Your thanksgiving is a weapon | Dr. Samuel teaching about how to use thanksgiving as a weapon

To be strong in the Lord, it is essential to have a real encounter with God. Without this, faith can easily become a mere set of religious practices, lacking the power and reality that comes from knowing God personally. The foundation for a vibrant spiritual life is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God concerning you in Christ Jesus.” This call to gratitude is not just for the good times, but for every circumstance, even those that are difficult or painful. Looking at the lives of Joseph and David, it becomes clear that God’s plan often unfolds through seasons of hardship and uncertainty. Even when the path is unclear, God knows the end from the beginning, and as we surrender to Him, He shapes us for greater fruitfulness and His glory.

Thanksgiving is not just a response to blessings; it is a spiritual weapon and a key to breakthrough. When Paul and Silas were imprisoned, they chose to praise God in the darkest hour, and God intervened supernaturally. This act of giving thanks, especially when it feels like a sacrifice, activates spiritual laws that invite God’s presence and power into our situations. The same principle is seen in the story of Jehoshaphat, who faced overwhelming odds but chose to put praise at the forefront, declaring, “The Lord is good and His mercy endures forever.” This declaration is not based on our worthiness, but on God’s unchanging mercy and grace.

True thanksgiving often costs us something—it requires us to praise God when everything in us wants to complain or despair. Yet, it is in these moments that thanksgiving becomes a sacrifice, a powerful act of faith that moves heaven. Even when circumstances do not change as we hope, God’s plan is always for our good, and in hindsight, we often see His wisdom and faithfulness. Thanksgiving is also a spiritual key that opens the door to God’s presence. Joyful, expressive praise is not only biblical but attracts God’s attention, just as much as the noise of mourning can fill a room, the joyful noise of praise draws God near.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Encounters with God transform faith from mere religion into living reality. Without personal experience of God’s presence, spiritual life can become routine and powerless. Pursuing God for who He is, not just for what He gives, is essential for lasting strength and authenticity. [00:11]
• 2. Thanksgiving is God’s will for every season, not just when life is easy. Even in confusion, pain, or disappointment, giving thanks aligns us with God’s purposes and acknowledges His sovereignty. This posture of gratitude keeps our hearts soft and open to God’s shaping hand. [01:00]
• 3. Praise and thanksgiving are spiritual weapons that activate God’s intervention. When we choose to thank God in the midst of trials, we engage a spiritual principle that invites His supernatural help. This is not about denying pain, but about trusting God’s character above our circumstances. [04:14]
• 4. The sacrifice of thanksgiving is most powerful when it costs us something. When we feel least like praising, that is when our thanksgiving becomes a true offering of faith. God honors this sacrifice, often bringing clarity and deliverance in ways we could not have imagined. [03:09]
• 5. Joyful, expressive praise is a spiritual key that opens the door to God’s presence. God is not attracted to solemnity for its own sake, but to genuine, heartfelt joy and gratitude. Making a joyful noise, even if it is not perfect, is a biblical way to honor God and experience His nearness. [11:57]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:11] - Encountering God: Beyond Religion
• [00:26] - The Will of God: Giving Thanks in Everything
• [00:42] - Lessons from Joseph and David
• [01:14] - Surrendering to God’s Process
• [01:44] - Thanksgiving as a Spiritual Weapon
• [02:31] - The Sacrifice of Praise
• [03:40] - Trusting God When It Doesn’t Make Sense
• [04:14] - Paul and Silas: Praise in Prison
• [04:46] - Jehoshaphat’s Victory Through Praise
• [05:32] - Declaring God’s Goodness and Mercy
• [06:44] - Rejoicing in Difficult Seasons
• [07:53] - Thanksgiving in Depression and Hopelessness
• [09:39] - Thanksgiving as a Spiritual Key
• [10:19] - Joyful Praise: Breaking Religious Mindsets
• [11:57] - Making a Joyful Noise to the Lord

Bible Reading

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV) — > "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

2. Acts 16:25-26 (ESV)
> "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened."

3. Psalm 100:1-2, 4 (ESV)
> "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!... Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!"

Observation Questions

1. According to 1 Thessalonians 5:18, what is God’s will for us in every circumstance?
2. In Acts 16, what did Paul and Silas do while they were in prison, and what was the result? [04:14]
3. What does Psalm 100 say about the attitude and expression we should have when coming into God’s presence?
4. The sermon mentions that thanksgiving is not just for good times. What examples from the lives of Joseph and David were given to show this? [00:42]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does the sermon say that having a real encounter with God is necessary for a strong faith, rather than just following religious routines? [00:11]
2. How does giving thanks in difficult or painful situations align us with God’s purposes, according to the sermon? [01:00]
3. The sermon describes thanksgiving as a “spiritual weapon” and a “spiritual key.” What does this mean, and how does it change the way we view gratitude? [04:14]
4. Why is thanksgiving described as a “sacrifice” in Hebrews 13:15, and what does it cost us to offer it in hard times? [03:09]

Application Questions

1. The sermon says that encounters with God turn faith from routine religion into living reality. Have you ever had a moment where God felt especially real to you? What was different about your faith after that? [00:11]
2. Think about a recent situation where things did not go as you hoped or planned. Did you find it hard to give thanks? What would it look like to practice thanksgiving in that situation now? [01:00]
3. When you are facing discouragement or hopelessness, what are some practical ways you can choose to give thanks, even if you don’t feel like it? [07:53]
4. The sermon talks about making a “joyful noise” to the Lord, even if it’s not perfect. Are there ways you hold back your praise because of self-consciousness or tradition? How could you be more expressive in your gratitude to God? [11:57]
5. Can you recall a time when you saw God’s faithfulness more clearly in hindsight, after a difficult season? How did gratitude help you see God’s hand at work? [09:39]
6. The sermon says that thanksgiving is a spiritual weapon that can bring breakthrough. Is there an area in your life right now where you need God to intervene? How could you use thanksgiving as a way to invite God’s presence into that situation? [04:14]
7. The story of Jehoshaphat shows that declaring God’s goodness and mercy is powerful, even when we feel unworthy. What is one way you can declare God’s goodness this week, regardless of your circumstances? [05:32]