Let us be Thankful

Text: Hebrews 12:28-29 Good News Translation

Intro:

We have received a kingdom that can not be shaken. We are not subject to the defeats of this world. Doesn’t matter who the president is, doesn’t matter how crazy the people are. Doesn’t matter how insane the internet and social media has become because I am not of this world. I will not be shaken by what I see cuz what God has for me is beyond what I can even imagine. Is that not reason enough to be thankful?

I. Thank you FOR THE...

Preferences make you miss the Provision

a. The Israelites wanted more than the manna

Deuteronomy 8:7–18 ESV

For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock, who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end. Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

2. Entering the Promise can make you forget the Provider

a. If you can’t turn the blessings into praise then they will turn into pride

b. If you grow in gifts but not in gratitude than you wont ever be happy

3. Praise God for the blessings

I don’t understand why some of us come to church just to cross our arms and a refuse to praise God. Has God not provided, has he not answered your prayers, has he not made a way where there is no way. Does he not deserve some praise!

Deuteronomy 8:10 ESV

And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.

For my limbs, for my eye sight, for the clothes on my back, for the roof over my head, for the wife I have, for the running water, for the people in my life, for the air conditioned and heated building, thank you for the brothers and sisters around me, thank you for the prayers you answered, thank you for the ways you made!

II. Thank you EVEN THOUGH...

Blessed under the weight of burdens

Psalm 23:4 ESV

Even 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.

Even though I’m going through things, even though my finances are acting funny, even though my children aint acting right, even though its not all butterflies and gumdrops, I’m still gonna praise him!

It’s easy to thank God for what he has already provided but can you thank him before he makes a way, can you trust him before your bills are paid. Its easy when everything is great but can you praise him while you’re in the storm!

2. When you praise him in Pain, its preparation for his Provision

a. cooking example: the ingredients by themselves don’t taste great but together, after a little time, after going through the fire, they come out delicious.

b. Your struggles may seem bad now, they may not look like anything can come out of it but God is cooking up something great. You just gotta trust him!

Conclusion:

Today is a day to be thankful, but let me tell you church that every day is a day to be thankful when you have a God that is a consuming fire! There is not an enemy on this earth that can come against you because God is on your side. Time and time again, God has provided for us. He has answered prayer and prayer, we have entered into promise after promise. Don’t forget where God has taken you from this morning. He deserves all the honor and glory. And for those that haven’t reached the promise yet, give him praise anyway. Cuz even though it may not look good now. Even though you cant see it yet, the Promiseland is right around the corner.