Unlocking the Power of Thanksgiving
Now, I will be your teacher this morning and today we will be looking into the divine power of thanksgiving. In how thanksgiving is not just a byword and utterance of appreciation but also a KEY that can change our PRAYER LIFE and draw us closer to GOD! Are you ready? Say I’m ready! Open your bibles or your bible apps as we read our key verse this morning found in
1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Let us pray…..
People nowadays find themselves in 2 states of being.
1st state: a state of worry, troubled, concerned, disturbed, irritated, dismayed, demoralized. Nababagabag, Nababahala, Balisa. A state of insecurity, feeling incapable, incapacitated or often times short fused, angry and in despair.
2nd State: AND THEN: we have those who are in the opposite state: A state of peace, Hopeful, grateful, happy, joyful, radiant,
I’m not making this up. Scientists and Psychologist call these state of mental wellbeing - and we know for certain that it's a spiritual wellbeing as well. Some call this the DUAL CONTINUUM MODEL - 2 STATES:
ONE - ILL BEING
Stressed, Distressed, Troubled, Worried, Disturbed, Demoralized, Insecure.
Worried about your health, troubled about the future of your children, Disappointed with yourself or Frustrated with your husband or wife. Angry at your siblings, Feeling betrayed at the workplace.
And oftentimes our natural reaction is complaint or grumble, Hayyy. Eto nanaman tayo. BITTERNESS. Initial reaction is often lament, complaint, or deep sorrow.
So let me ask you—what is your first reaction when life goes sideways?
Emotional exhaustion, Mental Fatigue. Sleepless nights, You grieve. You question. You isolate. Is this fair? I don’t deserve this? Why is this happening to me. Ginawa ko na lahat ng tama, pero ito parin…
We feel it deep in our soul: sorrow, discouragement, even bitterness. We rehearse the pain, replay the injustice, and retreat inward. We become emotionally locked in a prison of ill-being.
So thats the state of ILL-BEING and then we have the state of:
WELL-BEING
People who SEEMS to have it all under control. Everything planned comes to fruition. There is a state of Joy, Gratefulness, Hopeful, Peaceful, Energetic, Secure and finally FULFILLED. Begs the question: Why? How? What's the difference? What am I missing? Why not me? And more importantly, the key question is this - How can I crossover from a state of ILL-BEING to a state of WELL-BEING?
Listen to this - the key here dear brothers and sisters - is IN HOW WE RESPOND to our situation. Our RESPONSE is critical. Our response is a reflection of our spiritual maturity.
So - lets look through our key verse for an answer and in particular - verse 18:
1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 NIV
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Say GIVE THANKS! Now the the first part of this verse is absolutely critical:
Give Thanks IN ALL circumstances. Lets break it down:
You see, being Thankful - is a direct command - a direct instruction from scripture. We are being COMPELLED to Give Thanks rather than in the WANTING to give thanks.
Let me explain. I remember when I was young, not to many years ago, okay, many many years ago, when I was a child. I remember my MOM would teach me to say thank you - even if I didn’t feel like thanking a person. Whether because I was given food in my plate or whether I was helped by an adult, whether someone was helping me go up the stairs. I was told to be Thankful. Its an instruction, a command. Teaching the children go say THANK YOU. Regardless of their emotional state - be thankful. My last born - Aasha, just yesterday, I was reminding her to do this. To give Thanks in the dinner table, she was asking for water and her brother gave her some - and automatically, I asked her say thank you, coz she forgot again. And hesitantly - She said THANK YOU Kuya…She didnt feel like giving thanks BUT I instructed her to give thanks - you understand?
Lets move on - next - IN ALL - underline the adverbial phrase IN ALL. Great. The verse said - IN ALL your circumstances. Not in some circumstances. Not only when your happy, elated, NOT only when you are promoted or receive a gift or favor. It says IN ALL. Does it mean I should be thankful when I’m going through PAIN, SORROW, TROUBLE, PERSECUTION, when I'm in the hospital. OR should I be thankful as I hold the hands of my ailing mother. Or if I get laid-off from work Or have no JOB?
Understand this church - the command did not say give thanks BECAUSE OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCE - it said give thanks IN ALL circumstances. There a difference.
The verse does not say be thankful because you are in pain or you are in trouble or you are stressing about something. It doesn’t say be thankful that you are angry, that you are in debt, that your child is sick or your mother is dying. IN ALL means be thankful that while you are experiencing these trials - be thankful that GOD IS WITH YOU through those trials. He is with you in the pain, sorrow and suffering. That He is with you when you are tired of your situation, when you are lost and hopeless, when you are insecure or challenged - Be Thankful IN ALL your circumstances Because God is with you!
Be Thankful Because the grace, mercy, and love of God is with you in that circumstance. Be Thankful for the power and strength of God is made available to you as you go through your circumstances.
BE Thankful IN ALL your circumstances and NOT Because of your Circumstances.
