Part 2: My Secret Superpower
THANKS-LIVING • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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TODAY I WANT TO READ FOR YOU... TWO ICONIC VERSUS FROM A LETTER WRITTEN BY APOSTLE PAUL FROM PRISON
THE THEME OF THIS LETTER IS....GRATITUDE
YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY THAT......
THIS WAS WRITTEN TO A CHURCH THAT PAUL ACCIDENTALLY STARTED
WHEN HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO ASIA BUT ENDED UP IN EUROPE
HE ACCIDENTALLY STATED THIS CHURCH
WOW!!!
SO IF YOU FEEL RIGHT NOW LIKE...
NOTHING IN YOUR LIFE IS GOING ACCORDING TO PLANNED
IT MIGHT BE THAT GOD IS TRYING TO REROUTE YOU TO SOMETHING GREATER
AND A FEW YEARS FROM NOW....YOU WILL LOOK BACK AND...
BE SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS SEASON
OH COME ON SOMEBODY.....
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
OH COME ON SOMEBODY......
CAN WE JUST GIVE GOD THANKS FOR THE STRENGTH THAT HE GIVES US
THE THEME OF PHILIPPIANS IS GRATITUDE...
PAUL IS WRITING THIS TO A CHURCH FULL OF PEOPLE THAT HE LOVES...
AND FROM A SEASON THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO HIM....
AND IN THESE TWO VERSUS HE IS SAYING....
LOOK GUYS.......I HAVE LEARNED THE SECRET TO CONTENTMENT
I HAVE LEARNED THE SECRET TO LIVING ALIVE AND FREE
AND THE SECRET IS....GRATITUDE
GRATITUDE WAS PAUL’S SUPERPOWER
SO.....IN HONOR OF APOSTLE PAUL...
I WANT TO TITLE THIS SERMON TODAY....
“MY SECRET SUPERPOWER”
.........OPEN IN PRAYER.......
HOW MANY OF YOU IN HERE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A SUPERPOWER?
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT SUPER POWER YOU WOULD CHOOSE....IF YOU COULD?
MAYBE....SPEED?
SUPER STRENGTH?
MAYBE......INVISIBILITY?
WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO SHOOT STICKY WEBS FROM YOUR WRISTS
AND SWING FROM BUILDINGS?
WHAT SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU HAVE?
WE ALL WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A SUPERPOWER....(NOT ME PASTOR, I’M CONTENT WITH NOT HAVING ONE)......LOL.......STOP IT!
WE ALL WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A SUPERPOWER....LOL
AND TODAY I AM MAKING THE CASE THAT....
GRATITUDE....... BASICALLY IS ONE
I THINK TODAY WE NEED TO TAKE SOME LESSONS FROM PAUL
GRATITUDE WAS THE REASON THAT HE WAS ABLE TO WRITE A LETTER OF...
ENCOURAGEMENT AND CONTENTMENT FROM A PRISON CELL…
TO A CHURCH THAT HE DESPERATELY WANTED TO BE WITH...
THINK ABOUT THAT......
SHACKLED HANDS AND FEET TO A ....
COLD, RAT INFESTED DUNGEON FLOOR…
WRITING A LETTER OF GRATITUDE TO THE CHURCH
NOT ONLY DOES GRATITUDE ALLOW YOU TO...
ACCESS MORE OF GOD’S POWER IN YOUR LIFE....
IT ALSO TRIGGERS THE HAPPY HORMONES IN YOUR BRAIN
THIS CAME FROM “HARVARD HEALTH PUBLISHING”
GRATITUDE IS STRONGLY AND CONSISTENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH GREATER HAPPINESS. GRATITUDE HELPS PEOPLE FEEL MORE POSITIVE EMOTIONS, RELISH GOOD EXPERIENCES, IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH, DEAL WITH ADVERSITY, AND BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS.
OTHER STUDIES SHOW THAT...
SMALL DAILY PRACTICES OF GRATITUDE.....ALMOST IMMEDIATELY
START TO MAKE SIZE-MIC SHIFTS IN THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HEALTH
GRATITUDE CAN HELP YOU GET RESILIENCE FOR FACING FUTURE TRAUMA...
AND IT HELPS YOU RE-FRAME PAST TRAUMA
GRATITUDE HELPS CALM THE FEAR NETWORKS IN YOUR BRAIN...
