1 Thessalonians 5:18 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
It is easy to give God thanks for those things in our lives that our according to our will. The child who is healthy, smart, athletic, good looking and living according to God's Word. The job we enjoy and that pays sufficiently. The family we love and who loves us. The good health we may enjoy. The avoidance of life's tragedies. A roof over our head and clothing on our back. When life's circumstances match or are within the realm of our acceptability, it is easy to give thanks.
It is quite a different story when life's circumstances are not what we would want. However, God instructs us to give thanks in every thing. Every thing includes the accidents that leave us in pain, the loss of one we loved whole heartidly, the child who has gone astray, the job loss, the financial problems, the failed or failing health crisis.
Let me just remind ourselves of this one truth; not all of life's unwanted circumstances are acts of God. We cause many of our own problems by decisions we have made that violate God's Word and are made apart from God's will. Other of life's unwanted circumstances are because of the evil deeds of others.
Now with this as an introduction let us define and dessect I Thessalonians 5:18.
IN every thing give thanks... Please note that God is saying we are not to be grateful for everything, but IN everything that has happened. What God means is to thank Him for His presence and power as we walk through the difficult circumstances and trials of life. In Christ Jesus there is victory and triumph over all, no matter how terrible. Therefore, in everything (not for everything)—as we walk through all—thank God for the victory He has given us through Christ. Thank God for His presence and His comfort. How can we do this? One is to remember that God is working in the lives of those who love Him.
Romans 8:28 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
This is a great and precious promise that God will work out all circumstances in our lives for His glory and our betterment.
for this is the will of God... What is the will of God?
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (KJV) 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.
These three admonishments are the will of God in our lives. We are to rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all things. All three of these things are an evidence that the child of God is filled with the Spirit of God.
Ephesians 5:18-21 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
The Christian life is to be lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. Without Spirit fullness we cannot be thankful in all of life's circumstances. Are we filled with God's Spirit? Is there the evidence of an attitude of gratitude in our lives?
It is easy to give God thanks for those things in our lives that our according to our will. The child who is healthy, smart, athletic, good looking and living according to God's Word. The job we enjoy and that pays sufficiently. The family we love and who loves us. The good health we may enjoy. The avoidance of life's tragedies. A roof over our head and clothing on our back. When life's circumstances match or are within the realm of our acceptability, it is easy to give thanks.
It is quite a different story when life's circumstances are not what we would want. However, God instructs us to give thanks in every thing. Every thing includes the accidents that leave us in pain, the loss of one we loved whole heartidly, the child who has gone astray, the job loss, the financial problems, the failed or failing health crisis.
Let me just remind ourselves of this one truth; not all of life's unwanted circumstances are acts of God. We cause many of our own problems by decisions we have made that violate God's Word and are made apart from God's will. Other of life's unwanted circumstances are because of the evil deeds of others.
Now with this as an introduction let us define and dessect I Thessalonians 5:18.
IN every thing give thanks... Please note that God is saying we are not to be grateful for everything, but IN everything that has happened. What God means is to thank Him for His presence and power as we walk through the difficult circumstances and trials of life. In Christ Jesus there is victory and triumph over all, no matter how terrible. Therefore, in everything (not for everything)—as we walk through all—thank God for the victory He has given us through Christ. Thank God for His presence and His comfort. How can we do this? One is to remember that God is working in the lives of those who love Him.
Romans 8:28 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
This is a great and precious promise that God will work out all circumstances in our lives for His glory and our betterment.
for this is the will of God... What is the will of God?
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (KJV) 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.
These three admonishments are the will of God in our lives. We are to rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all things. All three of these things are an evidence that the child of God is filled with the Spirit of God.
Ephesians 5:18-21 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
The Christian life is to be lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. Without Spirit fullness we cannot be thankful in all of life's circumstances. Are we filled with God's Spirit? Is there the evidence of an attitude of gratitude in our lives?
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