Introduction – The Proud Lion
A story is told of a lion who believed he was the undisputed king of the jungle.
Confident and cocky, he bypassed the smaller animals and went straight to the bear.
“Who is the king of the jungle?” the lion demanded.
“You are, of course,” replied the bear.
Pleased, the lion gave a mighty roar.
Next, he asked the tiger, “Who is the king of the jungle?”
“Everyone knows you are, mighty lion,” came the quick reply.
Finally, the lion turned to the elephant:
“Who is the king of the jungle?”
Without a word, the elephant grabbed the lion with his trunk, whirled him through the air, slammed him into a tree, dunked him in the river, and dropped him—bruised and battered—on the shore.
Struggling to his feet and spitting out river water, the lion muttered,
“Look, just because you don’t know the answer is no reason to get mean about it!”
It’s a humorous picture, but isn’t that what pride does to us?
It blinds us. We can roar like kings, but a single circumstance outside our control can humble us in an instant.
Beloved, what is the antidote for pride?
What will rescue us from the subtle poison that whispers,
You don’t need help. You’ve got this. You deserve more. You’re in control?
The answer may surprise you.
It’s not willpower. It’s not more discipline.
It is thankfulness.
Thankfulness is more than polite manners or a quick “thank you, Lord” at mealtime.
It is a deep, ongoing posture of heart that reorients us from self to Savior.
It is, as Scripture shows, the essence of worship and the great antidote to pride.
Self-exaltation is the most dangerous snare of the enemy. Of all sins it is the most hopeless, the most incurable.
Today we will see how thankfulness
1. exposes our dependence on God,
2. frees us from comparison and discontent,
3. restores our focus on God’s glory, and
4. breaks pride’s grip through Spirit-filled worship.
And my prayer is that this word will spark a revival of gratitude in every heart.
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I. Pride Blinds Us to Our Dependence on God
Pride is rooted in self-reliance.
It says, “My strength, my smarts, my strategy brought this about.”
But God’s Word warns us:
> “Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’
You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth.”
—Deuteronomy 8:17–18
Pride forgets God.
It edits Him out of the story of our success.
But every heartbeat, every breath, every opportunity is a gift.
James 1:17 reminds us:
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.”
When thankfulness fills the heart, perspective returns.
We remember: I am not the source. God is.
We don’t deserve grace; we receive it.
Illustration – The Farmer and the Storm
Thomas was a hard-working farmer whose barns were full and whose fields were lush.
Over time, he grew confident and boasted, “This farm is all because of my hard work.”
Then a violent storm came.
Rain pounded, winds howled, and by morning his crops were ruined and his barn collapsed.
Nothing he could do would stop it.
A neighbor came to help and gently said,
“We can’t control the storms, Thomas. It’s good to remember we’re not in charge of everything.”
Thomas rebuilt his farm—and his perspective.
He learned humility and began to thank God for every harvest.
Friends, the storms of life—whether health crises, economic shifts, or relational pain—remind us that we are not in charge.
Thankfulness doesn’t ignore effort; it places effort under grace.
It whispers, Lord, all I have and all I am is from You.
True worship begins with that confession.
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II. Pride Leads to Comparison and Discontentment
Where pride lives, comparison thrives.
It’s the oldest social media feed: scrolling through others’ lives to measure our worth.
We say, “Why do they have more success? More recognition? Better health?”
Paul writes:
> “Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves.
But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.”
—2 Corinthians 10:12
Comparison breeds discontentment and steals joy.
Illustration – The Tale of Two Artists
Emma and Clara were gifted painters in a seaside village.
Emma painted serene seascapes; Clara painted dramatic storms.
At the village exhibition, Emma’s peaceful work won first prize.
Clara, though talented, was eaten alive by jealousy.
She passed Emma’s house that evening and found her quietly enjoying the sunset, unconcerned about the contest.
Emma’s secret? Gratitude for beauty itself, not for applause.
Beloved, pride always asks, Why them and not me?
Gratitude answers, Thank You, Lord, for all You’ve given me.
Lao Tzu said, “A contented man is never poor, and a discontented man is never rich.”
Contentment is not found in having everything but in thanking God for everything.
Think of how many sleepless nights would end if we lived in grateful contentment.
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III. Pride Distracts Us from God’s Glory
Pride not only compares; it competes with God.
It makes self the center and pushes the Creator to the margins.
Psalm 115:1 declares:
> “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory, for the sake of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness.”
When gratitude fills the heart, the refrain changes from
“I deserve recognition” to “God is worthy of all praise.”
Illustration – Mohammed Ali and the Seatbelt
In his prime, Muhammad Ali famously boasted, “I am the greatest.”
On one flight, a stewardess asked him to fasten his seatbelt.
“I’m Superman,” he quipped, “and Superman don’t need no seatbelt.”
Quick as lightning, she replied, “Superman don’t need no airplane either—now buckle up.”
Pride makes ridiculous claims; gratitude brings us back to reality.
Illustration – Two Mountain Goats (from Martin Luther)
On a narrow mountain path, two goats met.
Instead of butting heads to the death, one lay down and let the other step over.
Both survived.
Humility always wins.
It makes room for others and for God.
Application: Revival starts when we lay down self so that the glory of God can pass over us and shine through us.
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IV. Thankfulness Breaks the Grip of Pride
Thankfulness isn’t sentimental—it’s spiritual warfare.
It dethrones self and enthrones Christ.
Whenever pride and ambition are indulged, the life is marred, for pride, feeling no need, closes the heart against the infinite blessings of Heaven.
He who makes self-glorification his aim will find himself destitute of the grace of God…
But he who gives all and does all for Christ will know the fulfillment of the promise,
‘The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it’ (Proverbs 10:22).
Jesus invites us:
> “Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
—Matthew 11:29
Praise and thanksgiving should be expressed in song. When we are discouraged, when we seem pressed by affliction, we should take God’s word and speak often of His goodness. Thus we shall offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to God.
Every time you give thanks—out loud in prayer, quietly in a hospital room, over a simple meal—you are declaring,
“God, You are King, and I am not.”
That is worship.
That is revival.
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A Revival Appeal
Church family, revival does not begin with noise; it begins with gratitude.
It starts when a husband thanks God for a wife he has taken for granted.
When a teenager thanks God for parents instead of resenting their rules.
When a business owner thanks God for employees and customers instead of boasting about skill.
Augustine said, “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.”
Let thankfulness create that humility in you.
Imagine a congregation where thankfulness is the atmosphere:
gossip replaced by praise, entitlement replaced by worship,
complaint meetings turned into prayer meetings.
This is the revival heaven longs to send.
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Conclusion
Pride is a destructive force.
But thankfulness is heaven’s antidote.
It reminds us of our dependence on God.
It frees us from comparison and discontent.
It re-centers us on God’s glory.
And it breaks pride’s grip through worship.
As you leave today, carry this simple practice:
Every morning and every night, name three blessings out loud to God.
Let thankfulness become the soundtrack of your soul.
Because when we give thanks, we worship.
And when we worship, we humble ourselves before the One who alone deserves glory and honor.
Church, do you long for that kind of revival?
Then bow with me now—not in despair but in gratitude—and let heaven hear your thanks.
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Closing Prayer
> Heavenly Father,
We thank You for this time of worship and for the message You’ve spoken to us today. We are humbled by the reminder that thankfulness is not only the antidote to pride but the very essence of worship.
As we leave this place, may our hearts overflow with gratitude. Help us live with humility, acknowledging every good gift as from You. May thankfulness transform our hearts, guide our actions, and deepen our worship in the days to come.
In the name of Jesus,
Amen.
