A Lifestyle Of Thanksgiving

Could a simple shift in mindset truly revolutionize your spiritual journey? Explore the profound concept of living a "Thanksgiving Lifestyle," inspired by biblical teachings from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and Ephesians 5:20. This episode promises to unlock the secret power of gratitude, not only aligning you with God's will but also transforming your spiritual life by cultivating a heart full of praise. By embracing gratitude in every circumstance, you may find yourself drawing closer to God and experiencing His presence in a meaningful way.

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Chapters

• 0:00 Lifestyle of Thanksgiving
• 11:33 The Power of Thanksgiving and Praise
• 24:44 The Power of Gratitude in Prayer
• 38:03 The Impact of Thanksgiving and Praise

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Hallelujah. Well, thank you so much for joining us for this time of the word. Wherever you're tuning in from, whether you're watching this on YouTube or Facebook or other channels, we are blessed to have you, and today we will be in 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5. We will start from verse 16, 17, and 18. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing. In everything, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Verse 18 is my interest today In everything, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. May the Lord bless his word. In everything, give thanks. God bless his word. In everything, give thanks. And I've titled this message Thanksgiving Lifestyle, or a Lifestyle of Thanksgiving. God is commanding us to give thanks and listen to this in everything. In everything. In everything, give thanks.

Speaker 1: 1:32

As I was doing my notes, I was almost caught up with this notion. We always say that God wants us to give thanks in everything, as it says in this scripture, but not for everything. So I was trying to beginning typing and writing my notes give thanks in everything, but not for everything and my spirit was arrested. I said wait a minute. God's word actually says in everything, but also for everything. It's a command and since the way I was taken to Ephesians. So I want you to see before I get deeper into this, so that we know where we are and what the word of God says. So that we know where we are and what the word of God says If you go to Ephesians chapter 5, ephesians chapter 5 in verse 20, it's very similar. Paul here is speaking to the Ephesians church, where we were. We were in the church of Thessalonians. But Ephesians, chapter 5, verse 20, I want to read it from the Amplified Version. Let me read it from the Amplified Version At all times and for everything, giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God the Father.

Speaker 1: 3:08

You hear that it says at all times and for everything, giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God the Father. That kind of corrected the religious notion that we always have. You say okay, god, we are not expected to give thanks to God for everything, but we can give thanks to God in everything. In whatever situation you are in, you are able to give thanks. But the word of God is very clear. He says always giving thanks for all things. That's in the New American Standard Bible, new American Standard Bible it says in verse 20, always. That means all the time. It means when the things are good or when the things are bad, it means when you're feeling good or you're feeling bad, when you are sad, no matter what it always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father. That one I've read is from the New American Standard Bible, nsb.

Speaker 1: 4:41

So you ask how can God expect us to give thanks for everything or in everything, whichever preposition you want to use, because I have to say what the Bible says how can God expect us? And like, maybe you're going through something right now, there are some things in your life, stuff that is happening for the position that you are in and you're asking how can I give God thanks, you know, particularly if it is something that is clearly like it is the hand of the enemy, it is the devil is involved in this. There is the enemy, the hand of the enemy involved in this. Now I want to show you some things here in the scripture that when we start doing and obeying the word of God, even when it doesn't make sense to us, there are some things that happen. And so we find ourselves. When we align our lives with the will of God, some stuff begin to happen in the spiritual realm, and right now I just want to share some three things that happen. You know what Thanksgiving does and I'll look at three. There are many others because we can't share everything. Okay, we'll share what we're able to share in a time slot like now. Okay, some three things that happen. But when we look at some saints in the past in the Bible, we see that people who are close to God, even when things didn't make sense, they were able to give thanks, and we'll get to that in a moment.

Speaker 1: 6:40

But let me look at the first thing that I want us to learn what thanksgiving does. I'll share three things. So, for the first thing, what thanksgiving does. When you start giving thanks, what happens? The first thing is that thanksgiving releases praise to God. So my first P I have three Ps, so make sure you stay around and get those three P's. My first P is praise. Thanksgiving releases praise. It releases praise to God. You know those two words praising God and thanking God. They're very closely related. But you cannot be able to truly praise God if you are not thankful. When you are thankful, that's when your life begins to flow out in praising God, in praising God, and I'll show you some things here in a minute which are going to help us to align ourselves with the word of God, to align ourselves with the word of God and begin to see some stuff happening in our lives. See some stuff happening in our lives.

