Two Little Words

November 23, 2014
Two Little Words

1Thessalonians 1-10            NOTES NOT EDITED

SIS – “Thank You!” are two little words that have practical value and eternal significance.

Shari and I raised (are still involved as consultants) two children. We have spent our lives involved with youth and children in church, through a private preschool in our home, and through the preschool at church. One of the most basic instructions you will hear if you are around children and their parents is this: "Did you say, Thank You?" I don't think we realize how ubiquitous this idea of "gratitude" is in our culture--at least in theory anyway. "Thank You" were the two earliest words I spoke I am sure--just after "no" and "mine." My parents were sticklers on "gratitude." I had more than one "talking to" when I failed to show proper gratitude for some act of kindness bestowed upon me. Gratitude is really a very "religious" concept. In fact, one of the significant offerings in the Book of Leviticus was the "thank offering" (Lev. 22:29). "Thank You!" doesn't even seem to approach an adequate response in regard to what Jesus Christ did for me (for us all) when He sacrificed Himself on the cross so that I could have eternal life. How can "Two Little Words" adequately repay Jesus for such kindness! Well, when those "Two Little Words" become an over-arching attitude in life represented by appropriate actions, at least we are headed in the right direction.

Thanksgiving is all about “eating”—a lot of eating.  I am thankful for my wife.  As with many wives she will start preparing the Thanksgiving Day meal days in advance.  She will stay up late the night before, and awake early Thanksgiving Day and cook right up to mealtime.  What took her days to prepare, will be devoured in only minutes!  We owe our wives a great debt of gratitude for cooking.

I once remember Phyllis Diller—not known for her domestic skills—saying that “My cooking is so bad my family thinks Thanksgiving Day is set aside to commemorate the bombing of Pearl Harbor.”

We celebrate Thanksgiving Day to show our gratitude for the good favor of God that falls upon our lives.  It has become a tradition that the President of the United States, who has the power to pardon those condemned to die, pardons a turkey slated for someone’s dinner table.  It was last year, or maybe the year before, that Obama followed this tradition and pardoned a turkey from California.  The President was shocked when the turkey turned down the pardon.  The turkey scratched out a letter saying, “Thank you for your kindness Mr. President but I don’t need a pardon—I need a job!”

When you think about it, the turkey has a point.  Having a job is certainly something for which to be thankful.  In fact, the list of things we can be thankful for is nearly endless.  I’d go a step further even saying that “thanksgiving” is not an act, but an attitude—a driving force in life.  As I was reading in preparation for this week’s sermon I came across a great perspective on “gratitude” from a lady named, Nancy Demoss.  Here’s what she had to say,

"I'd like to coin a new word for those who may be deficient in the gratitude department (which includes all of us from time to time). I'm calling for ‘gratitudinal change.' . . . . When gratitude becomes your default setting, life changes... the whole world looks different when you see it through gratitude-colored glasses. A problem that used to bury you now takes its rightful place behind twenty other blessings that are bigger than it'll ever be. A recurring issue that once brought out a whole range of pent-up emotions now only produces a new excuse for praising God with greater fervor than ever, knowing He is more than true and trustworthy."

I think Ms. Demoss nails it.  “Thank You!” are two little words that have practical value and eternal significance.  Let’s read what the Apostle Paul set forth as the Holy Spirit moved upon him.

READ 1Thessalonians 1:1-10

Paul began every one of his letters to the churches with a note of thanksgiving except one—that was the Galatian church that was being lead by worldly men who had their own agenda for salvation and had discarded God’s plan of grace.  Yet, except for The Church at Galatia Paul seemed to not be able to say “Thank You” enough.  In fact, in 1Thessalonians Paul mentions thanksgiving in 3 out of 5 chapters.  Let’s survey what Paul said about the “Two Little Words.”

1.  True thanksgiving has an ETERNAL element (vv 2-3)

Verses 2 and 3 of this first chapter of 1Thessalonians contain one the most important issues in regard to “gratitude.”

² We always thank God for all of you, remembering you constantly in our prayers. ³ We recall, in the presence of our God and Father,  your work of faith,  labor of love, and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ

In the letter writing style of First Century Greek culture it was customary to include some type of blessing or thanksgiving.  In Greek form Paul (along with Silvanus, or Silas, and Timothy) gave his name as the writer, and also the name of those to whom he was writing.  He then added a blessing.  As often was the case, the writer would add a note of thanksgiving.  Paul went much further than just what was customary.  As I said above, Paul mentions his gratitude in three of the five chapters of this Book of Thessalonians. 