IT INCREASES THE NEURO CIRCUITS THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FEELING MOTIVATION IN LIFE WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY DECREASING NEURO CIRCUITS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANXIETY
WATCH THIS.....
SCIENTIST ARE CALLING GRATITUDE THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH FOR YOUR BRAIN....
KEEPING YOU YOUNG, HEALTHY AND AGILE
IT EMULATES A STRONG SINCE OF WELL BEING
AND THE CHERRY ON TOP IS.....
IT IS ALSO AN INCREDIBLY POTENT ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
CHURCH....GRATITUDE IS A SECRET SUPERPOWER
I WANT TO SHOW YOU TODAY 4 WAYS...
GRATITUDE MAKES YOU ALIVE AND FREE
GRATITUDE UNLOCKS THE DOOR TO GOD’S PRESENCE
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
GODS PRESENCE ON YOUR LIFE...
EQUALS MORE OF GODS POWER IN YOUR LIFE
JESUS ONCE SAID...
WHAT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR MAN
IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD
WHAT YOU CAN’T DO WITH WILL POWER
YOU CAN DO WITH GOD’S POWER
OH COME ON.....THAT’S GOOD TO KNOW
GRATITUDE ALLOWS US TO TAP INTO MORE OF GOD’S POWER BY....
ENTERING INTO HIS PRESENCE
WHAT DID PAUL SAY IN HIS LETTER?
I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES ME.... STRENGTH
“GRATITUDE UNLOCKS THE DOOR TO GOD’S PRESENCE”
GRATITUDE IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN...
SHOUTING YOUR PRAYERS TO GOD FROM OUTSIDE THE HOUSE
TO HAVING A HEART TO HEART, FACE TO FACE WITH GOD...
AT THE KITCHEN TABLE IN HIS PRESENCE
OH COME ON SOMEBODY....
WE ENTER HIS COURTS WITH THANKSGIVING
REMEMBER....
THE PRODIGAL SON STORY IN LUKE 15. (OLDER BROTHER SYNDROME)
THE OLDER BROTHER IS IN THE FIELD EARNING
AND HIS EARNING LEADS TO HIS ENTITLEMENT
AND HIS ENTITLEMENT IS...
HIM KEEPING HIMSELF OUTSIDE....OF HIS FATHERS HOUSE
OH MY LORD HELP US......
UNDERSTAND THIS....
THIS IS NOT A SALVATION THING
THIS IS A BLESSING THING
THE FATHER DID NOT KICK HIM OUT OF THE HOUSE
IN FACT,
THE FATHER DIDN’T WANT HIM OUT OF THE HOUSE
ENTITLEMENT WAS KEEPING HIM OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE
HE HAD A SCARCITY MINDSET
THOSE RESOURCES SHOULD BE MINE....I EARNED THEM
THAT PROMOTION THAT HE GOT, THAT SHOULD BE MINE
THAT LIFE THAT SHE IS LIVING, THAT SHOULD BE MINE
THAT PARTY THAT THEY ARE GETTING THROWN FOR THEM, THAT SHOULD BE MINE
I DESERVE THAT.......NOT HER
I DESERVE THAT....... NOT HIM
ENTITLEMENT IS YOU KEEPING YOURSELF OUT
WHILE GRATITUDE IS YOU WALKING IN TO HIS PRESENCE
QUOTE BY JOHN GORDON:
ABUNDANCE FLOWS IN TO YOUR LIFE WHEN GRATITUDE FLOWS OUT OF YOUR HEART
GRATITUDE MEANS MORE OF GOD’S PRESENCE BUT IT ALSO MEANS...
MORE ACCESS TO GODS PLANS
LOOK AT WHAT THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID ABOUT THE PLANS OF GOD
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (NIV)
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
THIS IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU!!!
WHEN WE THINK OF THE WILL OF GOD WE TEND TO THINK....
WHO I SHOULD MARRY
WHAT JOB I SHOULD TAKE
WHERE SHOULD I LIVE....
GOD CARES ABOUT ALL OF IT.
AND HE HAS A PLAN IN THOSE AREAS OF YOUR LIFE....
HE CARES WHERE YOU ARE SPENDING THANKSGIVING
HE CARES ABOUT ALL OF THE LITTLE DETAILS IN YOUR LIFE
LISTEN.....
