The key to fulfillment in life requires a change of thinking.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
These words are found in a letter that Paul wrote to a church that he himself established — a church in the ancient port city of Thessalonica.
The response of the people in Thessalonica to the Gospel Paul preached was remarkable.
In fact, the Thessalonian believers gained a reputation around the world for their dramatic conversion (1 Thess. 1:8-10).
“For you , brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Judeans, who killed both the Lord Jesus and their on prophets, and have persecuted us …” (1 Thess. 2:14-15, NKJ)
He told them that none of them should be “shaken” by these “afflictions”:
“… For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it has happened, and you know” (1 Thess. 3:3-4, NKJ)
Faith in Jesus Christ was something that involved a personal cost for Thessalonian Christians. Paul’s letter to them makes occasional references to the things they were suffering.
So Paul’s letter was to remind them that what they are going through should not take their joy away and to grant them understanding that they need to give thanks always.
To buttress this, almost every letter written by Paul to churches contained this very important point.
To the Ephsians, he says in
Ephesians 5:20 that, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we’re to be “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ …”
In Philippians 4:6, he wrote, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God …”
In Colossians 3:17, he wrote, “… whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
The Reason:
• By thanksgiving we acknowledge God’s goodness.
Thankfulness then must be a big deal in the Bible. for the bible to say specifically that it is God’s will for us.
If you look at the Hebrew for the word “thanksgiving”, you will find something very surprising.
The word actually has a dual meaning: “to give thanks” and “to confess.”
In Reality:
But in reality, it doesn’t come naturally. It takes faith to thank God under every circumstance.
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
When you are full of the Holy Spirit, you will continually give God thanks.
In fact, you can measure the fullness of the Spirit within you partly by that very criterion – how much time you spend giving God thanks.
If you cease to give thanks, it may be an indication you are beginning to leak out.
Because Thanksgiving is an act of faith.
Most of us tend to give thanks after we are blessed, not beforehand.
Unfortunately, that is a self-centered approach to thanksgiving and not a God centered one.
Your declaration of thanks is your act of faith and trust in God today.
The Bible states that – “without faith it is impossible to please [God]” (Heb. 11:6).
This is an incredible statement—yet, it is in the Bible! Take it for exactly what it says.
Just think! Anything a person does, in attempting to be Christian, means absolutely nothing, if he lacks faith.
For without faith, he has no hope—no possibility of pleasing God. Any who are not pleasing God are Christians in vain. That is serious! Consider yourself. Do you have real faith? Is it sufficient for salvation? Can you know? You can!
How to walk in faith…
Confession
What to confess…
1. Jesus Is My Lord.
Philippians 2:9-11 – 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
“I confess the complete lordship of Jesus Christ. Jesus is Lord over all and He has given me authority. As I confess Him, His Word and His Name, and resist Satan in His Name, Satan must bow his knee.”
2. I Do Not Have a Care. 1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 37:23-24 “I cast all my care on Jesus because He cares for me. He upholds me as He guides my steps.”
3. I Do Not Want. Psalm 23:1; Philippians 4:19 “The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. For my God supplies all of my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
4. I Am Free From Sin, Sickness, Sorrow, Grief and Fear. Isaiah 53:3-5; Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24 “Every sin, sickness, disease, sorrow and grief was laid on Jesus so that I could be free from them. Therefore, today I am forgiven, healed, healthy and well. I live in divine health.”
5. Jesus Is Made Unto Me Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30; Colossians 2:10 “I confess that Jesus is my wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. Only in Him am I entirely complete.”
“So walk in Him, established in your faith, abounding in thanksgiving.” Col. 2: 17.
The lack of faith is the reason that men give thanks so little; the neglect of thanksgiving hinders and weakens faith.
The reason why thanksgiving has the effect of increasing faith is manifest. Faith has its greatest power in the fact that in believing the soul wholly forgets itself, and with undivided energy looks to God and hears Him — goes out wholly to Him.
The Israelite out of Egypt
God brought Israel out of Egypt in order to bring them into the Promised Land. They had experienced miracles coming out of Egypt, but most of them never made it into the Promised Land. How sad. Their failure was due to a lack of trust and wrong attitudes.
Instead of thanking God and praising God for their deliverance from Egypt, they grumbled continually about their circumstances, at the slightest adversity. Though physically free, their hearts were still bound by wrong attitudes. Egypt was still in their hearts.
Thanksgiving brings victory. It is the voice of faith that overcomes the pressures of this world (1 John 5:4).
The Psalmist realized this and said, “Therefore will I give thanks and sing praises!” (Psalm 18:49).
The Israelite facing 3 enemy countries
In II Chronicles 20, we see the children of Israel confronted with three different armies at the same time. In the physical, their condition looked hopeless, they looked outnumbered, but when they fasted and prayed, the Lord told them to choose singers to praise Him. He said that the battle was not theirs, but the Lord’s. You thank God as though the thing has been done.
2 Chronicles 20:15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’
20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his[c] holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
“Give thanks to the Lord,
for his love endures forever.”
22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
When speaking of our time—the last generation before His Return—Christ asked, “When the Son of Man comes, shall He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8).
Why should we give thanks?
1. We are saved for that purpose
1 Peter 2:9:
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9, NKJ)
2. It is the essential characteristic of true worship.
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
the consequence – “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things” (Romans 1:23-24)
3. Giving thanks to God blesses us.
What you appreciate, will appreciate
I conclude by asking – Are you seeking the will of God for your life? I can tell you what the will of God is for your life on the basis of the authority of His own word. His expressed will for you is this: “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Song: He has done great things.
PRAYER:
Lord, I thank you because I know you are working on my case and I have the victory already in Jesus’ name. Amen.