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Today is going to be a day in 
which when you leave today you 

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will say, I am so glad that I 
came to church today. 

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I would hope you say that every 
Sunday. 

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I know you don't probably. 
But on this Sunday I can almost 

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guarantee that you will be 
saying, I am so glad that I went

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to church today. 
We are looking at a verse in 

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First Thessalonians 5 verse #18 
that says in everything give 

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thanks, for this is the will of 
God in Christ Jesus concerning 

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you. 
It is a one of of a trilogy of 

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commands that says that we are 
to rejoice always, we are to 

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pray without ceasing, and we are
to give thanks in everything 

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because those 3 commands are 
God's will in Christ Jesus 

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concerning you. 
It is the model life. 

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It's the model life of of 
adoration, the life that adores 

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God, a life that lives according
to Christ design. 

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And as we think about what God 
has said, that we are to be 

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joyful, prayerful, and thankful,
those 3 commands sum up the 

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essence of true adoration of the
believer. 

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When it comes to being thankful,
we usually fall into one of 

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three categories. 
Let me explain them to you. 

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One category is that we are 
thankful after the adversity or 

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after the the affliction or 
after the adverse circumstance. 

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We'll call this post 
thankfulness after everything is

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said and done. 
I'm thankful for instance, in 

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the book of Exodus after the 
party of the Red Sea and Israel 

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murmured and complained that 
that Moses had dragged them out 

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of Egypt to to die in the 
wilderness. 

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And Moses said, just stand still
and watch the salvation of the 

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Lord. 
And the waters parted. 

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They went through on dry land 
and Pharaoh and all of U.S. 

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Army were drowned in the sea. 
Everybody was thankful. 

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They were so thankful before the
party of the Red Sea, but after 

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it was over, everybody's saying 
praises to God. 

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Read about in Exodus chapter 15,
the great song of Miriam, the 

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song of praise of song of Moses,
right? 

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And Miriam was the one who led 
them with dancing in 

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tambourines, praising God for 
what he had done. 

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One of the 10 lepers, after he 
was healed of leprosy, came back

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and gave thanks to God. 
This is the easiest category of 

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thankfulness, isn't it? 
We go through a situation of the

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adverse circumstance and we come
out the other side and we say, 

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Lord, we are so thankful and 
rightly so, we should be. 

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But then there's another 
category of thankfulness. 

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Not just those who are thankful 
after the adversary. 

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This was a little bit harder. 
These are the ones who give 

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thanks to God before the battle.
We're going to call this. 

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We're going to call this pre 
thankfulness. 

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In other words, they give thanks
before the battle begins. 

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These are the people of faith 
like Daniel. 

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You remember Daniel, it was said
that Darius signed a decree that

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nobody can bow down or pray to 
any other God but him. 

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And so it says that Daniel 6 
verse #10 Now when Daniel knew 

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that the document was signed, he
entered his house. 

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Now in his roof chamber he had 
windows open towards Jerusalem 

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and he continued kneeling on his
knees three times a day, praying

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and giving thanks before his God
as he had been doing previously.

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This is before the battle. 
You give thanks to God. 

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This was Daniel, a man of great 
faith and of course you know the

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story. 
He was thrown into the lion's 

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den and and God spared his life 
and he became just another great

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individual in that land. 
There's also King Jehoshaphat. 

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We talked about him a couple of 
weeks ago. 

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He would say, Lord, we don't 
know what to do, but our eyes 

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are upon you as the kings of 
Ammon and the Moabites and the 

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Edomites came against Israel to 
fight them. 

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Listen to what Jehoshaphat did 
in Second Chronicles chapter 20 

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when it says verse 20. 
They arose early in the morning 

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and went out to the wilderness 
of Tacoa, and when they went 

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out, Jehoshaphat stood and said,
Listen to me, O Judah and 

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inhabitants of Jerusalem, put 
your trust in the Lord your God,

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and you will be established. 
Put your trust in his prophets 

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and succeed. 
When he had consulted the 

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people, he appointed those who 
saying to the Lord and those who

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praised him and holy attire as 
he went out before the army and 

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said Give thanks to the Lord for
his loving kindness is 

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everlasting. 
So Jehoshaphat gathers the 

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people of Judah around, tells 
them to trust in the Lord, and 

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then gets the choir and puts 
them in front of the army and 

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sends them out first to sing 
praises to God and give thanks 

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to God for his loving kindness. 
And of course Israel won the 

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battle without ever having to 
lift a finger, because the 

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armies of Edom and Moab and Emin
destroyed themselves. 

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But they gave thanks before the 
battle. 

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Jesus did the same on the eve of
the crucifixion, when he broke 

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the bread and gave thanks. 
He blessed the cup in the same 

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manner, by giving thanks Before 
the battle, before the garden, 

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before Calvary, he gave thanks. 
I wonder if that's you. 

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You know the battles coming. 
You know it's on the horizon. 

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Do you kneel and and give thanks
to God for all that he's about 

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to do? 
Comprehending the fact that God 

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is sovereign. 
He's in charge, He's in control.

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You're not, but God's going to 
do something. 

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So you have you have the people 
who give thanks after the 

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affliction. 
Those are post thankful people. 

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Yeah, those who who give thanks 
before the battle, those are pre

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thankful people. 
But the rub is this. 

