Introduction

Good morning, beloved congregation. It's always a joy to gather together in God's house, to lift our voices in praise, to bow our heads in prayer, and to open our hearts to His Word. Today, we are turning our attention to a Psalm that is a song of joy, a hymn of thanksgiving, a melody of hope. Psalm 100, a passage that gives us a glimpse into the heart of gratitude, the essence of honor, and the strength of hope.

The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness." Indeed, in a world that often measures joy in material possessions and personal achievements, we are reminded that our true happiness, our deepest joy, is found not in what we have, but in Whom we have.

Let us now turn to the Scripture for today, Psalm 100:

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."

This Psalm, in its beautiful simplicity, encapsulates a profound truth: The key to harnessing happiness is found in gratitude, in recognizing and acknowledging the goodness of God in our lives. It also reminds us of the importance of honoring God in all circumstances - not just in the good times, but also in the difficult moments, the challenging situations, the trials and tribulations. And finally, it offers us a beacon of hope, a lifeline in the midst of life's storms, a reminder that God's truth, His mercy, His love, endures to all generations.

Harnessing Happiness through Gratitude

The Psalmist invites us to make a joyful noise unto the Lord. This joy, this happiness, is not a fleeting emotion, but a deep-seated state of the heart. It is a joy that comes not from our circumstances, but from our relationship with God. It is a joy that is not dependent on what we have, but on Who we have. And it is a joy that is not achieved, but received.

How do we receive this joy? The Psalmist gives us a clue: "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise." Thanksgiving, gratitude, is the key that unlocks the door to this joy. When we express our gratitude to God, when we acknowledge His goodness in our lives, when we count our blessings rather than our burdens, we open our hearts to receive His joy.

So, let's take a moment to reflect on this. What are we grateful for? What blessings can we count? What goodness can we acknowledge in our lives? It could be something as simple as the breath in our lungs, the food on our table, the roof over our heads. It could be something as profound as the love of our family, the support of our friends, the peace in our hearts. It could be something as divine as the grace of God, the gift of salvation, the promise of eternity.

But gratitude is not just about acknowledging our blessings. It's also about acknowledging our dependence on God. The Psalmist reminds us, "Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture." We are not self-made. We are God-made. We are not the masters of our own destiny. We are the sheep of His pasture. We are not the source of our own blessings. We are the recipients of His blessings.

This acknowledgment of our dependence on God, this recognition of our status as His sheep, is a humbling experience. It strips away our pride, our self-sufficiency, our illusion of control. It reminds us that we are not the center of the universe. God is. And this humility, this surrender, this letting go, is liberating. It frees us from the burden of trying to control everything, from the stress of trying to fix everything, from the fear of losing everything. It allows us to rest in the assurance that God is in control, that He is our shepherd, that He will take care of us.

But gratitude is not just about acknowledging our dependence on God. It's also about acknowledging His goodness. The Psalmist declares, "For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." God is not just a powerful God, a sovereign God, a holy God. He is a good God. He is a merciful God. He is a truthful God. And His goodness, His mercy, His truth, are not temporary. They are everlasting. They are not limited to a certain people, a certain place, a certain period. They endure to all generations.

Honoring God in All Circumstances

As we continue to reflect on the words of Psalm 100, we find ourselves drawn to the call to serve the Lord with gladness and to come before His presence with singing ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO