Thankful People (Philippians 4:4-8)

 

Thankful People (Philippians 4:4-8)

 

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1)

A guy walks into a bar and orders a beer. "How did Thanksgiving go at your place?" the bartender asks. "Oh, it went fine. Had a lot of family over and the wife prepared the meal. I helped out, though. She got a little stressed out and told me she needed some peace and quiet in the kitchen so she could finish cooking," the guy says. "So I took the batteries out of the smoke detector."

 

Thanksgiving is this week! Families will gather to eat themselves into a coma. There will be games played and watched. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be on television. This year is Macy’s 99^th parade! I always look for SpongeBob and Baby Yoda (Grogu)! There may be important conversations in the kitchen or garage. There will be laughter, heartfelt affection for one another, and maybe even tears.

 

Here’s a little history on Thanksgiving.

Sarah Josepha Hale was the first woman to become editor of a national magazine. In 1828, after finding success as a poet and novelist, she was offered the position of editor by the Boston publication, American Ladies’ Magazine. In 1830, she published Poems for Children which included her most beloved poem, Mary Had A Little Lamb. As a staunch advocate for women’s education and welfare, children’s welfare, and social philanthropy, she campaigned for many years for a national day of Thanksgiving. 

 

After the Union army’s hard-fought victory at Gettysburg, Sarah Hale wrote to President Lincoln, urging that the time was right to proclaim a national Day of Thanksgiving. Lincoln agreed, hoping it would be a day to bring the nation together during a time of war.  On October 3^rd, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation that the fourth Thursday of November was to be a day of Thanksgiving for the nation. George Washington had called for a day of thanksgiving and prayer during the Revolutionary War, but it wasn’t until Lincoln that Thanksgiving became a national annual tradition.

It wasn’t until 1941 that Thanksgiving was made an official holiday for the United States under the leadership of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

 

I find it interesting that Washington, Lincoln and Roosevelt were all wartime presidents who called the nation to prayer and thanksgiving. It is certainly appropriate to give thanks to God for the brave men and women who serve our armed forces against enemies who seek to harm and dominate. It is appropriate to thank God for surviving war and winning a lasting peace.

 

Often, in difficult times, we complain. Thanksgiving is not our natural response to difficulty. Take, for instance, my recent trip to California. I saw the forecast called for cooler than normal temperatures and rain most days! “Of course!” Plus, my symptoms from sinusitis were still hanging on. I ached all over and was tired. I was in no favorable condition to embark on a vacation. I grumbled and complained about something I hadn’t even experienced yet.

 

But what does the scriptures say? Rejoice in the Lord, always! I say again, Rejoice! Paul wrote to a church he admired, but that church was undergoing difficulties. There was friction among some of its members. Paul wrote to encourage at a time he was imprisoned and wasn’t sure if he might be executed. As he worked out in his heart how he felt about his situation he told the church,

 

Do all things without complaining and disputing, ¹⁵ that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. (Php 2:14-15)

 

Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith (an inference to his possible death), I am glad and rejoice with you all. (Php 2:17)

 

Paul is glad that his imprisonment, and possible death, will be a blessing to God and the Church of Jesus. And therefore he rejoices.

 

The brother of Jesus wrote to the Church,

 

My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴ And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything. (James 1:2-4)

 

Yes, in trials of all sorts, consider it nothing but joy. I’m pretty sure I’ve used this analogy before to describe James’ teaching. There are two types of people on rollercoasters. There are those who close their eyes, clench their teeth and white knuckle it, AND those who throw up their hands in the thrill of the ride, laughing and screaming with excited joy! Which one are you? The Lord wants us to embrace all of life’s ups and downs, twists and turns with joy. Embrace your next trial as an adventure, knowing that the Lord walks with you.

 

Easy to say. But when you’re faced with a health crisis, our fear and anxiety speak louder than our faith. When there’s a death of a loved one, sadness speaks loudly. Do we consider such times pure joy? Not likely.

 

As the scripture says, there is a time for everything in life.

 

a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

 

Yes, we will feel sadness, anger, frustration, and fear. At every turn, we have the opportunity to rejoice in the Lord who is always near. He is just a prayer and breath away.

 

The Lord is my shepherd. I have everything I need. (Psalm 23:1)

 

And so we can rejoice, even in sorrow. We can rejoice in the Lord, even when we suffer loss. We can always find reasons to be thankful because of the faithful love of God.

 

The psalmist urges the people of God,

 

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1)

 

God is good, all the time! All the time, God is good! Even when it rains on your special day at Disneyland’s Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, God is good. His love endures forever. Even when I’m in my 5th week of feeling poorly, God is good. His love endures forever. Even when your flight is delayed, God is good. His love endures forever. Even when your car breaks down, God is good. His love endures forever. Even when your team loses the big game, God is good. His love endures forever. Even when you are facing death, God is good. His love endures forever. For God has promised to give His faithful a new body that will endure for all eternity. His enduring love will carry you forever.

 

And so we take time today to remind ourselves of the discipline of Thanksgiving. For if we practice thanksgiving, rejoicing in the Lord always, we will develop a habit of turning our hearts to God in praise, whatever may be.  

 

Paul tells us rejoice always. Don’t be anxious (worried) about anything. Instead take what you are tempted to fret over to God in prayer. Pray to the Lord with thanksgiving.

 

One form of prayer is called ACTS: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication. We first worship God, acknowledging His love and goodness, His almighty power to save, His benevolence and providence. We confess our sins and shortcomings. Being totally honest before God. Try not to hide from God like Adam in fig leaves. God sees you and loves you, warts and all. Give God thanks for His love, mercy, forgiveness, and faithfulness.

 

Thank God for His many blessings, even things we take for granted like fresh air, or rising from a night’s sleep to enter a new day with the Lord at your side. Give thanks for everything, even the challenges in life. And finally, ask God to supply your needs.

 

Paul wrote to the Church in Rome,

 

we also glory in tribulations (difficulties), knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)

 

Struggling through trials develops character. Make sure it’s a godly character trained by the discipline of giving thanks at all times for all things.

 

Imagine you’re faced with financial challenges. You fret. You fear the worst. You don’t know how you’re going to get by. Then you turn to the Lord in prayer, worshipping God for who He is, confessing your fear, thanking God for the opportunity this financial difficulty presents you to grow as a child of God. The Lord intends to bless you with godly character, wisdom, and spiritual strength. You will gain endurance and maturity as you persevere in faithfulness. And you ask God to help you maneuver through this difficulty. You ask God to supply your needs.

 

Then wait upon the Lord. Wait patiently for the Lord to act upon your prayers. For the prophet Isaiah reminds us that waiting on the Lord renews us.

 

 

Those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength;
they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings,
they run without growing weary,
they walk without getting tired. (Isaiah 40:31)

 

So train your heart and mind to rejoice in the Lord always. Think on things above, not below. Meditate upon the praiseworthy, the true, the pure, the excellent, the noble, and the lovely. The Lord will satisfy.

 

As we go into Thanksgiving as a nation, let us return thanks to our loving and faithful God who has seen us through every trial and supplied our every need. Let us draw together as God’s thankful people.

 

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks unto the holy one

Give thanks because he’s given Jesus Christ, His Son

 

Henry Smith composed those words in 1978, during a time of unemployment, financial insecurity, and an uncertain future due to a degenerative visual impairment that would eventually lead to his becoming legally blind. No doubt he found strength in Paul’s words, “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10, NIV).

 

I’d like to end by singing for you, Give Thanks