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Those who give thanks during the
difficulty, during the hardship,

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we call this mid thankfulness. 
Those who give thanks right in 

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the middle of the turmoil. 
These people are unique. 

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They're like Jonah we saw last 
week in the belly of the fish. 

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In the middle of his of his 
trial, he offered a sacrifice of

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Thanksgiving. 
It's like the apostles when they

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were beaten in Acts chapter 5 
and they gave thanks to God 

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because they were able to suffer
for his name's sake. 

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It's like Job, well, he lost 
everything he said, blessed be 

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the name of the Lord, for it's 
the Lord who gives and the Lord 

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who takes away. 
It's like the Apostle Paul in 

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Silas in Acts 16 when they were 
in prison and they begin to 

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sing, sing praises to God and 
give thanks to him while in 

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prison. 
Paul had probably the best 

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prison ministry anybody ever 
had, but he was always giving 

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praise and thanks to God. 
Just read the the book of 

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Philippians where he tells those
in in Philippi to rejoice in the

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Lord always. 
And again. 

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I say rejoice because he would 
give Thanksgiving to his God in 

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the midst of his prison cell. 
I wonder if that's you. 

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That's what Paul says. 
And 1st Thessalonians 5 verse 

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#18 in everything, not before 
everything, not after everything

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in everything, give thanks for 
this is the will of God in 

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Christ Jesus concerning you. 
How on earth can anybody ever 

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really truly do that? 
Even though we have examples in 

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Scripture of those who did, How 
do we do that? 

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We told you last week that that 
Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving 

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reveals my conversion to Christ.
It reveals my commitment to the 

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will of God. 
It also reveals my my condition 

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spiritually. 
Nothing reveals your spiritual 

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condition more than when you 
give thanks. 

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Remember, Thanksgiving is not a 
matter of feeling thankful. 

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Thanksgiving is a matter of 
obedience to God. 

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It's like forgiveness. 
You don't forgive because you 

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feel like forgiving. 
If that's the case, you probably

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never forgive anybody. 
You forgive because you obey the

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command of God to forgive. 
The same is true with a thankful

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heart. 
You give thanks to God because 

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it's a command and you adore Him
and you worship Him and you want

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to obey the commands of God. 
Turn with me if you would to the

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book of Colossians, the book of 
Colossians in the 3rd chapter. 

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This how you know Thanksgiving 
reveals your condition 

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spiritually when Paul says in 
verse 12, chapter 3. 

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So as those who have been chosen
of God, holy and beloved, put on

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a heart of compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness and 

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patience, bearing with one 
another and forgiving each 

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other, whoever has to complain 
against anyone, just as the Lord

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forgave you, so also should you 
beyond all these things, love, 

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which is the perfect bond of 
unity. 

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And then he says this, Let the 
peace of Christ rule in your 

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hearts, to which indeed you were
called in one body, and be 

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thankful. 
Let the peace of of Christ rule 

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in your hearts. 
Let the fact that you are now no

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longer the enemy of God, but 
that you're the friend of God. 

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You're at peace with God. 
Having been justified by faith, 

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we have peace with God. 
Let the fact that you're at 

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peace with God be the governing 
factor in every decision you 

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make. 
In other words, the word rule 

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means to umpire to make the 
final call. 

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In other words, let Christ make 
the final call in every decision

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you make and then be thankful. 
Let the peace of Christ rule in 

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your hearts, and then he says, 
let the word of Christ reside in

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your heart. 
He says, let the word of Christ,

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which He dwell within you with 
all wisdom, teaching and 

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admonishing one another with 
psalms and hymns and spiritual 

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songs, singing with thankfulness
in your hearts to God. 

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How do you sing with 
thankfulness in your heart to 

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God? 
Because the word of Christ is at

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home. 
It richly dwells in your heart. 

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The word of God is not a 
stranger to you. 

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When the word of God is a 
stranger to you, you have no 

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song of Thanksgiving. 
But when the word of Christ is 

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no longer a stranger, it's at 
home in your heart. 

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It resides as supreme in your 
heart. 

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You sing with Thanksgiving. 
So Paul says let the peace of 

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Christ rule in your hearts and 
be thankful. 

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Let the word of Christ reside in
your heart so you can sing with 

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thankfulness. 
And then he says, let the name 

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of Christ reign in your hearts. 
He says verse 17, whatever you 

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do in Word or deed, do all in 
the name of the Lord Jesus, 

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giving thanks through him to God
the Father. 

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In other words, whatever you do 
in Word or in deed, no matter 

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what you're doing, no matter 
where you're going, Christ 

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reigns supreme. 
The name of Christ, the nature 

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of Christ, the character of 
Christ who He is, reigns 

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supreme. 
And when He does, you give 

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thanks. 
That's why we say that 

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Thanksgiving reveals our 
condition spiritually. 

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When the peace of Christ rules, 
when the word of Christ resides,

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and when the name of Christ 
reigns, thankfulness just spews 

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out. 
Now having said that, how is it 

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possible for anyone at any time,
no matter how adverse the 

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circumstance, no matter how bad 
the battle, no matter how severe

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the suffering, can one be 
thankful? 

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Well, This is why you will be so
glad you came today. 

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I'm going to give you 7 
principles that will help you 

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understand how I can obey the 
command of God to be thankful in

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everything so that my life of 
adoration becomes a model that 

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exemplifies Jesus Christ my 
Lord. 

