.
b. But it didn’t last long.
c. Something happened to me, while MCGS was singing: “Give Thanks…”.
d. Suddenly, I decided that if I was going to be offensive to anyone … I would just have to be offensive;
e. but God had been too good to me … for me not to OPENLY GIVE HIM THANKS.
f. Likewise, my brothers and sisters … there is something about WORSHIP … AND GIVING GOD THANKS … that can even drive a king to strip down and leap up.
********************* TAKE 5 BEATS *******************
MOVE 3: For who can ever forget the Story of David’s Enthusiasm and Disdain (in 1 Chronicles 15:25-29)?
a. For don’t you remember?
b. What can be more vivid than the images of Queen Michal looking down on the Royal Procession and despising King David ….
c. because on this day of worship – he had the audacity to find it fitting …
d. … to behave as if he were … on the same level …
e. … as the people and the priest … he governed.
*******************TAKE 5 BEATS ********************
MOVE 4: In fact, you may recall, the last time (just BIBLICAL months ago) David and Israel’s MASS CHOIR …
a. … had an all out concert with drums and instrument(in 1 Chronicles 13:8-13) – a priest by the name of Uzzah died.
b. For don’t you remember, David and the people of God had just started celebrating the return of the Lord’s Covenant from the Philistines,
c. when the animal-led carriage hit a bump in the road, and the Ark of The Covenant started falling, …
d. … and Father Uzzah (a priest) tried to prevent it from hitting the ground … but he DEFILED the Ark by touching it.
e. Consequently, he died on the spot. … because he had disobey the Lord’s instructions of not touching the Ark.
f. As a results, of Father Uzzah’s Death, the Bible indicates David was angry with God.
g. Because Father Uzzah was a good man, and an awesome priest.
******************TAKE 5 BEATS******************
MOVE 5: Therefore, this SECOND time in 1 Chronicles 15:25-29, David was a bit more cautious/circumspect ….
a. He insured that the priests were abreast of the rules identified in Numbers 4, and Deuteronomy 17 - regarding transporting the Ark.
b. David was so grateful that The Ark of the Covenant was being carried to Zion that He not ONLY PLAYED HIS INSTRUMENT … but he also broke-out into a religious dance.
c. Later, he was confronted by his wife, Michal, …
d. Michal, wanted to know why King David couldn’t be dignified in front of the people
e. She wanted to know why he had to embarrass her … in the company of the slave girls …
f. David in so many words, reminded his wife and Queen, that his purpose on earth was not to avoid embarrassment …
g. … But to go all out in WORHSIP and give God Thanks …
*********************TAKE 5 BEATS*********************
MOVE 6: In our text today … we are encouraged by Pastor Paul to give God thanks … no matter … what the circumstances are …
a. sickness … fail marriage … emotional problems … or financial losses
b. In every thing … we must LEARN (as Christians) to give God praise and to give God thanks …
c. As Christians, our goals SHOULD BE … TO give God thanks and praise … for the good, the bad and the ugly … in our lives …
d. James … the brother of Jesus said … when trial come … we should rejoice …
e. … because God is teaching us something … that will be of great value in our life …
f. … My brothers and my sisters … Paul teaches us through God’s WORD (IN 1 THESSALONIAN 5:18 … AND 1 CHRONICLES 15:25-29) how we should live for God in the midst of the circumstances he allows us to be placed into …
**********************TAKE 5 BEATS*******************
CELEBRATION … So (as Christians) we should live for God …. and respond to God in the midst of the circumstances he allows us to be placed into …
FOR GOD IS GOOD … AND HE’S WORTHY TO BE PRAISE …
FOR WHEN I THINK OF THE GOODNESS OF JESUS … AND ALL THAT HE’S DONE FOR ME …
… (in spite of my circumstances) … MY SOUL CRIES OUT …. ALLELUJA … THANK GOD FOR SAVING ME ….
WHEN I THINK OF HIS GOODNESS …. I’M WANNA DANCE … LIKE DAVID … DANCE …
WHEN I THINK OF HIS GOODNESS … I WANT TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT … LIKE DAVID PLAYED …
WHEN … I … THINK OF HIS GOODNESS … I WANNA SING … LIKE DAVID SANG …
I WANNA PRAISE THE LORD … LIKE DAVID PRAISE …
(Modified Psalm 150)
PRAISE YE THE LORD. PRAISE GOD … IN HIS SANCTUARY; PRAISE HIM FOR HIS MIGHTY ACTS … PRAISE HIM ….. WITH THE SOUND OF THE TRUMPET …
PRAISE HIM … WITH THE PALTERY AND HARP…
PRAISE HIM … WITH THE TIMBEL AND DANCE …
PRAISE HIM …. WITH THE GUITAR …
PRAISE HIM … WITH THE DRUMS ….
LET EVERYTHING … THAT HATH BREATH … PRAISE THE LORD …
