Brian Fisher

Grace Bible Church

“Thanksgiving: Indulging in Gratitude”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Paul exhorts us to “Rejoice always…”

“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

He is calling us to make a choice.

I. Choose joy

“Rejoice always”

—1 Thessalonians 5:16

“Pray without ceasing”

—1 Thessalonians 5:17

“Jesus wept”

—John 11:35

Was Jesus rejoicing as He wept? What made Jesus weep?

a. Death of a friend? (but He knew He was about to raise Lazarus)

b. Sorrow of Lazarus' sisters? (but He knew He was about to make them happy)

c. The damage done by sin

Was Christ rejoicing even as He wept?

“[We are] as sorrowful yet always rejoicing...”

—2 Cor 6:10

Christ not unaware of pain and sorrow of life; nor Paul

2 Corinthians? Despairing even of life

In what sense could Christ rejoice? Christ knew He would heal Lazarus’ most serious illness forever.

Christ later explained this to His disciples - John 13:33; 14:1-3; Ps. 118:22-26

Choose to focus on the end of the story

Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross

1 Thess 4:13ff – We are not like those who have no hope

Always = at all times

How is this possible? Where do we find the strength?

II. Ask for help

“Pray without ceasing”

—1 Thessalonians 5:17

“without ceasing”:

▪ the uninterrupted necessary payment of hard taxes

▪ a continual uninterrupted cough

▪ repeated military attacks

(source: Reinecker and Rogers, p. 603)

“Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.”

—Daniel 6:10

Mt. 7:7-8 Keep on asking (present tense imperatives)

III. Cultivate thankfulness

Not FOR everything

“… who for the joy set before Him enjoyed (endured) the cross …”

Heb. 12:2

Calling us to look at life differently

“eucharisteo” from which we get the word “eucharist” is another name for communion. Every time we celebrate communion we do “thanksgiving.” Paul is saying, celebrate thanksgiving continuously.

Spiritual discipline: thanksgiving

Default habit – complaining

Phil. 4:4-7

Notice the connection between prayer and thanksgiving

“When a person prays without giving thanks, he has clipped the wings of prayer so that it cannot rise.”

—William Hendriksen

Throws in some motivation

Will of God, and God only tells us to do what is good for us.

Live in God’s eternal reality in the midst of temporal pain.

1. Ungratefulness leads to greater sin – Genesis 3; Romans 1:20-21

2. God deserves our gratitude Acts 17:28; James 1:16-17

3. We always have something for which we can give thanks

4. Thankfulness transforms us Romans 12:2; Colossians 3:1-2

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind…”
—Romans 12:3

“A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent

of all the other virtues.”

—Cicero

Conclusion

Application – Write 5 things you are thankful for. Add 2 more each day throughout the week. Share them with others around a meal this week.