Always give Thanks February 19, 2022
·
Jesus was buried
· Jesus rose again the third day
2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
1 Peter 2:24-25 "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." (25) For "you were like sheep going astray," but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
This is what we should be grateful during this season of what our Lord Jesus has done for each of us.
Think about the Apostle Paul, was in prison, separated from friends, unjustly accused, beaten, constant irritation of the chains and pain of the iron brackets cutting into his wrists and legs.
Paul could have complained, but his words were of praise and thanksgiving.
Ephesians 5:19-20 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, (20) always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Think of it, always giving thanks for everything; no matter the circumstance.
Philippians 4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
·
The giving of thanks to God for all of Father’s
Blessing should be on of the distinctive marks of the Believer in our Lord
Jesus.
·
We must not allow a spirit of ingratitude to harden
our heart and chill our relations with God and with others Saints.
· Without the attitude of Thanksgiving,
we will start to have the attitude of Ingratitude,
· This is a tragic thing, that Satan wants for us.
·
Not having thanks is dangerous to ourselves and
others
· It dishonors God and leads to being dependence on man rather than God
Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him. Instead, their thoughts turned to worthless things, and their senseless hearts were darkened.
This is a heart that is cold towards God and indifferent to His Mercy and Love.
This lifestyle will Lead to bitterness, complaining, and a joyless life
Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the
grace of God and that no bitter root grows up and causes you trouble,
or many of you will become defiled.
{bitterness will cause me trouble}
· Ungrateful heart will bring on Bitterness,
then creates a depression and feelings of hopelessness,
· because we become focused on our problems rather than on the Lord Jesus.
Ephesians 4:30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit, by whom you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption.
If we would remember that the One who lives in us is God’s own Spirit, we would be much more selective about what we think, read, watch, say, and do
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, quarreling, and slander be put away from you, along with all hatred.
Ephesians 4:32 And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another just as God has forgiven you in the Messiah.
The old life comes from a hostile heart of bitterness, seeks its own way, speaks evil and wishes evil on others. How do we put away all bitterness?
By letting God fill our hearts with His perfect love. The new life is tenderhearted, shows itself in acts of kindness, and is ready to forgive wrongs suffered from others. As Saints, this is what we are to do
2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God! He always leads us triumphantly by the Messiah and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of knowing him.
In reality, nothing will do more to restore contentment and the joy of our salvation than a true spirit of thankfulness.
· From one end of the
Bible to the other, we are commanded to be thankful.
· In fact, thankfulness is the natural outflowing of a heart that is attuned to God.
Why should we be thankful? Because God has blessed us, and we should be thankful for each blessing.
· We seem never to be
satisfied with what we have; rich or poor, healthy or sick.
· But what a difference it makes when we realize that everything we have has been given to us by God!
King David prayed:
1 Chronicles 29:12 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.
1 Chronicles 29:13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.
1 Chronicles 29:14 "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.
We need to learn what the Apostle Paul had learned
Philippians 4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
Every day is a Day of Thanksgiving for the believer.
Philippians 4:6 Never worry about anything. Instead, in every situation let your petitions be made known to God through prayers and requests, with thanksgiving.
· Thanksgiving focuses upon relationship.
· We look at it as a family
relationship.
· The true meaning of Thanksgiving is the
relationship between us and God.
· We are to acknowledging God as faithful, earnestly honoring and giving God thanks, in advance, for His abundant blessings.
· Do we take family and friends for
granted.
·
But
we need to give thanks for those around us; our spouses, our children, our
relatives, our friends and others who help us in some way.
· How many marriages and other relationships grow cold and eventually fail because of the sin of ingratitude
1 Corinthians 1:4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.
·
Every Day we spend with family and friends,
honoring and thanking our
Heavenly Father for them
· God for the bountiful blessings He provides.
Why We Should Be Thankful
2 Corinthians 4:15 All this is for your sake so that, as his grace spreads, more and more people will give thanks and glorify God.
Acts 28:15 The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged.
· Thank the Father for those who touch your life.
· Because it honors and Glorify God.
·
When we give thanks, we recognize that God
exists
· We recognizes our total dependence on God
Because it is commanded in Scripture
The Psalms are filled with the call to give thanks
Psalms 100:4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
·
James says we try to draw back from
difficulties, yet not one of us is
exempt from some kind of trouble.
·
In
many parts of the world it is dangerous even to be a Christian because of
persecution.
·
And yet in the midst of those trials we can thank God,
·
because we know that He has promised to be with us and that
He will help us.
· We know that He can use times of suffering to draw us closer to Himself:
James 1:1-3 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. (2) Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, (3) because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
James 1:4-5 But you must let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. (5) Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to everyone generously without a rebuke, and it will be given to him.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 1:12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
In ourselves we do not have the strength that we need to live the way God wants us to live, but with the Holy Spirit and our Lord Jesus living in us, we can live the Way of Life. Jesus wanted us to do.
Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Apostle Paul gives the command to be thankful
Colossians 3:15-17 Let the peace of the Messiah also rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body, and be thankful. (16) Let the word of the Messiah inhabit you richly with wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and singing to God with thankfulness in your hearts. (17) And whatever you do, whether by speech or action, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 4:2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
· With thanksgiving - Thanksgiving connected with prayer.
· We can always find something to be thankful for,
· no matter what may be the burden of
our wants, or
· the special subject of our petitions in our prayers.
When we pray for the supply of our wants, we may be thankful for what we receive;
When we pray for healing from sickness, we may be thankful for the health we have enjoyed, and for God’s being merciful in our past days.
We all have health problems of some types, the Father goodness in now sparing our lives;
Remember, do not think of the things we did not receive after praying, It is all in the hands of our Lord Jesus when these things will happen.
But, think of the countless blessings God has given each of us without asking.
Psalms of Thanksgiving
Psalms 100:1-2 A Psalm of Thanksgiving. Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! (2) Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.
Psalms 100:3-4 Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. (4) Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
Psalms 100:5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.
This is the lesson we should learn about Thanksgiving, always in the
attitude of giving thanks to God and this attitude to be part of our everyday life.
As the Spring Feast Days draws upon us this year, we should think deeply of all the Blessings He has given us this past year and thank Him for them.
Jesus’ goodness in now sparing our and family lives;
When we pray that our children, grandchildren, and friends may be preserved from danger and death,
We may remember how often God has interceded to save them on our behalf and also ourselves.
When we realize we have sin, we pray for forgiveness
We of all people, realizing we are to be given the greatest gift that we will be changed in the twinkling of the eye and become Spirit Being, the son of the Most High God, the Bride of our Lord, to serve with Him for all eternality. What more can a person ask for.
1 Corinthians 15:52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
As a review, Things to thank the Father and the Lord Jesus for
1. Thank
God Especially for our Salvation in Jesus Christ
2. Thank
God for His Continued Presence and Power in our lives
3. Thank
God for the Material Blessings That He has Given us
4. Thank
God for the People in our Life
5. Thank
God in the Midst of Trials and Even Persecution
6.
Thank God for the joy of a personal relationship
with God?
7. Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and rose from the dead according to the Scriptures and right now on His throne at the right hand of the Father.
A lesson we should learn about Thankfulness, always be in the attitude of giving thanks and with gratitude to God and this attitude to be part of our everyday life. It is uplifting in our life.
The main thing is, always have gratitude for what we have, Our Lord Jesus, family, health we have and what we have been blessed with.
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