Give Thanks

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Give Thanks Marion, OR 11/17/18 Intro: • Emeril Lagasse—"Let’s kick it up another notch, BAM!” ◦ Every year it seems we are instructed to count our blessings and to give thanks ◦ Is it possible to kick it up another notch? • Is it possible to give thankfulness like a gift, to give thanks? ◦ Could such a gift be counted as worship? • Want to cultivate a humbly grateful culture in Marion ◦ Looked at Bad news and good news recently ▪ Bad news should keep us humble ▪ good news that should be our foundation for a grateful heart • Psalm 103 will help us cultivate a humble attitude of gratitude ◦ should be the DNA of every Christian • But then we will see if we can kick it up a notch ◦ Psalm 103 can also become a well-spring for the gift of thanks—for Thanks-giving Body: Psa 103:1  A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name.  Psa 103:2  Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;  • How can we bless the Lord (instructed 3 times)? ◦ Root according to Strongs is from “kneel”—sense of adoration of king ◦ Barnes--The word “bless,” as applied to God, means to praise, implying always a strong affection for him as well as a sense of gratitude. • Not enough to do it with just lips but with the “soul”—from the heart ◦ Blesses the heart of the father to have the sincere affection, adoration and appreciation of His children • One way is to get started is to remember and tell of His goodness—forget not! ◦ Probably been told to make a list of things you are thankful for—good advice! ▪ Here David has provided an awesome list of 6 reasons to be thankful: Psa 103:3  Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases;  Psa 103:4  Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;  Psa 103:5  Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.  • What a list! ◦ Pardon is forgiveness—we are justly convicted but our sentence is removed ◦ Heals the divide between God and man—reconciled (not just physical, spiritual) ◦ Redeems—buys us from hell with the blood of His son ◦ Crowns—adopts us as royal children, showering us with love and compassion ◦ Satisfies—gives us blessing upon blessing, grace upon grace—life of purpose ◦ Renewed—fills us with Holy Spirit strength to live that purpose • But if that wasn’t enough, David adds still more to the list! Psa 103:8  The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.  Psa 103:9  He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.  Psa 103:10  He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.  • Nothing kills gratitude faster than a sense of entitlement— ◦ should never exist in the church! • God’s grace means that not every crime is punished immediately—we would all be dead • God’s grace provides time (patience) for repentance so that crime can be paid by Jesus ◦ God’s patience is sometimes our suffering, but it is always our salvation! Psa 103:11  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.  Psa 103:12  As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.  Psa 103:13  Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.  • How far is east from west? “One nail scarred hand to the other” ◦ This is the measure of his lovingkindness and compassion • There are some terms to receiving God’s everlasting lovingkindness, however ◦ Jesus is THE way, the truth and the life, the only way to God and eternal life ▪ Can’t save self, must trust Him wholly— • no self-righteousness or pride allowed • Only the humbly grateful can receive the full measure of God’s grace and compassion ◦ those who humbly admit who they are without Jesus ◦ And who joyfully embrace the heights to which they are lifted in Jesus ▪ Royal priesthood, ambassadors, ministers, children of God, citizens of the kingdom of heaven! Conclusion: • Do you have an attitude of gratitude? ◦ Kick it up a notch. Share it! • Inspire an attitude of gratitude in others ◦ Hard to give a feeling or an emotion, so look for a tangible way to share that blessing with others • Give the gift of Thanksgiving—its Biblical—Old and New Testament ◦ Remember the conclusion of the story of Esther: Est 9:22  because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.  • Giving thanks, in a tangible way, results not only in thankfulness in others, ◦ but can be a gospel in brief resulting in worship of God 2Co 9:11 (NLT) Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.  2Co 9:12  So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.  2Co 9:13  As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.  • God has abundantly supplied the needs of so many of us ◦ Already giving generously— ▪ this is really a sermon of encouragement, not admonishment • We have multiple opportunities to do what Mordechai and Paul encouraged: ◦ Thanksgiving baskets ◦ Samaritan ministries ◦ Orphans and Widows—presentation next week ◦ Benevolence Fund—significant needs surfacing within our congregation ◦ Coat drive ◦ Take a plate of treats to a neighbor and say, “Happy Thanksgiving!” • Don’t just give thanks,--give the gift of thanks ◦ One of Pastor Dale’s favorite verses: Mat 5:16  "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.  • Don’t stop at saying thanks—find a way to give thanks this Thanksgiving, ◦ From the abundance with which He has supplied your every need, bless others ◦ that’s taking thanksgiving up a notch, ▪ It is a form of worship that blesses our gracious, loving Father in Heaven! Psa 103:20  Bless the LORD, you His angels, Mighty in strength, who perform His word, Obeying the voice of His word!  Psa 103:21  Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You who serve Him, doing His will.  Psa 103:22  Bless the LORD, all you works of His, In all places of His dominion; Bless the LORD, O my soul! 
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