Paul truly loved this church, which he had established on his second missionary journey.  It was his “baby,” so to speak.  He, like a proud father, mentions there excellence in regard to “faith, love, and hope” (v3).  Paul genuinely admired the spiritual passion of this group of believers—and he says so.  But, here’s an interesting point that we need to highlight—Paul did not give thanks “to” the Thessalonians, but “to” Almighty God.  “We always thank GOD.”  I find this to be very interesting and very important.  True gratitude has an “Eternal Quality” to it.  It is something more than “deep appreciation for a kindness bestowed upon us.”  It goes way beyond that.  It is about something “Eternal.” 

Verse 4 gives us further insight into the “eternal quality of gratitude.”

⁴ knowing your election,  ^•brothers loved by God.

An attitude of gratitude has a “lifting aspect” to it.  It lifts one up into the Presence of God.  Notice that Paul mentions this in verse 3:  in the presence of our God and Father.

Nothing will tether a soul to this world and create an attitude of despair and dissatisfaction like “ingratitude.”  Ingratitude is like the tethers that hold a hot-air balloon to the earth.  Ingratitude has a “worldly quality to it.”  It’s all about Christmas, without any time for Thanksgiving.  A soul diseased by ingratitude will never be satisfied no matter how much stuff may be acquired.

Gratitude lifts one up into the very Presence of God.  It keeps one focused on the eternal and so one’s satisfaction and joy are not tethered to this world.  The tethers are cut and the balloon filled with gratitude rises toward the heavens.

True thanksgiving has an “eternal quality” to it.  True gratitude also has

2.  a Practical Quality to it (vv 5-9)

What happens when we are truly thankful for what God brings into our lives at the hand of others?  Paul (along with Silas and Timothy) were truly thankful for the Thessalonian church. Look verses 8 & 9:

⁸ For the Lord’s message rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith  ^r in God has gone out. Therefore, we don’t need to say anything, ⁹ for they themselves report what kind of reception  we had from you: how you turned  to God from idols  to serve the living  and true  God ¹⁰ and to wait  for His Son  from heaven, whom He raised from the dead —Jesus, who rescues us  from the coming wrath.

Here’s what happened.  Paul and his team labored among the Thessalonians.  They were so thankful for Paul’s ministry, and Paul was so thankful for their hospitality.  Gratitude saturated the relationship between Paul and the Thessalonian believers.  They just could not say enough good things about each other.  They praised God, and spoke well of each other and “things happened.”  People throughout the region of Macedonia (Turkey and environs, today) saw the message of love and mutual appreciation being modeled and the Thessalonians became a witness to the entire region about how God changes lives.

When we are genuinely—and passionately—thankful to God for Who He is and what He has done (and is doing); and, we are genuinely thankful for those God brings into our lives for mutual instruction, the church will grow—guaranteed!  Such an attitude of gratitude will have practical, as well as eternal results.  Paul calls this ability to effect radical change, “power.”  Look at verse 5:

For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance.

Many of you have heard teachers remark about, “dynamite power.”  The Greek word for power used here (and there are several Greek words related to power) is the root word from which we derive our word, “dynamite.”  “Dunamis” refers to an “innate ability or quality that makes someone or something capable of bringing about change.”  That’s how the word “dynamite” would come over into our language.  Dynamite has the capability of bringing about “great change.”  What once was a mountain—add a little dynamite, or a lot—and it is now a tunnel.

Gratitude to God has an eternal quality to it to be sure, but it has many practical benefits also.  Look at verse 6:

⁶ and you became imitators of us and of the Lord

when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message
with joy from the Holy Spirit.

Now, don’t lose track of the big picture here.  The Thessalonians were imitating what they saw in the life of Paul.  What exactly did they see?  Let’s go back and look at verse 2 again: “We always thank God!”  Stop right there.  The Thessalonians witnessed in the lives of Paul and his partners men who were “eternally grateful to God and showed their gratitude through their devotion to His work.”

That’s what the Thessalonians learned from Paul and his crew and the practical result of that was they were able to overcome great persecution in their lives—and still remain full of joy!  DON’T MISS THIS IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THIS MESSAGE.

The area of Thessalonica was particularly hostile to the gospel, especially because of the strong Jewish influence in the area.  Recall that when Paul was in Thessalonica they were run out of town by an angry mob of Jews who wanted to kill them (Acts 17:5-10).  Now, write this down.  You may need it for the future.

