THANKSGIVING: JUST BE HAPPY

Pastor Jonathan Falwell / Scott Bullman 

 Phil. 4:4-9 (CSB) 

As we begin this Thanksgiving week, this is an opportunity to reset our thinking. For all of us, it is time to push out the noise of the world and focus on the presence of Christ. 

1. Things are not nearly as bad as you think 

Vs 4 Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!

• Max Anders stated, “Joy reigns in the heart only when Christ is Lord of life. Joy is always in the Lord.”[1]

2. Trust Him with the difficult moments

Vs 5-6 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

• Graciousness (epieikes) really talks about gentleness and kindness towards others
• There is a great exchange detailed in verse 6 – worry about nothing, pray about everything!
• Vernon McGee recounts this story, “…[someone] came to Dr. G. Campbell Morgan with this question, “Dr. Morgan, do you think we should pray about the little things in our lives?” Dr. Morgan in his characteristically British manner said, “Madam, can you mention anything in your life that is big to God?”[2]

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• Counting My Blessings
  Father on this side of heaven
  I know that I’ll run out of time
  But I will keep counting my blessings
  Knowing I can’t count that high

Psalm 103:2
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:

REMEMBER

• He forgives your sins
• He heals your diseases
• He redeems your life from destruction
• He crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies

Many scholars believe that David wrote Psalm 103 during one of the darkest times of his life.  Sill he sings

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, let ALL that is within me bless His holy name.” 

** It’s easy to give thanks during the good times…. but in the tough times, that’s a different story.

The prophet Habakkuk had it right. He said,

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior”  (Habakkuk 3:17-18 NIV)

Paul put it this way:
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks…”
                                                                                          (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Notice it does not say to give thanks FOR everything. There is a big difference. There are a lot of things in life you’re not thankful FOR.  It says IN everything give thanks, because God can bring good even out of bad things.

Your trials are tools in the hands of God, so view your circumstance through the lens of His sovereignty. 

Rejoice always…pray without ceasing…in EVERYTHING give thanks!

Tina Dean“When you have the Holy Spirit within you, you are stronger than any fear of heartache you might endure and brighter than any darkness that surrounds you”

 This during a season of deep grief

“God has given us a roadmap for life – it’s the Bible. Every word is true. And, if we trust what God has said, we can trust what God can do.”

That’s true…even in the most desperate situation. – CORY HAMMOCK

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3. Trust Him for the wonderful results

Vss 7-9 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  8 Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just,whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. 9 Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

• Verse 8 can only describe one thing…the person of Jesus Christ! So, dwell in and on Him.
• As a result, He will always be with you

[1] Max Anders, Galatians-Colossians, vol. 8, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 261.

[2] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary: The Epistles (Philippians/Colossians), electronic ed., vol. 48 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), 92.