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Follow through with me very 
carefully. 

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Number one, I am thankful 
always, at all times in 

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everything for a throne that is 
graceful. 

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A throne that is graceful. 
You know the verse Hebrews 

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chapter 4, verse #16 Therefore, 
let us draw near with confidence

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to the throne of grace so that 
we may receive mercy and find 

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grace to help in time of need. 
There is a throne, it's heaven's

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throne, and it's where the King 
himself sits. 

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It's called the throne of grace.
And I'm able to go there 

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confidently when I am in need of
God's grace to be poured out in 

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my life. 
We are saved by grace, for, you 

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know, the grace of our Lord 
Jesus Christ. 

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And that though he was rich, yet
for your sakes he became poor. 

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Why set you through his poverty 
might become rich? 

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2nd Corinthians 8 verse #9 For 
by grace are you safe to faith? 

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We're saved by grace. 
We're strengthened by grace. 

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Second Timothy 2 verse #1 Be 
strong in the grace that is in 

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Christ Jesus. 
You can read Titus chapter 2 

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verses 11 the following We we 
are sanctified by grace. 

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Everything about our lives comes
because of free sovereign favor 

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that God gives to the ill 
deserving. 

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That's that's Benjamin 
Warfield's definition of grace, 

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God's free favor, free sovereign
favor that he gives to the ill 

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deserving. 
The Bible is so replete with 

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God's wonderful grace. 
Listen to what the Lord says to 

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the pen of Isaiah and Isaiah 30 
verse #18 Therefore the Lord 

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longs to be gracious to you. 
Imagine that the Lord longs to 

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be gracious to you, and 
therefore He waits on high to 

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have compassion on you. 
For the Lord is a God of 

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justice. 
How blessed are all those who 

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long for Him. 
The Lord waits on high to have 

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compassion upon you. 
He wants you to come to the 

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throne of grace because He longs
to show you His loving kindness.

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He wants to be gracious to you. 
And so the right of Hebrews 

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tells us we can go to that 
throne with confidence, knowing 

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that God will bestow grace upon 
us. 

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There's a throne that is 
graceful. 

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That's why I can be thankful in 
everything, because I need God's

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grace to sustain me. 
I need God's grace that's 

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sufficient for me from 
day-to-day. 

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I need God's grace to strengthen
me from day-to-day. 

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I can't make it without God's 
grace. 

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And there's a throne that is 
graceful, where the God of grace

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sits and waits because he so 
desperately longs. 

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To be gracious to you, let's 
know what Peter says. 

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Peter said that this way in 
first Peter 5 verse #10 he says 

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after you have suffered for a 
little while. 

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How long is that? 
I have no idea because heaven 

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has no clock, has no calendar, 
so I don't know how long a 

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little while is. 
The peace is after you've 

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suffered a little while. 
The God of grace, the God of 

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grace who sits on the throne of 
grace, who longs to be gracious 

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to you, the God of grace who 
calls you to his eternal glory 

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in Christ, will Himself perfect,
confirm, strengthen, and 

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establish you. 
That's what God wants to do. 

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He wants first of all, to 
perfect you. 

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He wants to to restore that 
which is missing. 

253
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He wants to take that which is 
broken and put it together. 

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00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:36,080
He wants to establish you. 
He wants to make you solid as 

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granted. 
He wants to strengthen you. 

256
00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:40,120
He wants to fill you with 
strength. 

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He wants to settle you so you 
have a firm foundation. 

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What God wants to do, someone 
comes along as well. 

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I know the God of grace. 
I've I've gone to the throne of 

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grace. 
I, I've begged for grace and, 

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and and and I haven't received 
grace. 

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Well, Peter answers that when he
says this. 

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God is opposed to the proud, but
he gives grace to the humble. 

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If you're not experiencing God's
grace, it's because of your own 

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pride for the humble person God 
just longs to be gracious to. 

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00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:25,760
So there's a throne that is 
graceful so I can give thanks in

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everything because that throne 
is always available for me to 

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approach confidently #2 Not only
is there a throne that is 

269
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graceful, there is a hope that 
is delightful, a hope that is 

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delightful. 
Hope is not guesswork. 

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Hope is not speculation. 
Hope is assurance. 

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In the Bible, it's it's a 
conviction that God will fulfill

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00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:02,760
every promise. 
It's the anticipation of every 

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00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:06,680
promise that God gives will be 
accomplished in the life of His 

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own. 
Listen to what Paul says in 

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Romans chapter 8. 
He says in Romans 8 verse #24 

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For in hope we have been saved, 
but hope that is seen as not 

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hope for who hopes for what is 
already sees. 

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00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:25,200
But if we hope for what we do 
not see with perseverance, we 

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wait eagerly for it. 
Then he goes on to say verse 

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00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:35,360
#828 for we know that all things
work together for good to those 

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00:23:35,360 --> 00:23:39,080
who love God in a called 
according to his purpose. 

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00:23:39,880 --> 00:23:46,120
Why he tells you he says for 
those who he foreknew verse 29. 

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00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:50,000
He predestined to become 
conformed to the image of his 

285
00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:52,400
son. 
See, there's a hope that's 

286
00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:54,040
delightful. 
What's the hope? 

