Ephesians 5:16-20 “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

Introduction: In the verses preceding vs 20, and including vs 20, we see Paul giving good, wise, practical advice for the believer. According to this verse, we are to be giving thanks to God always for all things. A day of Thanksgiving should not only be observed once a year, a day of thanksgiving towards God should be an everyday attitude for the believer, “always for all things”. So what are some things that we can give thanks to God for, on a daily basis or this thanksgiving? 

We can always give thanks to God for: 

1. Our Salvation- Our salvation is something to always thank God for, not only do we have the hope of spending eternity with God in heaven after we die. But after we believe by faith in Jesus Christ, and we are IN Christ, we get other great benefits here on this earth. 
   • • A Personal Relationship with Jesus Christ- Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” 
     • A new life- II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away behold, all things are become new”. 
     • No Condemnation- no guilt over past life- Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit”. 
     • The Fruit of the Spirit- Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (control/restraint)”. 

2. The Mercy of God- Psalm 107:1 “O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever”. Mercy is being treated better than we deserve- (to treat an offender better than he deserves- to forbear punishment or inflict less than law or justice will warrant). Mercy causes an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries. 

1. • I Timothy 1:13 “who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief”. God decides who he is going to be merciful to and who he is not, in this case Paul obtained much needed mercy from God. 
     • Blasphemer- Paul had insulted, cursed and railed the name of Christ.  
     • Persecutor- Paul was set against all believers, to get rid of them all. 
     • Injurious- To be brutal and violent and to enjoy it. 
     • Acts 26:9-11- This is what Paul was doing.
     • Micah 7:18 “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoners iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retainers not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy”. (He has great pleasure in mercy)
   • I Timothy 1:16 “for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting”. Christ Jesus saved Paul (the chief sinner) as an example of His great mercy. 
     • A pattern to unbelievers- no matter how terrible his sin, he can be saved if he will only receive Jesus Christ. 
     • A pattern to believers- any believer can be delivered from sin and the power of sin, no matter how enslaved he may be. 

3. His Supply- Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”. 

1. • One of the greatest promises in the Bible for you and me is this, God promised to supply all the needs of His dear people. 
     • The great provider- “my God” God himself. No matter the need, the need is not greater than God. We have to trust and depend upon “my God” to supply the need. 
     • The great assurance- “shall supply” there is no question about the provision being supplied. God is able and will supply whatever His child needs. 
     • The great provision- “all your need” Not only food, clothes, and shelter, but also mental, emotional, and spiritual. No need is too big or too little for God. 
     • The great resource- “according to HIs riches in glory”. There is no limit with God. Take all the riches and wealth of God, it is all available to meet our needs. 
   • Nehemiah 9:15 “And gavest them bread form heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst” 

4. Other Believers- II Thessalonians 2:13 “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord”. Romans 6:17 “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which delivered you”. We should always be thanking God for people that get saved and turn from sin to righteousness. These people become our brethren and they are a help to us. 

• Other believers are always a help physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They encourage us, strengthen us, edify us, pray for us.    
• The elder’s reaction to Paul’s leaving: Acts 20:17 & 36-38. 
  • Vs 19 Paul served along with other believers in tears and temptations 
  • Vs 20 & 27 Paul taught them and declared the whole counsel of God 
  • Vs 35 showed them to support the weak 
• David needed Jonathan- I Samuel 23:15-18 “strengthened his hand in God”. Using the Bible to be a help to other believers in need is what we need. 

Conclusion: Has God been good to you? God is worthy of our thanksgiving yet many times we forget to give Him thanks for everything. Other times we only thank Him for some things and for others. It would be a good thing if this Thanksgiving Day we look back and thank God for everything that we have. It would be a great thing, if we thank God not only on Thanksgiving Day but as Ephesians 6:20 says, “always for all things”.