GOD CAN NOT BE BOTHERED BY YOU
I DARE YOU....TRY TO BOTHER GOD
HE WOULD LOVE IT IF....
EVERY SINGLE DAY YOU BOMBARD HIM WITH QUESTIONS AND CONVERSATION
HE WOULD LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN HIS CHILDREN....
TALKING HIS EAR OFF ABOUT....
ALL THIS STUFF THAT IS IN YOUR HEART AND ON YOUR MIND
BOMBARD HIM WITH PRAYER AND QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT HIS PLAN IS FOR YOUR LIFE
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IS THIS....
ACCORDING TO THIS TEXT....
THIS IS HIS WILL FOR YOUR LIFE…BOTTOM LINE
THAT YOU...
REJOICE ALWAYS
PRAY WITHOUT CEASING
AND GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES
2. GRATITUDE TAKES WHAT YOU HAVE AND MAKES IT ENOUGH
IT’S REALLY HARD TO DEFINE GRATITUDE...
WITHOUT USING GRATEFUL OR THANKFUL
THIS IS MY BEST ATTEMPT AT IT..........YOU READY???
GRATITUDE IS WHEN YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED BECAUSE YOU WANT WHAT YOU HAVE
SOME OF YOU ARE LIKE....WHAT???
THAT DON’T EVEN MAKE SINCE PASTOR CHRIS…LOL
GRATITUDE IS WHEN YOU FEEL THAT YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED…YOUR SATISFIED
BECAUSE YOU HAVE LEARNED TO WANT WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE
I’LL EXPLAIN IT THIS WAY...
REMEMBER.... THE STORY WHEN JESUS FEEDS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH A LITTLE BOYS LUNCH?
HE TAKES THE FISH AND BREAD LUNCHABLE
AND DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT HE DOES WITH IT?
HE GIVES THANKS FOR IT
AND THEN HIS DISCIPLES FEED THE ENTIRE CROWD WITH IT
NOT ONLY THAT BUT THERE IS ALSO LEFTOVERS AT THE END
THANK THE LORD FOR LEFTOVERS
THINK ABOUT THIS....
AT FIRST SIGHT IT WASN’T ENOUGH
BUT THEN JESUS GIVES GRATITUDE FOR IT
AND THEN IT’S....MORE THAN ENOUGH
OH THAT’S GOOD
GRATITUDE TAKES WHAT YOU HAVE
AND MAKES IT MORE THAN ENOUGH
SO LETS TAKE THAT PARADIGM AND RE-READ PHIL 4:12-13.
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
IT’S BEEN SAID THAT CONTENTMENT...
IS THE GREATEST WEALTH THERE IS
LEARNING THE SECRET TO IT MIGHT BE...
THE MOST VALUABLE THING YOU CAN DO
OH COME ON.....
WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE AS CHRISTIANS TO THE WORLD
TO SHOW THEM WHAT CONTENTMENT LOOKS LIKE
BECAUSE THE WORLD IS SCREAMING....”I WANT MORE”
THINK ABOUT THIS....
WE LIVE IN A DAY AND AGE WHERE...
WE HAVE INFINITY ON OUR PHONES
WE CAN TALK AND TEXT ALL THAT WE WANT
WE CAN LITERALLY HIT A BUTTON AND TALK TO ANYONE FACE TO FACE
HI DEFINITION TV’S THAT WOULD HAVE COST $12000 JUST 10 YEARS AGO
YOU CAN GO TO COSTCO AND GET IT FOR $500 TODAY GIVING YOU ACCESS TO...
MILLIONS OF SPORTS, TV SHOWS, MOVIES
RIGHT IN YOUR LIVING ROOM
IF YOU WANTED TO, YOU COULD GET A COLLEGE DEGREE ON YOUTUBE FOR FREE!
