Sermon: Giving Thanks in all Circumstances

11/22/09 Giving Thanks in all Circumstances
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

• Testimony time: get up and say something that you are grateful for
• Thanksgiving should not be a tradition that we forgot why we even do it
• Thanksgiving is a unique holiday in America
• We do not celebrate a great vitory in battle or honor a great person who did many things for others
• Instead, we thank and honor God who provides all our blessings
• Blessings present, repressed by trouble and hardships
• In 1621: they celebrate as if they have everything
• Gratitude was IN someone

• Thanksgiving cannot be contained in a single day
• It didn’t become a national holiday until Abraham Lincoln
• For the believer, thanksgiving is a spirit and a way of life which should be celebrated everyday
• Thanksgiving is the quality of our lives in the good times and bad

• Paul says to “give thanks IN all circumstances”, not FOR all circumstances
• There are may circumstances FOR which we cannot be grateful
• But we can be grateful IN all circumstances

I. God’s Presence in Creation
• How can you do that honestly
• There are tragedies and we are commended to be grateful
• Deuteronomy 8:10
 When you sit down to eat, look around at the world and thank God
• Its what we have, not what we don’t have
• Be grateful for what we have
 There are 6 billion people in the world
 4 billion people go hungry every night
 There is not enough to eat to survive
• Water
 3% of water in the world is fit to drink
 Over half o the world has NO water
• Look at what God has done for us in food and clean water
• Psalm 103:1-5:
 Begin by recognizing the presence of God in creation

II. God’s Presence in Incarnation
• Incarnation means fleshed out
• In any other faith, no deity has done that
• Only in Christianity
• God’s presence in Incarnation
• He willingly loves us
 That ought to lift our spirits
• John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that He sent his one and only Son, that whoever so believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
 He made a personal visit to us
• Romans: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
• God loves you in that sin and He wants to cleanse you
• 1 John 2:1:
 Jesus Christ died for us and He stands up for us
 He intercedes for us
• Hebrews 10:11-18
 We should be so grateful!
 We enter into perfection in God’s sight and are being made holy
• He forgives and forgets
• Why should you worry about it or even remember it?
• Stop beating yourself up because you aren’t worthy and get where God wants you to be
• Romans 8:31-39
 Who can be against us?
 NOTHING can separate us
• How can you not breathe in the joy of GOD


III. God’s Presence in Tribulation
• John 14:18-20
• God’s participating presence
• God will not leave us
• Other religions try to reach their gods
• Our God participated in our lives
• He is with us
• John 14:26:
 He is our Guiding Presence
• God say’s He will remind us of what He taught us
• John 14:27
 Trouble and fear on every hand
• Jesus Christ said don’t let your hearts be troubled
• John 16:33: overcome the world
 Final destination
• We’re just passing through
• This isn’t it (LIFE)
• Romans 8:28:
 God’s healing presence
 God is working with us in our circumstances
• Get to know Him
• Understand Him
• Believe Him
• Bring and Invite Him in
• The beginning of life is death
• God’s presence in Tribulation

It is good to give thanks because it will shield us from cynicism
It will keep us from criticism
It will protect us from pessimism
It will draw us closer to God

What can we do as we prepare for Thanksgiving?
1.) Read Psalm 92:1-4 every day

2.) Pray a prayer of Thanksgiving for something different every day

3.) Ask yourself: If it had not been for God, where would you be now?

4.) Think of a reason you are grateful for each and every friend and family member and Thank God for them