Thankfulness

Thankfulness: ways to show it

I. Luke 17:11-18 Jesus cleansed 10 Lepers and only one returned to say “thanks.”

A. Are we like the one or the nine? Do you get and take and not take time to say thanks to God? Do you do this to others?

B Because of this unthankfulness, are we jeopardizing future blessings?

C. 2 Timothy 3:2 (KJV) states that in the last days men will be “unthankful”

II. We are unthankful sometimes because we are always looking ahead for more stuff. We always have our attention and focus on wanting more, and not looking at what we currently have, and giving thanks for it.

A. We have been given much, but we are not satisfied; we continually seek more and more. Nothing is satisfactory to us because we want, want, want. Maybe we should remember that “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want”! Haggai 1:6-7 “6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.”

1. What does Haggai mean by “consider your ways”? Look back on your life and see what you have and have done. Do you need more and more stuff, or should you be thankful for the stuff you have?

B. Luke 12:15 A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth.

C. Matthew 6:33 is the Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His Righteousness and these things shall BE ADDED unto you.

III. A Psalm of Thanksgiving: Psalm 30:1-12. “1. I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. 2 O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. 3 O LORD, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit. 4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name. 5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favour lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

6 When I felt secure, I said, "I shall never be shaken." 7 O LORD, when you favoured me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed. 8 To you, O LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: 9 "What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? 10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help." 11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks for ever. (NIV)”

A. For deliverance - Vs. 1-3

1. Lifted up (like water from a well) from enemies - v. 1

a. Sin & guilt overburden the weary soul - Psa. 63:1

b. Only God can remove the burden - Psa. 51:1-4

2. His need realized - v. 2

a. So turned to the only true source of help - Acts. 4:12

b. Note; effectiveness of prayer - 1 Th. 5:16-18

3. From the great peril of the pit (death) - v. 3

B. A summons to all men - vs. 4-5

1. Praise God’s character (Holy) - v. 4

a. Basis of punishment - Lev. 19:2, 4; Josh. 23:16

b. Basis of pardon (now for all men) - Isa. 48:9

2. Praise Him for His compassion - v. 5

a. Help came swiftly - Psa. 86:5

b. Realize the "night" of sorrow is temporary but joy goes on

C. Sparked memory of pride - vs. 6-7

1. What he had felt - v. 6

a. Uninterrupted good fortune = peril to soul - Ps. 10:6

b. This world = sworn enemy of that world.

11. Don’t sell your soul for comforts of this life

22. Let us awaken from our proud "security blanket"

2. What he had forgotten - v. 7 a

a. Prosperity is ALL undeserved favor from God

b. That real, worthwhile strength is ONLY in God

3. Brings need for divine chastening - v. 7 b; Heb. 12:6

D. His prayerful approach - vs. 8-10

1. Feeling of utter helplessness - Jonah 2:1-2

2. Understanding futility of life - v. 9

a. How many praises do you hear from a graveyard?

b. Despair of routine of life - Job 7:1-4