Applied Thanksliving Series

Applied Thanksliving

By Pastor Donny Granberry

We are going to continue in our thought of the past several weeks of Apply.

Applied Blood – Applied Pentecost – Applied Faith –

Applied Glory of the Lord – Applied Word of God.

Apply – means to put to use, especially for some practical purpose, to bring into action, or to lay or spread on.

In this, we have been taking a look at the difference between knowledge and application.

Our Church sign reads this week, “Thanksgiving is not just another holiday, but a way of life.”

Today we want to discuss Applied Thanksgiving, and more so, Thanksliving.

There are far too many people who take life, blessings, possessions, family, health, vocation, and the Lord for granted when we need to be thankful for everything that we have in life.

You may be sitting there here this morning thinking, with what I’m going through, I don’t have anything to be thankful for.

Let’s take a look at our passage of scripture this morning.

Take your bible and let’s make our profession together, this is my bible, God’s holy word, God has given us the city of Pasadena, …

Luke 17:11-19 NIV

11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" 14 When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.

15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him-and he was a Samaritan.

17 Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19 Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."

As I read this passage from the word of God, I thought, Lord how many times have we been guilty of the same?

• The other nine weren’t dissatisfied because they were healed.

• They were just as joyous of the one who sent back and thanked the Lord.

• They were being obedient to Christ and the Law. (Going and showing themselves to the priests, this allowed them to come into the temple and to be around the other people)

• The question here is not obedience, but thankfulness.

• Yet there was a greater principal here than just obedience.

• A thankful heart should always take time to be thankful.

There is a clear difference between being appreciative and being thankful.

Sometimes it seems as though the more we have, the less thankful we are.

• Once you have eaten a steak at Morton’s Steak House, Golden Corral just is not good enough.

• Once you have played golf at Pebble Beach, Pasadena Municipal golf course just will not cut it.

• Once you have owned a Jaguar, a Chevy Cobalt is not so hot.

• Once your team has won a national championship, just making the play-off’s is inadequate.

Generally speaking, the more we have, the less we become grateful with what we do have.

It should be just the opposite, the more we have, the more we should be thankful we should be, but oft times, it does not work that way.

When your cup is running over, do you give thanks unto the Lord or do you complain about the size of your cup?

You see, Thanksliving is gratitude in action. Attitude of Gratitude.

• It is thanking God for the gift of life by living it triumphantly.

• It is thanking God for your talents and abilities by using them for His glory.

• It is thanking God for all that you have been blessed with by being a blessing to others.

• It is thanking God for happiness by striving to make others happy.

• It is thanking God for inspiration by trying to be an inspiration to others.

When Jesus told the ten lepers to go and show themselves to the priest’s, they left there no different than before He came.

The white spots still covered their bodies.

They were still ostracized by the people.

They could spend no time with their families.

They became a part of a group just like them, sick, diseased, hopeless and helpless. No hope, No Future.

Yet one day Jesus came his way and he was never the same.

*SONG*

When Jesus comes, the tempests power is broken,

When Jesus comes all tears are wiped away,

He takes the gloom, and fills the life with glory,