Thanksgiving Eve –
November 23, 2016
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Thanksgiving by definition is the formal public expression
of returning thanks to God. How do we do this? Let’s see what Scripture would
tell us this night. How do we have thanksgiving?
1. Rejoice always –
v. 16 “May you always be joyful in you
life in the Lord I say it again; rejoice” Philippians 4:4
A. In this verse, Paul tells us twice to
rejoice. Why rejoice? We might not necessarily feel like rejoicing and yet we
do rejoice for this is how thankful hearts respond to God – they rejoice.
B. We rejoice when we recall the
fruits of His Spirit which are evident in every believer’s life.
Transition: We give thanks in rejoicing making our
requests to God.
2. Pray without
ceasing – v. 17 “Don’t worry about
anything but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking Him
with a thankful heart.” Philippians 4:6
A. Worry can drain us of any joy. There
is much for us to be concerned in this dark and sinful world. Thus, our focus
is on Him who supplies us with all that we need to support our body and life. “Make your requests know to God” Paul
would remind us – we take it to the Lord in prayer.
B. Our prayers are also filled with
gratitude and praise – gratitude for His redemption in Christ for His gifts of
mercy and grace. Praise because He has blessed us in so many ways – His mercies
are new to us every day His blessings cannot be counted. He is a god of grace
and glory.
Transition: We rejoice we pray always with thankful
hearts, regardless of the circumstances.
3. In everything give
thanks – V. 18 “Be thankful in all
circumstances. This is what God wants of you in your life in Christ Jesus”.
A. Now that we have been put right
with God through faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. He
has brought us by faith into this experience of God’s grace in which we now
live.
We rejoice then in the hope we
have of sharing God’s glory. And we also rejoice in our troubles, because we
know that trouble produces endurance, endurance brings God’s approval and His
approval creates hope. This hope does not disappoint us because “God has poured out His live into our hearts
by the means of the Holy Spirit who is God’s gift to us.” Romans 5:1-4
Our thanks is not limited to or
dictated by circumstances. In every circumstance regardless of its origin we
return to God our worship and praise.
B. Because you know that when your faith
succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. We endure
because of faith. Faith given to us by God in the first place – faith which
trust God’s promises – faith which takes God at His Word
How do we have thanksgiving? With our prayers with gratitude
to God in every circumstance we bless the Lord.
Image taken June 2009 behind Zion Friedheim Lutheran Church
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