Being Thankful R1195

God has an encouraging word for you and me today. The Bible-based preaching of Dr. Don Wilton today's message on being thankful.

It is so good to welcome this time a Bible study, together with Dr. Donald tank commander in South Africa and now the pastor of Dr. Billy Graham as we share the studies together. We pray that you will know that were available not just to share the truth with you, but also to walk through life with you. Getting someone to pray with you stand ready right now to take your call at 8668 that's 866-899-WORD 9673 rather use your keyboard will meet you there as well online@theencouragingword.org. Would love to connect with you and again today were talking about being thankful and insight. Dr. Wilson about what it is to maybe change your attitude to that attitude of gratitude we know we need to have Dr. will show you something here today is going to take us to a very deep level of being thankful. I want you to open your Bibles to second base.

Alone in my taking that's in the New Testament. Just write off Colossians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and then for salon. Always remember, in general electric power company, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, general electric power company that was remembered and then immediately off to the general electric power company you get Thessalonian right side and they too, so we got to go to the second letter of Thessalonians. Paul wrote this later. Now watch this because I'm going to tell you something really very quickly.

I want to go first to the passage that I'm not going to speak about in next chapter 2. So if you looking right now at the word of God and you are in second Thessalonians chapter 2 you read about the end of the world. In chapter 2, so I can read this to you but I'm not 100. I'm just going to tell you about it.

Paul tells these people that when Jesus comes in the clouds watch the spokes. Something's going to happen when Jesus comes in the clouds signaling the end of the world all believers we know are going to be taken up out of the world. We know that from first Thessalonians chapter 4 and first Corinthians chapter 15 in Revelation chapter 4. We know that all believers are going to be snatched out of that could happen today. You know that before the national championship which means actually the national championship in college football is actually not that important. It's just something to enjoy Jesus going to come in the clouds. All believers going to be taken out of this world and the Bible tells us in second Thessalonians chapter 2 that immediately. A man by the name of Antichrist, the lawless one is going to make himself known. Bible says that the spirit of antichrist is already present in the world. In fact, the person could even be in the world but nobody knows we know basically ways going to come from and what is going to look like pole here is telling these people just like he's telling you and me saying listen antichrist, rise up is going to set himself up as God, everybody's going to believe in him because they already hero worship is going to be someone everybody knows and everybody hero worship. He's gonna rise up, he's going to say don't worry about a thing.

He's going to strike a peace treaty with Israel want you to think about this from going to strike a peace treaty with Israel. Bible says that Israel is going to be under constant attack until this time.

This person is going to establish a peace treaty to make everything just fine with the nation of Israel going to tell all those who are lobbing rockets and grenades and everything it Israel to stop by going to stop because the going to follow him, but at the same time as that happens, watch this second Thessalonians says that God is going to withdraw his spirit from the earth, so the Holy Spirit is not going to be on this earth anymore.

All believers bother where going to be in heaven and we going to enter into a seven year tribulation. Before Jesus comes again lands on this earth and establishes his kingdom, and all time and eternity will begin at that point now.

Why am I telling you that because in the first chapter, Paul knows what he is about to tell these people so he gives them the real basis for Thanksgiving eat. He doesn't spend his time talking about things that are good but are not life-and-death.

He talks about the real reason for being thankful. So let me read it to you just want to read a few verses beginning in verse three of second Thessalonians, and chapter 1. This is what Paul says not remember we know now what he's about to lay on them. Can I say this in church he's about to put the smack down on doesn't sound the same when I say but it means the same thing. All right, watch this second Thessalonians chapter 2 in verse three we always thank God for you, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.

Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all persecutions and trials you all in during all this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result, you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering for God is just now may the Lord write this word on our hearts. All right, everybody watch me here from being thankful. I want you to just think of the thousand things that you thankful right now.

I've kind of tried to with your appetite. I'm just tapping into us, our families and our nation and we got boy do we not have so many blazing regrets. So much for which to be really thankful you know so thankful to the Lord for you and for your real friendship and your love and one could go on, so just pull.

He knows that under God's instructions. He's got to tell them that Jesus is about to come along all of you to watch me. That's what I'm telling you right now I'm dying to tell you that the Bible instructs me to tell you to be ready for the coming of the Lord Jesus. Nobody knows when he's going to come so some of you might say to me will pasta when exactly we don't know because the Bible tells us that we don't know. Only gardeners so yeah that could be another thousand years, but I'm trying to tell you something folks is a thing called the signs of the times. Do you know that almost every prophecy in the Bible has been from food you know that the world today is looking awfully unlocked, like Jesus could come to Matt from Israel to the European Union to the rise of antichrist economic problems, earthquakes, natural disasters to the divisions among people, to the rise of false prophets, do you know how many churches are springing up in the United States of America today that are pulling people away to the things that they want to hear, not what God leads them to hear Bible says in first Timothy in the last days. These things will happen. The falling away. It is a great apostasy. Do you know folks in America today there are more and more people who call themselves believers in the mainline evangelical church the Church of Christ that a falling away. They just dropping out. Just leaving by not coming you know there are more and more people today in America is not. I'm just giving you the fact to go to bowl games on Saturday night but don't come to church on Sunday morning.