Speaker 1: 8:12

Psalms 104, in verse number 4 and 5, says Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, in the thank offering, and into his courts with praise. To his courts with praise. Be thankful and say so to him, bless and affectionately praise his name, for the Lord is good. His mercy and loving kindness are everlasting. His fullness and truth endure to all generations. All right, don't be confused.

Speaker 1: 8:50

I'm reading from the Amplified Version, which brings out some of the lost meanings in our translation. But you can see here David is saying that we enter the gates of God, the presence of God. We enter with a thanksgiving and a thank offering and into his courts with praise. When you have thanksgiving, when you are thankful, then you are able to overflow the praise to God. So it begins with a thankful heart, an attitude of being thankful to God for your state in life.

Speaker 1: 9:37

But if you are sad, if you are complaining, if you are bitter with what is going on in your life, there's no way really you can praise God. So you find yourself, you are in the presence of God and all that you are doing is just lamenting. But when you are focusing on the goodness of God, I love what he says in verse 5, for the Lord is good. His mercy and loving kindness are everlasting. His faithfulness and truth endures to all generations. God has not changed. God is good. He's a good. God is good, you know. He doesn't release anything in our lives that is not for our good, and we'll talk a little bit in a moment about that. But you know. But then there's also the masses of God you're talking about. His mercy or his loving kindness is everlasting. God it't end. God is showering us every morning, like we have sung in one of the songs there. You know, great is your faithfulness, morning loving kindness with his mercies. His mercies are new every morning. His tender mercies is always over us.

Speaker 1: 11:33

So Thanksgiving we are on this first day. It releases praise to God. We are proclaiming God's sovereignty, god's sovereignty, god is sovereign. I don't know whether I'm pronouncing that word correctly, but you know. So the first thing we are doing. We are proclaiming that God is sovereign. What do we mean? Write down that those are very important that you're proclaiming the sovereignty of God. It means God is God. He does. God is on the throne, he does what he pleases and when he pleases. Whatever God wants to do, he will do and whatever time he wants to do it, he will do it. You are entrusting yourself to God and say God, you are a sovereign God. You are in church, you are in control of everything. God, you are God and I will praise you. I may not understand what is going on, but you are God. You are God and therefore I will praise you. Lord, I will thank you. I will thank you. I know we're going through. Maybe you're watching this and say what Can I really praise God for? What is happening to my husband, or through my husband, or in my job, or in my children, for example? Can I really thank God? You know we have to understand. I mentioned here, when we look at the saints in the past, men and women who have worked with God. We'll look at a couple of those, maybe later on next week, but let me mention one of them. When we are proclaiming about the sovereignty of God. Look at Job, for example.

Speaker 1: 13:47

If you go and read Job, chapter one, we know the story of Job, how that the, you know the devil asked for permission, you know, to attack Job. He accused Job that God, job loves God because of the things that God has been doing in his life. And God gave him permission. But he didn't tell him you cannot touch his life. And we know Job lost everything. He lost all that he has his wealth, his animals, his farm and, finally, his children. And the devil was at work. It wasn't God, job didn't know this, that this was an attack by the enemy, by the devil, you know, and these messengers. The devil kills everyone and leaves one messenger. And he synchronized the attack on Job, the attack on his family, attack on his world, and made sure that Job will receive all this bad news, terrible news, at the same time.

Speaker 1: 14:52

You go and read it. But what do we see Job doing? Beloved, what do we see Job doing? We see Job. We are told that he, you know, he tore, he shaved his self and he lifted up his hand after getting all this bad news, the final blow, that all your children are dead. I'm the only servant that is left and Job said the Lord gave. Job lifted up his hand and say God gave, god has taken. Blessed be the name of the Lord. I don't know what you're going through, but you see, job is praising God. He is acknowledging the sovereignty of God, that God is sovereign. God is in control over my affairs. All this I heard had come from God. He's the one who blessed my life. He's the one who gave me these children. He's the one who gave me my businesses. He's the one who gave me this and that and that, and now he has taken. He didn't know it was the devil, all right, but he was still praising God and saying the name of the Lord be praised, he is God.

Speaker 1: 16:16

So when we are giving thanks to God, for whatever things, first of all we are proclaiming the faithfulness of God. That's the understanding. We are not the faithfulness, but the sovereignty of God. The second thing that we are working in, in this releasing praise in our hearts, is that we are getting to the understanding that nothing just happens. Nothing just happens. Either God has done it or God has allowed it.

Speaker 1: 16:58

I'm slowing down because my intention is that we'll be able to get something. Nothing just happens. If you have that knowledge, then you will be able to thank God for everything. Nothing just happens. Nothing. Nothing just happens. Either God has done it himself or it has been filtered. I love that it has been filtered through the loving and loving arms of God, loving heart and the kindnesses of God. God filters everything, even the tests that come into our lives, even the trials that come into. The Bible says we cannot be tested. God will not allow us to be tempted or tested beyond what we can bear.

Speaker 1: 17:52

Alright, so so so you, you, you, you know, you know that God. Either God is doing what is happening in my life or God has allowed it to happen, even if it is the devil. The devil has limits. He is not omniscient, omnipotent. No, only God has all those qualities. And so Paul is saying give thanks to God, give thanks to God in everything and for everything. And we are like what, paul? Do you know what I am going through? Do you know what is happening in my life? Do you know what has just happened? Can I really give thanks to God for what has happened? Now, beloved, the one who is writing this, the one who is telling us to give thanks to God for everything, if you go and study Apostle Paul's life, oh, my goodness, what this man went through.

Speaker 1: 18:56

A dedicated servant of God, a man who lost everything. He left everything. If you go to Philippians, chapter 3, he gives his testimony. There he says the things that were gained to me, I count them lost for Christ. Ye, I count them as done that I may. He dedicated his life that I may gain Christ. Paul was a learned man. Paul was a successful young man, but he dedicated his life to following Christ and my word. The things that happened to Apostle Paul, the things that, if they happen to any of us, would easily quit following Christ and say I'm going to serve the devil. Let me give you an example of one. He was in Lystra, lystra, lystra, lystra.

Speaker 1: 19:54

In preaching the gospel, he just heals a cripple. A cripple man says stand up on your feet and the cripple is healed. And the whole town is wondering is this a man or a God? And then some people come in, some Jews come in and they stir up the crowd, the same people who are calling Paul God. We are told they picked up stones and stoned Paul. They stoned him and then they dragged him. Already they thought he was a dead man and they dragged him. Now just think about that for a moment of what Paul went through, for example. And they dragged him. Can you imagine? Maybe somebody is grabbing one leg, this guy, and he's dragging him, not on our roads, tarmac roads like we have. They didn't have those tarmac roads and they dragged him outside the city. They didn't want his corpse to remain in their city. So somebody is holding a leg or holding an arm and pulling him out, you know, like a dead dog, pulling the body of Paul outside to go and dump it outside the city. He's been stoned, he's bleeding, he's a dead man.

Speaker 1: 21:19

Many people believe this is the time that Paul died and went to heaven, where he gives a testimony that I entered into the third heaven and I saw some things which a mortal man is not allowed to see. Paul saw some things in heaven when he died and he was not allowed to write. So there are some things that are secret. It was so wonderful, it is beyond anything that can be written and he was not allowed to share those. But I'm bringing this incident of a man who has been stoned. Of course the saints gathered around him, thinking maybe they were doing his funeral service and thanking God for what he had done. And we are told Paul rose up when he has been thrown out of the city and he went back into the same city where he had been stoned to death. So here is a man. I'm bringing him here so that maybe you're going through something and you are finding it.

Speaker 1: 22:21

I cannot give thanks to God. I can't give thanks for what is happening in my family. I can't give thanks for what is happening in my working place, for example. I can't give thanks for what is going on with my husband or my wife or my children, or whatever my finances, for example. There are many areas that we get hit. You know, there's no way I can thank God. Compare yourself. I mentioned one this job in the Old Testament, you know, and what he went through.

Speaker 1: 22:56

And there is this Paul.

Speaker 1: 22:58

This is the man who is telling us where we have read in a always. You know how did she did? Who did you get that? That buzz? We read in Ephesians 5, 20, 5, 20 in NSB NSB new American Standard Bible always, always giving thanks. Always, paul, did you say always? Did you say always? Yes, he says always giving thanks for all things. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, always what? Yes, paul knows what he's talking about beloved. He's been there, he has given thanks to God. He knows what he's saying because he's gone through that, but he has always maintained a thankful heart.

Speaker 1: 23:51

If you go and read the letters of Paul, especially when he's introducing himself, you will see one of the things he says to the saints. He says I'm praying for you, always thanking God. Oh, you will see. The issue of thanksgiving is always there. Let me not say too long there, because I have some. Oh, my goodness, this time this clock is bad. This clock is bad. I have some things I want to share, so all right.

Speaker 1: 24:20

So so, number one, when we are giving, giving thanks, releasing praise, we are acknowledging, we are acknowledging God is sovereign, number one. Number two we are acknowledging nothing just happens, that God is in control. My God is in control over this. God is in control, my God is in control over this. God is in charge.

Speaker 1: 24:44

The third thing, in this line of giving praise to God, is that you are working with understanding of what the Bible says in Romans 8, verse 28. And we know this is Paul, this is Paul, it is, and we know that is the only way? I don't know. I'm just getting excited that I said and we know that all things work together for good. For them that love God, for them that are the cold, according to his purpose. If you read that verses is one of the one of the most interesting, powerful, powerful, what this is, paul himself is it, and we know this is the knowledge that Paul was working with. He says and we know, do you know that? And we know that all things work together for good. He doesn't say all things are good. Right. So here we can. We can easily, we can easily decipher that, we can easily deduce that he didn't say all things are good. No, he says all things work together when they are put together.

Speaker 1: 26:27

If you take one ingredient by itself, it won't be good. Maybe what you're going through is not good, but all things, when they are brought together, god is able to take what you're going through in life, whatever is happening. If you have not knowledge that well, I may not understand what is going on. I may not know what God is doing, but this is working for my good. I know that this God will turn it around and we can go into the scriptures and we see how God has worked in the lives of many, many believers, done things that were terrible, you know, and they ended up being for their good. In my own life, man, I have seen, I can give testimonies and testimonies of some of the things that have happened you know, and testimonial some of the things that have happened you know and like when it was terrible, terribly bad, really bad, you know, going through pressure through, pain through. But when I come to see it with a hindsight I realize, wow, god was at work.

Speaker 1: 27:37

Look at Joseph in the Old Testament. I mean he is thrown into the pit. He is sold by his brothers. He becomes a slave in Egypt. He loved God. He is thrown, he is sold as a slave. He is framed for rape by the mistress of the house. He ends up in prison terrible things, but he still remained faithful to God. But when his brothers come, after many years, and now he is providing food for the whole world, he tells his brother you guys saw me here. You intended it for evil, but God intended it for good, that he may bring salvation to you people. It is not you who sent me here. I know you're feeling bad, but it is not you who sent me here. It is God who sent me so that he can save your life. Beloved, all things work together for good. If we work with just that knowledge, then we will be able to overflow with praise.

Speaker 1: 28:47

The second P is thanksgiving brings peace to our souls. So praise peace. When you are full of thanksgiving, there is a peace that comes in your life. You receive peace in your life, and for this I want to go with you to Philippians. Philippians, chapter 4. This is something that all of us have to see. Beloved, make sure you understand. This is very, very important, very, very important. Philippians, chapter 4 and verse 6. We love this verse. We've caught it so many times, but there is something that I want us to see here Very, very critical Philippians 4 and verse 6 and 7.

Speaker 1: 29:41

It says be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Now let's break that one down very, very important. All right, paul is saying is talking about us not being anxious. Don Don't worry about anything. How can I not be worried? Do you know what I am going through. Do you know the doctor's report? Do you know what the doctors have said?

Speaker 1: 30:30

Paul says be anxious, don't worry, don't let your heart be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication. And we love, we love. We love to tell ourselves, we love that if I have any problem, pray about it, take it to God in prayer, speak to God, talk to God, bring your supplication. Let your supplication be made known to God, let your supplication be made known to God. The Spirit of the Lord says cast your burdens unto the Lord, for he cares for you. We know that, that we are to cast our burdens unto the Lord, but, beloved, I don't know about you, but it happens also to me and to everyone.

Speaker 1: 31:20

Sometimes we are going through something and we have prayed. We have prayed over the issue. We have prayed over the situation. Whatever I'm going through, the need that I have, we pray about it, but we are still troubled, we still have problems because the problem is still there. The trouble is still there If it is about your children. Your children are rebellious, your children are doing stuff that are completely ungodly and you are troubled, you have problems. Oh Lord, I am praying, I am praying. I'm praying for my children. I am praying for praying. I'm I'm praying for my children. I am praying for my job. I'm praying for my boss. I'm praying for my husband. I'm praying for my wife. I'm praying, I'm praying, I'm praying. I'm praying for my career.

