Why Was Paul Such a Thankful Man? 1 Corinthians 1:4–9, Part 2

>> This is our second session on 1 >> This is our second session on 1 Corinthians Corinthians Corinthians 1:4-9. I want us to linger 1:4-9. I want us to linger 1:4-9. I want us to linger for just a few minutes, linger over over for just a few minutes, linger over over for just a few minutes, linger over over the thankfulness the thankfulness the thankfulness of Paul. of Paul. of Paul. Paul was a profoundly Paul was a profoundly Paul was a profoundly thankful person, and I want to be like thankful person, and I want to be like thankful person, and I want to be like that. that. that. And I And I And I I want you to be like that. I assume you I want you to be like that. I assume you I want you to be like that. I assume you do, too. do, too. do, too. And it sometimes helps just just to And it sometimes helps just just to And it sometimes helps just just to watch another person watch another person watch another person overflow with thankfulness. See how they overflow with thankfulness. See how they overflow with thankfulness. See how they say it, see the ground of it, say it, see the ground of it, say it, see the ground of it, and see the expressions that come out. and see the expressions that come out. and see the expressions that come out. So, let's do that for just a few So, let's do that for just a few So, let's do that for just a few minutes. I give thanks. minutes. I give thanks. minutes. I give thanks. There's the basic thing. There's the basic thing. There's the basic thing. I give thanks. He starts I give thanks. He starts I give thanks. He starts a lot of letters like that. a lot of letters like that. a lot of letters like that. I give thanks I give thanks I give thanks to my God to my God to my God always always always for you for you for you because because because and then comes and then comes and then comes the reasons for his thankfulness.

the reasons for his thankfulness. the reasons for his thankfulness. Because of the grace Because of the grace Because of the grace of God of God of God that was given you in Christ Jesus. that was given you in Christ Jesus. that was given you in Christ Jesus. Father, as we linger for just a few Father, as we linger for just a few Father, as we linger for just a few minutes over the thankful heart of the minutes over the thankful heart of the minutes over the thankful heart of the Apostle Paul, make our hearts more Apostle Paul, make our hearts more Apostle Paul, make our hearts more thankful. thankful. thankful. Open them to see Open them to see Open them to see what we should be thankful for, open us what we should be thankful for, open us what we should be thankful for, open us to feel to feel to feel the richness of the experience of the richness of the experience of the richness of the experience of thanksgiving, and open our mouths to thanksgiving, and open our mouths to thanksgiving, and open our mouths to give expression to thanks give expression to thanks give expression to thanks of thanks to you. of thanks to you. of thanks to you. I pray this in Jesus' name. I pray this in Jesus' name. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. I've got I've got six things to observe. Number one, six things to observe. Number one, six things to observe. Number one, the reason Paul is such a thankful the reason Paul is such a thankful the reason Paul is such a thankful person person person is because he is such a God-ward is because he is such a God-ward is because he is such a God-ward person. person. person. So, I'm going to make the list up here. God. We'll just make the list up here. God. We'll just use one word for each.

use one word for each. use one word for each. He is a God-besotted He is a God-besotted He is a God-besotted person. He knows that nothing in this person. He knows that nothing in this person. He knows that nothing in this world world world is uh self-contained is uh self-contained is uh self-contained or self-originating. or self-originating. or self-originating. Everything starts with, flows from, Everything starts with, flows from, Everything starts with, flows from, depends on depends on depends on God. If you If you have that basic God. If you If you have that basic God. If you If you have that basic orientation toward reality, orientation toward reality, orientation toward reality, you'll either be a rebel cuz you don't you'll either be a rebel cuz you don't you'll either be a rebel cuz you don't like it, like it, like it, or you'll be constantly or you'll be constantly or you'll be constantly thankful because you do like it, and thankful because you do like it, and thankful because you do like it, and you're glad God is God, and that he's you're glad God is God, and that he's you're glad God is God, and that he's the origin and the sustainer of all the origin and the sustainer of all the origin and the sustainer of all things. things. things. Number two, Number two, Number two, grace. grace. grace. You could have a God-saturated view of You could have a God-saturated view of You could have a God-saturated view of reality and believe that everybody had reality and believe that everybody had reality and believe that everybody had to earn what they get from God. to earn what they get from God. to earn what they get from God. Well, nobody can earn anything from God. Well, nobody can earn anything from God. Well, nobody can earn anything from God. That's part of what it means to be God. That's part of what it means to be God. That's part of what it means to be God. He's the giver, not us. We don't He's the giver, not us. We don't He's the giver, not us. We don't negotiate with God or barter with God.

