Giving Thanks Always Unto God
A Sermon on Ephesians 5:20
Originally preached Dec. 13, 1959
Scripture
20Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Sermon Description
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, one of the most important parts of prayer is thanksgiving. In this sermon on Ephesians 5:20 titled “Giving Thanks Always Unto God,” he says that one of the clearest gauges of spiritual maturity is how much of prayer is spent in thanksgiving. All who know God as Lord and Savior should live lives marked by continual Spirit-filled praise for all that God has done in and through Jesus Christ. It is by God’s loving grace that His people know Him and are partakers of all the blessings of Christ Jesus the Savior. Christians have new life and hope only in Jesus, and only come to know Christ through the grace of God in sending His Holy Spirit. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones elaborates, Christians can give thanks even for the hardships in life. This can be seen in Acts when Paul and Silas are beaten and thrown in prison but continue to sing praises to God. This is because it is God who sovereignly works in and through all things to bring about His purposes for His people. No matter what trials and tribulations Christians are experiencing, and no matter how bad the circumstances are, they can always give thanks to the God who has delivered them from sin, who loves them, and guards them through all of life.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon begins by emphasizing how Christians should be characterized by gratitude and thanksgiving to God. This is contrasted with non-Christians who rarely thank God and mostly complain.
- Christians should be giving thanks always for all things unto God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ. This means Christians should be constantly thankful in all circumstances.
- Christians should give thanks to God as the creator and giver of all good gifts. This includes life, family, food, shelter, health, natural abilities, and more. These are gifts from God that should elicit thanksgiving.
- Christians have a special relationship with God as Father through Jesus Christ. This should lead to even greater thanksgiving. Christians should be amazed they have been saved and adopted as children of God.
- Christians should give thanks for trials, troubles, and tribulations. God uses all things for the good of those who love him. Suffering as a Christian is a privilege. Chastisement from God shows his love. Difficult times can be a call to return to God.
- Examples of Paul and Silas show how to give thanks in adversity. Despite their suffering in prison, they sang praises to God. Christians can give thanks by remembering their salvation, relationship to God, purpose of trials, and God's faithfulness.
- Christians give thanks in the name of Jesus Christ. He is the only way to God the Father. All blessings come through him. Christians can call God Father only because of Jesus.
The Book of Ephesians
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.