Giving Thanks
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DescriptionGive Thanks 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18Intro: Would you like to know God’s will for your life? • You will Discover it today… Clear as ink on the page! 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 ILL – Doctor, “Lose 15 pounds and exercise!” --- Tell me something I don’t already know! (pill, procedure) ILL – I went to my brother’s football game…. Did not know Where he lived…. Where was field? • I could start moving in the general direction! The Grip/power of the text comes in the Adverbs….qualifiers “Always….without ceasing….in everything” Objection: Easy for Paul to say…. Don’t share my circumstances --- Paul was forced out of Thessolonica by Mob! He wrote them from nearby Corinth because he could not return. --- Young Disciples’ were poor, persecuted & confused! T/S – The Gospel is greater than my circumstances… READ AGAIN Tell the Story of David’s appointment of Asaph Then on that day David first assigned Asaph and his kinsmen to give thanks to the LORD. Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His Name; make known His deeds among the nations! So he left them there…to give thanks to the LORD because His lovingkindness is everlasting! T/S – Why so Important to Give Him Thanks?! Giving Thanks Is Worship Exp – We live and breath for His Pleasure. He find pleasure in a Grateful people! Ill – Jesus healed 10 lepers near Samaria… “Go show yourselves to the priest.” “Where the other 9?!” Ill – Man scheduled an appointments this week… “Thank You!” --- Exceedingly Pleasant! App – “Thanks” is expressed toward God! (Returned) Giving Thanks Is WISDOM Exp – A reason word “Thank” is so similar to our word, “Think!” Romans 1:21 – Paul calls “Fools” those who do not give “The person who has stopped being thankful has fallen Asleep in life.” Robert Louis Stevenson ILL – Like rubbing eyes to properly focus… App – Not Feeling Grateful…. Act, Disciplined act of Giving Thanks Giving Thanks Is Witness Exp – When we give Thanks, we “Make know His Deeds…” Ill – I do not eat at a certain restaurant… I heard someone complain App – Do you sound like a satisfied customer? • Easiest season to Witness…. Give thanks! • “I thank God for….. “ “In every circumstance” --- Hardship as Platform! • Jesus Christ has blessed me in was beyond compare! Example…. Vs. 23-24 Conclusion Giving Thanks speaks to the Heart of the Gospel…. Romans 6:23 In Jesus, God offers us what we do not deserve! “Grace” = Undeserved Favor Thanks and Grace are same root…sound.. • To give thanks is to acknowledge a grace! ILL – Some of you have a certain way of describing the prayer of Thanksgiving before you meal….. “Say Grace” ILL - Truman Capote, “The Thanksgiving Visitor” (short story) … Rural Alabama in the 1930’s…. His Aunt… The Henderson family invited to Thanksgiving dinner… (picking on Truman) Odd Henderson – Had failed first grade twice and was currently servicing a second term in 2nd grade… 12 yeas old… MEAN! In bed…comforted by the reality they would not accept… PRIDE They might steal, gouge the gold out of a dead man’s teeth, but they would never accept a gift offered openly; for anything the smacked of charity was offensive to them. Giving thanks is like being saved. We humble ourselves to acknowledge a grace gift given. |