Gratitude: Thanksgiving

“I’ve got one response / I’ve got just one move / With my arms stretch wide / I will worship you...”

Thanksgiving - Thanking God for all He has done.

Tricia’s Apple Pie

Gratitude is what you have. Thanksgiving is what you do.

READ (PSALM 100:1-5)

1. Thanksgiving is Worship.

The psalmist wrote that worship is for everyone! All are invited to join the celebration.

“Shout” - Fanfare for the King.

“Serve” - Believers unite together, with thankful praise.

These verses claim the world for God. It is though provoking to sing praises to Him.

I hate to dance… Unless Norah asks me.

Worship is service to our King Jesus.

Romans 12:1....

We serve Jesus in worship because we are liberated from the sins we confessed to God.

We worship because we are free.

2. Thanksgiving is Acknowledgment of God’s Glory.

“Lord is God” = Yahweh is Elohim

Yahweh - The name of God Israel used to describe His covenant relationship.

Elohim - Power, the one who created the Heavens and the earth.

The powerful God who wants a relationship with you.

He made us. He is the source of everything that we need.

(Psalm 95:6-7) says “6 Come, let’s worship and bow down; let’s kneel before the Lord our Maker. 7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, the sheep under his care.”

Nolan Ryan - Fear to opposing batters. Grandpa to grandchildren.

As sheep of God’s pasture, we are able to know Him personally.

We are favored to be known by God and led by Him.

We can be thankful because of God’s love and sovereignty.

3. Thanksgiving is Intimacy with God.

The people of the day were commanded to enter the gates and courts of the temple to worship God.

Provide animals to sacrifice for sin to find peace.

“The Lord is good...”

(Psalm 25:8-10) says “8 The Lord is good and upright; therefore he shows sinners the way. 9 He leads the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. 10 All the Lord’s ways show faithful love and truth to those who keep his covenant and decrees.”

He’s good because of his eternal mercy and truth.

Jesus is our temple.

Thanksgiving is the password for praise.

We have a new and living way to praise our Lord.

We can lengthen our view and expectations.

Gratitude is possible for everyone, no matter the circumstance.

“Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one that the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer for having made it.” - A.W. Tozer

Gratitude for the Christian is not based on circumstances, but on the love and promises of God.