Now perhaps you might be thinking, this sounds so elementary. I just give thanks IN ALL my circumstances. Not so fast. If you read the rest of the verse - you will understand why this is important Lets go back to the verse:
1 THESSALONIANS 5:18
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
What Happens? What happens when we build this attitude of gratitude?
So again, the SHIFT from a state of ILL-BEING to WELL-BEING is explicitly triggered by thankfulness and gratitude.
Lets break it down:
The Power of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Brings Deliverance
Lets look at Luke 17:15-16
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[b] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
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.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
The Crucial Role of Thankfulness: While all ten received physical healing, only one, a Samaritan, "turned back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him" (Luke 17:15-16). Jesus's response to this one grateful man is telling: "Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?... Your faith has made you whole" (Luke 17:18-19).
Resulting State of Well-Being (Enhanced by Gratitude): The other nine received physical well-being (healing), but the one who returned with explicit thanksgiving received SOMETHING MORE: DELIVERANCE OR WHOLENESS (Greek: sozo, meaning saved, delivered, made whole in a comprehensive sense, he is set free from his stronghold). His gratitude completed his restoration, encompassing not just physical health but also spiritual peace and a deeper relationship with his Healer. His gratitude solidified and deepened his well-being beyond mere relief from suffering.
I don’t Know about you. But I often wondered why the verse here says this one person, this foreigner says in v 16 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
I mean Luke, the author could have just omitted the phrase he was a samaritan. It looks irrelevant right. I don’t think so - Nothing is irrelevant in the BIBLE. Every period, comma, adjective, capital letter, structure, statement, phrase in the bible has meaning. AND I think, and this is just me in my meditation of the word - I think that the reason only one came back to THANK Jesus and infact He was a foreigner, a samaritan - is because IT IS NOT COMMON for a PERSON to give thanks for what they have received. MOST of the time, when we receive something - we think we deserve it, we worked for it, we earned it. In this case - the 10 lepers did their JOB And asked for PITY and when instructed THEY did go to the priest and they were healed. BUT this one person recognized the Critical Importance of Giving THANKS.
Let me ask you, IN OUR CURRENT Scenario - how many have you promoted in your business or gave an increase in their salary - how many of them came back to you with a pasalubong of thanks. Who went out of their way, bought something you liked and gave you a thanksgiving present?
How many of you are sales people here? Or brokers? Insurance Agents? How many of you, after earning a commission - went back to your client, who you sold a property too, or something - went back to your client and surprised them with a thanksgiving present?
It’s unnatural, foreign, for people to do that. But see as Christians, we are called to a higher standard. Say higher standard. We are called to be the salt and light in the world to change the world.
2. Thanksgiving Brings Restoration
And we see this in John 11:38-44
State of Ill-Being: Mary, Martha, and the Jewish mourners are in deep grief and despair over the death of Lazarus, who has been in the tomb for four days. The situation is seemingly hopeless, the epitome of sorrow and loss. Jesus Himself is "deeply moved in spirit and troubled" (v. 33) by the human experience of death and grief.
The Interaction and Shift: Jesus arrives at the tomb. Before performing the miracle, He prays aloud:
John 11:41b-42
"Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."
The Crucial Role of Thankfulness: In the face of seemingly impossible circumstances (death), Jesus's thanksgiving is a declaration of faith and an act of gratitude before the miraculous intervention. It's not a thanks for the resurrection yet, but a thanks rooted in His confidence that the Father always hears Him and will act. This act of thanksgiving, offered in plain sight, serves to publicly establish the spiritual authority and divine connection that enables the shift from death to life.
Resulting State of Well-Being: Immediately after His thanksgiving, Jesus commands Lazarus to come out of the tomb, and Lazarus walks out alive. The profound "ill-being" of death, grief, and hopelessness is instantly transformed into overwhelming joy, astonishment, and life – a shift directly preceded and empowered by Jesus's public act of thanksgiving to the Father.
3. Thanksgiving Brings Hope
Acts 27:33-36
Paul's Encouragement and Thanksgiving During the Shipwreck
State of Ill-Being: Paul and 275 others are on a ship caught in a violent storm for days, "having given up all hope of being saved" (Acts 27:20). They are starved, terrified, and utterly demoralized.
The Interaction and Shift: PAUL performs a pivotal act: "He took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat." (Acts 27:35)
The Crucial Role of Thankfulness: In the midst of abject despair and physical weakness, Paul's public act of giving thanks to God for a simple meal (bread) transforms the atmosphere. It's an act of faith and gratitude that models trust in God's provision even when everything else seems lost.
Resulting State of Well-Being: The direct result: "They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves" (Acts 27:36). This shift from demoralization and hopelessness to encouragement and physical sustenance is immediate. This renewed strength and morale then enable them to survive the shipwreck and ultimately reach safety.
Paul's thanksgiving was the turning point that restored their mental and physical will to live, leading them out of extreme "ill-being" toward "well-being."
Thankfulness serves as the divine trigger for a profound shift from a state of distress, despair, or even death, to a state of peace, hope, wholeness, and life.
