"Learning How To Develop A Grateful Heart”

Title: “Learning How to Develop a Grateful Heart” Script: I Thes. 5:16-18

Type: expository Where: GNBC 4-28-24

Intro: Read: “Several Ways to Make Yourself Miserable” – E. Elliot. I find that those who are most miserable are also the most ungrateful. With this in mind, as Christians, we need to develop grateful hearts. I concur along with Nancy Leigh DeMoss Wogumuth, that the importance of gratitude cannot be overstated. I’ve come to believe that few things are more becoming of the child of God that a grateful spirit, and by the same token, there is probably nothing that makes a person more unattractive than the absence of a grateful spirit!

Prop Int: “With this in mind, how can I learn to develop a grateful heart?”

Prop: “Exam I Thes. 5:16-18, we learn 3 practical steps to take to dev. a grateful heart.”

BG: 1. Apostle Paul was the author of the Thessalonian letters.

2. I Thess. is an interesting letter, extremely hopeful and uplifting. In fact, is unique in that every chapter encourages the reader in the hope of the second coming of Christ.

3. Each verse examine is an imperative, an understood command “You”!

Prop: Look to I Thes. 5:16-18 we’ll notice 3 practical measures to take to dev. a grateful heart.

I. 1st: Make Rejoicing a Priority in Your Life – v.16

A. Are you and I making Rejoicing a Priority in our Lives?

1. Rejoicing at God’s Provision is a key to becoming a more grateful person.

a. Illus – rejoice – chairo – to rejoice, related to the root word for grace which is charis. Carried the idea from the Heb. for a young sheep or lamb that was skipping. (you’ve seen this – lamb is elated just to be alive, carefree and happy.) Sometimes our puppy, Reuben, will just explode and take off running in circles. Happy to be alive. Joyful.

b. Paul was encouraging the Thessalonian believers to realize the joy of Christ in their lives. It is sad that this must be reminded, and yet if anything, I think we need to be reminded all the more of our joy in Christ today. Again, quoting DeMoss, I have learned that in every situation that comes my way I can choose to respond with one of two attitudes: I can whine, or I can worship. And, you and I cannot worship without giving thanks. Period. It is not possible. When, as believers in Christ, we choose to worship and not whine in the midst of a difficult or trying circumstance, we spiritually speaking, release a fragrance or radiance that blesses the Lord and others. Illust: My daughter’s mother- in-law, Pat, went through a terminal battle with cancer. Was very severe, ovarian, etc., cancer. Was there fear? Yes. Did it hurt and make her sick? Yes. Did she lose her hair? Yes. Weight? Yes. Hard on family? Yes. Did she carry about a grateful, life-giving spirit? Yes. Ministered, like Chrissy Wynn did years ago, to scores of individuals in the oncology unit. Why? Chose to worship! Plenty of reasons to whine, but chose worship!

2. This injunction demonstrated Paul’s absolute confidence in the invincible cause of Christ.

a. Illust – I find it encouraging that circumstances did not dictate Paul’s level or response of joy – I find this interesting in light of the tribulations he expresses has experienced in 1:6; 2:14; 3:3, and years later, when wrote from a Roman prison cell to the Philippian church, could write in a similar vein: “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say Rejoice.” (Phil. 3:1; 4:4)

b. Christians are prone to be very depressive – world is evil, see shortcomings and sell-outs in politics, see growth of false faiths, witness some persecution, yet need to be reminded of the fact that it was our Lord Jesus Himself who said: Mt. 16:18 – “I will build My Church and the gates of hell will not overcome it.” We win! Remember watching a Packers/Cowboys FB game several years ago. (I haven’t watched too many in last 5-6 yrs. I decided to forgo when I was being lectured about lack of opportunity in America by people who were making making 40x a year more than I am.) Anyway, I was watching this Cowboys and Packers game. I have no skin in the game. Looked to be a blowout with Dallas winning…but then with the greatest series of kicking displayed …ever…the Pack won as time ran out on the clock! The sea of green clad fans were rejoicing whereas silver and blue fans were dejected. One won. One lost. Way it is going to be spiritually as well. In Christ…win. Not in Christ…lose. Die.

B. The Joy in Your Life is a Part of Your Witness for Christ.

1. The Christians is to a be a joyful individual.