Thanksgiving Sunday 22 “The attitude of Gratitude”
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(Notes: Heart for the House slides / Essentials Today / Woven This week / Advent begins / Giving Tuesday (kingdom giving and generosity & tax deductible)
Ps 50:23 “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!””
Ps 50:23 “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!””
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PRAY
PRAY
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THE ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE: how a great attitude launches
How a GREAT attitude or a HEART of GRAITUTE can set you up as a believer!
One of the best qualities in a Christian is a great attitude
WRITE THIS DOWN: PRESSURE REVEALS ATTITUDE. …..A challenge will show me what your true perspective is.
“someone’s Attitude is only really known when pressure is applied”
(when it’s tested. When it’s put to the test).
PRESSURE REVEALS ATTITUDE
But it’s ATTITUDE that DETERMINES how WELL YOU Deal with the PRESSURE
I want to take some time today, this thanksgiving sunday, to talk about the POWER of living our lives with a GREAT attitude.
THANKSGIVING / GRATITUDE / a GREAT ATTITUDE is a biblical trait we see all through scripture!
WHAT IS THANKSGIVING / GRATITUDE>? Its the the act of offering thanks or being thankful, usually to God. Often connected to provision, deliverance, or God’s character. Commonly associated in Scripture with meals and worship.
General Usage in the Bible
The concept of thanksgiving evolves theologically throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament, it is closely tied with the verb “to bless” (בָּרַךְ, barakh; e.g., Deut 8:10). The most common Hebrew noun used for “thanks” (תּוֹדָה, todah) derives from the verb “to praise, confess” (יָדָה, yadah). While Genesis bears little evidence of individuals offering thanks to God, by the time of Leviticus the Israelites had instituted a thanks offering as part of the sacrificial system (Lev 7:11–15). Thanksgiving bears a prominent place in the Psalms, both on an individual (e.g., Psa 116) and communal (e.g., Psa 100) level.
In the New Testament, thanksgiving is tied to the concept of “grace” (χάρις, charis). Most Greek words related to “thanks” are semantically connected, including the noun “thanksgiving” (εὐχαριστία, eucharistia), the adjective “thankful” (εὐχάριστος, eucharistos), and the verb “to give thanks, be thankful” (εὐχαριστέω, eucharisteō). People in the New Testament offer thanksgiving to God in worship (e.g., 1 Tim 2:1), individual prayer (e.g., Acts 28:15), and at meals (e.g., Matt 15:36–37). Expressions of thanksgiving appear throughout Paul’s writings (e.g., Phil 1:3–8). In the New Testament, thanksgiving is often a response to the redemptive work of Jesus (e.g., Rom 7:25). Texts like Luke 24:30 indicate that thanksgiving held an important part in Jewish and Christian meals.
HAVING AN ATTITUDE OF THANKSGIVING OR GRATITUDE IS A MUST HAVE FOR A BELIEVER!
Let me ask you something: Across the spectrum of your life, would you say that you have a good attitude, a good perspective? An attitude that reflects the blessing of God, an attitude that reflects the Glory of God.?
Truth: WE ARE CALLED TO LIVE NOT JUST ONE WEEK A YEAR THANKFUL, WERE CALLED TO LIVE EVERY SEASON OF OUR LIVES…. THANKFUL. WIth a GREATFUL Attitude!
1 Thess 5:18 “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Ps 7:17 “I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.”
5 Things about an ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE & …..3 PEOPLE in the BIBLE that Had a GREAT attitude & DISPLAYED a good attitude in the way they lived.,.. the way they acted… the way they wrote!
(Paul, James & Jesus.)
1.A great attitude always seems to find a way. “We can do this”
1.A great attitude always seems to find a way. “We can do this”
THE APOSTLE PAUL had a GREAT ATTITUDE.
One of the Bible's greatest encouragers and instructors, Paul was a man who faced various trials and tests even to the point of death.
PAUL HAD EVERY REASON IN THE WORLD ON THE OUTSIDE TO HAVE A BAD ATTITUDE ABOUT THINGS:
PAUL HAD EVERY REASON IN THE WORLD ON THE OUTSIDE TO HAVE A BAD ATTITUDE ABOUT THINGS:
In 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, Paul said, "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed."
ARE YOU THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO LIVES WITH THAT KIND OF SPIRIT?
Our Attitude is usually the first response: what’s yours?
Are you Negative? \
closed off to God-Given Possibility?
Are you immediately GOING for the WORSE possible outcome … coming your way?
The kind of poor attitude that really says: wow is me?
WHAT ABOUT THIS ONE? THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS TO ME.
The kind of self deprecation that is always putting self down?
a bad attitude can sometimes be rooted in inward GUILT & SHAME.
