Following Jesus with Thankful Hearts
November 20th, 2005 Various Texts
These are my actual notes and sermon handouts and they probably mean more to me than they do to you. If you don’t understand something in my notes – feel free to e-mail me for clarification (stevenmary7@hotmail.com). Here’s some deciphering hints: I use hyphens (-) to separate key elements in a thought progression. I use quotation marks when I’m illustrating what some one in the congregation might be thinking or asking at that particular point in the message or to illustrate different character voices in an illustration. Bullets are springboards for thought progressions associated with main points in a thought.
INTRO: Video
So much to be thankful for in America – but probably most dissatisfied nation. Well not much to give thanks for… - oh really?
4 slips of paper each with a word on it Health, Family, Possessions, Work
If had to give up one – which one? – tear it in half – next? – next?
Could you be thankful if all you had left?
Work it backwards – these are all gifts – be thankful!
Last several weeks – talking about link between heart and mouth…
1. The Lip Link to a Thankful Heart.
A grateful heart is one of the things He’s trying to work into us.
Is that being worked into you? – think back to last week – times you’ve spoken your gratefulness to God – if 95% is only on Sunday – you’re missing it!
Problem is – people think that praise and thanksgiving is tied to their circumstances – NOT! – often the other way around – WHAT!?
Wants us to be thankful in all things – can only do by faith!
1 PET 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
When faith is in your heart – praise is on your lips
Faith is intentional action in response to revelation of God’s Word.
Obedient to speak with mouth your heart will be filled.
2. God wants us to _Grow_ in Thankfulness.
Jesus speaks of the purpose that he came…
Luke 4:18-21
LK 4:16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
LK 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor."n
LK 4:20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
When he read from this passage in Isaiah – declaring his intention and desired result – good news, freedom, sight, release – should evoke thankfulness.
The thread through the entire Isaiah passage is gratefulness and praise.
Isaiah 61:1-11
ISA 61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
Oil of gladness = thankfulness and praise instead of mourning = profound sense of loss
Garment of praise – instead of despair / fainting / heaviness
How do you deal with the heaviness in life?
Medication? – bad plan
Certain counselor I go to
This program I watch on TV – I watch then feel better
What nonsense! For the people of God.
We are medicating our despair – with any number of things
What is it that dispels the spirit of heaviness?
The _garment_ of praise dispels the spirit of heaviness.
Praising and worshipping God.
7 Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance (shout for joy); and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.
Shout for joy = exult in God –
Looking past my circumstances – away from them and choosing to rejoice and praise God.
How do I tap into all this?
When I choose to praise God at all times for all things
God is sovereign and good – but when we resist, complain, rebel, doubt and our lives are filled with fear and anxiety…
We forfeit God’s Power and Presence in our lives
when we are not Thankful.
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.
We understand how things grow in the garden…
Till, plant, weed, water, sun – boom – it grows
You know what God’s trying to grow in you? – PRAISE!
He’s causing righteousness and praise to spring up!
Is it springing up in you?
Is your life continually and increasingly filled with the praise and worship of almighty God?
Some wrong approaches to praising God…
Some People are Stingy_ with their praise.
Can you praise God for that? - “aarrrggghh – maybe…”
The reason you don’t see more good things from God is that you never say thank you! – ungrateful – stingy with your praise.
Praise is something that should flow from you.
Some People are Selective_ with their praise.
“Oh yea – I’ll praise God for that…”
For life, health, strength, house,…
But if you think I’m going to praise God for that mess…
You’ve got another thing come to you!”
What I want to know is why did God allow that to happen to me?…
That’s what you need to be praising God for!
“I’ll never praise God for that!” – right – and you’ll never see the blessings that are just over the next hill! – never be yours!
Because you still want to be in control of your life
You don’t want to submit to God.
It’s only when you come to the place when you’ll praise God for that.
Well, if I’m going to praise God for that – I’ll need another verse
1 Thes. 5:16-18
1TH 5:16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
In everything! – yea but I’ve got a loop-hole
No matter what situation I’m in – thank God for other things…
Could be facing darkest moment of life – think of other things to thank God for.
You’re selective in your praise!
NOT just IN everything – but…
Eph. 5:19-20
19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Not only IN all things but FOR everything
Not much squirming room there is there? – how get out of that?
Giving thanks in all thing, for all things, at all times…
You mean I have to thank God for my cold hearted, neglectful husband?
