Thanksgiving – Penuel Baptist Chapel, Roch

June 22nd 2025: Paul Daniel

Published on June 28, 2025 by Penuel Baptist RochLeave a comment

Philippians 4:4-8

How many of you are hot and bothered with the heat? It may be one of those weekends when you may not want to do anything because it is too hot. Have you ever been anxious about anything? Being anxious is a very human response to some situations. Anxiety can become intensive and lead to distress. Some form of stress is good for you, to push yourself for example when exercising. Anxiety and stress are very much part of our daily life.

The apostle Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” (v4). We can say that can be difficult. How can we rejoice when things that are beautiful are broken in this world? We read powerful words in Psalm 46. In times of trouble, if you were an Israelite what would life have been like? They had many difficulties, but they saw God at work: in the Flood God preserved His people, in slavery God rescued His people. Throughout the whole of history we see God is faithful to His people. He has a gospel. God has been faithful to His Word.

When you are concerned or worried about something we have the same God; He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Paul writes to the church in Philippi reminding them to stand firm, to be strong in the Lord. Throughout all of history God is faithful and in control.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” (4:4). There were big distractions 2000 years ago. There were false teachers and plenty of things to distract God’s people. Paul says not to be distracted but to stand firm in the Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes, in Christian life, there are many things that distract us and unsettle us. They unsettle our mind and our walk with the Lord. One thing that unsettles people is God’s people! (opening 4 verses). Someone can say something that they shouldn’t say (James). How silly it is when Christians get into all sorts of tiffs and arguments. The Lord Jesus Christ died for us! Sometimes, we don’t hear what other people are saying and make assumptions.

Do you know what the smallest muscle in the human body is? It is the stapedius, a 1 mm tiny muscle inside your ear which controls volume levels. Just us the tongue is so important, this muscle is so important. As Christian brothers be unified, don’t mis-hear. Jesus Christ has come to unite us to Him and to one another.

We face Christian hardship, but Paul says not to be anxious, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (v6). Things can come our way unexpectedly. We may have unexpected troubles. There are difficulties in the Christian life. Some churches will promote a gospel that says if you’re a Christian everything will go well with you. No! Difficulties will come (Jesus – Parable of the Sower). The Christian life does not get easier, it can get more difficult. In our growth in godliness there is growth in our sensitivity to sin. It is different for all of us. We respond in different ways but Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” (v4). He talks about being gentle and reasonable. There is a harshness in our world. But God sent His Son to forgive us of our sin, to cleanse as, to soft and our hearts and give us a hope that will never disappoint us, to give us a destination – heaven.

We are waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ to return. Before that glorious day, Paul says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (v6). Here is a prayer, probably the most underutilised prayer of a Christian. When we pray we are being listened to in the throne room of heaven. The Lord Jesus Christ is interceding for us. We access God who is capable of the impossible. You have access to God. He can do the impossible because He raised Jesus Christ from the dead. As you are praying, present your requests with thanksgiving.

As you grow in grace, see how God has kept you and answered your prayers. He is faithful to His people and never forsakes them. When you pray it is a reminder of all God has done in your life and this helps you to rejoice. There is no Christian who has everything sorted. None of us are perfect. Yet, all of us can be rejoicing through what God has done so far in our lives. We are justified, reconciled, received the gift of the Holy Spirit, been given brothers and sisters in Christ. He says He will be with us. People can let us down, even those closest to you. But you have the Lord Jesus Christ who is closer than a brother.

What happens when you present your prayers with thanksgiving? “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (v7). This peace transcends all understanding. It’s a picture of being guarded. You have a Protector, a shield, strength. It is a picture of peace.

There are times when God takes you through difficulties and times when He takes you out of them. My encouragement is to keep going. In this world people expect everything to be fixed right now. My friends, we have a wonderful hope we are looking to. Sometimes we get distracted, but Paul says our attitude in the midst of difficulties should be, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (v8).

What is the Christian attitude meant to be? It should be deliberate. All you have to do is come to the Lord Jesus Christ and follow Him. The Christian attitude is meant to be deliberate, “If there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (v8b). We must actively seek ‘whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable.’

Sometimes, we do the opposite for example how much time do we spend on social media? It can be a window into coveting what everyone else has. If there is something that is not good for us, then stop. When we are aware of something that is not good for us, we need to stop. We have on-demand television. This can dull our senses. Are we aware of the things that drag us down? Paul says we must focus on what is true, honourable, just, pure, lovely and commendable.

“What you have learnedand received and heard and seen in me – practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” (v9). Paul follows Jesus. Be more like Jesus Christ. This will be better for our mind, better for our body, better for our soul, and better for our friends. How can we do this? The Holy Spirit helps us. We need to be obedient to the word of the law. Be under the word of God.

What is the answer, the response to a Christian life of hardship? Go and tell others what God has done for you. 2000 years ago many people had difficulties. They looked to Jesus. These words were written for them and for us.

Paul ends, “And the God of peace will be with you.” (v9b). God’s peace in an uncertain world. He gives His peace and we can ask for more. When you are anxious, when you are worried, when you are going through difficulties, remember the words of Jesus Christ, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33).

