In Every Thing, Give God the Thanks

GIVING THANKS, AND TRUSTING GOD FOR EVERY THING

MAIN TEXT: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-23 “ 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. “

THERE IS A REASON TO BE THANKFUL: IT IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS THAT WE GIVE THANKS IN EVERY THING.

Notice that it really doesn’t say for all things, but in all things give thanks unto the Lord. If you have the kind of faith in God that goes beyond the circumstances of the moment, and knows that God’s hand is in control no matter what Hell and this imperfect world spits up at us, then you can give thanks at all times. God is still the same no matter how the circumstances change. In fact, God is still God over the circumstances!

You see, we are to appreciate the Lord. We are to acknowledge Him and His goodness in our lives at all times. As the Appalachian Song says, "He ain’t never done me nothin' but good"... I know its not perfect English, but it’s true; everything He has brought into my life is good. All good in our lives came from the Lord! We should be thankful! James 1:17 “ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. “

If you are alive and not in Hell, it is because of God’s grace. If you are on your way to Heaven, you really need to rejoice in the Lord, for it is because of God’s grace. We need to be thankful! Romans 6:23 “ For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. “

2 Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks [be] unto God for his unspeakable gift. “

We are supposed to be thankful to God. He is worthy to be praised, and we should appreciat our Lord. To be thankful is to have grateful recognition to one you appreciate. They make you glad for what they have done for you. It brings a loving feeling of gratitude.

Lets talk about the United States of America for a moment. As I am posting this, Thanksgiving is this week. This is a

time where we are to remind ourselves to be thankful unto the Lord. But America however has become unthankful to God, although she has much to be thankful for. There is great reason to appreciate the Lord, however many even in the church take God and His providence for granted... 2 Timothy 3:1-2 “ This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, “

I’ll have you know that the church in this country and even the country itself is still enjoying the blessings of God... now, the chastisement of the Lord has begun to fall in this country and real devastation is ahead, but we still enjoy the fruit of generations of Godly people praying for America.

IN AMERICA FOR EXAMPLE:

a. If the world’s poplulation were reduced to 1000 souls and placed in 1 city, there would be 46 Americans and 954 people of all of the other countries’ population.

b. Those 46 Americans would receive 1/2 of all of the income of that city, the other 954 would divide up the other 1/2.

c. The 46 Americans would eat 70% above the daily food requirements, and 80% of the other 954 would never have what we call a balanced meal.

d. Most of us have shelter, homes, clothes, and food. Many of us have automobiles, and many have jobs. The rest of the world on the most part, lives in much greater difficulty than we do.

e. Our poor that have government aid in this country have a higher standard of living than do most of the rest of the world. That is why so many immigrants try to jump our borders.

We need to appreciate the goodness that we have. Yes, I know that the enemy is raging, but God is still God and He will bless you if you will just allow Him to.

THERE IS A WAY THAT YOU CAN BE THANKFUL: EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM. THERE IS A WAY THAT YOU CAN HAVE PEACE IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE KNOWING THAT IN THE END HE IS IN CONTROL... HALLELUJAH!

Philippians 4:6-7 “ 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. “

Philippians 4:6 “ ( New American Standard ) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

You don’t have to be worried, and you don’t have to be distressed. God loves you and will bring forth His will and goodness in the life that submits unto Him. Despite every storm, there is a way of deliverance and a reason you can be thankful unto God.

In every thing you can be thankful if you give everything to the Lord in prayer. Prayer changes things, but there is a right way and a wrong way to pray. We need to pray in faith... and faith will thank God even before He moves trusting that He will... that's FAITH.

Peace like a river flows when we have put ourselves into the hand of God. What if the enemy raises up again after we have gone to God? Take it to Him again and thank Him for deliverance. We don’t need to be bogged down with the cares of this life... but we need to learn to take them to God in prayer. 2 Timothy 2:4 “ No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of [this] life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. “

If you need to pray once about something... then pray and release it into the Lord's hands. If it rises up several times through the day, then raise your hands in surrender to Jesus and give it to Him each time. If you are burdened by an enormous mountain... take it to God and speak to the mountain for it to remove.... PRAY THROUGH! Don't try to bear it yourself, but trust it into His hands!

THE TIME TO BE THANKFUL IS BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER GOD DELIVERS... YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL GOD MOVES TO BE THANKFUL. FAITH WILL THANK HIM BEFORE!

When the children of Israel was up against the wall of the Red Sea and God was holding off the Egyptians with the glory cloud, they should have thought and believed and thanked God for the deliverance that was coming. But instead they murmured. They thanked God on the other side... RIGHT SONG, BUT WRONG SIDE (I remember David Wilkerson preaching that). Faith Praises and Thanks God on this Side of Deliverance!

Songs of Thanksgiving are good, but songs of Thanksgiving that are Songs of Faith are Better! They are sung Both Before and After God delivers !

I’ll show you an example of a song of Thanksgiving that’s also a song of Praise:
King Jehoshaphat of Judah besieged by Ammon and Moab and Mt. Seir.... they sought God:

2 Chronicles 20:15 “ And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle [is] not yours, but God's. “

2 Chronicles 20:21 “ And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy [endureth] for ever. “ - They praised Before and After God Moved.

GIVE THANKS! To the extent that you are thankful, you are able to be blessed of God. It is the will of God that you are thankful in all things.