What To Do When You Dont Feel Thankful man-prayinglg.jpg What do you think the hardest commandment in the Bible might be? Think about that for a moment. Several difficult commandments will come to mind. Write the first one that comes to your mind in the space below—before you read the next part. Now, there is no “wrong” answer to this question! Everyone will come up with something different. (Don’t cheat and look ahead for ideas.) ____________________________________________________________________________ Your answer is going to reveal what may be in your heart as, if not a “stumbling block,” then perhaps an area where you struggle. God has commanded many things in the Bible. He never gives us a command where He doesn’t also make available to us His power to fulfill it…as any good parent would do. You wouldn’t ask your child to wash the car, then not make available soap, water or a sponge! God doesn’t do that to us, either. Now here are some possible commandments you may have thought of… 1. Rejoice in the Lord always. (Philippians 4:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:16) 2. Be anxious for nothing. (Philippians 4:6) 3. Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) 4. Go into all the world… (Matthew 28:19) 5. Forgive others when they wrong you. (Matthew 6:14-15, Matthew 18:20-22) 6. Be holy, for I am holy (Leviticus 11:45) 7. Give abundantly. (Luke 6:38) 8. Children, obey your parents. (Ephesians 6:1) 9. Be subject to rulers and authorities. (Titus 3:1) 10. Tithe (Malachi 3:10) How about this one? Turn in your Bible to Ephesians 5:20, where we are “Digging Deeper.” “Giving [what?] __________ [when?] __________ for [what?] _____ ____________ [ß Underscore those last two words] unto God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Many believe this may be the hardest command to obey in all the Bible. But correspondingly, this command may bring the greatest blessing when it is obeyed. Where are we going to find the strength to obey any of the above commandments—especially this one? First, let’s look at what it means to be thankful. Four Levels of Thanksgiving 1. People who are constantly complaining. Have you ever been around people like that? They can’t find good in anything. 2. People who are simply ungrateful. They don’t complain; they’re just not grateful. Like a hog under a tree eating acorns, they never look up to see where the acorns come from. Many of us, though we may not be bitterly complaining, are ungrateful. 3. People who are grateful for obvious blessings. If they have health, they thank God for health. If they have food, they thank God for food…thankful for the obvious blessings in life. 4. People who thank God for all things. This is the highest level. This level will get you through the hardest of life’s seasons. The Devil’s Seed Barn Did you hear about the man who found the devil’s seed barn? It’s where the devil keeps the seeds he sows in the hearts and lives of human beings. The man noticed there was a super abundance of one kind of seed. It was the seed of discouragement. When he asked the devil why he had so many of those, the devil said, “Well, if I can sow discouragement into a person’s life, then I can get almost anything else I want into his life. The seeds of discouragement will sprout almost anywhere except in the heart of a grateful person.” As we “dig deeper” into Ephesians 5:20, we’ll come to understand the depths of this commandment… WHEN to give thanks, WHAT we should be thankful for, and WHY we should be thankful. WHEN WE GIVE THANKS “Giving thanks _____________ for all things unto God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Blessings never cease; therefore, thanksgiving should never cease. One Thanksgiving Day on a Thursday in November is not enough. We have 365 days a year when we should be thankful. PSALM 68:19 Now turn to Psalm 68:19: “Blessed be the Lord, who _____________ loadeth us with _____________, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” (Selah means “Pause and think (meditate) upon that.”) God daily loads us with a wagonload of blessings. LAMENTATIONS 3:22-23 22It is of the LORDs mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. 23They are new ___________ ______________: great is Thy faithfulness. God has been faithful to you, precious friend, and He has been faithful with a great faithfulness. Every day ought to have a liberal portion of thanksgiving. Every prayer ought to be mixed with thanksgiving. When should we give thanks? Always. Thanks never cease because blessings never cease. WHY WE GIVE THANKS If you ask God for more blessings and don’t thank Him for what He’s already done for you… If you come to God and say, “God, do this, do that, give this, give that”… and you don’t thank God, you are wicked and foolish. Most of us need to pull some of the groans out of our prayers and shove in a few hallelujahs. ROMANS 1 Turn to the first chapter of Romans. You may think Romans 1:18-22 is a strange passage to examine when we talk about giving thanks, but consider this. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 1. In verse 18, who is God angry with? _______________________________________________ 2. In general, what is the character of these people?(v. 18)_____________________________ 3. What do they already know about God (v. 19)? _____________________________________ 4. What are they doing with the truth they already know?