October 8th 2023: Steffan Jones

Published on October 18, 2023October 18, 2023 by Penuel Baptist RochLeave a comment

To watch this service, click on the link to our YouTube channel:
https://youtu.be/GxAKJn3cqjo?si=LCqVKDFGyYcoWIaz

2 Corinthians 9:10-15

The Bible is full of instructions about giving thanks. In the Old Testament people sometimes used stones. There were established regular feasts and festivals. Pentecost acknowledged the first fruits. Harvest is an especially important time of year. This summer there were lots of concerns about the rainfall in August and how it would affect silage. People prayed for sunny weather and we had an Indian summer. In our reality, children go to Tesco and don’t know where vegetables and fruit comes from. Also, we’re living in an increasingly secular society, where God is being squeezed out. To thank God for harvest is becoming alien.

Last summer, I had the privilege of visiting America, linked to churches in New England. Boston has a common with a significant mural as a thanksgiving to God, thanking Him for Ether and the discovery of anaesthetic, which could transform the medical world. Whilst there, I also saw the Pfizer headquarters which states, “Science will win.” 150 years ago the Boston people wanted to acknowledge God, but in those 150 years God has been forgotten and science is the answer! It is important for us, as much as possible, to be reminded of God’s goodness to us.

We have a go to supplies all our needs.

“Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness.” (2 Corinthians 9:10). People give praise to the deliverer, to the farmer, to the factory worker. It is right to do so, but we need to go deeper, to the source behind the sower, behind the bread maker. We need to go to the one who provided the seed, the grain, the wheat. The most fundamental problem of our society is the lack of awareness of God, the One who provides blessings, “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” (Psalm 118:1).

What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? Do you stop and pause to acknowledge the God who gave you that new morning? All that we have is from the One that provides for all our needs. God deserves all the glory (Matthew 5). Stop and acknowledge the many material blessings: family, food, health, a chapel, harvest and so much more. Pray if you haven’t got those blessings, pray to the God who gives the seed. He knows what you require. Trust He will supply your daily needs. Be satisfied and content.

The God who enables generosity.

The context of this letter is important. The apostle is a middle-man. He is writing to the Corinthians to pave the way for a generous gift the Corinthians have pledged to the Macedonians. He establishes the principle of this in verse 11, “While you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.” It is a reminder that the generosity you receive from others is from God also. All that you have has been given to you to help others. It is not just wealth for yourself and your own comfort. Use it to bless others.

When you receive gifts from others, don’t just thank them, thank the One who enabled them to do this. Go to the sauce. They only had the means to bless you because God gave them the means. If someone is kind to you, God has prompted that kindness. None of us has the inclination to do this as we are – we want to live lives of comfort. When anyone displays kindness, we give God the glory, whether unbelievers or believers. When unbelievers give, it is God’s common grace. When believers give, they are displaying the fruit of the Spirit. If the Lord has given to you, will you use that to bless others? When you receive, will you thank them and the One who enriched them.

God has given an indescribable gift.

Paul tells the Corinthians that the people of Macedonia are praying for them, “And by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.” (2 Corinthians 9:14-15). As the Christians in Macedonia think about the church in Corinth, they are grateful for gifts, but more, they experienced the surpassing grace of God. You’ve known grace that surpasses all human blessings. Paul speaks of surpassing greatness, even greater than physical blessings. God is so gracious. God is so kind. The greatest act of all was God sending His Son to be the Saviour of the world. It is beyond our means to express it in words. It is a grace that transcends all human understanding.

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15). What is this gift? Back in eternity the Son of God was with the Father. He was God Himself. He had divine nature Himself. He created everything. The Word of God did not consider equality something to be grasped. He laid aside it all to become a servant. The Son of God appeared as a man, to live in this world not demanding to be served, but to serve. He was obedient to sinful parents. He was obedient to the terrible dictatorship (giving to Caesar). He was tempted to be frustrated with people, but He lived a life of purity and holiness. He went to the cross, obedient to death. He died for your sin and mine, taking on the penalty of our sins so we might be loved, accepted and approved. He took the darkness of judgement upon Himself so we might have light of life.

The Spirit was sent as a gift after the resurrection. The Spirit comes into the souls of His people, awakening us. We have the gift of everlasting glory, worship and praising Him for all eternity. That’s the gift! The gift of the Son to be our Saviour, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the gift of forgiveness of sins. It is an indescribable gift. We need all of eternity to explore this gift.

Have you trusted in Jesus for your salvation and everlasting life? As we live our lives, remember we have a God who supplies all our needs. He is the one who enriches us and others to be kind. He is the one who gives surpassing grace and an indescribable gift. It’s a gift you need, a gift the village of Roch needs, a gift that Pembrokeshire and beyond needs. He offers that gift, will you receive it?

Harvest Thanksgiving- Thursday 24th September 2015

Published on September 24, 2015November 5, 2015 by Penuel Baptist RochLeave a comment

Our guest preacher for this year’s Harvest Service was Reverend Dafydd Taylor of Zion Free Church, Pembroke Dock. He preached on Psalm 67, speaking of our Gracious, Great and Giving God. We were reminded that we are blessed abundantly, we should count our blessings and also be a blessing to others. It was lovely to have fellowship with members from local churches and churches from further afield, including Cosheston, Bethesda Tenby Road, Clarbeston Road, Hill Park, Calvary Haverfordwest and Emmanuel Newport.