November 22, 2020

AND ALWAYS BE THANKFUL
November 22, 2020
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Are you conscious of your commitment to thank people who invest in you, whether material or verbal? What are some things in life for which you are most thankful?

Open:

Have you really absorbed the truth that nothing about you—the way you look, the way you live, or the friends or family you have—has made you worthy of God’s love and the sacrifice that Jesus made? That’s a humbling realization. It should make you extremely thankful for your salvation, and foster a passionate will to live your life for His glory! It shows us how huge His love for us is, that nothing we did, have done or will do could make Him love us any less. We will still mess up, blow it, or fall, but He has made provision for us to be cleansed from sin by confession and repentance (1 John 1:9). What a great God! Do you have a fervor to serve Him with thanksgiving?

Key Verse: Colossians 3:15: “And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.” (NLT)

Focal Passage: Colossians 3:1-15

Thanksgiving requires refocusing

  • Read Col. 3:1-2. What do we mean by “refocusing”? Where does the majority of your focus center on any given day? Does it need refocusing?
  • We live in the world; is this our home? Read Philippians 3:20 and 1 Peter 2:11. Describe our lives here on earth. As we are just “sojourners” here, why does the world have such a strong pull on our thoughts and emotions?
  • What are some reasons we are constantly being buffeted by the world?
  • Paul tells us to think about the things of heaven. What are some of them?
  • Read 2 Cor. 10:5b. What are some thoughts we should take captive in order to keep our focus on Jesus, heaven, and our eternal life?

Thankfulness requires recommitment

  • Read Col. 3:5. Why is it so important that we don’t dwell on our sinful past?
  • Read Phil. 4:8. Why does God desire us to keep our mind on things that will edify us? Where does Satan begin his work of drawing us away from God?
  • Why is it dangerous for us to go back to the temptations that we wrestled with prior to salvation—or sometimes, even afterward?
  • What are four spiritual exercises that we can use daily to keep us focused on God, and doing His will*?

Thankfulness requires reprioritizing

  • Read Col. 3:11. What are some groups in our culture we can replace with those listed in this verse, which might help us to understand that salvation is free to anyone who accepts it?
  • If God loves people from all categories you named in #1, are there any you personally would have a hard time accepting? What can you do about that?
  • If HE is all that matters (and He is), are there things in your life that need to be erased, forgotten, forgiven, or let go of? (Can you share?) How can you?

Thankfulness requires recognition

  • Read Col. 3:15. Can anyone share a personal testimony about peace n your life, coming after a time of great agitation?
  • Read Phil. 4:7. What are some ways we can receive this peace from God?
  • As members of the body of Christ, what are we called to do? Are there people you go out of your way to avoid at church? If so, what are some actions you can take to start building a relationship and letting God work?
  • Is it possible to have true thanksgiving to God if your life does not line up with His word? What can you do?

Close:

As the holidays roll around once again, we may all breathe a sign of relief that the year 2020 is almost over. Before we become too thankful that a new year is coming, and too ready to pick up our old life, we need to realize we are not in control, as our local and state governments continue telling us what to do.

The world around us will always be that which takes most of our attention, our energy, and our thoughts. How, then, are we to focus our hearts and minds on heaven, praising and thanking God—and being “content” in our circumstances?

One analogy would be a child, spouse or loved one who is deployed with the military, or possibly away at college. Although they are in another place, one that may well be an anathema to their spirits, they long for family, for home, and that sense of belonging. Desiring to return home as soon as possible, they endure their journey, thanking God that He will see them safely reunited with loved ones.

Isn’t that also a picture of our heavenly home? Who has preceded you in the faith? We long to see parents, siblings, other loved ones—but above all, Jesus! We dream of heaven, with its beauty, love, happiness, joy—all the things we wish we could have here on earth. But this isn’t heaven. This is a time to meet Jesus, solidify our eternal destiny, and be thankful for a coming day when we will meet Him. Thank You, God!

*Bible reading; Prayer; Serving Him; Sharing our faith.

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