You mean I have to thank God for this dead end career - so trapped - no options – life so locked in – barely provide – every day go to job – and I hate it! – I’ve got to praise God for that? – yep!
I’ve done my best to raise my kids – walked away from the Lord – living in the world – don’t know when they’re ever coming back – lie awake at night – wondering what they could be doing – thank God for that? – yep!
Think the prodigal would have ever come home – intimate relationship with the father if never gone into the world – pigs?
No! – would have never come home
Would have been totally appropriate for that father in the darkest moment of his sons life to thank God for that!
Not knowing – not seeing what God was doing – to thank God!
“Thank you God that my son tonight is living in the world – doing the things he’s doing – because my trust is in you God – I believe you can use these very dark things to bring him to his knees – and bring him back to me – and I trust you God in that!”
Now listen – when you get off this selective praise – thankful in all things / for all things… - you get home today and get on your knees and thank God for that husband, for you for my job, thank you God – begin to speak that out!
You say – but I’m not thankful
But you need to be! – because God loves you and is in control
Everyone here – God’s children – has a crucible in your life.
A trial – a hard place in your life – you know what it is…
List would be too long
It’s that thing that you’re praying…. – God take it away, away, away
God’s like – NOT!
Been placed in your life for you to come into complete submission to him – won’t take that away.
What God wants you to do is begin to thank him for it…
Paul - 2CO 12:7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
God’s allowed something similar in your life to produce something so – praise him – thank him – only time you’ll see the change!
Thank you God for ______________.
Don’t be Stingy, don’t be Selective…
Some People are Selfish_ with their praise.
Some will be listening to this teaching they’re like…
OK – I see how this works now – I’ll start to thank God for that thing…
“Thank you God for that____________...” (through clenched teeth)
Wow! You are just tricking God aren’t you?
You just fooled him completely – right?
He’s just going to begin to send all these blessings into your life…
Then when he finds out that you didn’t really mean it.
He’s going to have to regroup
OK – you can’t just fool God by some kind of selfish sort of – well…
“I’ll just thank God because I’ll get the good out of it…”
“I’ll just thank God because it will work out for me in the end”
That’s a very bad plan!
Selfish praise doesn’t cut it!
3. How to be Thankful to God.
3 words as I close… - they’ll guide you towards a right response of praise
Praise God _Honestly_.
“God I don’t know what you’re doing – why you allowed this – and I don’t know why I have to continue to struggle with ______________.”
But you know what God – I know you are good – you are faithful – you’ve proven that to me and so many others before – I just want to say thank you God! – thank you that that thing has brought me to this moment right now – I don’t know where I’d be if you hadn’t allowed that in my life – so prone to wander from you – but you’ve allowed that in my life to keep my heart close to you – thank you God for that.”
Praise God _Faithfully_.
Keep pondering it…
PS 22:3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel. (inhabits the praise of His people)
If you want to see the presence of God in your life – he dwells in the praises of his people.
You want to see God in your life? – begin to praise him
Not just once a week on Sunday – I mean get all that dumb secular music out of your life!
I remember the decision I made – no more secular music – when you fill your car, home, and your life and mind with the praise of your creator…
When you and I say honestly – “Your praise is always on my lips…”
I’m telling you there is power in that!
When all day – every day my life is filled with the praise and worship of Almighty God! Thankfulness and gratefulness!
You want to see the healing and restoration flow into your life – that’s where it’s at!
So honestly, faithfully, and…
Praise God _Fervently_.
Psalm 37:4
PS 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Be delighted with the Lord.
Were going to take some time to do just that.
Following Jesus with Thankful Hearts
November 20th, 2005 Various Texts
1. The L_____ L______ to a Thankful Heart.
1 Peter 1:6-7
2. God wants us to ___________ in Thankfulness.
Luke 4:18-21; Isaiah 61:1-11
The ___________ of praise dispels the spirit of heaviness.
We forfeit God’s P_____ and P______ in our lives
when we are not Thankful.
Some wrong approaches to praising God…
Some People are S_________ with their praise.
Some People are S_________ with their praise.
1 Thes. 5:16-18; Eph. 5:19-20
Some People are S_________ with their praise.
3. How to be Thankful to God.
Praise God ______________________.
Praise God ______________________.
Psalm 22:3
Praise God ______________________.
Psalm 37:4
