Ways To Thank God Series

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Points Covered: This sermon gives us three simple ways to thank God.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

INTRODUCTION: Rudyard Kipling, author of “The Jungle Book”, at one time was so popular that his writings were getting ten shillings per word (about Rs. 500/-). A few college students, however, didn’t appreciate Kipling’s writings; they facetiously sent him a letter enclosing ten shillings. It read, “Please, send us your best word.” They got back a letter from Kipling, “Thanks.” Well today is the last Sunday of 2013 and this is our thanksgiving Sunday. I can look at all our families this year and say one thing to God, “THANK YOU LORD”.

Today we are going to see three ways to thank God.

Joke: A man was lost and walking in the desert for about five days. Finally he finds a pastor’s home. Tired and weak, he crawls up to the house and collapses on the doorstep. The preacher takes him in and nurses him back to health. The pastor then offers to lend him his horse to get home and says, “However, there is a special thing about this horse. You have to say ‘Thank God’ to make it go and ’Amen’ to make it stop.”

Anxious to get home, the man says, “Sure, okay” and gets on the horse. He says, “Thank God” and the horse starts walking. A bit later he says louder, “Thank God,” and the horse starts trotting. Feeling really brave, the man say, “Thank God! Thank God!” and the horse is soon up to a full run!

About then he realizes he’s heading for a huge cliff and yells “Stop!” But the horse doesn’t even slow! It’s coming up real quick and he’s doing everything he can to make the horse stop. Finally he remembers “AMEN!!!”

The horse stops a mere two inches from the cliff’s edge, almost throwing him over its head. The man, panting and heart racing, wipes the sweat from his face and leans back in the saddle. Gasping for air he says with relief, “Thank God.”

THREE WAYS TO THANK GOD.

1. Look upward.

A look unto God should make us thankful.

a. Thank God for his Power. An Upward Look Brings Thanks for the Power of God.

1 Chronicles 29:11-13 11Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 12Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. 13Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

God is powerful. The devil tried to destroy us many times. Praise God that he was always with us in our days to day struggles this year. Unbeknownst to us God has protected us with his mighty hands. Amen!

b. Thank God for his Plans.

Proverbs 16:9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.12Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

Many times when our plans did not materialize, we felt everything was over. But when our plans failed, God had a plan for us. Many of your plans may not have worked out this year, but praise God for his plans upon your life. We still have hope and purpose in our life because of his plans are higher and greater and our plans.

c. Thank God for his Presence.

Psalm 46:1-3 1God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

This year we have had circumstances of fear, failure, some of you just missed big accidents, some of you have gone for interview. Thank God for his unchanging presence.

Psalm 4:8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 32:7 You are my hiding place, you protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?

2. Look Outward.

a. Thank God for his Supply.

Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.Go home today and take an inventory of all the new things God has added to you this year. List the items one by one and pray to God with thanksgiving.