Speaker 1: 32:10

We are praying for what is going through, what is happening, and sometimes there are terrible things, bad things that are happening, and then we keep praying, we keep praying, but we don't have peace. And why is the reason? Listen to this, listen to this. It's very, very important for you to get this. It's very, very important for you and I to get this.

Speaker 1: 32:32

There is a missing ingredient in our prayers. There is a missing ingredient in our prayers. There is a missing ingredient in our prayers. Paul didn't say make your prayers and supplication made known to God. There is something sometimes we are missing. The Bible says be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, let your requests be made known to God Beloved. This is the part that is missing in our prayers.

Speaker 1: 33:14

We are praying, we have needs, but we haven't reached to the point where we are truly thanking God for what is happening. So all we are doing sometimes is just lamenting. Maybe we are just griping, we are just complaining about a situation. We think we are doing is sometimes is just lamenting. Maybe we are just griping, we are just complaining about the situation. We think we are praying, but we are just lamenting. We are just complaining, we are just releasing. We haven't gotten to the level, to the aspect of beginning to thank God. Lord, yes, I have prayed over this, this situation, but I thank you, lord. You know all that I have said. Now you can bring it about.

Speaker 1: 33:53

Now you are, you're beginning to thank God for what is happening, for what you're going through, for what is going going on in your life, in your family, in your children, with your job, with you, with your finances. Know You've been laid off, you don't have a job Okay, you prayed about the job, but now you begin to thank God. You go to another level in your prayer where now you are thanking God. You understand God is sovereign. If it has happened, either God has allowed, god is doing it, something he's teaching me, something he wants me to learn he is teaching me or God has allowed it to happen. The devil may be in doing it, but God has allowed it. And if he has allowed it, this is working for my good.

Speaker 1: 34:48

So now you, you've gotten into another level in your prayer life that now you're not focusing. You're not focusing on the problem, you're not focusing on the situation, but now you are seeing God. You are seeing you, the sovereignty of God, the ability of your God. That I may not understand, I may not not know how God can change this to my good, but, lord, you are sovereign God, you are God, god, you are in control and this is going to work for my good. Something good is going to come out of this. Something good is going to happen in my life. Oh, you know.

Speaker 1: 35:28

And when you begin to thank God, when you begin to give thanks, it may not be easy, but as you continue to thank God, something is going to happen, you know. And that's when now verse 7 comes in. I hope you see this. Okay, listen, you have to see this. It says be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Wow, lovely it is, until you begin to overflow with thanksgiving in the midst of your requests, in the midst of your prayers, in the midst of your supplication, you begin to overflow with thanksgiving, telling God I thank you, you are God. I thank you, you got this. You are in control. I thank you that this. You're gonna turn this thing around. It will work for my good. I rejoice in you as you do that.

Speaker 1: 36:46

As God sees it now, you are trusting him in the situation. You are trusting him with your husband. You are trusting him with your wife. You are trusting him with your children. Something is happening. The problem may still be there, but it says, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will now guard your heart and your mind in crisis. You're no longer assailed by what you are seeing is happening in the family, in the children, in your job. You know you're no longer. I say you're no longer. I say you're no longer. I say your mind is guarded. Why? Because you know my God has got this, my God is in control, my God is in charge. So the anxiety, the anxiousness is broken. You're not anxious over it, because you have an expectation of the fulfillment of God's promises. Cast your cares unto the Lord, for he cares. God cares. God is concerned. God is godless. Hallelujah.

Speaker 1: 38:03

Thanksgiving releases praise unto God. It opens us to understand some things about God. But also, thanksgiving brings praise, brings sorry. It brings peace in our lives. Thanksgiving will drive out anxieties. So every time you are anxious, anytime you are anxious about a situation maybe it's a doctor's report and you're very anxious about it the question is have you thanked God? Yeah, I know you are saying can I thank God for this? Yes, yes, you can. And it's not me saying, it is the word of God. He says always giving thanks for all things, or in everything. Give thanks, for this is the will of God, that's the way God wants us, that's the way God wants you and I, that's the way God wants us to be, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus. Concerning you, I don't know what you're going through, but God knows. Will you thank him? Will you give him praise? Let some things begin to break as you align yourself with the will of God. God bless you. We'll carry it on in our next teaching, amen.