Living With An Attitude Of Thanksgiving.
Luke 17:12-19TPT
Analyzing data from over 3.7 million reviews for 13,400 hotels in 70 countries, Reward Experts has set out to answer where the grumpiest and happiest travelers in the world come from.
Grumpiest: 1. Spain 2. Ireland 3. Iceland 4. Italy
Happiest: 1. Russia 2. Serbia 3. Lebanon 4. Australia – USA gets a top 10.
A study done by UCLA Neuroscience dept. found out that the #1 choice that allowed people to live happy was to have a grateful/ thankful-attitude.
As you are continually thankful it releases—“2 happy chemicals.” (Serotonin & Dopamine) into our brains.
As a matter of interest that same study found that 1. labelling negative feelings, 2. making decisions when faced with choices, 3. helping others and 4. human touch also made people happier and able to go through hardship.
Luke 17:12-19TPT As he (Jesus) entered one village, ten men approached him, but they kept their distance, for they were lepers. 13 They shouted to him, “Mighty Lord, our wonderful Master! Won’t you have mercy on us and heal us?” 14 When Jesus stopped to look at them, he spoke these words: “Go to be examined by the Jewish priests.” They set off, and they were healed while walking along the way. 15 One of them, a Samaritan, when he discovered that he was completely healed, turned back to find Jesus, shouting out joyous praises and glorifying God. 16 When he found Jesus, he fell down at his feet and thanked him over and over, saying to him, “You are the Messiah.” 17 “So where are the other nine?” Jesus asked. “Weren’t there ten who were healed? 18 They all refused to return to give thanks and give glory to God except you, a foreigner from Samaria?”
19 Then Jesus said to the healed man lying at his feet, “Arise and go. It was your faith that brought you salvation and made you whole.”
Notice, the writer, Luke points out some powerful truths for his reader to hold onto.
10 Lepers, all 10 cried out for healing.
Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priest. As they obeyed their faith healed them.
Luke points out that one of leper came back to say, “Thank you for his healing!”
He was a Samaritan. This leper fell at the feet of Jesus with thanksgiving—He was grateful.
Jesus asked this leper where the other 9 lepers were?
Jesus says a word to this 1 leper, the other 9 lepers, didn’t get to hear, nor possibly receive. Jesus states, “Today, You salvation has come!”
I want you to hear the text once more read:
Luke 17:12-19TM It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14-16 Taking a good look at them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus’ feet, so grateful. He couldn’t thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan.
17-19 Jesus said, “Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?” Then he said to him, “Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you.”
How thankful are you? What makes you become un-thankful?
A man once stole, Rev. Matthew Henry’s wallet. In reflecting on the incident, Henry said, “1.) I am thankful that he never robbed me before. 2), I am thankful that although he took my wallet, he did not take my life. 3) Although he took all I had, it was not much. And 4), I am glad that it was I who was robbed, not I who did the robbing.”
Have you ever reflected on something seemingly bad and found the good? That’s what living with a spirit (attitude) of Thanksgiving through faith is all about.
Thankfulness—What does that mean? I think a good definition of thankfulness is being grateful.
Listen:
Grateful for food, water and shelter. Grateful you’ve received redemption, Grateful to walk in salvation.
Grateful for my church family, with meaningful fellowship.
Grateful to be alive, maybe grateful for a second, or maybe one-hundred chances.
Living with an attitude of Thanksgiving can mean many things; however, I want to give you a few of its meanings—
1. An Attitude of Thanksgiving is contagious, it's catching.
Thanksgiving is an attitude—It’s faith at its deepest.
Hebrew 11:6NKJV But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Faith is thankful—faith believes the God report.
Paul wrote to the Church of Thessalonica.
1 Thessalonians 5:18ESV Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
I’ve heard many say, “I want God’s will for my life.”
A good reply is, “Okay first, Are you thankful?”
People who refuse thankfulness are being— cheated. Their world has turned from gloom to doom. Despair on every side.
Life is empty—meaningless, when you refuse to live and think about the bigger picture.
Does God have this? Does God have you?
I believe that the big picture is a set-up. If you really believe that you have been made complete in Him. If you really believe that you are God’s workmanship. If you really believe the greater One lives inside you. If you really believe He’s called you into a life of faith. If you really believe, you will see the bigger picture. P.H
Ephesians 5:20ESV Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
To become genuinely thankful, our attitudes and thoughts will need to conform to God’s word.
David penned in, Psalm 37:25NKJV I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.
2. There are Spiritual gates of Thanksgiving. Upon entering—‘one’ goes deeper.
Psalm 100:4ESV Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
The Lord spoke this simple word to me—We gain reputation with a spirit of Thanksgiving.
Q&A: Do you have a reputation for giving God— thanksgiving? Thanksgiving begins and ends in faith.
3. Thanksgiving is such an act of faith, it takes you into heavenly realms.
“Thanksgiving changes your atmosphere.” P.H
As Jesus lived in thanksgiving, He was baptized by John the baptist in Matthew 4. The results—“The heavens were opened.”
Colossians 4:2ESV Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving prepares your heart for more!
Philippians 4:6ESV Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
4. Thanksgiving keeps your faith walk in tack.
Colossians 3:15ESV And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Psalm 106:1ESV Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
Colossians 3:17ESV And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
5. Thanksgiving can be seen through your demeanor— Your speech, your actions.
Psalm 95:2ESV Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
Colossians 3:15-17ESV And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
1 Corinthians 1:4ESV I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,
1 Corinthians 15:57ESV But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 69:30ESV I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 28:7ESV The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
Psalm 7:17ESV I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.
“I think everything points out that thanksgiving is forever— It travels into our eternity.” P.H
1 Thessalonians 1:2ESV We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers,
“Don’t be afraid to pen some notices out there to people who have helped you. Show— gratitude. P.H
Paul writes in, Philippians 4:6-7ESV Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 9:15ESV Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
2 Corinthians 9:11ESV You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
Benediction—What if you were to begin to thank people? Thank them for their good service, thank them for serving your county, Thank them for letting you into the traffic, Lol Etc.
