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A TIME FOR
THANKSGIVING
2 Thess. 1:1-4
I want to turn our attention to the Thanksgiving season we are now in.
Do not let the approaching Christmas holiday with all its pressures
overshadow what may be the most Christian of all American holidays.
Let's learn from Paul's letters to these early Christians what we
might be thankful for in others.
I. Paul was thankful for the Thessalonians'
work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope (1 Thess. 1:2-3).
A. Thank God for Spiritual Growth!
B. Thank God for Strengthened Faith!
C. Thank God for your Growing Love! (Agape)
D. Thank God for your Growing Patience and Faith!
II. Paul was thankful for their acceptance of
the word of God (1 Thess. 2:13).
A. Thank God for a Church that believes and teaches the Word of God!
B. Thank God for a Pastor who preaches the Word of God!
C. Thank God for people who still believes the Word of God!
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any
private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the
will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy
Ghost” (2 Peter 1:20-21).
III. Paul was thankful for their election to
salvation (2 Thess. 2:13).
A. God Choose you before the foundation of the earth!
B. Thank God for Salvation!
C. Thank God for Eternal Security!
“He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we
should be holy and without blame before him in love” (Ephes. 1:4).
What we see in all of these is that Paul's thankfulness for the
Thesssalonians is not based on the world's measure of success, e.g.,
he does not make mention of their numbers in Sunday School or in the
baptistry.
It is up to us to be faithful! It is up to God to provide the results!
Paul instructed the Thessalonians "in everything give thanks; for this
is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thess. 5:18).
WE ONLY
TEACH AND PREACH FROM THE KING JAMES BIBLE
"For the word of God is quick,
and powerful, and sharper than any
twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of
soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a
discerner
of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
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