Worship time was “open”, with hymns largely chosen by the congregation.
The general theme was “thankfulness” – focussing particularly on God’s blessings to us over the past year.
Jill also read an appreciative note which her grand-daughter Lucy had written after attending our pre-Christmas Carol service.
Message by Ken
The Importance of Giving Thanks
Colossians 2. 6-7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7. rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
1. Thessalonians 5. 8 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
For those of us who had children one of the earliest things we taught them was to say “Thank You” when they received anything from someone. It didn’t come naturally for them but they had to be taught. Upon receiving Christ and learning to live in him we are taught by the Holy Spirit to “overflow with thanksgiving.” Overflowing with thanksgiving is a vital part of our Christian life. It isn’t just a small addition like a app on a phone but a basic ingredient to the whole structure of the Christian life. Thanks to God should be among the first words we speak to Him.
Remember when Jesus healed the ten lepers only one came back with one clear purpose. We read “he threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him.” It wasn’t an afterthought but his first thought after being healed. Thanking God is a priority in the Christian life which should begin when we are first cleansed from our sin. The leper came back to thank Jesus for one thing; that was for healing him. This is where our thanks should begin. A old chorus we sang puts it perfectly
“Thank you Lord for saving my soul,
Thank you Lord for making me whole,
Thank you Lord for giving to me,
Thy great salvation so rich and free.
But that is only the beginning of our thanksgiving, for we are to go on and be “overflowing with thanksgiving.” It is so easy for our thanksgiving tank to God to run dry, even though we have so much to thank him for. Maybe as you look back over the past year it has been difficult to give thanks to God at times because of various trials and sad events. But through it all God has been with us in his love, grace and comfort and we can thank him for keeping us close to him.
A second reason why thanksgiving is important is because as the second text says “this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” One of the most important goals that a Christian should aim for is do God’s will.
Jesus states clearly the purpose of his coming into the world, “Look I have come to do your will O God.” (Hebrews 10.5) That is also one of the main purposes of the Christian life. It is not to do our will but God’s will, for it is in doing God’s will that we please him. There are times when we don’t know what God’s will is for us unless we seek it and pray about it. What job should I do when I leave school or university. If I want to marry, who should I marry? These are questions we need to pray about to know God’s will and there are many other situations as well. But in the case of whether I should give thanks to God or not, I don’t need to pray about it because God has made it clear that it is his will for us to give thanks to him.
But there is one extra clause in this text that is beyond just giving thanks. “It is giving thanks in all circumstances.” That is a different ball game. Almost anyone can give thanks in prosperous and pleasant circumstances. But what about circumstances of poverty, pain, sickness and bereavement. Am I expected by God to give thanks in those circumstances? Notice it doesn’t say give thanks for those circumstances but in those circumstances. God doesn’t send these times of suffering specifically to us but they are part of living in a fallen world. Jesus told his disciples “In this world you will have trouble.” Trouble, pain, sickness, and suffering will come to all at sometime during their time on earth because we all share in the fall of Adam and Eve’s sin and disobedience to God. But Jesus goes on to say to his disciples, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
This means that because Jesus overcame all the suffering he encountered and triumphed at the cross, we too can overcome our trials because he is lives within in his resurrection power. That is the big difference between the suffering the unbeliever faces and the suffering believer faces. The believer has the presence and the power of Jesus with them to overcome their trouble whereas the unbeliever only has own ability. Because God is with us in our trials we can give thanks in the trials but not for the trials.
Another thing that encourages us during our trials is that God is always good and only allows to happen to us what is best for us. He uses the suffering to help grow to become better Christians. That is why James in his letter says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”(James1.3) We grow more through our pains than our pleasures because we learn to trust God more.
A person’s faith in themselves and in their circumstances is always changing because they and the things they trust in are always changing. However, a person who is trusting in God has an unshakeable faith because the God in whom they trust never changes even though everything around may be changing. God’s love, power and faithfulness never changes so has we continue to trust Him in the difficult times so our faith remains secure. As James says we can even rejoice in our trials because we know God has a purpose for our suffering. Our faith remains strong as we trust in God and the promises in his word. The key to “giving thanks in all circumstances” is also contained in the text. The words “in Christ Jesus” is the key. It is our remaining in Jesus and trusting in his power that we are able to do it. Our trust in ourselves or anything else will always fail.
As we face the problems that will surely come in the New Year let’s keep our eyes on God so we can continue to “overflow in thanksgiving.”
Notices
Next Sunday at 10.15am – Testimony Meeting – an opportunity for anyone to share their experiences with the Church.