There are more more people who will stand in bowl games on one of them coming. Just people really getting into the game. You know how many of those people would rather die than come to church and get excited like that of Jesus.

So here's here's the issue. I know I'm not trying to make a mountain out of a mole just just give me the fact it's looking a whole lot more like Jesus is about to come so pole here is telling us this, I am parsing that on to you. The bottom line says encourage one another with these words always ready. Have you given your life to Christ.

But in this preceding preamble pole gives to us to the church at Thessalonica. He gives to them. Six real reasons for real Thanksgiving pieces. This is what Thanksgiving this is what you can be thankful. Let me just give them to. I mean this is this is the stuff here. Six spiritual reasons for being thankful number one for your faith in God. That's verse three we are always to thank God because of your faith. Faith is a gift you know that from God. You don't just faith yourself. Did you know that you know that faith is a gift given by God through his spirit to people like you and me. You know folks that there are people all over our world today who would give anything to be able to have faith in God. They just can't get by a blinded I once was lost but now I'm found I was blind but now I see that's a gift from God. So what what the Lord is telling me here is that yeah thank the Lord that I can go to bowl game and thank the Lord for my grandsons and thanked the Lord for a lot of great things we needed we need to be thankful.

Please don't let anybody hear me say we to be overwhelming. Folks, this group of people even the pain we experience when we love since I please forgive the interruption will be back with more of this powerful message from Dr. Don Wilton called being thankful in just a moment. One of things that we are thankful for is the opportunity to pray with and for you anytime day or night. If you're not aware of it.

Jot this number down our 866-899-WORD number will connect with was happy to talk or listen or pray or connect with great resources. 24 hours a day. That's 866-899-WORD 9673. We can meet us on our website as well at tewonline.org G that's tewonline.org G will discover great resources like this. We are not in a Good Pl. in America. What would God say to us today without God we can do nothing to stand strong in a country turning away from the path God has laid out for us as our nation endorsed tragedy after tragedy.

It is so fortunate that we follow the second greatest commandment to love our neighbors unconditionally.

Your gift of support to The Encouraging Word this month you will receive Dr. Wilton's powerful sermon. God's message to America along with the bonus book when a nation forgets God by his longtime friend Erwin Sir, these resources will engage enlightened and encourage you in your walk with Christ. That's just what many great resources at tewonline.org you're there, be sure and sign up for the daily Encouraging Word email from Dr. Don that's tewonline.org large he a daily email that will in use your email box with God's word and encouragement and hope I can sign up today online at tewonline.org G. Now back to today's great teaching on being thankful with Dr. Don Wilton folks takes this pain we experience when we love, faith, number two second of the six spiritual reasons for your spiritual growth. According seizing those three cases because your faith is growing more and more that little phrase. They mourn more accentuates that growth being thankful for your spiritual growth. So grateful to the Lord for hundreds of people, even in our church family worshiping here in the sanctuary tell you nothing throws me more than when I see young people who are growing spiritually, you know. I hope I being with you a long time as you parsed, and we've spent many a year together. You not that you would identify growth in me and we would identify letting one another when you look at your sons, your daughters, your husband, your wife, your family, do you see spiritual growth. Be thankful for it.

That's a gift from God. Can you imagine that you know we spent so much time saying men go to go to school and educator. We go to grow educationally and knowledge and understand course we must. I believe in that I believe in academics. I believe in starting with folks to pull Texas to EC same lesson Jesus is about to become what you thankful for being thankful for your faith. Be thankful for your spiritual growth. Number three be thankful for your love for one another.

What he says ship in the latter part of verse three and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.

So I want to make a declaration in all the years that I've had the privilege of being a pasta. There is amongst many things that I can taste I can guarantee you one thing I will taste to the growing love for one another that I see in practical reality coming out of this congregation. I remember many years ago. One man coming to me what didn't mean anything by buddy heard me say that loving one another in unity was not option in this congregation, and he told me at that door right they he said pasta. I'm not disagreeing with you, but I'm gonna tell you that love and unity in a congregation of people in the local church is impossible, you are wasting your time. I said no sir, I am not. It is not an option.

It's not open to discussion.

It's not subject to a deacons meeting at Sycamore.

It's a gift from God, for which we must be thankful.

I mean, is it not folks.

There is so much hate in the world and Paul here is sign lesson Jesus about to come. Being thankful, be thankful for your faith in God. Be thankful for your spiritual growth.

Be thankful for the love that you have for one another. Number four for your liberty to keep on keeping on.