YOU CAN GET ALL THE ADVICE AND WISDOM ON HOW TO START THE COMPANY YOU WANTED TO THIS YEAR
YOU CAN TRAVEL ANYWHERE YOU WANT TO IN THE WORLD THIS WEEK
AFTER CHURCH TODAY YOU COULD GO GET JUST ABOUT ANY TYPE OF FOOD YOU WANTED TO EAT
I’M TALKING ABOUT A MEAL YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO GROW OR HUNT AND KILL
YOU JUST SIT THERE AND THEY BRING IT TO YOU
THERE ARE MORE THINGS TODAY TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE
MORE PLACES TO GO AND EASIER WAYS TO GET THERE
WE TRULY LIVE IN THE MOST WEALTHY AND ENTERTAINED WORLD THAT HISTORY HAS EVER KNOWN
AND MOST OF US ARE......BORED
ARE SOULS ARE LIKE THE LITTLE MERMAID SINGING....
“BUT WHO CARES, NO BIG DEAL, I WANT MORE”
SO WHAT IS THE ANSWER THEN...
IS IT MORE MONEY
IS IT MORE STUFF
MORE OF WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE
IS IT FASTER WIFI
WHAT IS IT???
IS IT THE BETTER JOB WITH THE BIGGER SALARY???
LISTEN I WILL BE THE FIRST IN LINE TO PRAY FOR THAT SITUATION IN YOUR LIFE
BUT IF YOU DON’T LEARN THE SECRET RIGHT NOW....WITH WHAT YOU HAVE TODAY
YOUR SOUL WILL STILL SING
WHO CARES
NO BIG DEAL
I WANT MORE
YOU DON’T NEED MORE TO HAVE ENOUGH...
YOU NEED GRATITUDE
OH THATS GOOD......WRITE THAT DOWN!!!
GRATITUDE TAKES WHAT YOU HAVE...
AND MAKES IT ENOUGH
PAUL SAID....I HAVE LEARNED IN EVERY SEASON...
HOW TO BE CONTENT
THE FEW SEASON I GOT TO LIVE IN PROSPERITY WAS AWESOME...
I FOUND CONTENTMENT THERE
I’VE LIVED IN LUXURY
I’VE BEEN ABLE TO EAT PERFECTLY COOKED MEDIUM FILET MIGON
ME AND TIMOTHY FOR DINNER EVER NIGHT....SOOO GOOOOD
ONE TIME TIMOTHY ASKED FOR SOME KETCHUP AND....
I SLAPPED HIM IN THE FACE AND....
REBUKED HIS IGNORANT YOUTH IN THE NAME OF JESUS
I ENJOYED THE PROSPERITY BECAUSE I DIDN’T NEED IT
AND THEN I WAS THROWN INTO PRISON
AND I LEARNED THE SAME CONTENTMENT THERE
BECAUSE I LEARNED TO BE THANKFUL
I LEARNED GRATITUDE
AND JESUS GIVES ME MY STRENGTH
GRATITUDE....TAKES WHAT YOU HAVE AND MAKES IT ENOUGH
3. GRATITUDE RE-FRAMES HOW YOU SEE THE WORLD
HAVE YOU EVER LOOKED THROUGH A PAIR OF OAKLEYS WITH PRISM LENSES?
I BOUGHT SOME A COUPLE YEARS AGO
AND ONE DAY WHEN I FIRST GOT THEM
I REMEMBER WEARING THEM HEADED UP TO TOYON AND SEEING THE HILLS
EVERYTHING LOOKED SO BEAUTIFUL
THE COLORS WERE SO VIBRANT AND BRIGHT
THEN....I TOOK THEM OFF AND WAS LIKE....OH, THAT IS UGLY.....LOL
A LIFE OF GRATITUDE IS LIKE WEARING PRISM SUNGLASSES ALL THE TIME
EVERYTHING JUST LOOKS BETTER
IN MATTHEW JESUS SAYS
WHOEVER HAS EYES LET HIM SEE
IT IS SO EASY FOR US TO SEE EVERYTHING NEGATIVE AROUND US
IT’S EASY TO BE CYNICAL AND NEGATIVE ABOUT THINGS
IT’S EASIER TO JUST BE MAD
BUT IF WE CAN LEARN TO LIVE A LIFE OF GRATITUDE
IF WE CAN LEARN TO PUT ON THE PRISM SHADES OF THANKFULNESS
EVERYTHING IN LIFE BECOMES BETTER
WE LEARN TO LIVE CONTENT IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
IN OTHER WORDS...
THERE ARE THINGS THAT AREN’T....
