Unusual Thankfulness
Please turn to 1 Thessalonians 5:18 & Ephesians 5:19-20.
While you are turning there allow me to share with you some unusual things you may have to be thankful for.
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“I am thankful for…
*The taxes I pay because it means I am employed…
*The clothes that fit a little too snug because it
means I have more than enough to eat…
*A lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home…
*The spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking…
*My huge heating bill because it means I am warm…
*All the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech…
*The person behind me in church who sings off key because it mean I can hear…
*The piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby…
*The alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I’m alive…
*This Thanksgiving we hope to pause and give God thanks for all this and more.”
These seem to be some very unusual things to be thankful for…but isn’t that what Christians should be known for? – Unusual Thankfulness.
Listen to what the Scriptures say about Unusual thankfulness.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
“18 Give thanks IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 5:19-20
19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 ALWAYS GIVING THANKS TO GOD the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
*Giving thanks IN ALL circumstances and… ALWAYS giving thanks to God. – That sound pretty unusual - those are some pricey bills to fill…
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Dr. Alexander Whyth of Edinburgh is an example of an unusually thankful Christian.
“He was famous for his pulpit prayers. He always found something to thank God for, even in bad times. One story morning, a member of his congregation thought to himself, the preacher will have nothing to thank God for on a wretched morning like this. But Whyte began his prayer, ‘We thank thee, O God that it is not always like this.” (Fall 2000 Enrichment –pg.130)
--Bridge--
There are some people who seem to have mastered the art of Christian thankfulness better than the rest of us…Yet all true Christians should display a certain amount of thankfulness that seems unusual to those around us.
I. What are unusual things that Christians
thankful for?
A) The discipline of God that leads to repentance.
Hebrews 12:4-11
“4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."[1] 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
The Bible tells us here:
*“Not to make light of the Lord’s disciple” – v.s. 5
*”The Lord disciplines those he loves.” – v.s. 6
*When we are disciplined “God is treating you as sons” –v.s. 7
*”No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness. And peace for those who have been trained by it.” – v.s.11
a. In our struggle against sin…The Lord is
disciplining us because he considers us to be
his children!
- Wow, that is something to be Unusually thankful for!
b. It is the temporary pain of the struggles of
life that produce the harvest of
righteousness and peace – and help us escape
the eternal torture of sin
-Wow, that is something to be unusually thankful for!
When we put the discipline of the Lord in this perspective it helps us give thanks IN ALL
CIRCUMSTANCES and to be ALWAYS GIVING THANKS TO GOD!
B) The struggles of life that Identify us with Christ
and cause us to depend on Him.
Not only are life’s struggles an avenue for the Lord to lead us to repentance – they also help to produce a dependency on Christ.
1Peter 4:12-16 "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name."
a. This passage is not talking about suffering
because of your sin like the last passage was – this passage is saying BE THANKFUL WHEN YOU
SUFFER FOR DOING WHAT IS RIGHT!
*13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Because we are willing to suffer in Christ’s name we will not have to look down with a blushing face when He appears!
- Wow, that is something to be unusually thankful for!
*”14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”
Satan only messes with those who are a threat! When you are insulted because of being a Christian… It means God’s Spirit is on you and He is using you!
-Wow, that is something to be unusually thankful for!
*16 ..if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name."
If we suffer for the Name of Christ…It reminds us that we have been saved and now are a part of the ROYAL FAMILY!
-Wow, that is something to be unusually thankful for!
When we put the persecution in this perspective it helps us give thanks IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES and to ALWAYS GIVING THANKS TO GOD!
C) Other believers who are different from us.
Romans 12:4-8
"4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his[1] faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."
Most people complain about those who are different - But Praise God! - As christians we are unusally thankful for others!
Praise God that:
-We all have different gifts…
-Some prophesy
-Some some serve
-Some teach
-Some encourage
-Some contribute to the needs of others
-Some give generously
-Some lead
-Some show mercy
*But all are called to Love!
God made us different so we could all get on each others nerves!
That is a good thing!
-So we won’t grow stagnant!
-So we can keep each other moving ahead!
-It would be a miserable life if we never had to think
about what we are doing – But praise God – He has
given us other people to remind us of the areas we
need to improve in and to encourage us most of the
time!
Praise God:
-I do not have to do the plumbing!
-I do not have to do the singing!
*If I had to do it all – this church would fold!
But God has given us one another… so we can form the body of Christ…Even though we are different the Love of God is the tendons that hold the bones together and Jesus is the head so we won’t mess it up!
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-One older pastor gave some great advise to younger ministers, He said, “Trust the people in your pew’s. they are smarter than you are…that is why you’re the pastor!”
-Another minister said, “I am their leader…which way did they go?!?”
*We are all different …
-Wow, that is something to be unusually thankful for!
When we put our differences in this perspective it helps us give thanks IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES and to ALWAYS GIVING THANKS TO GOD!