287
00:23:54,600 --> 00:23:56,600
The hope is not going to be 
conformed to the image of his 

288
00:23:56,600 --> 00:24:00,400
Son, and God will use any 
measure to make sure that my 

289
00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:05,320
life represents him to the best 
way possible. 

290
00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:10,600
And God will stop at nothing to 
to make you, to mold you, to 

291
00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:16,640
form you, to be this best 
representative on earth. 

292
00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:21,040
So God does that. 
There's a hope that is 

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00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:32,160
delightful because it's a throne
that is graceful #3 There is an 

294
00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:40,160
advocate that is needful, an 
advocate that is needful. 

295
00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:43,840
What is John saying in first 
John chapter 2? 

296
00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:47,960
He says in verse #1 My little 
children, I am writing these 

297
00:24:47,960 --> 00:24:50,520
things to you so that you may 
not sin. 

298
00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:55,760
And if anyone sins, we have an 
advocate with the Father, Jesus 

299
00:24:56,040 --> 00:25:01,480
Christ the righteous. 
You know, so many times in the 

300
00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:05,400
midst of our trial, in the midst
of our tomorrow, there is sin 

301
00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:10,880
that occurs, but we have an 
advocate that's absolutely 

302
00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:12,480
needful. 
Now, here's here's the key 

303
00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:17,880
point. 
We have a advocate in heaven and

304
00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:24,000
we have an advocate in our heart
because the word for advocate is

305
00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:28,080
paracletos. 
Same word used of how Christ 

306
00:25:28,080 --> 00:25:33,000
describes the Spirit of God. 
When he says that I'm going to 

307
00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:39,240
send to you another comforter, 
another paracletos, another 

308
00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:43,600
advocate. 
So you have an advocate in your 

309
00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:49,800
heart, right? 
An advocate in your heart who 

310
00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:54,760
soothes you in your 
difficulties, and an advocate in

311
00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:59,560
heaven who speaks in our 
defense. 

312
00:26:01,120 --> 00:26:02,440
We have an advocate that's 
needful. 

313
00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:06,800
That's why I can give thanks and
everything because there's a 

314
00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:09,680
throne that that's graceful that
I can approach at any time. 

315
00:26:11,120 --> 00:26:13,120
And there's a hope that's 
delightful because God's doing 

316
00:26:13,120 --> 00:26:15,640
something unique and special in 
my life that I have no idea what

317
00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:21,000
He's going to do, but I hope in 
the hope of His promises. 

318
00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:29,640
And I have an advocate that will
soothe me from the inside my 

319
00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:37,320
heart and speak for me on the 
outside in heaven, because Satan

320
00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:41,960
is the accuser of the brethren, 
and Christ is my great defense. 

321
00:26:43,760 --> 00:26:46,000
That's how I know I can give 
thanks in everything. 

322
00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:50,200
But it gets better. 
Not only is there a throne that 

323
00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:52,600
is graceful, hope that is 
delightful, and advocate is 

324
00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:56,240
needful, there is a new life 
that is meaningful. 

325
00:26:57,240 --> 00:26:59,760
If any man be in Christ, he is a
new creation. 

326
00:26:59,960 --> 00:27:01,840
All things have passed away. 
Behold, all things have become 

327
00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:03,560
new. 
There's a new life that's 

328
00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:04,960
meaningful. 
How can I give thanks and 

329
00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:08,280
everything? 
Because Christ gave me his life.

330
00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:14,560
Christ, who is my life? 
Colossians 3 verse #3 He's my 

331
00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:18,760
life. 
And listen, it is a meaningful 

332
00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:22,960
life. 
So it's so important to realize 

333
00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:26,160
that there's a new life that's 
meaningful. 

334
00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:30,080
I've been saved by His grace. 
I'm a child of the living God. 

335
00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:32,400
Therefore, listen. 
Listen. 

336
00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:38,800
As Christians, we don't find 
meaning in our education. 

337
00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:41,320
We don't find meaning in our 
job. 

338
00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:43,840
We don't find meaning in our 
marriage. 

339
00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:45,840
We don't find meaning in our 
children. 

340
00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:48,200
We don't find meaning in my bank
account. 

341
00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:51,080
Those are all temporary things 
that come and go. 

342
00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:55,960
You find meaning only in Jesus 
Christ our Lord. 

343
00:27:56,360 --> 00:27:59,400
He gives you meaning. 
He gives you significance. 

344
00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:02,480
He gives you everything you long
for because He's the God of the 

345
00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:08,840
universe and He's your God. 
And therefore you don't find 

346
00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:12,200
meaning in your work, in your 
money, in your marriage. 

347
00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:17,120
You bring meaning to your work. 
You bring meaning to your 

348
00:28:17,120 --> 00:28:19,680
marriage. 
You bring meaning to your 

349
00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:22,880
workplace, to your school. 
You bring meaning to everybody 

350
00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:25,320
you come in contact with because
you have a new life. 

351
00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:29,040
So now you have a new life 
that's meaningful. 

352
00:28:29,040 --> 00:28:31,880
So in the midst of whatever it 
is you're going through, realize

353
00:28:31,880 --> 00:28:34,840
that you're a child of the 
living God whose life is 

354
00:28:34,840 --> 00:28:38,360
completely and totally 
meaningful, not because of you, 

355
00:28:38,360 --> 00:28:41,240
but because of Christ. 
And I'm going to bring meaning 

356
00:28:41,240 --> 00:28:44,200
to that environment, that 
difficulty, that hardship, to 

357
00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:46,880
whoever it may be and whoever it
affects. 