When our love and gratitude for God is greater than our concern for our own well-being and comfort we can experience joy, “inspite of severe trouble and persecution.” 

Gratitude is enormously powerful.  When we are constantly giving praise to God and thanks to others, good stuff happens.  Not only were they able to SURVIVE great persecution, but they were able to THRIVE in spite of great persecution.  Look at verse 8:

⁸ For the Lord’s message rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out.

When our lives demonstrate a genuine gratitude for all—and I mean all—that God has done AND IS DOING for us, good things will happen.  Good things not only “for” us, but “through” us.  A genuine passionate attitude of gratitude has a practical quality to it.

Not long ago a 10-years long research study of over 200,000 managers and employees (200,000!) revealed that saying “thank you” in the business world results in bigger profits.  When people are thanked for what they do, they are more motivated, and often, their productivity improved (www.homileticsonline.com).

Now, we should never become so cynical that we say “thank you” only to get some kind of measurable return.  But, Paul sure focused a lot on thanksgiving, and it sure made a huge difference in the lives of not only the Thessalonians, but the whole region.  Dare I say, the whole world!  Gratitude is contagious.  Paul’s gratitude led to the Thessalonians’ gratitude which spread to

Those “Two Little Words” are extremely powerful because they have both an “eternal quality” and a “practical quality.”  Now, that would certainly be reason enough to live according to an “attitude of gratitude”  but I see yet another reason why these “Two Little Words” are so extremely important.

3.  Thanksgiving has an “Exciting Quality” to it.  (v10)

It’s just better to be happy and nothing brings a sweeter happiness and more sublime joy than a genuine gratitude for every little blessing God allows to roll our way.  I’m talking about blessings as simple as being “silly with our grandchildren.”

Now, most of you would not describe me as “silly.”  I don’t do many “silly” things—at least not on purpose.  I don’t take turn on the dunk tank at our picnics.  I don’t let kids who raise the most money in a fundraiser shave my head (not that there’s much to shave) or throw pies in my face.  I have an Associate Pastor for that stuff.

Yet, you get me alone with my grandkids and I can be “silly.”  It’s like my grandchildren are the alien body snatchers and the snatch all my inhibitions away.  When I get a little wound up too tight as I am inclined to do, I just dip me a great big bowl of “grandkids!”

Now, what’s that have to do with our text.  Well, this:  gratitude helps us focus on what’s important and not what’s trivial.  Gratitude helps us to see God in every face, every place, and every activity.  Gratitude keeps us “focused” and that focus breeds and indescribable excitement.  Look at verse 10.  We need to pick up verse 9 again to give us the context:

⁹ for they themselves report  what kind of reception  we had from you: how you turned  to God from idols  to serve the living  and true  God ¹⁰ and to wait  for His Son  from heaven, whom He raised from the dead —Jesus, who rescues us  from the coming wrath.

Woooooooooooooooooooooooeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh! That’s just downright exciting!  I am soooooooo glad that God has “rescued me from the coming wrath.”  I am now in line “waiting to meet Jesus!”  How is it possible NOT to be thankful to God?  How is it possible not to be animated with a childlike excitement about the soon coming of the Lord Jesus Christ? 

If you are genuinely saved you will be genuinely thankful and if you have been taught what the Scriptures say about the soon coming of Jesus Christ you can’t help but be excited. 

I think the best way to illustrate this point is to show a film clip I ran across in my studies.  It demonstrates the “Exciting Quality” of thanksgiving better than I can describe it in words.

VIDEO CLIP:  LITTLE GIRL GETS PRAYER ANSWERED
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XACH-1EX4f8

The little girl in the clip we saw earlier really does give us a good picture of what it means to be “truly thankful to God.  The “Two Little Words, “Thank you,” have an eternal quality, a practical quality and an exciting quality in them.  I hope you will be truly thankful to God this season, and each day following for all that He has done for you.

Without the Lord, we are nothing, our lives will come to nothing—nothing but pain and disappointment in the end.  Those Two Little Words, “thank you,” remind us of what life is ALL about.

Alex Haley, the author of "Roots," had an unusual picture hanging on his office wall. It was a picture of a turtle on top of a fence post. When asked, "Why is that there?" Alex Haley answered, "Every time I write something significant, every time I read my words & think that they are wonderful, & begin to feel proud of myself, I look at the turtle on top of the fence post & remember that he didn’t get there on his own. He had help."

Be thankful for all the help God brings your way.

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