There’s Always Hope | Living in Gratitude, Thanksgiving, and Contentment (Abiding in the Prince of Peace: Session 11) Introduction: ● This message is a response to what we have been learning over the last 10 sessions. It’s not just enough to know it, but we must live it out in our world. That is when we see God move in powerful ways. James 1:22 NKJV But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Big Ideas: 1. Responding to the Prince of Peace 2. The contentment paradox 3. The lifestyle of thanksgiving and gratitude 4. There’s always hope Responding to the Prince of Peace: "There is no circumstance, no trouble, no testing, that can ever touch me until, first of all, it has gone past God and past Christ, right through to me. If it has come that far, it has come with a great purpose, which I may not understand at the moment. But I refuse to become panicky, as I lift up my eyes to Him and accept it as coming from the throne of God for some great purpose of blessing my own heart.” --Alan Redpath ● So encouraging, right? Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV) “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. John 16:33 (NLT) I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” ● The question is, how will we respond when life happens? Romans 8:28 (NKJV) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Psalm 27:13 (NKJV) I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Life is hard. It’s not about you. You are not in control. You are going to die. -Franciscan Priest 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NLT) So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. ● We can struggle to keep control, all the while losing it and failing, or release control to God, trusting and hoping in Him. Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV) Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Psalm 119:81 (NLT) I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word. ● Hope and trust in His Word– in HIM, not your expectations of what He is going to do and how He is going to do it. ○ We are the sheep of his pasture- He is the Good Shepherd. Psalm 100:3 (NKJV) 3 Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. ● Are we content in Him and His leadership of our lives or are we seeking something else to satisfy? He is all that we need! The contentment Paradox/ The tension of being content ● We are content in Christ so that we can live for Christ. ○ We are not working for peace but living from peace. Contentment isn’t complacency. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. ● We have a reason for living; it is to give glory to God in Heaven. Psalm 37:23 (NKJV) The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. ● He gives us the strength to live our lives content in Him. Philippians 4:11-13 NLT Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Comparison trap ● Inflated view or inferior view of self, but what does God see? 1 Corinthians 4:3-4 (NKJV) But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. ○ Be kind because we all are dealing with something. ● Comparison and complacency are focus issues. It’s when we focus on ourselves, not Jesus. “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less,”-C.S. Lewis ● Who is the focus of your life- you or Jesus? The lifestyle of thanksgiving and gratitude ● Thanksgiving and gratitude will focus us and align us to Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude” - Zig Ziglar Colossians 2:6-7 (NLT) And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT) Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. ● Complacency and comparison will lead you to compromise your God-given callings and direction. ○ Where you focus is where you will go. ● As we cultivate a lifestyle of thanksgiving and gratitude it will produce hope in our lives. There is Always Hope in Christ ● The darkest night cannot extinguish the hope of Jesus. John 1:4-5 (NLT) The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. ● Do you hope in Him or in your expectations of what He will do or how He will fulfill His promises? There is a difference. ● Contentment, thanksgiving, and gratitude will produce hope in your life. ○ You cannot conjure hope but you can cultivate it to grow. Romans 5:3-4 (NLT) We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. Romans 15:13 (NLT) I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. ● The connection between hope and contentment is not being static while you wait, but having a lifestyle of thanksgiving and gratitude (worship). Isaiah 40:29-31 (NKJV) He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. ● Are we drawing close to Jesus during these times of waiting or are we grumbling and falling into self-pity? James 4:8a (NKJV) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. ● We can always have hope because of the Gospel. Colossians 1:23 (NKJV) if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. Here are a few takeaway questions 1. What has this series meant to you? Think back over the messages and thank God for what He has shown you. 2. How have you allowed complacency and comparison to cause you to compromise your calling in Christ? How are you going to live in holy contentment moving forward? 3. What does having a lifestyle of thanksgiving and gratitude mean to you? What are some practical things you are planning to implement in your life? 4. Where do you need the hope of Christ in your life today? As we come to a conclusion of this series remember that we are able to Abide in the Prince of Peace each day. 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 (NKJV) 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. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. Here are a few verses to encourage you as we conclude the series. Even as we move on, The Prince of Peace will continue to reign in our lives. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NLT Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NKJV) 16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.