(v. 18)_________________________ 5. Who has revealed this truth about God to them?(v. 19) ______________________________ 6. What about God can be seen?(v. 20)_______________________________________________ 7. For how long (v. 20) has it been possible for people to understand God’s true heart and character? __________________________________________________ 8. How visible are His attributes? (v. 20) ____________________________________________ 9. Did they know enough about God to be able to acknowledge Him as Creator? (v. 21) ___________________________________________________________ 10. Verse 21 says that although they knew Him, they did not _____________________ Him as God, nor were they _________________________. Clearly,(v. 20) God ranks thankfulness high on His list of what He desires from His creation every person. To— acknowledge His eternal power and Godhead, glorify Him as God be thankful.” This passage is speaking of unbelievers, not God’s children. If you ARE a child of God, how much sadder if you are not thankful to the One Who redeemed you with His blood. WHAT TO BE THANKFUL FOR Back to Ephesians 5 again. 18…be filled with the Spirit; 19Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20Giving thanks always for _______ _____________ unto God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; “Giving thanks always” would not be quite as difficult if he had not inserted “for all things”! Thank God for the simple things . For example, thank God for water. You turn the tap on in your home or you go to the fountain and drink fresh, sparkling water. Have you thanked God for the water that you have? Did you know in many countries across this globe, large percentages of the people do not have pure drinking water? And literally millions of die from water-borne diseases. So when you bow your head at a drinking fountain to get a drink, bow your head in thankfulness. Thank God for just simple things like water. Thank God for dirty dishes. They indicate you just had a meal! So many would be grateful to thank God for dirty dishes! Thank Him for the sorrowful things. What about when we don’t feel thankful? When we hurt? When there are problems so deep, God alone knows the depth? Can you thank Him for heartache? Ephesians was written by the apostle Paul from prison. Unjustly accused of starting a riot, he’s now languishing in prison saying, “Give thanks to God for all things.” Why Should We Give Thanks for All Things? Because God rules over all things. We are beneath the Overruling Hand of God. No matter what happens, you are to have a song in your heart. Now, you’re asking, “Are you trying to tell me I’m to give thanks for rape? Murder? Disease? Cancer? These things are good? Am I to give God thanks for that?” I’m not telling you these things are good. These things are bad. I’m telling you that God is good. And where God does not rule, God overrules. And with the chemistry of the Cross, God takes all things and works them together for good to those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Therefore, we ought to be thankful to God. Let’s go through some of the things that trouble, heartache, sickness and death may do for us. Not all of these will be the case for every person—each child of God is on their own walk with God—but see which ones might apply to you. Trouble may correct us. Did you ever get a spanking? Have you ever been brought in for a talking-to by a principal, teacher, or coach when their correcting words were what you needed? There is a built-in correcting ministry in trouble. Sometime we need correcting. Turn to Hebrews 12:11. “Now no _________________ [discipline, correction] seems to be joyful for the _______________, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of ___________________ to those who have been trained by it”. King David, “a man after God’s own heart,” found that to be so. Turn to Psalm 119:67. David wrote: “Before I was _____________, I went___________: but ________ have I kept Thy word.” Note the progression: going astray-affliction-obedience If we didn’t have troubles, we would stray away from Him. If suffering and pain sometimes correct us, then thank God for them. Trouble may cause us to have a greater dependency upon God. If we don’t experience difficulty, why would we need God in our day-to-day lives? Troubles move us toward Christ. The apostle Paul was the greatest Christian who ever lived. Paul was given insight into the things of God that no other New Testament writer was given. He was even caught up into the third heaven and saw things he was not permitted to describe. Pretty heady stuff. So why should Paul, of all people, suffer affliction? Paul tells us in the classic passage 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. Turn there in your Bible. 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. What phrase is used twice in verse 7 and explains why Paul was given this thorn in the flesh?