NOBLE AND RIGHT
PURE AND LOVELY
SO HE IS SAYING......DON’T THINK ABOUT THOSE THINGS
HE IS NOT SAYING TO BE AN OSTRICH WITH YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND
OR PRETEND THAT THE NEGATIVE IS NOT THERE
HE IS SAYING DON’T DWELL ON THESE THINGS
IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL WE CAN BECOME STUCK IN THESE CYCLES AND PATTERN THAT...
WILL KEEP US FROM LIVING THE LIFE THAT GOD HAS INTENDED FOR US TO LIVE.....NOW
PAUL IS TELLING US TO LOOK AT WHAT IS IN FRONT OF US....
NOW........FIND WHAT THERE IS TO BE GRATEFUL FOR AND THINK ABOUT THOSE THINGS
DR. DANIEL AMON
BRAIN DOCTOR AND PYSCIATRIST
HE TALKS ALOT ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN YOUR BRAIN HEALTH AND YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
WE TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.....WHICH IS...
YOUR MIND THAT LIVES IN YOUR BRAIN
SO ARE YOU CULTIVATING A HEALTHY HOME FOR YOUR MIND
MAKE SINCE?????
ON OF THE MANY THINGS HE TALKS ABOUT IS CULTIVATING A POSITIVE BIAS
INSTEAD OF A NEGATIVE BIAS
THIS IS HOW HE DOES IT....I LOVE THIS
EVERY NIGHT BEFORE BED HE ASKS THIS ONE QUESTION
WHAT WENT WELL TODAY?
BECAUSE TONS OF STUFF WENT WRONG
BUT WE GOTTA STOP ASKING OURSELVES THAT QUESTION
WE’RE ALREADY GOOD AT THAT
WE HAVE TO RETRAIN OUR BRAINS TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE ARE THANKFUL FOR
AND BEGIN TO WEED OUT WHAT MAKES US CYNICAL
4. GRATITUDE WILL GET YOU THROUGH ANY TROUBLE THIS WORLD THROWS AT YOU
.....WORSHIP TEAM COME.........
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
THE JV LEVEL OF GRATITUDE IS...
BEING THANKFUL FOR THINGS THAT GO RIGHT
BUT WHEN YOU GRADUATE IN GRATITUDE
THE VARSITY LEVEL LOOKS LIKE THIS....
BEING GRATEFUL EVEN WHEN THINGS GO WRONG
IT’S NOT EASY
BUT IT IS PART OF GROWING INTO SPIRITUAL MATURITY
WHEN YOU GET TO A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN LOOK AT YOUR SITUATION
LOOK AT THE WORLD AROUND YOU
AND MAYBE IN THE MIDDLE OF CRISIS IN YOUR LIFE
YOUR ABLE TO STOP AND ASK THE QUESTION
LORD, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO GET OUT OF THIS SEASON
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW FROM THIS SITUATION
AMEN???
............STAND TO YOUR FEET..........
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
GOD IS NOT ASKING YOU TO BE GRATEFUL FOR HEART ACHE
HE IS NOT EXPECTING YOU TO BE THANKFUL FOR PAIN
BUT WE ARE....TO BE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT THE PAIN IS PRODUCING IN OUR LIFE
IT DOESN’T SAY GIVE THANKS FOR EVERYTHING
IT SAYS GIVE THANKS “IN” EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE
YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS SAYING???
THAT IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE
THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR
THERE MAY BE SOME IN HERE TODAY...
THAT YOU ARE IN A TERRIBLE SEASON OF PAIN
MAYBE EMOTIONAL
MAYBE PHYSICAL
MAYBE MENTAL PAIN
I DON’T NECESSARILY HAVE THE ANSWERS TO END YOUR PAIN
GOD DOES
WHAT I AM GOING TO SAY IS THIS....
KEEP COMING
KEEP PRAISING GOD IN YOUR PAIN
UNDERSTAND THIS....
THE POWER THAT IS RELEASED IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU PRAISE THROUGH PAIN
IS SUPERNATURAL AND LIFE CHANGING
I NEED YOU TO KNOW TODAY THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE
HE IS HERE
HE IS WITH YOU
EVERY VALLEY IN YOUR LIFE WILL END
IT GETS BETTER
JUST SURRENDER TO HIM TODAY
ALTARS ARE OPEN.....WOULD YOU COME TODAY
