“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!
- Hebrews 5:9 tells us that Jesus is the “author salvation to all who obey Him.”
- He’s the source of everything
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.
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