The Art of Thanksgiving

The God who is good, even when life isn’t.

CAPTURE

Lake Charles

I cried. God delivered.

I didn’t thank Him, really. Not near enough at least.

Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32)

Hezekiah was a godly king

But we see that he did something that caused God’s wrath and judgement to suddenly come upon him and his entire nation

What happened- what did he do? Sexual scandal? Welcomed idol worship? Murder?

No- he didn’t say thank you

He got really sick

He prayed to God for healing, and God miraculously answered

God also gave him a miraculous sign- the sign of the retreating sundial

2 Chronicles 32:25 CSB

However, because his heart was proud, Hezekiah didn’t respond according to the benefit that had come to him. So there was wrath on him, Judah, and Jerusalem.

His heart was proud.

Have you or someone you know ever had an attitude of entitlement?

“I’m entitled to things right now”

Narcissism

There is danger in living focused on ourselves and only on our circumstances.

Navel-gazing. We are only looking at ourselves.

Could be looking at God and others

God- who helps us with a right perspective. This story isn’t about us, it is about God.

Others- so we will see we are not alone. We are not the only ones with problems. And God is faithfully at work among many.

Looking only in the present. Not remembering God’s faithfulness in the past and His promises for the future

Looking only at ourselves. Not looking at the greater story He is writing among all people.

The Art of Thanksgiving

Tonight, we will be talking about what it means to look back. Look beyond ourselves and look into the past.

CONNECT

Exodus 12-13

Passover & Exodus

Exodus 12:14 CSB

“This day is to be a memorial for you, and you must celebrate it as a festival to the Lord. You are to celebrate it throughout your generations as a permanent statute.

Remember what God has done. Remember the people He delivered. Remember that you and those around you wouldn’t be where you are today without Him.

Nehemiah 8

They had been in exile

It had been a while

Raised hands. Head bowed. Tears running.

Why?

Perhaps it is partly because they had forgotten. Remembering was sweet and painful.

CONSIDER

Throughout the Old Testament (4000+ years) God was essentially saying:

Don’t you remember when I clothed you and your people’s shame in the garden? Don’t you remember when I spared you and your people from the tenth plague? Don’t you remember when I delivered you and your people out of Egypt? Don’t you remember when I gave you and your people a spacious, plentiful land? Don’t you remember when I was forgiving, passing over transgression and sin again and again?

They people might have been facing exile, famine, etc etc etc at different times (because of their own choices and sins)- but God beckoned them to remember what He had done, trust in His goodness, and believe He could do it again

What is God saying now?

Goldfish: 9 second attention span. People: 8 second attention span

Don’t you remember when I gave you and your people a land to live and be free in? Don’t you remember that I gave you life when you didn’t have one? Don’t you remember the healing and miraculous deliverances I have performed in your life and others (family being healed, you being healed, a friend healed)? Don’t you remember the testimonies and stories all around about Me and the great things I have done? Don’t you remember that I have carried out My promise to always be with you (even in the fire and heartbreak)? Don’t you remember my forgiveness, grace, and patience with you? … Don’t you remember what my Son did for you, so you could have forgiveness and eternal life? For God so loved the world.

Jeremiah 31:34 CSB

No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “For I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin.

God chose to forget, so you could remember. For through Jesus’ death, God promised to write His law on our hearts and give us His Spirit.

COLLIDE

Practice thankfulness today. Choose to turn away from yourself. Choose to look to others. Choose to look into the past to recount God’s deeds.

Remember your testimony.

What GOD has done for you in CHRIST.

Time of decision

CALL

Take a few moments in silence. Come for prayer. We’ll do small groups here in a sec.