“HOW TO SAY THANKS”           Eph. 5:20

 INTRO – Tim sing, “My Tribute”

 Sounds you hear in church:

• When you hear the preacher say something you really like, you say, “Amen!”
• Get up & fellowship w/ each other – “Happy Thanksgiving!”
• Gather in small groups around room – Someone pray a prayer of Thanksgiving out loud (start playing piano)
• Sing “How Great is Our God”
• Gunshots

HOW CAN WE SAY “THANKS” WHEN THE SOUNDS OF THE WORLD INVADE THE CHURCH?

• With our LIPS
• With our LIFE
• With our LOVE – Love God, love Others, love Enemies

WE SAY “THANKS” BY GIVING THANKS: Giving thanks is the grateful acknowledgment of the blessings that God has given to us.

• Involves recognizing & accepting His blessings.
  • Lee Cope beach house – It was an unexpected blessing from God for Lee to gift a week at their beach house to Vicki & me for my sabbatical.

WE NEED TO GIVE THANKS (Eph. 5:20):

 ALL THE TIME – “always”

• Pray w/out ceasing – Ought to give thanks to God w/out ceasing
• Covers every situation
  • Before situation on basis of promises
  • During situation
    • Paul in prison when writing this letter
  • After situation is over

IN ALL THINGS – “for everything”

• Covers things which appear to be good or bad
  • Easy to be grateful for good things
  • Hard to be grateful for the bad things
    • Can’t see obvious evidence of God’s hand & God’s plan in midst of bad things
    • Building our trust – Deepening our faith & dependence on Him – Making us more like Jesus
  • Think about Daddy & his battle w/ Alzheimer’s
    • Called Mama at 6AM on Dec. 20 – “Daddy died peacefully around 3:00.”
    • Laid back down in bed beside Vicki. All I could say was, “Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord.”

TO THE AUTHOR OF OUR SALVATION – “God, the Father”

• Salvation is God’s plan. He set it in place before the foundation of the world.
  • He’s the source of everything
    • Blesses us w/ every good thing – (James 1:17 – “Every good & perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”)
    • Allows the bad things – (James 1:2-3 – “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³ For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”)
  • The BEST thing He’s ever done for us is sending Jesus Christ to pay the price for our sins.
    • Hebrews 5:9 tells us that Jesus is the “author salvation to all who obey Him.”
      • Obey Him today & let Him be the author of YOUR salvation! Let Him write HIS story in YOUR life!
      • Come to Him & be saved today!
      • Call out to Him right now & be saved!

IN THE AUTHORITY OF Jesus – “in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”

• Recognizing His place in all we have.
• Recognizing that without Him we have nothing.
• Recognizing that all spiritual blessings come from Him.
  • The REAL blessings in our lives
  • Those UNCHANGING blessings in our lives
    • Our salvation
    • Our security in Him
    • Our safe place reserved for us in heaven

CONCLUSION – So that’s HOW we give thanks – all the time; in all things; to the Author of our salvation; & in the authority of the name of Jesus.