Three Decisions that Will Change Your Year Part III

BE THANKFUL ALWAYS 1 Thes 5.18

1 Th 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.


The Apostle Paul did not live a easy life. He writes to the Corinthians about some of his trials.

• 2 Cor 11:23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.
• 2 Cor 11:24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
• 2 Cor 11:25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,
• 2 Cor 11:26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.
• 2 Cor 11:27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
• 2 Cor 11:28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

That is a difficult life and yet we see him telling the Thesalonians to be Joyful, Prayful and lastly Thankful.

How can he be thankful for all that he had been through?

He knew the secrets to thankfulness
1. Focus on the Blessings we have in Christ
2. Die to selfish desires
3. Learn more about Jesus in every situation
4. Keep the kingdom of God first
5. Know that your best days are always ahead

• 2 Tim 1:12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

When theives robbed Matthew Henry he still found something to be thankful for. He wrote this in his diary, "Let me be thankful first, because I was never robbed before; second, because, although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed."

BE THANKFUL ALWAYS

3 Decisions That Will Change Your Year Part II

Be Prayerful Always 1 Thes 5.17

I was at the driving range one day when I guy comes out of the Pro Shop looking good! He had the right clothes, the best clubs and a driver that was as big as my first apartment. I stopped to watch thinking he was going to be able to smack the ball. He gets up to the tree. Takes a couple practice swings then lets it rip. He hit the ball on the edge of the face and it went straight to the left. Not a "pull" mind you but 90 degrees to the left it bounced off the side fence.

It reminded me of the old golf saying, "You drive for show and you put for dough"

We can look good but it is not how we look it is how we Play.
In church we can look good but it is not how we look but how we Pray

Jesus spoke of prayer in Mat 6.5-8

Mat 6:5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
Mat 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Mat 6:7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
Mat 6:8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

1. We Can Have the Wrong Motive - Praying to be Heard by Men

2. We Must Have the Right Motive - Praying to be Heard by God
Enter your prayer closet
Unobserved
Undisturbed
Unheard

Randy Hurst shares a great thought in the book Help from the Lord
"Invite God to search your heart and move by His Holy Spirit in your secret life. He has a divine purpose to carry out in your personal and public life in this world. We are to be His witnesses-His messengers. But the character of what we are is formed by our secret life with Him. "

3 Decisions that Will Change Your Year Part 1

BE JOYFUL ALWAYS 1 Thes. 5.16

1. We must have a proper relationship to Jesus Christ
John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--
It all begins with this foundation


2. Live a Positive Life
Look at the bright side of things
Don't Compare yourself to other people
Don't Complain

3. Take Control of Your Life
Don't let others control your life

Gal 6:2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Gal 6:5 for each one should carry his own load.

v. 2 - Speaks of helping others in times of tragedy
v. 5 - Speaks of handling our daily responsibilities

One is like a Boulder
The other a Backback

Mat 5:37 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
It is o.k. to say no.

This is adapted from a book entitled Boundaries by Drs. Henry Cloud & John Townsend

Can I set limits and still be a loving person?
Yes - you end up being more loving in the true sense of the word

What are legitimate boundaries?
Staying healthy and keeping healthy relationships

What if someone is upset or hurt when I say no?
They will be upset. You cannot control the reactions of others

Am I being selfish by saying no?
NO!

John Oswalt Quote

That hope is not in our accomplishments but in his. He has forever solved the problems of justice and freedom by taking into himself the consequences of all our pride and idolatry, which have produced wrong and oppression. In place of the world's seemingly endless tears and loss, he has given joy and abundance. If we wait for a day yet to come to see him enthroned in all his glory, we can still live our days here on earth with confidence and rest.

John Oswalt NIV Application Commentary pg. 228