Thanksgiving and Hope Often Go Hand in Hand
Part 1
Hope is the feeling we have
that the feeling we have is not forever.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in EVERY situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [Prayer] 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things.
[Focus on] Focus on them, not the negative
9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. [Live it out] And the God of peace will be with you. 10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have LEARNED to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. [Learning takes time] I have LEARNED the secret of being CONTENT in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all things through him who gives me strength.”
-Philippians 4:-13
A Breakdown of the Verses
“Rejoice”
Joy = the mindset that God is working.
“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
–Nehemiah 8:10
Rejoice in the Lord
[Rejoice not in a relation to the problem, but rather that you don’t have to face the problem alone without God]
always.
[In the good AND bad times]
“Thanksgiving and Hope Often Go Hand in Hand”
They will both lead to “Contentment”
“I have LEARNED [Hard work] the SECRET [its not obvious] of being CONTENT in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I CAN do ALL things through him who gives me strength.”
Thanks-giving? [Do we?]
“Being thankful” and “Giving thanks”
are two different things. Show it
Strength-giving! [God does!]
Don’t focus on the negative.
Monk & his vow of silence
Did he say anything wrong?
No
Did he think anything wrong?
Yes, he was thinking negatively so much that when he was able to speak the negativity came out.
8 “… whatever is true… noble… right… pure… lovely… admirable… excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Do not allow your external circumstances
to affect your internal attitude.
“Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent one night and a day in the open sea, and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.”
-2 Corinthians 11
Thankfulness can come from Trusting in God.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
While it is true that Life is not like a movie that we can fast forward through the bad parts, it is also true that Jesus is in every frame.
Q: Do we see him?
Governor Bradford’s first Thanksgiving Proclamation
"Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, beans, squashes and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as He has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, and has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience.”
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
-Lamentations 3:22-24
“Thanksgiving and Hope Often Go Hand in Hand”
Gives Thanks & Be Hopeful.
Hope is the feeling we have
that the feeling we have is not forever.
We all need a reminder.