What Paul Was Thankful For
“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2). In the month of November, many have shared a blessing each day that they are thankful for. If Paul made such a list, what might it look like?
FAITHFUL BRETHREN EVERYWHERE:
“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world” (Romans 1:8). “Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, A do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:15-16). “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you” (Philippians 1:3). “We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you” (Colossians 1:3). “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers” (1 Thessalonians 1:2). “For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God” (1 Thessalonians 3:9). “ I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints” (Philemon 1:4-5).
FREEDOM FROM THE SLAVERY OF SIN:
“But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:17-18).
THE GRACE OF GOD:
“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 1:4).
VICTORY IN CHRIST:
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:57-58). “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place” (2 Corinthians 2:14).
LIBERALITY IN GIVING:
“Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God” (2 Corinthians 9:10-12).
EVERY BLESSING FROM GOD:
“…giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
WHEN GOD’S WORD IS RECEIVED:
“For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
GROWING FAITH AND ABOUNDING LOVE:
“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other” (2 Thessalonians 1:3).
THE MINISTRY:
“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry” (1 Timothy 1:12).
EARTHLY LEADERS:
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
Are you thankful for the same things Paul was thankful for? Do you include these in your prayers to God? Are you thankful for faithful brethren all over the world who labor for Christ each day? Are you thankful for the victory Christ has given us over sin and death? Are you thankful for when God’s effective word is received and causes growth and faith and abounding love? Do you pray for our leadership, that we may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and reverence? Let God know that you are thankful for these things!
“But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks” (Ephesians 5:3-4).
What are you thankful for? You can write below if you would like…
– by Matthew King
Who We Are...
President James A. Garfield was a member of the Church of Christ. He was asked once to formulate a list explaining what the church believed. He wrote the following:
▸ We call ourselves Christians or Disciples.
▸ We believe in God the Father.
▸ We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and our Savior.
▸ We regard the divinity of Christ as the fundamental truth of the Christian system.
▸ We believe in the Holy Spirit, both as to His agency in conversion and as a dweller in the heart of the Christian.
▸ We accept the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God.
▸ We believe in the future punishment of the wicked and the future reward of the righteous.
▸ We believe that Deity is a prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God.
▸ We observe the institution of the Lord’s Supper on every Lord’s Day.
▸ To this Table we neither invite more debar. We say it is the Lord’s Table, for all the Lord’s children.
▸ We plead for the union of God’s people.
▸ The Bible is our only discipline.
▸ We maintain that all ordinances should be observed as they were in the days of the apostles.
(From the tract Facts Concerning the New Testament Church, by P.H. Welshimer Standard Publishing, Joplin, MO.)
News & Notes
● Morning’s Lesson: Walking in Love Text: Eph. 5:1-7
● Contribution Scripture: Acts 4:32-37
● Children’s Bible Drill this evening after services.
● Fontenot’s out of town this Sunday