Introduction

Good morning, beloved family of God. It's always a joy to gather together, isn't it? To come together as one body, united in Christ, and find ourselves nestled in the warmth of His love. We are here today, not because we are perfect, not because we have all the answers, but because we are seekers of God's truth, and we know that in His presence, we find wisdom, peace, and joy.

Today, we find ourselves standing at the foot of a mountain, ready to climb to the heights of understanding. We are here to learn, to grow, and to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We are here to draw from the deep well of God's word, to drink in His wisdom and to let it nourish our souls.

Our focus today is on Psalms 116:17. The Psalmist writes,

I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.

What a profound statement, isn't it? The Psalmist is not merely offering a casual word of thanks. No, he is offering a sacrifice of thanksgiving. He is surrendering his self, his desires, his will, to God. He is acknowledging that everything he has, everything he is, comes from God. And for that, he is profoundly grateful.

As we consider this verse, we are reminded of the words of Charles Spurgeon, who once said, "You say, 'If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.' You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled."

Spurgeon's words strike a chord, don't they? They remind us that true contentment, true gratitude, doesn't come from having more, but from appreciating what we already have. It comes from recognizing that every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

So, let us approach today's sermon with open hearts and open minds. Let us be willing to learn, to grow, and to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Let's pray.

Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you today with hearts full of gratitude. We thank you for your love, your mercy, and your grace. We thank you for your word, which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. As we consider the words of the Psalmist today, we ask that you would open our eyes to see the truth of your word. Help us to understand what it means to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Teach us to be content with what we have, recognizing that every good and perfect gift comes from you. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Surrendering Self for Sacrifice

The words of the Psalmist echo in our hearts, "I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving." It's a powerful statement, isn't it? But what does it really mean to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving? To truly understand this, we need to look at the idea of surrendering self.

Modern day: The idea of surrender often carries a negative connotation. It's associated with defeat, with giving up. But in the spiritual realm, surrender is a powerful act of love and devotion. It's about laying down our own desires, our own will, in favor of God's will. It's about saying, "Not my will, but yours be done."

Not an easy thing to do: Our human nature is to cling to control, to want things our way. But when we surrender to God, we are acknowledging that His ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts higher than our thoughts. We are recognizing that He is the Creator, the Sustainer, the Provider, and we are His creation.

The surrender of our desires: We all have things we want, things we desire. But when we surrender these desires to God, we are saying, "God, I trust you. I trust that you know what's best for me. I trust that you have a plan for my life, and I choose to align my desires with your will."

The surrender of our will: This is perhaps the hardest part of surrender. It's one thing to surrender our desires, but to surrender our will, to say, "God, not my will, but yours be done," that's a whole different level of surrender. It requires a deep trust in God, a trust that He is good, that He is loving, and that His plans for us are for our good and His glory.

The surrender of our resources: Everything we have, our time, our talents, our treasures, they all come from God. When we surrender these resources back to God, we are acknowledging that they are not ours to begin with. We are stewards of these resources, entrusted by God to use them for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom.

The surrender of our lives: This is the ultimate act of surrender. To say, "God, my life is yours. Use me as you see fit. I am your servant, ready to do your will." This is the heart of the Psalmist when he says, "I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving."

Made out of love: Each of these aspects of surrender is a sacrifice, a giving up of something we hold dear. But it's not a sacrifice made out of obligation or duty. It's a sacrifice made out of love, out of gratitude for all that God has done for us. It's a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

Studying the Significance of Thanksgiving

As we continue to reflect on the words of the Psalmist, we can't help but notice the depth of his gratitude ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO