Be Grateful

Psalm 100:1-5 (A Psalm of Praise.)

If I could take anything away from this passage of scripture it would be these few things:

1. JOY

“Make a joyful noise unto to the Lord, all you lands!” Psalm 100:1 (NKJV)

Our lives are meant to be a joyful call to God. God wants us to get excited about who He is.

We don’t have any problems shouting

at a football or basketball games,

but we very seldom raise our voice in

praise to our God.

When we come into the house of God we rarely want to share a smile a share the joy of the Lord.

“If you’re happy in the Lord Notify

your face.” – Wintley Phipps

2. GLADNESS

“Serve the Lord with gladness;

Come before His presence with singing.” Psalms 100:2 (NKJV)

I must admit that there are times when I see people come to church (not here) on Sabbath morning almost like they are coming to a funeral service.

I’ll tell you the truth – we need to come into the house of God like we are coming into a resurrection service.

My Lord has risen from the dead.

We need to celebrate that fact.

Because you see:

I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today; I know that He is living, whatever men may say;

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me, along life’s narrow way.

He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives: He lives within my heart.

Folks, when we come before the Lord

– we ought to do it with gladness.

3. DEPENDENCE

“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.”

Psalm 100:3 (NKJV)

This verse shows three roles of God:

First: God is LORD

We are to make Him ruler, master, orchestrator of our lives.

God is God, and we are NOT.

God told Moses, ‘I AM That I AM’” Exodus 3:14 (NAS)

Brothers & Sisters, you have no more control over God then you do the weather. God is God and we are not.

Secondly: God is CREATOR

If you create something, you are greater than what you have created.

You have every right over that which you have made.

The Word of God Reminds Us:

“It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves” Psalm 100:3 (NKJV)

Finally: God is our SHEPHERD

“We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” Psalm 100:3 (NKJV)

God guides us to the place of security and rest.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.”

Psalm 23:1-3 (NKJV)

Someone has rightly said,

If we are created, He is the Creator.

If we are sheep, He is our Shepherd.

If we enter His courts, He is our King.

If we serve Him, He is our Master.

I am dependent on God.

-He created even the air that I breathe.

-He knows every hair on my head.

-He knows every beat of my heart.

I thank HIM for being God

- I am dependent on Him.

4. THANKFULNESS

You can’t give thanks unless you are thankful.

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” Psalm 100:4 (NKJV)

Thanksgiving is what flows out of a thankful HEART.

Brothers & Sisters we need to be thankful to God for what He has done for us.

He Woke us up this morning,

started us on our way.

Woke us up in our right mind.

Allowed us to see the dawning of a new day.

He has seen us through toil, trial and tribulations.

He is worthy of our praise!

5. GRATITUDE

“For the Lord is good; His mercy is

everlasting, and His truth endures to

all generations. Psalm 100:5 (NKJV)

Three reasons to be grateful:

1. The Lord is GOOD

2. The Lord’s mercy is EVERLASTING

3. The Lord’s truth endures FOREVER

In Romans chapter eleven Paul is giving thanks and praise to God when he writes:

“Everything comes from him;

Everything happens through him; Everything ends up in him.

Always glory! Always praise!

Romans 11:36 (MSG)

Our praise, our thanksgiving and our worship needs to directed to God.

We need to be thankful for what He has done.

- Closing

This Thanksgiving Season

– with all the events fellowship, and excitement, my prayer:

– is that God is thanked

– with joy and gladness