358
00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:52,520
That's how I can give thanks. 
Thank you, Lord, for a new life 

359
00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:56,760
in Christ. 
Thank you for a throne that I 

360
00:28:56,760 --> 00:29:02,200
can approach, Thank you that I 
have an advocate in my heart and

361
00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:07,360
in heaven. 
And thank you, Lord, that my 

362
00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:14,960
hope is fixed on you. 
This is the will of God, that 

363
00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:20,960
you give thanks in everything. 
How there's a throne that is 

364
00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:26,120
graceful, a hope that is 
delightful, an advocate is 

365
00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:36,680
needful, a new life that is 
meaningful #5-A king who is 

366
00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:42,640
powerful. 
A king who is powerful. 

367
00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:49,240
Psalm 6211. 
Power belongs to God. 

368
00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:55,240
He is the king of all kings. 
He is the Lord of all Lords. 

369
00:29:56,560 --> 00:30:02,560
And Isaiah 96, he's called the 
AL Gabor, the Almighty God in 

370
00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:06,360
the Book of Revelation 9 times. 
He's called the Pantocrator the 

371
00:30:06,440 --> 00:30:13,200
Almighty. 
He's my king and my king is all 

372
00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:20,440
powerful. 
Jeremiah 3217 says, Behold, thou

373
00:30:20,440 --> 00:30:25,080
has made the heavens and the 
earth by thy great power, 

374
00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:36,200
therefore nothing is too 
difficult for thee, nothing he 

375
00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:38,640
is able to do. 
Ephesians 320 exceeding 

376
00:30:38,960 --> 00:30:44,520
abundantly above all that we 
ever ask or think, according to 

377
00:30:45,320 --> 00:30:53,160
the power that works in US. 
There's a power that works in us

378
00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:56,720
because we serve a king who is 
powerful. 

379
00:30:57,760 --> 00:31:00,880
That's why 2nd Corinthians 69 
says the eyes of the Lord search

380
00:31:00,880 --> 00:31:04,640
to and fro throughout all the 
earth, so that he might 

381
00:31:05,360 --> 00:31:12,960
strengthen, give power to those 
whose hearts are completely His.

382
00:31:12,960 --> 00:31:20,040
That's what God wants to do. 
That's how God does that, so I 

383
00:31:20,040 --> 00:31:24,480
can give thanks in everything 
because there's a throne that is

384
00:31:24,480 --> 00:31:29,080
graceful, there's a hope that is
delightful. 

385
00:31:30,640 --> 00:31:35,120
There's an advocate that was 
needful, a new life that is 

386
00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:40,200
meaningful, a king who is 
powerful. 

387
00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:53,360
Number six, there's a father who
is merciful, a father who is 

388
00:31:53,360 --> 00:32:00,000
merciful, the Bible says over in
Second Corinthians chapter 1, 

389
00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:04,480
blessed be the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the 

390
00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:10,680
Father of mercies. 
God doesn't have mercy. 

391
00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:17,680
God is mercy. 
That's there's a big difference 

392
00:32:17,680 --> 00:32:20,720
there. 
God doesn't have love. 

393
00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:23,520
He is love doesn't have grace. 
He is grace. 

394
00:32:23,800 --> 00:32:28,960
That's who He is the Father of 
mercies and God of all comfort, 

395
00:32:29,080 --> 00:32:32,400
who comforts us in all our 
affliction so that we will be 

396
00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:35,280
able to comfort those who are in
any affliction with the comfort 

397
00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:38,800
with which we ourselves are 
comforted by God. 

398
00:32:40,640 --> 00:32:45,360
He, he's called the Father of 
mercies, and so how can I give 

399
00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:48,680
thanks and everything is because
I have a Father in heaven who's 

400
00:32:48,720 --> 00:32:54,800
absolutely, truly merciful to 
me. 

401
00:32:56,960 --> 00:33:00,120
God's grace is for those who are
guilty. 

402
00:33:00,120 --> 00:33:04,040
God's mercy is for those who are
miserable. 

403
00:33:05,520 --> 00:33:08,000
And that's why God's mercy is so
great. 

404
00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:09,000
Ephesians 2. 
Four. 

405
00:33:09,440 --> 00:33:13,760
He is rich in mercy. 
Hebrews 27 Christ is called our 

406
00:33:13,760 --> 00:33:19,200
merciful and faithful high 
priest in Psalm 136. 

407
00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:25,640
Every verse ends with his 
mercies endure forever because 

408
00:33:25,640 --> 00:33:27,640
there's a Father who is 
merciful. 

409
00:33:27,760 --> 00:33:35,000
Listen to what the psalmist did.
Psalm 69, verse #13 But As for 

410
00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:38,880
me, my prayer is to You, O Lord,
at an acceptable time. 

