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overflowing with gratitude Daniel Patz, Lead Pastor Grace Church, Sunday Worship Ephesians 5:20 November 22nd, 2009
Ephesians 5:15-21 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, (16) making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (17) Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (18) And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, (19) addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, (20) giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (21) submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. INTRODUCTION Paul in prison singing. Acts 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, Begin by showing the structure of this paragraph. I am focusing on verse 20 because this Thursday is Thanksgiving. Outline of this passage Heading – Look Carefully then how you walk: [watch diligently how you live] (3 Contrasts) § Don’t be unwise but be wise – making the best use of your time § Don’t be foolish but understand what God’s will is § Don’t be drunk with wine but be filled with the Spirit 1. Singing – to one another and to God 2. Thanking God 3. Submitting to one another With Thanksgiving Thursday (and a service on Tuesday) I want to skip ahead and look at verse 20. (20) giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I want to make six observations about gratitude in this passage: 1. Give thanks. “Giving thanks…” This is a command – they are told over and over to give thanks. The opposite of this is murmuring, pride, atheistic-practice. Colossians 3:15-17 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. (16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (17) And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 2. Give Thanks to God. “Giving thanks…to God the Father…” God is the end of all our thanks. He gives anything good. He gives good and we give thanks to Him. Psalms 9:1 A Psalm of David. I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. Psalms 92:1-2 A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath. It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; (2) to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, 3. Give Thanks to God Always. “Give thanks always… 4. Give Thanks to God for Everything. 5. Give Thanks to God in Jesus’ Name. 6. Give Thanks with a Reliance on the Spirit’s power to Give you joyful faith in God. We have reason to be thankful. But we are often not. Why? We need God’s gift of faith to see, rejoice and enjoy God’s gift and God Himself. So with prayerful reliance on the Spirit including faith in this Word – I want to point you to the God that we are to be thankful for. What should I say about God. What is God? God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth. INFINITE ETERNAL UNCHANGEABLE WISDOM POWER HOLINESS JUSTICE GOODNESS TRUTH (See Catechism with Proof Texts) Psalm 16 – my portion…my lots 2 Cor 12 Romans 8:28 Phil 4:11 – contentment Psalm 4 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (16) Rejoice always, (17) pray without ceasing, (18) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
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