Sermons from Good News: The attitude of gratitude

Church 11/18/2023

Offertory scripture:

2 Corinthians 9:11-12

11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,

The key to reaping a large harvest means planting lots of seeds.

Promises from verse 12: The needs of believers will be met. and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.

Sermon message:

God is good.

Thesis: The attitude of gratitude.

The attitude of thanksgiving.

It is very powerful and positive. It’s a force.

Being thankful is good for people’s health, in your minds, emotions, bodies, etc. and people like to be around you.

When you choose gratitude, God’s presence shows up. He even changes the situation, even just by showing up.

The opposite of gratitude is griping and completely. This is a very powerful negative force. It does not come from God. He never tells us to complain or gripe.

Satan was the first complainer and griper. He even exalted himself above God and wanted to judge how things worked in heaven. People who complain and gripe repel the presence of God. People who do these things act entitled like they’re owed good things.

Instead, be thankful. You’ll draw God toward you.

God loved the Israelites and He still loves them. He taught them about thanksgiving. But they griped and complained. God tried to teach them to praise Him throughout the course of Biblical history. Let us listen when God teaches us.

The pilgrims who came over to the New World wanted to learn from the Bible. They endured hard times but wanted to be thankful to God. The first thanksgiving was hard. But they praised God anyway. And the second thanksgiving was far better.

So how do we learn to be thankful? Especially considering those who grew up around others who were critical and negative.

Point #1: Make a decision to have the attitude an attitude of gratitude.

Everything starts with a decision. Decide to look at God more than problem.

Luke 1:37
    For with God nothing will be impossible.”

Nothing is impossible with God; all things are possible with Him.

Point #2: Decide to sing praises to God.

Acts 16:25 Paul and Silas sang praises to God and prayed, from prison, at midnight.

All their chains broke off and the door opened. Gratitude and praise is a powerful positive force.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Sometimes it takes awhile for a pattern of gratitude to take hold. But do it anyway. It is worth it. God will be drawn to you and situations will change in your favor.

Question: what is there to be thankful for in any situation?

Answer #1: You’re not alone. Psalm 23:4

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Answer #2: Acknowledging that God is your way out of the bad situation. 1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

The Bible says the first way to do something: say it.

Point #3: Remember things to be thankful about.

Psalm 103:1-5 focus passage

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul;

And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,

And forget not all His benefits:

3 Who forgives all your iniquities,

Who heals all your diseases,

4 Who redeems your life from destruction,

Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,

So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Point #4: Look to a Bible example.

Example: Jesus healed ten lepers. One of the ten, after receiving healing, returned to Jesus to personally thank Him.

Luke 17:11-19

11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.

15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, 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 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

Focus verse: Luke 17:17 Jesus asked him where the other nine were.

Because the tenth personally thanked Jesus, he was also made whole, in addition to being healed of leprosy.

Luke 17:19 (KJV) 

And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Point #5: Look to the pilgrims.

They set aside a day of thanksgiving. They could have complained. But they didn’t. They chose to be thankful. Things weren’t perfect at the time. But they believed God.

Consider the story where Caleb and Joshua gave a good report of the new land God has promised them, while ten other spies complained and gave a bad report. Caleb and Joshua made it to the promised land. The others didn’t.

Later, Joshua charged the Israelites to decide who they were going to serve, God, or someone else. But Joshua was going to choose to serve God.