negotiate with God or barter with God. negotiate with God or barter with God. We don't ever make God our beneficiary, We don't ever make God our beneficiary, We don't ever make God our beneficiary, and we his benefactors, so as to put him and we his benefactors, so as to put him and we his benefactors, so as to put him in our debt. And therefore, he says, in our debt. And therefore, he says, in our debt. And therefore, he says, "I give thanks to my God always for you "I give thanks to my God always for you "I give thanks to my God always for you because of grace." because of grace." because of grace." Paul was full full of a consciousness of a consciousness of a consciousness that if anything good was to come into that if anything good was to come into that if anything good was to come into our lives, it would have to be grace. In our lives, it would have to be grace. In our lives, it would have to be grace. In fact, the word thanks, eucharisto, has fact, the word thanks, eucharisto, has fact, the word thanks, eucharisto, has in it this little word here, in it this little word here, in it this little word here, which you see here, so that the word which you see here, so that the word which you see here, so that the word grace and the word thanks are really grace and the word thanks are really grace and the word thanks are really built on the same word, and sometimes it built on the same word, and sometimes it built on the same word, and sometimes it is the very same word that's translated is the very same word that's translated is the very same word that's translated thanks. Isn't that remarkable? thanks. Isn't that remarkable? thanks. Isn't that remarkable? God is God is God is a gracious God who overflows like a a gracious God who overflows like a a gracious God who overflows like a fountain, and the more we are conscious fountain, and the more we are conscious fountain, and the more we are conscious of that, the more thankful we are going of that, the more thankful we are going of that, the more thankful we are going to be.

to be. to be. Number three, Number three, Number three, people. people. people. Grace Grace Grace creates people creates people creates people and community. and community. and community. God is faithful. God is faithful. God is faithful. By whom you were called into the By whom you were called into the By whom you were called into the fellowship of his son. That call is a fellowship of his son. That call is a fellowship of his son. That call is a call of grace, call of grace, call of grace, and therefore people have come into and therefore people have come into and therefore people have come into being. being. being. I am thankful I am thankful I am thankful for you. for you. for you. Paul Paul Paul loves people. He He loves to watch the loves people. He He loves to watch the loves people. He He loves to watch the grace of God call people out of darkness grace of God call people out of darkness grace of God call people out of darkness into the fellowship of Jesus Christ. He into the fellowship of Jesus Christ. He into the fellowship of Jesus Christ. He is a is a is a people-oriented people-oriented people-oriented thanker of God. thanker of God. thanker of God. He's not thanking God here for things, He's not thanking God here for things, He's not thanking God here for things, which is perfectly right and good to do, which is perfectly right and good to do, which is perfectly right and good to do, but he's thanking God for people and the but he's thanking God for people and the but he's thanking God for people and the grace of God grace of God grace of God in people.

in people. in people. You know, Paul um You know, Paul um You know, Paul um was aware of himself as a person totally was aware of himself as a person totally was aware of himself as a person totally shaped by grace in so far that he was of shaped by grace in so far that he was of shaped by grace in so far that he was of any use. any use. any use. You see that over in chapter 15. You see that over in chapter 15. You see that over in chapter 15. By the grace of God By the grace of God By the grace of God I am what I am. I am what I am. I am what I am. And his grace toward me was not in vain, And his grace toward me was not in vain, And his grace toward me was not in vain, but on the contrary, I worked. but on the contrary, I worked. but on the contrary, I worked. I am what I am. I'm a worker. I am what I am. I'm a worker. I am what I am. I'm a worker. I'm a hard worker. I'm a hard worker. I'm a hard worker. Harder than any of them, though it was Harder than any of them, though it was Harder than any of them, though it was not I, not I, not I, but the grace of God that was with me. but the grace of God that was with me. but the grace of God that was with me. He is utterly saturated by grace, and He is utterly saturated by grace, and He is utterly saturated by grace, and that grace shaped him, and it shapes that grace shaped him, and it shapes that grace shaped him, and it shapes others. Fourth, others. Fourth, others. Fourth, authentic. He's an authentic thinker. Now, where do He's an authentic thinker. Now, where do I see that? Well, I've been pondering, I see that? Well, I've been pondering, I see that? Well, I've been pondering, and I'm not sure of this, but let me and I'm not sure of this, but let me and I'm not sure of this, but let me commend it to you.

Why does he say my God instead of Why does he say my God instead of our God? our God? our God? He could have wonderfully said, "I give He could have wonderfully said, "I give He could have wonderfully said, "I give thanks to our God always for you because thanks to our God always for you because thanks to our God always for you because of grace." And that would have bound of grace." And that would have bound of grace." And that would have bound them together with him as having the them together with him as having the them together with him as having the same God. same God. same God. Why does he to use this this very Why does he to use this this very Why does he to use this this very personal, individual description of God personal, individual description of God personal, individual description of God here as here as here as my God? my God? my God? And here's the picture it creates in my And here's the picture it creates in my And here's the picture it creates in my mind. mind. mind. Sometimes when you're in a pastoral Sometimes when you're in a pastoral Sometimes when you're in a pastoral prayer or you're in front of a group and prayer or you're in front of a group and prayer or you're in front of a group and you give thanks for people, you give thanks for people, you give thanks for people, they might feel like, "Well, yeah, you they might feel like, "Well, yeah, you they might feel like, "Well, yeah, you you say that and you feel that here." you say that and you feel that here." you say that and you feel that here." [snorts] But Paul seemed to want to say, "No, But Paul seemed to want to say, "No, I don't just say this I don't just say this I don't just say this about something I experience when I'm about something I experience when I'm about something I experience when I'm with you. with you. with you. When I'm alone with my God, just me and When I'm alone with my God, just me and When I'm alone with my God, just me and my God in my closet or on my horse my God in my closet or on my horse my God in my closet or on my horse riding between cities, riding between cities, riding between cities, when I'm alone with God, I'm thankful when I'm alone with God, I'm thankful when I'm alone with God, I'm thankful for you.

