Enduring Gratitude
1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Intro: We speak of the Thanksgiving season, but as our text indicates, it must become the ongoing lifestyle of a Christ follower. Giving thanks is a major part of worship. If we only worship when we feel like it or if things are going well, then we might not be that regular in our faith walk.
-Let’s look at a few thoughts on being grateful from 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
I. The Expression of Gratitude
-Give thanks! Just do it! Imperative.
- For Thanksgiving to be real Thanksgiving, There must be "Thanks" and there must be "Giving."
We can show our gratitude through Prayer
We can show our gratitude through Praise & Worship
We can show our gratitude through Serving
We can show our gratitude through Giving
We can show our gratitude by shifting our focus on what we have, not what we don’t have.
II. The Occasion for Gratitude
-In all circumstances, the good times and the bad times.
26 Reasons to Give Thanks to God
1. Because God is good!
-1 Chronicles 16:34 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
-What a great remedy for all of the negativity of these thinking errors! I don’t have to exaggerate or assume the worst, or minimize because God is good! And if God is for us, then who can be against us?
2. Because His love never stops!
-1 Chronicles 16:34 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
3. Because He is our source!
-1 Chronicles 29:12-14 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. 13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. 14 "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.
4. Because of God’s righteousness!
-Psalm 7:17 I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
5. Because He helps us!
-Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.
6. Because He turns our sorrows into joy!
-Psalm 30:11-12 11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.
7. Because He has delivered us!
-Psalm 56:12-13 12 I am under vows to you, O God; I will present my thank offerings to you. 13 For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.
8. Because He is near!
-Psalm 75:1 We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds.
9. Because He is great!
-Psalm 95:2-3 2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. 3 For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.
10. Because He provides nourishment!
-Psalm 107:8-9 8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, 9 for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
11. Because He has freed us!
-Psalm 116:16-17 you have freed me from my chains. 17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD.
12. Because He responds to us!
-Psalm 118:21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.
13. Because He heals us!
-Luke 17:14-16 14 When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him-- and he was a Samaritan.
14. Because He gives us the victory!
-1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
-2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.
15. Because He shares His life with us!
-2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
16. Because He has an inheritance for us!
-Colossians 1:12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
17. Because He gave us a new family!
-1 Thessalonians 3:9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?
18. Because it is God’s will to thank Him!
-1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
19. Because we are growing together in Christ!
-2 Thessalonians 1:3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.
20. Because God loves us and has saved us!
-2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
21. Because He has a purpose for us!
-1 Timothy 1:12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.
22. Because it is good and pleases God!
-1 Timothy 2:1-4 1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
23. Because we are receiving an unshakable kingdom!
-Hebrews 12:28-29 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our "God is a consuming fire."
24. Because He created all things!
-Revelation 4:9-11 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."
25. Because God will rule and reign over everything!
-Revelation 11:17 "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.
26. Because it helps bring God’s peace to our hearts!
-Philippians 4:6-7 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
III. The Expectation of Gratitude
-This is God’s will for you. It is what He wants you to do. Why? B/C He is worthy of our gratitude. It is the proper response to His grace in our lives. But also, b/c it keeps everything in perspective. We thank Him b/c w/o Him we would be nothing, have nothing, devoid of hope. It reminds us that He is God and we are not!
IV. The Context of Gratitude
-In Christ Jesus
(Paul uses this phrase elsewhere – in Christ, new creation) Gratitude is the proper response to God’s grace, for those who are in Christ Jesus.
-If you are not “in Christ Jesus” that can change right now! Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!
