Power Of Thanksgiving Series

1. WHY SHOULD WE THANK GOD OR LIVE A LIFE OF THANKFULNESS?

a) TO PLEASE GOD:

Luke 17:11-19 - In the incident of ten men who had leprosy got healed, Jesus asked the one who had returned to thank him, were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?

We can see how Jesus was bothered about the ones who were not thankful.

Our thanksgiving pleases the heart of God just like how we feel happy when someone shows their gratitude toward us.

b) GRATITUDE IS AN ANTIDOTE FOR SPIRIT OF GRUMBLING:

As human beings we tend to grumble and murmur for every negative thing we face in life. But we know that Grumbling and Murmuring is not a good habit to develop.

How do we develop a healthy lifestyle without grumbling?

The opposite to grumbling is being thankful.

Only by developing a life full of gratitude, we can win over grumbling spirit.

2. ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE:

Many may have a habit of saying "Thank you" as a part of western culture.

What matters in Thanksgiving is not the habit but HEART!!

A habitual thanksgiving is equal to ungratefulness. It is also been called as "lip service". We aught not to do a lip service but to offer a "heartful service".

Isaiah 29:13 says, “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.

LET US BE THANKFUL WITH ALL OUR HEARTS, LET US NOT DEVELOP A MECHANICAL OR HABITUAL WAY OF THANKSGIVING.

Attitude has a vital role played behind a thankful heart.

3. IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS:

Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

IN EVERYTHING - at good times and also at bad times.

Job says in Job Chapter 1:21 - the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

At the peak of suffering and loss of his family and prosperity, Job did not curse God but instead he was still thankful to God.

Paul and Silas in Acts 16:16-40 were Praising God in chains and in prison.

Jesus in Hebrews 12:1-2 counted it joy going towards the cross.

Disciples have counted it joy when they were persecuted for the sake of their faith in Christ.

The first century Christians have sung praises to God while they were burnt alive, and also many in the history did the same for the sake of Christ.

IT IS EASY TO THANK GOD OR THANK PEOPLE WHEN EVERYTHING GOES WELL, BUT THE REAL SACRIFICE OF PRAISE IS WHEN WE THANK GOD IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLES!

God bless!

Thank you for reading, please feel free to preach this sermon as the Lord leads,

Peter Naveen,

India