411
00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:43,280
O God, in the greatness of Your 
mercy, answer me with Your 

412
00:33:43,280 --> 00:33:46,280
saving truth. 
Deliver me from the mire, and do

413
00:33:46,280 --> 00:33:49,800
not let me sink. 
May I be delivered from my foes 

414
00:33:49,800 --> 00:33:52,760
and from the deep waters. 
May the flood of water not 

415
00:33:52,760 --> 00:33:56,400
overflow me, nor the deep 
swallow me up, nor the pit shut 

416
00:33:56,400 --> 00:33:59,640
its mouth on me. 
Answer me, O Lord, for Your 

417
00:33:59,640 --> 00:34:03,840
mercy is good according to the 
greatness of your compassion. 

418
00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:14,400
Turn to me, the psalmist did He 
approached the God of mercies so

419
00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:17,280
that the waters would not 
overflow him, the grave would 

420
00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:22,840
not swallow him. 
Who else do you go to but the 

421
00:34:22,840 --> 00:34:28,040
Father of mercies? 
And then over in, in Psalm 86, 

422
00:34:29,040 --> 00:34:31,840
first number one, incline your 
ear, O Lord, and answer me, for 

423
00:34:31,840 --> 00:34:35,239
I am afflicted and needy. 
Preserve my soul, for I am a 

424
00:34:35,239 --> 00:34:38,920
godly man. 
O you my God, save your servant 

425
00:34:38,920 --> 00:34:42,639
who trusts in you. 
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for 

426
00:34:42,639 --> 00:34:46,400
to you I cry all day long. 
Make me glad or make glad the 

427
00:34:46,400 --> 00:34:51,639
soul of your servant. 
For to you, O Lord, I lift up my

428
00:34:51,639 --> 00:34:55,159
soul. 
For you, Lord, are good and 

429
00:34:55,159 --> 00:35:01,360
ready to forgive and abundant in
mercy to all who call upon you. 

430
00:35:02,680 --> 00:35:06,240
He's abundant in mercy to those 
who call upon him. 

431
00:35:07,320 --> 00:35:10,200
Verse 11 Teach me your ways, O 
Lord, I will walk in your truth,

432
00:35:10,200 --> 00:35:11,480
unite my heart to fear your 
name. 

433
00:35:11,600 --> 00:35:15,720
I will give thanks to you, O 
Lord my God, with all my heart, 

434
00:35:16,120 --> 00:35:17,800
and will glorify your name 
forever. 

435
00:35:17,800 --> 00:35:22,880
For your loving kindness or your
mercy toward me is great, and 

436
00:35:22,880 --> 00:35:27,280
You have delivered my soul from 
the depths of Sheol. 

437
00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:33,800
This is so good. 
It's the mercy of God, the 

438
00:35:33,800 --> 00:35:38,200
Father of mercies. 
That's why I can be thankful in 

439
00:35:38,200 --> 00:35:41,080
everything. 
I have a Father who is 

440
00:35:41,080 --> 00:35:44,840
absolutely merciful. 
The Bible says He's abundant in 

441
00:35:44,840 --> 00:35:49,160
mercy. 
Psalm 90. 

442
00:35:52,720 --> 00:36:02,000
Psalm 90, verse #14 O, satisfy 
us in the morning with Your 

443
00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:08,720
mercy, that we may sing for joy,
and be glad all our days. 

444
00:36:09,960 --> 00:36:12,040
And then he says something very,
very interesting. 

445
00:36:12,040 --> 00:36:16,160
Let's know what He says. 
Make us glad according to the 

446
00:36:16,160 --> 00:36:26,240
days you have afflicted us and 
the years we have seen evil. 

447
00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:31,640
The psalmist says. 
In the morning you show mercy, 

448
00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:36,480
in the morning you give mercy, 
and we shout for joy, and our 

449
00:36:36,480 --> 00:36:40,440
hearts are glad. 
But Lord, make us glad according

450
00:36:40,440 --> 00:36:45,520
to the days in which we were 
afflicted. 

451
00:36:47,280 --> 00:36:52,320
You see, there's something about
affliction that draws you so 

452
00:36:52,320 --> 00:36:55,360
close to the Lord that without 
affliction you would never 

453
00:36:55,360 --> 00:36:59,360
experience it. 
There's something about 

454
00:36:59,360 --> 00:37:06,920
suffering, hardship, difficulty,
pain that does something that 

455
00:37:06,920 --> 00:37:13,200
nothing else on earth can do. 
It drives the believer to the 

456
00:37:13,200 --> 00:37:18,760
Father of mercies. 
Why? 

457
00:37:20,000 --> 00:37:25,920
Because there the throne of 
grace, mercy is dispensed. 

458
00:37:27,600 --> 00:37:33,040
So there's a throne that is 
grateful, There is a hope that 

459
00:37:33,040 --> 00:37:36,480
is delightful. 
There is an advocate that was 

460
00:37:36,480 --> 00:37:39,000
needful, a new light that's 
meaningful. 

461
00:37:39,000 --> 00:37:41,280
A king was powerful, a father 
was merciful. 

462
00:37:43,520 --> 00:37:46,440
And the number seven, I'm sorry,
did I say 7 earlier? 

463
00:37:46,520 --> 00:37:47,320
There's really eight. 
Sorry. 

464
00:37:47,320 --> 00:37:52,240
You go pastor, there's really 
10. 

465
00:37:52,240 --> 00:37:56,680
No, that's not true. 
There's an unspeakable gift that

466
00:37:56,680 --> 00:38:04,920
is wonderful thanks being to God
for his unspeakable gift, the 

467
00:38:04,920 --> 00:38:09,320
gift of eternal life. 
It's not eternal life is not 

468
00:38:09,320 --> 00:38:12,720
longevity of life, although it 
does last forever. 