for you. for you. That's That's more authentic That's That's more authentic That's That's more authentic than if he were in any way drawn to give than if he were in any way drawn to give than if he were in any way drawn to give thanks to our God because we're always thanks to our God because we're always thanks to our God because we're always standing together and the only time I standing together and the only time I standing together and the only time I ever feel thankful for you is when I'm ever feel thankful for you is when I'm ever feel thankful for you is when I'm with you and seeing you, but when you're with you and seeing you, but when you're with you and seeing you, but when you're out of sight, you're out of my mind and out of sight, you're out of my mind and out of sight, you're out of my mind and I don't feel thankful for you then. I don't feel thankful for you then. I don't feel thankful for you then. At least that's what in my mind arises At least that's what in my mind arises At least that's what in my mind arises when I hear when I hear when I hear my God, alone with my God, I love you. I my God, alone with my God, I love you. I my God, alone with my God, I love you. I am thankful am thankful am thankful for you. for you. for you. And then, fifth, Jesus. Jesus. And I didn't mean to use a different And I didn't mean to use a different And I didn't mean to use a different color here. That doesn't mean anything. color here. That doesn't mean anything. color here. That doesn't mean anything. I just failed to switch it back. I just failed to switch it back. I just failed to switch it back. Jesus Christ. Follow this. Follow this. I give thanks to my God always for you I give thanks to my God always for you I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has because of the grace of God that has because of the grace of God that has given you given you given you in Christ Jesus. in Christ Jesus. in Christ Jesus. That in every way you were enriched in That in every way you were enriched in That in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge, him in all speech and all knowledge, him in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was even as the testimony of Christ was even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed among you so that you are not confirmed among you so that you are not confirmed among you so that you are not lacking in any gift as you wait eagerly lacking in any gift as you wait eagerly lacking in any gift as you wait eagerly for the revealing of our Lord Jesus for the revealing of our Lord Jesus for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who Christ will confirm you to Christ, who Christ will confirm you to Christ, who Christ will confirm you to the end guiltless in the day of our Lord the end guiltless in the day of our Lord the end guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of you were called into the fellowship of you were called into the fellowship of his son Jesus Christ our Lord. That's a

his son Jesus Christ our Lord. That's a his son Jesus Christ our Lord. That's a lot of Christ. lot of Christ. lot of Christ. >> [laughter] >> [laughter] >> [laughter] >> Right? That's a lot of Christ. >> Right? That's a lot of Christ. >> Right? That's a lot of Christ. The reason Paul is a thankful man is The reason Paul is a thankful man is The reason Paul is a thankful man is because he's a Christ-besotted because he's a Christ-besotted because he's a Christ-besotted man. This grace here all flows by union man. This grace here all flows by union man. This grace here all flows by union with Jesus Christ. Paul loved Jesus with Jesus Christ. Paul loved Jesus with Jesus Christ. Paul loved Jesus Christ. He was thankful for Jesus Christ. He was thankful for Jesus Christ. He was thankful for Jesus Christ, and he was super thankful when Christ, and he was super thankful when Christ, and he was super thankful when God called people into fellowship with God called people into fellowship with God called people into fellowship with Jesus Christ. And the last point is Jesus Christ. And the last point is Jesus Christ. And the last point is constant. So, 1 2 3 4 5 6. Yes, six is what I had. So, 1 2 3 4 5 6. Yes, six is what I had. And I get that from, of course, the word And I get that from, of course, the word And I get that from, of course, the word always. always. always. I thank my God always. I thank my God always. I thank my God always. That's amazing. That's amazing. That's amazing. I I think that's what triggered this I I think that's what triggered this I I think that's what triggered this particular episode is I want to linger particular episode is I want to linger particular episode is I want to linger for an entire episode on really Paul?

for an entire episode on really Paul? for an entire episode on really Paul? Really? Really? Really? Every time you bow in prayer to your Every time you bow in prayer to your Every time you bow in prayer to your God, God, God, you're thankful for this cantankerous, you're thankful for this cantankerous, you're thankful for this cantankerous, problem-riddled problem-riddled problem-riddled Corinthian church? Yes, he was. Corinthian church? Yes, he was. Corinthian church? Yes, he was. So, I just want us to be like that. I I So, I just want us to be like that. I I So, I just want us to be like that. I I want to be a thankful man, full of God, want to be a thankful man, full of God, want to be a thankful man, full of God, full of grace, loving people, authentic full of grace, loving people, authentic full of grace, loving people, authentic when I'm alone with God, utterly when I'm alone with God, utterly when I'm alone with God, utterly raptured by Jesus Christ, and constant raptured by Jesus Christ, and constant raptured by Jesus Christ, and constant in my affections in my affections in my affections for people and for God in expressing for people and for God in expressing for people and for God in expressing thanks.