D) The prosperity Christ grants us.
1 Timothy 6:6
“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
Christians are thankful because we do not have to spend our lives on the vein pursuits of the rest of humanity.
We have a Lord who offers us life, love, and godliness and contentment – he takes care of our needs and prospers us without the vain strife of greed.
-Wow, That’s something to be Unusually thankful for!
i. It is common for most people to claim to
have earned it themselves - but Christians
know we are just unworthy stewards.
Luke 17:10
“So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do should say, we are unworthy servants, we have only done our duty.”
God’s prosperity comes without the headaches of human strife!
-Wow, that is something to be Unusually thankful for!
When we put our prosperous position in this perspective it helps us give thanks IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES and to ALWAYS GIVING THANKS TO GOD!
E) The list of Unusual Thankfulness is endless.
1.We of course seem unusual to others for our thankfulness to God for Salvation.
2.We of course seem unusual to others for our thankfulness to God in answered prayers.
3.We of course seem unusual to others for our thankfulness to God in ….etc.
II. How does the Unusual thankfulness of Christians
express itself?
A) By continually thanking / Praising God with our lips and in our hearts.
Ephesians 5:19-20
“19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
When we walk around singing - People think we’re weird.
When we say - Praise the Lord - Thank God! -People think we’re weird.
***We’re not weird - Just unusually thankful!!!
B) Our actions also express our Unusual Thankfulness to God.
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When we go to a restaurant, we are more than happy to give a good waitress a 15% tip, but for some reason, many have a problem with giving God 10% of all the good gifts he has given us. We need to ask ourselves if we are truly thankful.
If we are truly thankful our actions will express it…
a. By repaying all others Good for Evil.
Romans 12:14
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
ROM 12:17
"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
As F.F. Bruce says, "This is basic Christian
teaching."
b. By honoring others believers – instead of
promoting ourselves.
Romans 12:10
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
c. By sharing & associating with those in need.
Rom. 12:13
“Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
Rom. 12:16
"Live in harmony with one another, Do not e proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”
d. By doing many other unusual acts of
thankfulness – common to Christians.
C) How do I become Unusually Thankful IN ALL
CIRCUMSTANCES and ALWAYS GIVING THANKS TO GOD?
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Being unusually thankful requires a right perspective.
One young lady wrote home from college,
"Dear Mom: Sorry I haven’t written sooner. My arm really has been broken. I broke it, and my left leg, when I jumped from he second floor of my dormitory...when we had the fire. We were lucky. A young service station attendant saw the blaze and called the Fire Department. They were there in minutes. I was in the hospital for a few days. Paul, the service station attendant, came to see me every day. And because it was taking so long to get our dormitory liveable again, I moved in with him. He has been so nice. I must admit that I am pregnant. Paul and I plan to get married just as soon as he can get a divorce. I hope things are fine at home. I’m doing fine, and will write more when I get the chance. Love,
Your daughter, Susie
P.S. None of the above is true. But I did get a "C" in Sociology and flunked Chemistry. I just wanted you to receive this news in its "Proper Perspective!"
To be thankful in all circumstances, we need a proper perspective of our circumstances and of our God. Only then we will be able to give thanks to the Lord always.
a. By realistically acknowledging what God has
done – and what we have not done.
b. By remembering that Christ has been faithful
to us in the past – and believing He does not
change.
c. By rejoicing with others in what Jesus is
doing for them.
d. By keeping our future hope in focus.
e. Simply by Trusting more and more in Jesus!
All these things will help us to be Unusually Thankful and IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES and in all things we will ALWAYS GIVE THANKS TO GOD!
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An Ancent East Indian Proverb says,
I was sad I had old shoes untill I saw a man with no shoes.
I was sad I had no shoes untill I saw a man with no foot.
I was sad I had no food untill I saw a man with no Leg.
I was sad I had no leg untill I saw a man with no family of friends.
(add on) I was sad -Untill I found Jesus - Now I am unusually thankful.
Unusual Thankfulness Outline
1 Thessalonians 5:18 & Ephesians 5:19-20.
I.What are Christians unusually thankful for?
A)The discipline of God that leads to repentance.
Hebrews 12:4-11
B)The struggles of life that Identify us with Christ
and cause us to depend on Him. 1Peter 4:12-16
C) Other believers who are different from us.
Romans 12:4-8
D) The prosperity Christ grants us. 1 Timothy 6:6
E) Many other things.
II. How does the Unusual thankfulness of Christian’s
express itself?
A) By continually thanking / Praising God with our
lips and in our hearts. Ephesians 5:19-20
B) Our actions also express our Unusual Thankfulness
to God.
-Repaying good for evil.
-Honoring other believers.
-Sharing and associating with those in Need.
C) How do I become Unusually Thankful IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES and ALWAYS GIVING THANKS TO GOD?
