1 Thessalonians 5:15-18
See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
We are commanded to be in a perpetual state of Thanksgiving
INTRO
The one thing you cannot do too much of is Thanksgiving .
The one thing God does not reject this Thanksgiving .
One thing God never says is too much is giving thanks.
Everything increases and multiplies by Thanksgiving.
Everything stops increasing with Thanksgiving stops
Nothing appreciates destiny like Thanksgiving
When your hands go up and Thanksgiving your life goes up and blessings
Thanksgiving is the most attractive thing to God next to holiness
When you are thankful your tank will always be full
I. THE POWER OF A THANKFUL HEART
1. Lifts you up to new spiritual levels.
Psalm 100:2,4-5
Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. 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. 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
2. Refocuses our perspective
3. Keeps your eyes on an eternal source
John 1:3
All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
4. Increases your personal happiness.
Phil 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus
Col 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful
5. You attract more of what you want
Luke 17:12-17
Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”
6. You may prolong your life
7. Helps you manage stress
II. THE DANGERS OF INGRATITUDE
1. We quickly forget what God has done.
2. We open ourselves to the destroyer.
1 Corinthians 10:10
Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
3. We expose ourselves to darkness.
Romans 1:20-25
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
4. We expose ourself to unnecessary temptations
Proverbs 5:15-23
Drink water from your own cistern, And running water from your own well. 16 Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, Streams of water in the streets? 17 Let them be only your own,And not for strangers with you. 18 Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice with the wife of your youth. 19 As a loving deer and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; And always be enraptured with her love. 20 For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman, And be embraced in the arms of a seductress? 21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He ponders all his paths 22 His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, And he is caught in the cords of his sin. 23 He shall die for lack of instruction,And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
III. START NOW
1. Practice giving thanks in everything
1 Thess 5:18
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
2. Bless the Lord at all times
Psalm 34:1
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
3. Stop Complaining
Phil 2:14-15
Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world
4. Take frequent Praise Breaks
a. God lives in Praise
Psalm 22:3
But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.
b. God is lifted with praise
Psalm 47:5
God has gone up with a shout, The Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
c. God is motivated by Praise
2 Chron 20:22
Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.
d. God intervenes by Praise
Acts 16:25-26
But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 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 chains were loosed.
a. Singing
Psalm 18:49
Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.
b. Dancing
Psalm 149:3
Let them praise His name with the dance;…”
c. Clapping
Psalm 47:1
Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
d. Shouting
Psalm 32:11
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
e. Lifting up Hands
Psalm 134:1-2
Behold, bless the Lord, All you servants of the Lord, Who by night stand in the house of the Lord! 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the Lord.
f. Falling Prostrate
Rev 4:10-11
the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”
g. Playing Musical Instruments
Psalm 149:3
Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.
5. Change clothes whenever you need to
Isaiah 61:1-3
To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
6. Practice gratitude from the deepest part of your being
Luke 1:46-47
And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord 47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior
7. Start your day by being thankful for what you have
8. Write down three things a day you are thankful for (6 weeks)
9. Don’t get caught in the vicious cycle of waiting for something to happen before you are thankful
10. Journal about your gratitude
11. Start and end your day with thanksgiving
Psalm 92:1-5
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; 2 To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night, 3 On an instrument of ten strings, On the lute, And on the harp, With harmonious sound. 4 For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands. 5 O Lord, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep.
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