Following Jesus With Thankful Hearts Series

Following Jesus with Thankful Hearts

November 20th, 2005 Various Texts

These are my actual notes and sermon handouts and they probably mean more to me than they do to you. If you don’t understand something in my notes – feel free to e-mail me for clarification (stevenmary7@hotmail.com). Here’s some deciphering hints: I use hyphens (-) to separate key elements in a thought progression. I use quotation marks when I’m illustrating what some one in the congregation might be thinking or asking at that particular point in the message or to illustrate different character voices in an illustration. Bullets are springboards for thought progressions associated with main points in a thought.

INTRO: Video

So much to be thankful for in America – but probably most dissatisfied nation. Well not much to give thanks for… - oh really?

4 slips of paper each with a word on it Health, Family, Possessions, Work

If had to give up one – which one? – tear it in half – next? – next?

Could you be thankful if all you had left?

Work it backwards – these are all gifts – be thankful!

Last several weeks – talking about link between heart and mouth…

1. The Lip Link to a Thankful Heart.

A grateful heart is one of the things He’s trying to work into us.

Is that being worked into you? – think back to last week – times you’ve spoken your gratefulness to God – if 95% is only on Sunday – you’re missing it!

Problem is – people think that praise and thanksgiving is tied to their circumstances – NOT! – often the other way around – WHAT!?

Wants us to be thankful in all things – can only do by faith!

1 PET 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

When faith is in your heart – praise is on your lips

Faith is intentional action in response to revelation of God’s Word.

Obedient to speak with mouth your heart will be filled.

2. God wants us to _Grow_ in Thankfulness.

Jesus speaks of the purpose that he came…

Luke 4:18-21

LK 4:16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

LK 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor."n

LK 4:20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

When he read from this passage in Isaiah – declaring his intention and desired result – good news, freedom, sight, release – should evoke thankfulness.

The thread through the entire Isaiah passage is gratefulness and praise.

Isaiah 61:1-11

ISA 61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

Oil of gladness = thankfulness and praise instead of mourning = profound sense of loss

Garment of praise – instead of despair / fainting / heaviness

How do you deal with the heaviness in life?

Medication? – bad plan

Certain counselor I go to

This program I watch on TV – I watch then feel better

What nonsense! For the people of God.

We are medicating our despair – with any number of things

What is it that dispels the spirit of heaviness?

The _garment_ of praise dispels the spirit of heaviness.