THE POWER OF THANKFULNESS

WHAT CAN WE GIVE TO GOD?

The measure of our spirituality is the amount of praise and thanksgiving in our prayer.

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Lack of gratitude is the first step to idolatry (Rom 1:21). Thanksgiving is an explicit acknowledgment of creatureliness and dependence, a recognition that everything comes as gift, the verbalization before God of his goodness and generosity.

Gordon Fee

More importantly, thanksgiving is not simply a reaction to random acts of kindness, it is a way to affirm the supremacy of God the Creator and the mighty acts he has done on our behalf.

David W. Pao

God is good for all that He has: GIVEN TO US…TAKEN FROM US…LEFT FOR US.

Psalm 50:1–6 (NASB95)

The Mighty One, God, the Lord, has spoken, And summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shone forth. May our God come and not keep silence; Fire devours before Him, And it is very tempestuous around Him. He summons the heavens above, And the earth, to judge His people: “Gather My godly ones to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.” And the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself is judge. Selah.

Give Thanks: GOD IS GREAT--GOD CALLS ALL MANKIND TO HIS PRESENCE: He Alone is Sovereign Judge over all.

Worship is the adoration of a redeemed people, occupied with God himself.

Arthur Walkington Pink

HIS SOVEREIGNTY COVERS ALL CREATION.

HIS SUMMONS APPLIES TO ALL CREATION.

Psalm 50:7–15 (NASB95)

“Hear, O My people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you; I am God, your God. “I do not reprove you for your sacrifices, And your burnt offerings are continually before Me. “I shall take no young bull out of your house Nor male goats out of your folds. “For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills. “I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine. “If I were hungry I would not tell you, For the world is Mine, and all it contains. “Shall I eat the flesh of bulls Or drink the blood of male goats? “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving And pay your vows to the Most High; Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.”

2. Give Thanks: GOD CORRECTS MAN’S FAULTY ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WORSHIP: Faulty Assumptions about God lead to Meaningless Worship of God.

GOD IS GOD—WE ARE NOT!

GOD NEEDS NOTHING — HE OWNS IT ALL.

GOD NEEDS NO ONE — ALL THAT EXISTS IS DEPENDENT UPON HIM.

Psalm 50:16–23 (NASB95)

But to the wicked God says, “What right have you to tell of My statutes And to take My covenant in your mouth? “For you hate discipline, And you cast My words behind you. “When you see a thief, you are pleased with him, And you associate with adulterers. “You let your mouth loose in evil And your tongue frames deceit. “You sit and speak against your brother; You slander your own mother’s son. “These things you have done and I kept silence; You thought that I was just like you; I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes. “Now consider this, you who forget God, Or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be none to deliver. “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.”

3. Give Thanks: GOD COMPELS US TO MEANINGFULLY WORSHIP HIM: Genuine worship of God is a matter first and foremost of the heart of Man.

While God wants us to worship Him we cannot worship Him just any way we will. The One who made us to worship Him has decreed how we shall worship Him. He accepts only the worship which He Himself has decreed.16

A. W. Tozer

GOD’S REJECTION OF MEANINGLESS WORSHIP.

THE REJECTION OF GOD’S WORD.

THE REJECTION OF GOD’S WAYS.

THE WARNING OF GOD’S FIERCE JUDGMENT.

GOD’S REWARD FOR MEANINGFUL WORSHIP. (VS. 23)

A SACRIFICE OF THANKSGIVING WITH OUR LIPS!

A SACRIFICE OF THANKSGIVING WITH OUR LIVES!