_________________________________________________________________ How many times did Paul pray, “God, please take away this excruciating thorn in the flesh from me”? _____________ What did God answer? ____________________________________________________________________________ Some have paraphrased God’s answer like this: “I’m not going to take it away. I’m going to give you added strength.” Paul didn’t say, “What can’t be cured must be endured,” but “Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me…” (v. 9). Gladly? Glory? Really, Paul? What is Paul saying? “God, in His love to me, gave me a thorn in the flesh that I might see my weakness, depend upon Him, and learn His strength. “What cannot be cured will be enlisted, and I will gladly rejoice in my infirmities.” Suffering, if we are humble enough and willing to enlist it for His glory, will cause us to have a greater dependence upon God. Trials will confirm your testimony to other people and silence Satan. When you go through suffering and exhibit your faith and dependence upon God, others will be strengthened in their faith and be blessed. You see, when we endure and keep praising, we shut the devil’s mouth. And wouldn’t you be pleased, through your suffering, to accomplish that! Have you ever heard someone say, “Well, the only reason he/she serves God is because they’ve never known any difficulties.” Have we ever heard this accusation before? Yes, we have. Turn to the book of Job, chapter 1 verses 8-11. Who made basically the same statement? ________________ To whom was he talking? __________ Who was being accused? ____________ When you go through suffering and come out on the other side still praising God, it takes the wind out of Satan’s sails. Turn to Philippians 1:12 “But I would that ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the gospel.” Write out what Paul has just said here in your own words: ____________________________________________________________________________ And a few verses down… “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him but also to suffer for His sake.” (1:29) Underline those last 5 words. When we can go through fear, heartbreak, tears and disappointments and still serve God, it confirms our testimony in the Lord. Before Paul wrote this, he had already endured almost every conceivable hardship and human affliction. In no way are the trials you are going through being taken lightly. As you consider the stresses on you and perhaps your loved ones, read this from Paul’s pen. 2 Corinthians 11: 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Beatings, shipwrecks, mocking, persecution, hunger, thirst, nakedness, and character assassination…God used all of this as a platform for Paul to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Trouble will bring you to a deeper maturity and Christ-likeness. Affliction can be a wonderful teacher. What did David confess in Psalm 119: 71? “It is __________ for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn Thy statutes.” Many times we never really look up till we get on our back; we never really see until our eyes have been washed with tears. God’s priority for you is not health and wealth, not even service and usefulness! God’s priority for you is spiritual maturity, to make you like the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect [mature] and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:4 God is aiming at maturity. His purpose is that you be mature. How is He going to do this? Through “patience” (endurance) as we bear up under suffering. When you endure, you become mature. And if you want to endure, you must have something to endure! God allows these things that we might learn endurance. God is bringing you to maturity. If pain and suffering bring you to maturity, then you can thank God for them. Trouble will bring the excelling glory of God in your life. Listen to 1 Peter 4:12-14 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you....” (Many of us say, “Oh, this is so strange. Why is this happening to me?” Peter said, “Don’t think it’s strange, as though some strange thing happened unto you.) “But rejoice (be thankful) inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings...” (having fellowship with Christ) “…that when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you; on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.” ¯ A Closing Word to the Hurting Believer Brothers and sisters, as we get closer the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, we can expect increasing persecution. More and more Christians are going to be persecuted. God will never be more real, more near, or more dear to you than when you are thanking Him. It may bring excelling glory in your life, for the more you give God thanks, “the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you.” As you’ve gone through this study, if you’ve said, “Well, it never explained what Im going through”… we don’t have to explain it. We don’t live by explanations; we live by promises and commandments. The Bible says, “Giving thanks always for all things....” God is God. He is sovereign. You can arch the rainbow of Romans 8:28 over whatever is happening: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, who are the called according to His purpose.” His purpose is to make you like the Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes when we’re in trouble we say, “God, why don’t You do something?” He may be doing something…making you like Jesus. Listen for that still, small Voice saying, “I’m doing something. You just don’t understand what I am doing.”
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 17:04:35 +0000
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