4. Thanksgiving brings Redemption
We look at the story of Jonah in his book Jonah 2:1-10
State of Ill-Being: Jonah, disobedient to God's command, is swallowed by a great fish. Trapped in the depths of the sea, in the belly of a creature, he describes himself as "out of breath," near death, with weeds wrapped around his head, the earth's bars closing behind him. This is the epitome of being troubled, dismayed, and facing imminent demise.
The Interaction and Shift: From this unimaginable pit of despair, Jonah cries out to God. Critically, his prayer is not solely a desperate plea, but includes a profound declaration of thankfulness and commitment to worship:
Lets take it from verse 7-10
7 “When my soul fainted within me,
I remembered the Lord;
And my prayer went up to You,
Into Your holy temple.
8 “Those who regard worthless idols
Forsake their own [b]Mercy.
9 But I will sacrifice to You
With the voice of thanksgiving;
I will pay what I have vowed.
Salvation is of the Lord.”
10 So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
This act of giving thanks while still in the fish's belly, before any outward change, represents his spiritual transition from PRIDE to HUMILITY, from utter despair to a renewed hope and trust in God's deliverance.
The Result of Gratitude: Following this act of faith and thanksgiving, God commands the fish: 10 So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
Jonah's movement from ill-being to well-being is directly precipitated by his choice to express gratitude and worship God in the midst of his impossible situation; in the midst of his circumstances.
Jonah was running away from God, but when He finally found himself in the brink of death. He draws near to Him and Thanks The Lord!
Church -
“We draw near to God when our hearts are postured in thanksgiving—because gratitude opens the door to deeper intimacy with Him.”
Regardless of our situation. I’m reminded of Psalm 100:4
Psalm 100:4 NIV
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
As citizens of the Kingdom of God. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. Right? As Revelation chapter 4 would describe God as sitting in His Throne. He is Lord, God, Almighty. He is Holy Holy Holy. A Kingdom has gates and the way to enter it is with ThanksGiving.
Lets me ask you this question - what do you give someone who has it all? What gift do you give to the creator of the world? Well the verse is very clear - you enter HIS PRESENCE in THANKSGIVING.
gratitude opens the door to deeper intimacy with Him.”
NOW WHAT IS THE OPPOSITE OF THANKSGIVING? It also ends with ING - COMPLAINING. Yes.
Philippians 2:14-15
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
In our key scripture - 1 Thessalonians 5 it says Give Thanks in all circumstances.
Here in Philippians - He says Do ALL Things without complaining and disputing.
In essence - combining both clearly states - Give Thanks and Do Not Complain.
Give Thanks and Do Not Complain.
Scripture warns against complaining for the consequences of it are pretty dire:
1?Corinthians?10:10-11, Paul warns,
nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now [b]all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our [c]admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
You See IN these verses - Paul warns the Corinthian believers by recounting key moments from Israel’s history. Paul lists several sins that the Israelites committed—including idolatry, sexual immorality, testing the Lord, and COMPLAINING —and then shows how each sin led to God’s judgment.
This tells us that Complaining falls in the same category as IDOLATRY, Sexual Immorality and testing the LORD.
Numbers 11:1 (NIV) — “Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.”
Numbers 14:2 — “All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron…”
Numbers 16:41–49 — After the rebellion of Korah, the people grumbled again, and a plague killed 14,700.
Spiritual Consequences of Complaining
It reflects unbelief in God’s sovereignty. Complaining says, “I know better than God.”
It disconnects us from God. Our hearts turn from gratitude to rebellion .
It breeds bitterness, anxiety, division. “A joyful heart is good medicine; a crushed spirit dries up the bones”
Church - Understand this: COMPLAINING is a direct byproduct of WORRY and FEAR. Complaining is an emotion that is out of control:
Since these emotions are uncomfortable, many naturally externalize them as complaints:
“Why is this happening to me?”
“Things never work out.”
“I’m so tired of this.”
Complaining, is an emotional pressure valve—a way to vent internal worry outward, AND IT NEVER leads to resolution.
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.
Key truth Springs forth from this:
Replace Worry with Worship and Replace Grumbling with Gratitude
Let me end with this.
Proverbs 3:5–6:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Perhaps some of you are still uncertain about how 2025 will turn out to be. I mean, time flies so fast right - Its the middle of July. We are seven months into the year. ARE you in a STATE of ILL-BEING or in the state of WELL-BEING.
If there’s anything I want to leave you with this morning, it is this - Start your day with proverbs 3:5-6
AND:
In all your ways Acknowledge HIM
In all circumstances Be Thankful
And finally Do all things without complaining
Lets all stand…
ALTAR CALL
Romans 10:9 says this:
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile —the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
If you want to experience the goodness and love of GOD in your life today and for eternity.
LORD, I surrender my life to you today. I am a sinner in need of your help. Forgive me LORD for my sins and I confess that only you LORD JESUS have died on the cross for me, and rose from the dead for me. Thank you Jesus for reconciling me back to GOD. Thank you JESUS for the gift of eternal life with GOD. Amen!
Welcome to the kingdom of GOD! God’s Supernatural Grace is available to you!
Praise Be To God!