469
00:38:14,120 --> 00:38:20,720
Eternal life is, is knowing 
Christ, John 17 verse #3 this is

470
00:38:20,720 --> 00:38:29,160
eternal life that they may know 
the one true God and Jesus 

471
00:38:29,160 --> 00:38:34,280
Christ who now has sent eternal 
life is quality of life. 

472
00:38:35,920 --> 00:38:38,160
And so there's an unspeakable 
gift that's wonderful. 

473
00:38:38,160 --> 00:38:42,240
How wonderful is it? 
It's the gift of God's eternal 

474
00:38:42,240 --> 00:38:46,120
life. 
And so I can give thanks to God 

475
00:38:46,120 --> 00:38:50,440
in everything, because what I'm 
experiencing right now is only a

476
00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:53,400
a blip on the screen of 
eternity. 

477
00:38:56,200 --> 00:39:05,000
I will one day spend all my 
glory days with my God because 

478
00:39:05,000 --> 00:39:09,000
He's given me the gift of 
eternal life that comes only 

479
00:39:09,000 --> 00:39:16,360
through His Son, Jesus Christ. 
So how can I give thanks and 

480
00:39:16,360 --> 00:39:22,480
everything? 
How does someone like Erica 

481
00:39:22,480 --> 00:39:27,360
Kirk, after the assassination of
her husband this past week, how 

482
00:39:27,360 --> 00:39:29,080
does she give thanks and 
everything? 

483
00:39:30,720 --> 00:39:35,120
What would you tell her? 
How would you encourage her to 

484
00:39:35,120 --> 00:39:36,960
give thanks? 
How would you encourage a loved 

485
00:39:36,960 --> 00:39:40,720
one who is going through great 
bouts of suffering? 

486
00:39:43,080 --> 00:39:47,760
You show them there's a throne 
that's absolutely graceful, 

487
00:39:49,080 --> 00:39:52,040
There's a hope that's 
delightful. 

488
00:39:53,240 --> 00:39:55,160
There's an advocate who is 
needful. 

489
00:39:56,880 --> 00:40:00,480
There is a new life that is 
meaningful. 

490
00:40:02,480 --> 00:40:10,920
There's a king who is powerful, 
a father who is merciful, an 

491
00:40:10,920 --> 00:40:12,720
unspeakable gift that is 
wonderful. 

492
00:40:14,760 --> 00:40:18,840
Lastly, there's a Lord who is 
faithful. 

493
00:40:22,040 --> 00:40:27,720
A Lord who is faithful, Paul 
says in First Thessalonians 524,

494
00:40:28,240 --> 00:40:32,840
Faithful is he who calls you, 
and he also will bring it to 

495
00:40:32,840 --> 00:40:38,360
pass. 
Psalm 33, four says, For the 

496
00:40:38,360 --> 00:40:42,560
word of the Lord is righteous in
all his works. 

497
00:40:43,760 --> 00:40:48,360
All of them are done in 
faithfulness. 

498
00:40:51,280 --> 00:40:56,080
Isaiah 11 verse #5 says 
faithfulness is the belt around 

499
00:40:56,080 --> 00:40:59,200
His waist. 
In other words, faithfulness 

500
00:40:59,200 --> 00:41:02,200
ties all of His attributes 
together. 

501
00:41:04,920 --> 00:41:13,280
And then Psalm 37 three says 
feed securely on His 

502
00:41:13,280 --> 00:41:17,000
faithfulness. 
In other words, your food. 

503
00:41:17,920 --> 00:41:19,880
Spiritually speaking, this is 
faithfulness. 

504
00:41:22,800 --> 00:41:32,000
Hebrews 10/23 says he who 
promised is faithful, and then 

505
00:41:32,000 --> 00:41:35,000
Second Thessalonians chapter 3 
verse #3 says the Lord is 

506
00:41:35,000 --> 00:41:44,920
faithful and He will strengthen 
and protect you from the evil. 1

507
00:41:47,040 --> 00:41:55,760
the Lord who is faithful. 
The psalmist Psalm 119 said 

508
00:41:55,760 --> 00:42:01,920
this. 
I know, O Lord, that your 

509
00:42:01,920 --> 00:42:08,080
judgments are righteous. 
So I ask you, do you know that? 

510
00:42:10,200 --> 00:42:12,560
Do you know that God's judgments
are righteous? 

511
00:42:13,800 --> 00:42:17,120
He's a righteous God. 
All of his judgments are done in

512
00:42:17,120 --> 00:42:23,360
righteousness. 
And God is a faithful God, so 

513
00:42:23,360 --> 00:42:27,120
his righteous judgments are 
faithful judgments. 

514
00:42:28,600 --> 00:42:30,960
So the psalmist says in Psalm 
1/19/75. 

515
00:42:30,960 --> 00:42:36,080
I know, O Lord, that Your 
judgments are righteous and in 

516
00:42:36,560 --> 00:42:43,280
faithfulness You have afflicted 
me. 

