Thankful in Everything

Thankful in Everything

- December 12, 2019

God's Will

"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22

This is now the 12th message of thanksgiving*. Not sure if you have read through the first 11 messages, but if you have then you should know by now, what this series of messages are all about.

The short passage above taken from the first letter of the Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians exemplifies the spirit of this series.

And like that short passage (from the 9th message) taken from the letter of Paul to the Colossians, the passage about is also a guide for living the Christian life -- perfect to think about on this season of Thanksgiving and Advent (the arrival of Jesus).

So how do we live a life according to God's will?

Here is a cheat sheet:

Be joyful - always (that's God's gift)

Pray - without ceasing

Be thankful - When? Always.

Holy Spirit - do not quench His holy fire

Prophecies - do not treat with contempt, meaning do not treat them with disrespect

Test - test everything if it's of the Holy Spirit or if it's of the world

Good - hold on to it, if it is of the Holy Spirit

Evil - flee from it, if otherwise.

*Giving Thanks Series:

Giving Thanks

Thank You Theo

Thank You John

Thank You Mary, Mother of Jesus

Thank You Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes and Teachers of the Law

Thank You Zach

Living a Life of Thanksgiving

Thank You 1 of 10

Thank You Shepherds

Comments

The Shepherd and His Flock

“I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

John 10 (NIV 84)

Disclaimer

If you have issues with Hillsong or Bethel or Elevation or any of the so-called heretical churches or preachers, we are not condoning any false teachings. There is always something we can find wrong in all churches, including the one we call ours. But there is one faith, there is one baptism, there is One God, there is One Spirit and One Savior, Jesus Christ. If we agree on all these then let's all work together for good. The Lord is coming back. Let us stop wasting time with nitpicking, criticizing other believers because they wear strange clothes or sing weird songs, or read a version of the bible we don't, or speak in tongues or do or believe something which we don't, instead let us do what God has really called us to do. God has called each one of us to do something. Let's do that.