Thankful to Grateful: I’m Thankful!

                                                                                                                         

Thankful to Grateful – Sermon Notes                                                                                         Pastor Brad Myers

I’m Thankful!                                                                                                                                  November 17, 2024

Today’s Title: I’m Thankful!

 

What’s the Difference? Thankful & Grateful

 

Thankfulness: Our reaction to specific blessings or favorable events.

·      Our point of view (lens) determines if we are thankful.

·      If we perceive it as good, we’re thankful. If not, we’re not!

·      Thankfulness is Situational: Based on a Circumstance!

 

Gratefulness: Much deeper, constant attitude that goes beyond a circumstance.

·      Deeper sense of trust, faith, and acknowledgment of God’s constant presence and provision, regardless of external situations.

 

Philippians 4:11-12 (NIV)

 

Paul speaks of learning to be content in every situation, which is a step beyond being thankful—it’s inner peace and gratitude despite circumstances.

 

Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

 

Psalm 136:1 (NIV)

 

Going from Thankful to Grateful is a divine shift!

·      Shift from Situational to Relational: Gratefulness is relational—

·      It’s about trusting God and seeing His goodness beyond situational blessings.

·      This is about knowing that God’s love and presence are with us, no matter what situation you’re in.

 

We can forecast our future faithfulness based on whether we gravitate toward complaining or gratefulness.

·      Most of us are natural-born complainers.

·      Many of us whine more than we worship, and we gripe more than we express gratitude.

 

1 Chronicles 16

·      Chronicles explain the events of history and to establish families as they re-entered the land of promise. 

·      The Ark of the Covenant, which symbolized the presence and power of God, was brought back into the center of life. 

·      For a long time, God had not been front and center in the life of Israel.  It was time to get God back as the focal point of their lives.

 

1 Chronicles 16:1 (NLT)The Ark Placed in a Tent

They brought the Ark of God and placed it inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to God. 

·      Burnt offerings: highest expression of worship as the entire offering was consumed. 

·      After the peace offerings were made, part of what was offered went to God, part went to the priests and the final portion was given to families for a three-day Thanksgiving feast.

 

1 Chronicles 16:2-3

·      Because David made these offerings, he was entitled to eat this Thanksgiving meal by himself but instead he shared it with “each” man and woman. 

·      They ate bread, a portion of meat and some fruitcake.

·      Today, we eat rolls, turkey and pumpkin pie – pretty similar, huh?

 

1 Chronicles 16:4

·      Verse 4 tells us that they did more than just eat.  

 

1 Chronicles 16: 5-6

·      Assembled a worship team!

·      Intended to be loud and jubilant (Intense happiness):

·      lyres, harps, cymbals and trumpets!!

·      Why we worship the way we do!!

 

1 Chronicles 16:7

·      Verse 7 tells us that their music was filled with thanksgiving: 

·      David put a worship team together and they helped the people do three things.  

o   Pray – “to invoke.”

o   Praise – “to praise the Lord, the God of Israel.”

o   Proclaim – “to thank.”

 

1 Chronicles 16:8

·      Verse 8 tells us what to do.

·      “thanks” Hebrew “to throw”  

·      The idea is that we come to God with extended hands that are empty because we’ve just “pitched praises” to Him!  

·      “Let the whole world know” Don’t keep it a secret

 

1 Chronicles 16:9

·       When we thank God for all he has done, we can’t help but break out into song.

·       “Tell” carries with it the idea of “pondering.”  Before we can proclaim, we must ponder.

 

1 Chronicles 16:10

·      “Exult (glorify) in his holy name

·      “Rejoice” means to “brighten up!”

·      Why? We have something to be thankful for!!

 

1 Chronicles 16:34 (NLT)

 

·      Giving thanks should happen one day a year.

·      On Thanksgiving our giving thanks is a solid 9.5, 

·      December to October solid 2!

·      Apostle Paul understood this so he started almost all of his letters thanking his readers for their faith.

 

Colossians 1:3 (ESV)

 

 

Four Reasons to be Thankful

God Wants It

 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV)

·      God wants to be thanked for His blessings and sovereignty.

·      Jesus wants to be thanked for taking our sin and making us clean.

·      The Spirit wants to be thanked for His guidance and comfort.

 

God is angered by our grievances and complaints

 

Numbers 11:1 (ESV) People constantly complaining

 

Another reason to be thankful

 

Everything is from God

 

1 Corinthians 1:4-5 (ESV)

 

Thought:There is not a single thing we own, nor a single thing about who we are that has not been given to us.

·      From the tiniest detail of who we are, to the house we live in, from each and every breath we take! It’s a gift to be thankful for!

 

Another reason to be thankful

 

 

A lack of being thankful hinders us from moving forward. 

 

Exodus 16:12 (ESV)

·      After God led His people out of Egypt toward the Promised Land, they spent their time in the desert complaining. As a result, their eyes were taken off the big picture, and they spent much more time in the desert than they should have.

·      Promised Land was waiting, but their lack of thankfulness kept them from taking their next step into it.

 

Entitlement holds us back, but thankfulness propels us forward into the life God designed for us.

 

Another reason to be thankful

 

 

Giving thanks changes our perspective.  (Lens Pastor Mike talked about)

 

When we are thankful our focus turns away from ourselves and to the goodness of God and all He has done for us. Our hearts are stirred with joy. Our joy begins to overflow and the result is fruit.

 

When our thankfulness is consistent, steadfast, and genuine year-round we then truly are a thankful person.