AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

1st Thessalonians 5:16-19 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit.

Common Courtesy

Disappearing from the World

Please and Thank you

Thanksgiving Forgotten

Radios start playing Christmas music in November

Black Friday Adds go up and are everywhere

People seem to just gloss over Thanksgiving

God is like us

We are made in the image of God

God is like us

I believe that God desires some of the same things that we do

I believe that God wants us to say Thank you

 

Psalm 100:1-5 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

God desires for us to praise Him and to give Him thanks

Giving Thanks in Trouble

Jonah

Rebellious

In the belly of the fish

Jonah 2:9-10 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD. 10 And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

Gave thanks and was delivered

You’re deliverance might be waiting on your thankfulness

Giving thanks in need

Matthew 15:32-38 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. 33 And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? 34 And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. 35 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.  36 And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 37 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. 38 And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.

Jesus

Sees a hungry crowd

Wants to feed the people

Is given a few loaves and few fishes

Shows thanks for what He has been given

The thanks gets rewarded

The whole crowd is able to eat

Giving thanks in sickness

Luke 17:12-19 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.  14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Ten Lepers

Cried out for healing

Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priests

He was basically telling them that they were already healed

They had no evidence of it – yet – that is faith

As they went on their way they were healed

One turned back to give thanks

He was made whole

Giving thanks in salvation

Luke 22:17-19 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Communion

The cup – before drinking He gave thanks

The bread – before eating He gave thanks

This same thought of thanks is continued in 1st Corinthians 11

How do we get the Holy Ghost?

Through believing that God has forgiven our sins

Then by giving thanks and praising Him

Giving thanks in persecution

1st Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rapture

Persecution is happening to the church

They have not been delivered from it

Paul talks about the rapture / or the death of the saints

He says to give thanks for the victory

They do not have the victory yet, but they can be thankful for what they know that they will receive.