"Give Thanks In All Circumstances" Sermon

GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES

Sunday 24 November 2019

Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22

“…give thanks in all circumstances, 

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

           

THANKSGIVING:

DOES IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. ITS ABSENCE …

The absence of gratitude is ingratitude. 

Never a neutral or benign trait, it is rather a corrosive one, 

subtly eating away at who we are, robbing us of God’s peace.

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Romans 1:21

THANKSGIVING:

AT THE HEART OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer

and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will

guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7

THANKSGIVING IS GOD’S WILL FOR US

“…give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”

If it is God’s will that we be always thankful, 

then God’s Word will give us the basis for thanksgiving: 

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

“When you pass through the waters they shall not overflow…”

‘Nothing will be allowed to separate you from the love of God…..”

“All (not some) things work together for the good of those who love him…”

“The Lord will not allow you to be tested beyond what you can bear…”

“Come to me all you who labor and are burdened down, and I will give you rest.”

“He who has begun a good work in will be faithful to bring it to completion…”

  

MONDAY MORNING

Q: Where in your heart are you able to discern a barren place devoid of any trace of thanksgiving? Talk to the Lord about it.

Q: Where in your life are you experiencing overwhelming gratitude? Talk to the Lord about it.

“Thanksgiving – the giving of thanks – to God for all His blessings should be one of the most distinctive marks of the believer in Jesus Christ. We should not allow a spirit of ingratitude to harden our heart and chill our relationship with God and with others. ”

~ Billy Graham 1919-2019