517
00:42:45,480 --> 00:42:49,120
The psalmist knew his affliction
was because of God's 

518
00:42:49,120 --> 00:42:53,880
faithfulness. 
Well, why would God and His 

519
00:42:53,880 --> 00:42:57,560
faithfulness afflict you? 
The psalmist answers that 

520
00:42:57,560 --> 00:43:00,520
question too. 
Verse 67. 

521
00:43:01,520 --> 00:43:06,720
Before I was afflicted, I went 
astray, but now I keep Your 

522
00:43:06,720 --> 00:43:10,040
word. 
Lord, You are so faithful to 

523
00:43:10,040 --> 00:43:11,080
afflict me. 
Why? 

524
00:43:11,400 --> 00:43:14,080
Because before I was afflicted, 
I just did whatever I wanted to 

525
00:43:14,080 --> 00:43:16,840
do. 
I went my own way. 

526
00:43:18,880 --> 00:43:26,720
But now because of affliction, I
keep your word. 

527
00:43:28,360 --> 00:43:36,120
And then he says in verse 71, It
is good for me that I was 

528
00:43:36,120 --> 00:43:42,640
afflicted, that I might learn 
your statutes. 

529
00:43:44,600 --> 00:43:49,640
Without affliction, you'll never
learn the statutes of God. 

530
00:43:51,560 --> 00:43:57,000
So God is doing everything He 
can to bring you closer to Him. 

531
00:43:58,560 --> 00:44:02,360
And so unfaithfulness, because 
His judgments are always 

532
00:44:02,360 --> 00:44:09,360
righteous. 
He afflicts you so that you'll 

533
00:44:09,360 --> 00:44:14,760
no longer go your own way, but 
that you'll keep His word and 

534
00:44:14,760 --> 00:44:19,320
that you'll learn all you can 
about him, because without that 

535
00:44:19,320 --> 00:44:30,160
affliction you would not learn. 
So if you are astute, you know 

536
00:44:31,360 --> 00:44:39,440
that that was an acrostic for 
the word thankful, so that in 

537
00:44:39,440 --> 00:44:44,800
everything you can give thanks, 
you can obey that command. 

538
00:44:45,360 --> 00:44:49,600
Isn't it interesting that Paul 
never tells him what I told you 

539
00:44:49,600 --> 00:44:52,320
today? 
But he didn't have to. 

540
00:44:52,320 --> 00:44:56,240
He didn't tell them how to 
rejoice always. 

541
00:44:57,280 --> 00:44:58,600
He just told them to rejoice 
always. 

542
00:44:59,840 --> 00:45:04,120
Didn't tell them how to pray 
without ceasing and didn't tell 

543
00:45:04,120 --> 00:45:07,240
them how to give thanks in 
everything, even though this is 

544
00:45:07,240 --> 00:45:11,640
God's will for you. 
Because the First Thessalonians 

545
00:45:11,640 --> 00:45:18,120
213 and that is when they heard 
the Word of God, they knew it 

546
00:45:18,120 --> 00:45:22,800
was God's holy word and they 
just put out the welcome mat and

547
00:45:22,800 --> 00:45:28,400
received it as God's word and 
they welcomed it with joy. 

548
00:45:31,040 --> 00:45:35,880
I want all of us to be able to 
give thanks and everything 

549
00:45:37,360 --> 00:45:41,960
because this is the will of God 
for you and for me. 

550
00:45:43,000 --> 00:45:45,880
And May God give us the grace to
accomplish that. 

551
00:45:45,880 --> 00:45:50,000
Let's pray together. 
Lord God, we thank you for this 

552
00:45:50,000 --> 00:45:55,960
day, Lord, so much, so much to 
address and talk about. 

553
00:45:57,160 --> 00:46:01,400
So little time seems to do it, 
to do it all. 

554
00:46:02,640 --> 00:46:05,440
And yet, Lord you, you've given 
us your precious word. 

555
00:46:07,680 --> 00:46:09,880
I pray and word for everyone in 
the room today. 

556
00:46:09,880 --> 00:46:15,480
I don't know what but hardship 
or pain or difficulty things are

557
00:46:15,480 --> 00:46:17,920
going, people are going through 
in this, in this, in this room. 

558
00:46:19,320 --> 00:46:23,480
But Lord, you know, and you long
to be gracious to them. 

559
00:46:24,560 --> 00:46:28,760
You wait on high to show 
compassion upon them. 

560
00:46:30,760 --> 00:46:32,840
That's you. 
That's what you do. 

561
00:46:34,560 --> 00:46:41,640
And our prayer, Father, is that 
we would be a thankful people no

562
00:46:41,640 --> 00:46:44,920
matter what the situation, no 
matter what the circumstance, no

563
00:46:44,920 --> 00:46:51,280
matter how bad the turmoil, no 
matter how deep the water, how 

564
00:46:51,280 --> 00:46:57,400
gross the grave maybe truly give
thanks to you and everything, 

565
00:46:58,760 --> 00:47:02,280
for this is the will of God in 
Christ Jesus concerning each and

566
00:47:02,280 --> 00:47:09,240
every one of us. 
So we thank you for today as we 

567
00:47:09,240 --> 00:47:13,280
leave, maybe leave differently 
than when we arrived. 

568
00:47:14,440 --> 00:47:22,160
Maybe say I'm so glad to have 
come today to worship the King 

569
00:47:23,680 --> 00:47:25,800
in Jesus name, Amen.