I personally am on a rampage to DESTROY the spirit of Guilt and SHAME in our church - BEcause it produces a sense of “im not good enough for this” kind of attitude in people.
Q: do you IMMEDIATELY WRITE YOURSELF off BECAUSE OF WHERE YOUVE COME FROM?
Write this down: “Where you’ve come from does not determine where you are going”
Write this down: “Where you’ve come from does not determine where you are going”
I want you to think about this: Because of the Bible, Because of Jesus - You no longer have to be concerned with where you came from?
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Here are some QUICK PRACTICAL ways to LIFT THE ALTITUDE of yOUR ATTITUDE:
Watch the language (of your life) (even more than what you say - keep watch over your tone, your dialect, the “edge” to your speech: I have had to train myself in this… is there a hint of cynicism? - “cynicism is the native tongue of a bitter heart”. If your constantly cynical - it could be that your heart is bitter…. And you need to give that over to God and change up the language of your life!
Check the circle (of your life) (theory people around you have a proufoud impact on your attitude and overall perspective!!!)
Do you have negative, spiteful people around u? Is there some DARKNESS in your friendship circle thats getting on you?
If you are sad - get some happy people in your circle (I watch my favorite comedians sometimes just to laugh) I love to be around people to JUST MAKE ME LAUGH!!
11 When three of Job’s friends heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him. Their names were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. 12 When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly, they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to show their grief. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words.
If im down….. you better not come around here wailing and tearing your robe!
We have a MANTRA here in our church, a challenge question for all our leaders: Who is your PETER, who is you JAMES & WHo is your JOHN? Or your paul barnabas or Timothy. The point is this: who’s in yoru circle?
If you need motivation - go and have a coffee with someone who’s successful / That will HELP your ATTITUDE!
Need a spiritual pick up? - get in the world of someone who’s going deeper!!/ That will HELP your ATTITUDE or GRATITUDE!
Review the table (of your life)
Is your life overloaded?
Are you going through a tough time (that’s OK btw).
Make Changes if Needed (In your life)
Take the steps to address what’s needed
Maybe you need to adjust your schedule
Maybe you need to see a counselor?
Maybe you need to get here more! (Just an idea!)
2.A great attitude always blesses others.
2.A great attitude always blesses others.
What I’ve noticed about people who have a great attitude… the people around them always are better off.
My friend Eric: He has a lot of challenges. He has significant health challanges. so much so that it makes it almost impossible for him to go places sometimes depending upon pain levels and what not - but here is what blows me. His attitude: So grateful, so willing to still help, so positive in terms of outlook!
Q: are others are better off because of your attitude? Because the way you navigate challenges and circumstances??
3.A great attitude has grace for peoples mistakes
3.A great attitude has grace for peoples mistakes
“it’s gonna be alright”
“it’s gonna be alright”
Here is one the reasons I love an attitude of gratitude
it makes a way for other people.
YOUNG PEOPLE THESE DAYS ARE ALMOST BEING ATTACKED by the culture: have you noticed this? (Millenials / Gen z whatever - They dont understand etc)
One of things I want our church to be is a place where young people can grow up and not be put down constantly because they haven’t quite yet figured it out!
A HEART of GRATITUDE … a GREAT ATTITUDE says something like this “ thats ok… its gonna be ok. You are gonna figure it out”
4.A great attitude calls people to a higher place.
4.A great attitude calls people to a higher place.
JAMES HAD A GREAT ATTIUTUDE
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James had an incredible perspective!
He knew what it looked like to be persecuted!
He know what it took to be able to withstand pressure of trials
and CONTINUE to BE GRATEFUL!
Listen to it in the NLT!
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." (James 1:2-4)
5. A Great Attitude Glorifies God.
5. A Great Attitude Glorifies God.
JESUS HAD A GREAT ATTITUDE. (Jesus was the most positive person in the history of mankind)
JESUS LED THE WAY WITH THANKSGIVING - He is our Good shepherd!
JESUS PRAYED THE PRAYERS THAT GIVE US THE EXAMPLE TO GIVE THANKS!
He Gave thanks for the way God revealed himself to the world:
Luke 10:21 “In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.”
When He HEALED Lazarus, right before he THANKED GOD:
John 11:41-42 “So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.””
When he shared the last supper with the disciples what did he do?
26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THIS:
JESUS GAVE THANKS TO GOD FOR THE OFFERING OF HIS OWN LIFE BEFORE HE WAS CRUCIFIED FOR YOU AND FOR ME.
Here is the whole point of the message: with that kind of perspective: we can live our lives FREE to live a life with a HEART of Gratitude!
Here is the whole point of the message: with that kind of perspective: we can live our lives FREE to live a life with a HEART of Gratitude!