4 Attitudes Of Thanksgiving

“Four Attitudes of Thanksgiving”

Psalm 100

11/28/04

This psalm was used by the nation of Israel as a psalm of thanks to God. As they gathered to worship, this psalm was used to reflect the attitude of their hearts.

The thanks reflected in this psalm is not for personal blessing, but for the eternal nature of God.

I. An Attitude of Worship

“Shout with joy to the Lord, O earth! Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.”

Psalm 100:1-2 (NLT)

You are a worshipper.

All of us worship or value something. The question becomes “what do I value?” For many of us, what or who we worship may not be what we ought to worship.

The thing I value the most is ______________.

What you answer to that question reflects your worship.

We were made to worship and what we worship becomes our god.

The answer to the question “Why am I here?” is found in the verse. We are here to worship God.

“The answer begins and ends with God. Simply put, you and I were made by him and made for him. You exist for one purpose alone—to reflect back to God his matchless glory.”

Louie Giglio

The Air I Breathe

How do we reflect God’s glory?

1) Shout with joy.

The dictionary defines shout as “ a loud cry or call.”

We don’t have problems shouting at a football game, but we never raise our voice in church.

Our lives are meant to be a joyful call to God.

God wants us to get excited about who he is.

2) Worship with gladness

Worship is “intense love or admiration.”

Aren’t you glad when you are around the people you love?

God wants you to gladly or excitedly express your love to Him.

Illus: I get excited about buying gifts for Alana. I love surprising her with a special gift.

Are you excited about worshipping God?

II. An Attitude of Belonging

“Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”

Psalm 100:3(NLT)

This verse shows three roles of God:

1) Lord

To be the Lord is to be ruler or master.

Our response is to recognize who God is and who we are not.

“Then Moses said to God, ‘Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?’ God said to Moses, ‘ I AM WHO I AM’; and He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘ I AM has sent me to you.’ God, furthermore, said to Moses, ‘Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you,’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.’”

Exodus 3:13-15(NAS)

2) Creator

If you create something, you have a right to receive worship from it.

3) Shepherd

“We’re his people, his well tended sheep.”

Psalm 100:3(the Message)

God guides us to the place of security, plenty and rest.

“God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I am not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course diner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.” Psalm 23(The Message)

III. An Attitude of Thanks

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name.”

Psalm 100:4 (NLT)

We thank God because of who he is and what he has done.

“But thanks be to God, who made us his captives and leads us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now wherever we go he uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Good news like a sweet perfume.” 2 Cor. 2:14 (NLT)

IV. An Attitude of Reception

God has called us to receive the love he has given us.

“For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to all generations.”

Psalm 100:5 (NLT)

We should be thankful because of God’s love for us.