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Count Your Blessings, Name Them One by One!
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Navajo
http://4laws.com
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Things Which Help Us To Be Thankful
by
John Powers
Psalm 107:1-3, 21-22
Introduction: Ingratitude and being unthankful are natural attitudes of human beings. All of us had to be taught and reminded again and again to say "thank you" to those who either did something for us or gave us something.
Years ago, there was a shipwreck in Lake Michigan. A powerful swimmer who was then a student at Northwestern University rescued twenty-three persons before he finally collapsed. Some years after in Los Angeles, Dr. R. A. Torrey told the story about this young man's concern and his heroic deed. To his astonishment he found out that the young man, now an old man, was in the audience. In talking to the rescuer, Dr. Torrey asked him what was the most significant thing about the rescue, the thing that stood out most in his memory after all the intervening years. The rescuer dropped his eyes and in a low voice said, "Not one said 'Thanks!'" (2400 Outlines, Notes, Quotes, and Anecdotes for Sermons, Vol II, page 120).
A FISHERMAN TOLD Mark Guy Pearce that once when he was lying aboard his boat in Plymouth Sound, he heard a splash in the water. He knew there was another fishing boat not far off, and the man on board was a drinking man. Finding the man in the water and praying to God for help, he managed to pull him out and worked over for him for more than an hour. Then he made him as comfortable as possible and left. Next morning he pulled over to see how the man was and found him leaning over the side of his craft. "How are you this morning?' he asked; and the man replied gruffly, "What's that to you?" "Why!" said his rescuer, "I can't help taking an interest in you. I saved your life last night". With a curse the rescued man yelled, "Get out of here, liar." The fisherman, at this point, said to Pearce, "My heart was like a thing broke. I looked up to heaven and said, 'My blessed Lord Jesus, I am sorry for Thee. That is how the world is always treating you>" (Ibid.)
Paul tells us that ingratitude will characterize many people in the last days. 2 Tim. 3:1-5, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." Rom. 1:21-22, "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power Godhead; so that they are with out excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful: but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened."
Note the following definitions.
A. Grateful—appreciative of benefits received; expressing gratitude
B. Thankful—feeling or expressing gratitude
Grateful commonly applies to a proper sense of favor received from one's fellowman.
Thankful may apply to a more generalized acknowledgment of what is vaguely felt to be providential.
C. Thanksgiving—the act of giving thanks, the prayer expressing gratitude; a public acknowledgment or celebration of divine goodness. Ps. 107:1, "O give thanks unto the LORD, for He is * good: for His mercy endureth for ever."
Since we are unthankful by nature, God has given us some things to help us to be thankful.
I. WHEN WE ARE SPIRIT FILLED, THE RESULT IS THANKFULNESS. Eph. 5:18-21, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."
A. The command. Vs l8
B. The consequence. Vs 19-21.
1. Worship and praise to God. Vsl9. Ps. 105:2-3, Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him: talk ye of all His wondrous works. Glory ye in His holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD." Ps.95:l-3, "O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods." Ps. 96:1-3, "O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Sing unto the LORD, Mess His name; shew forth His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the heathen, His wonders among al! people." Rev. 7:11-12; Rev. 11:16-17.
2. Working together with others. Vs21.
3. Words of thanksgiving. Vs20. Ps. 75:1, "Unto Thee, O God do we give thanks, unto Thee do we give thanks: for that Thy name is near Thy wondrous works declare." Ps. 95:2; Ps. 100:4, "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name." Ps. 105:1, "O give thanks unto LORD; call upon His name: make known His deeds among the people." Ps. 106:1; Ps. 147:7, "Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving: sing praise upon the harp unto our God."
II. WHEN WE ARE FILLED WITH THE WORD OF GOD, THE RESULT IS THANKFULNESS. Col. 3:16-17, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him."
A. The command. Vsl6. Deut. 6:6, "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart.. "Deut. 11:18, "Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in you soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes." Ps. 119:11, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee....47-48, And I will delight myself in Thy commandments, which I have loved. My hands also will I lift up unto Thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in Thy statutes."
B. The consequences. Vs l6-17
1. Teaching and admonishing one another.
2. Thanksgiving with obedience.
III. WHEN THE PEACE OF GOD RULES OUR HEARTS, THE RESULT WILL BE THANKSGIVING. Col. 3:15, "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."
A. The command.
1. Rule (Greek brabeuo)—to be an arbiter in the public games; sit and act as an umpire; be enthroned as decider of everything.
2. Peace of God—the peace which God has, as being free from ail anxiety and care, arising from His perfectly knowing the future. Isa. 26:3-4, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Trust in the Lord for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength." Phil. 4:7, "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Ps. 119:165, "Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them."