Look at verse four. Therefore, among God's churches we boast about you perseverance and your faith in all kinds of trials and tribulations. Be thankful for God given ability to keep on keeping on. Love that you know I cannot tell you the number of people that I have the privilege of ministering to. Even in our community who are really suffering. Going through all kinds of physical challenges, and you know you gun set alongside some of these people and they hurting physically and get the have this incredible indomitable spirit of perseverance about them. I'm not going to give up men. The Scott on the next set this in God's in control and and don't you worry about me coming. That's what he's talking about here. It's a gift is not on thankful for the on thankful that the Lord Jesus gives to us, even in the midst of an economy that's struggling even in the midst of political turmoil whether or not this person is that God enables us by his Spirit to keep on keeping on number five being thankful pulse is for your living testimony. I want to show you something.

Look at verse five. Everybody look at verse five with me. This is this is an amazing statement that he makes an interesting jumped all over me. He says ship. All this is evidence that God is right all this all this. Now that little word this is predicated, which means it has a precedent. It is based on something he signed all of this. What's all of this, your faith, your spiritual growth through capacity to love one another.

Your ability to keep on keeping on all of this is it ever gets it your living testimony. Be thankful for your living testimony. Just be thankful. I'm thankful for your living testimony. That's a reason to be thankful. I'm thankful for yours and you and I need to be thankful for hours that you know is an amazing thing that God could even use a people like you and me as a living testimony that would living testimony means that we are walking evidence that God is alive that Jesus loves us that this Christian faith is really that there is life after death that God means what he says that Jesus is coming again that God loves you that Jesus died for you that he wants you to belong to him. He wants you to give your heart and laughter.

It's a living testimony of is a reason to be thankful.

And then there's one more.

This is the six spiritual reason to be thankful for your peace with God. I want you to just take a look at the second part of verse five and as a result, and as a result, any English teachers here will concur with me.

This is the sum of all things.

This is what it leads to, and as a result, you can be thankful for the fact that you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God's not can you believe that water reason it can cannot conceive that the Lord Jesus counts me worthy of the kingdom of God. That means that he has accepted me, which means I can be thankful for my peace with God. You know why that's a reason to be thankful because people everywhere are looking for peace with God. You can have peace with God through Christ Jesus. That's a gift from God by his spirit.

It's the greatest gift the Bible says that God loves you Jesus had for you and by his spirit. He's drawing you can be dictated just in his presence. You can have peace with God in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.

I got that piece on thankful for it but I'm also thankful for the fact that I'm already have that piece I can invite have that piece to so if it's all right with you I just want to lay aside my home and my friendships and my church and I just want to lay aside all those things and I want to say Lord I am being thankful for my faith in you. That's a gift from you, Lord.

I'm thankful for my spiritual growth. That's a gift you.

I'm thankful for the fact that I together with these people are able to really love one another. Lord Jesus, on thankful for that.

And I'm thankful for the ability to keep on keeping on me even when I stink my toes even when I go through her, even when I lose a loved one.

Even when I'm diagnosed with cancer, even when I go through treatments. Lord, I'm thankful I'm thankful that you have given me the privilege of being a living testimony and I'm so thankful.

Lord Jesus, that by grace that you have given me peace with God in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now that's what it means to be thankful. According to what God said. Ladies and gentlemen, let's rise above the limits of our own human predicaments.

Let's rise above the flat earth society and see the galaxies that God has prepared for us to rise above our barbecues. It's rise above all of these things and say thank you Lord for all these blessings, goodness, Lord I'm so grateful I've got a motor car to drive. So grateful that I got a meal to eat. Lord Jesus, I want to thank you I want to really thank you that I am prepared for you to come. Even so, Lord Jesus full if you would come right now you would be coming for me. If Jesus were to come right now. Are you thankful that he be coming for you or do you need to give your life to Christ. I want to invite you to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus, you can do that you can give your heart to him. I want to help you make the most wonderful life changing decision that will translate and transform your attitude of gratitude to something that goes to a spiritual level that is so incredibly today. I invite you to trust Jesus new year and so much more than a new resolution to just say yes to Jesus. Perhaps, like me, you've known about Jesus but it's time to know in person.

Perhaps something as simple as repeating a prayer for me, Lord, I realize that knowing about you is not knowing you. So I ask you in faith to come into my life and change me from the inside out, but I confess that I'm a sinner messed up my own, I pray you would now as Savior and Lord help me rebuild my life. I believe you went to the cross of Calvary and died for my sins and I exception as Savior and in Jesus name I pray your cuts during your heart. It's not about having the right words. It's about being willing to say yes to Jesus whatever he asked you to do and I pray that you would consider sharing whatever God is dealing with you out right now with one of a similar protein were taking calls right now at 866-899-WORD 866-899-9673 and were connecting online as well.

At The Encouraging Word.org we really would love to be part of walking with you through 2018 till next time. Take care and God bless