B. The consequence. Vsl5b. "...and be ye thankful."
IV. WHEN WE ARE PRAYFUL, A RESULT IS THANKSGIVING. Phil. 4:4-6, "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."
A. The command. Vs 6
1. Be careful or anxious for nothing. Matt. 6:25.
2. Let your requests be made known unto God.
B. The conditions of prayer. Vs 6, "....in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God." Col. 4:2-3, "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds."
V. WHEN WE ARE IN THE WILL OF GOD, WE WILL BE THANKFUL. IThess. 5:16- 18, "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
A. The command. Vsl8, "In every thing give thanks..." Ps 100:4, "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name." Ps. 107:21-22, "Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing."
1. Daniel. Dan. 6:10, "now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime." Dan. 2:23.
2. Matthew Henry. Matthew Henry, the famous scholar and Bible commentator, was once accosted by thieves and robbed of his purse. He wrote these words in his diary:
"Let me be thankful first, because I was never robbed before; second, because, although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third, although they took my all, it was not much; and fourthly, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed." (2400 Outlines, Notes, Quotes, and Anecdotes for Sermons. Vol.11, page 232).
B. The conditions. Vs l6-18.
1. Rejoice evermore. Vsl6. Phil. 4:4, Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice."
2. Pray without ceasing or continually. Vsl7. Eph. 6:18.
3. The will of God. Vsl8.
CONCLUSION: God has given some things to help us to be thankful.
A. He has given the Spirit to fill us.
B. We can be filled by His Word.
C. He has given His peace to rule our hearts.
D. We can pray with thanksgiving.
E. The will of God will cause us to be thankful.
F. Are you saved? Have you received these things which can help
us to be thankful? Are you thankful?
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KEY BIBLE VERSES ON PRAYER
PRAYER CONTENT : GOOD GOVERNMENT 1Tim 2.1 2.2; GOSPEL WORKERS Mt 9.38;
THE LORD'S PRAYER Mt 6.9-6.13; ALL CONCERNS Php 4.6 Eph 6.18; THE WAY PAUL PRAYED Col 1.9 Eph 1.17 1.18; WITH PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING Heb 13.15 Php 4.6; WITH TONGUES AND INTERPRETATION Jude 20 1Cor 14.13
ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL 1Jo 5.14 5.15. WITH NO LOVE FOR INIQUITY Ps 66.18 Jas 5.16. BY REMAINING IN CHRIST AND IN THE WORD John 15.7. IN FAITH Mt 21.22 Jn 14.13 Mk 11.24. WITH FORGIVENESSMk 11.25. WITH ASKING Mt 7.7. WITH EARNESTNESS Jas 5.16. FOR GOD'S GLORY 1Cor 10.31 Mt 6.13 Jas 4.3. IN THE SPIRIT Jud 1.20. IN HUMILITY Mt 6.5 2Chr 7.14. IN LOVE 1Cor 16.14. IN JESUS' NAME Jn 14.13. WITH DETERMINATION Lk 18.2.
PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT 1Cor 14.2 14.15 Eph 6.18; Jud 1.20 1.21; Rom 8.26 8.27
PRAYER COMMITMENT: WITHOUT CEASING 1The 5.17 5.18 ; WAITING ON GOD Hos 10.12; WITH WATCHFULNESS Col 3.2 Eph 6.18 Lk 21.36; WITH ENDURANCE Lk 18.1; ABOUT EVERYTHING Php 4.6 4.7; FOR OTHERS 1Sam 12.23.
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+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Always Say A Prayer (A.S.A.P.)
There’s work to do, deadlines to meet
you’ve got no time to spare;
But as you hurry and scurry,
Always Say A Prayer.
In the midst of family chaos,
“quality time” is rare.
Do your best; let God do the rest;
Always Say A Prayer.
It may seem like your worries
are more than you can bear.
Slow down and take a breather;
Always Say A Prayer.
God knows how stressful life is.
He wants to ease our cares.
He’ll respond A.S. A. P.
ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER.
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ONE SENTENCE DESCRIPTION:
Christian Answers Network - Respected Christian ministries join together to tackle your tough questions about life and the Christian faith.
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SCHEDULE OF CHURCH SERVICES-
Sunday School 10 a.m.
Morning Worship 11 a.m.
Sunday evening Bible study 6 p.m.
Sunday evening worship 7 p.m.
Wednesday evening 7 p.m.
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For more information,e-mail Pastor Roy Ramon:
To learn about a ministry to Jews, check out: http://jewsforjesus.com/
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3822 Mercedes
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