What You Need to Be Thankful For (Pt.2)

INTRODUCTION

In our last time together, we talked about “What You Need to Be Thankful For” and listed 3 things

We said we are to be thankful for who God is, what He has done and what He is doing right now in your life

Gratitude is not a momentary feeling

It’s a lifestyle response to God’s grace

The Psalmist said in Psalm 103:2, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits.”

When we reflect on the goodness of God, it’s essential to remember that, as believers, we have been blessed with far more than material things.

Spiritual blessings are eternal, unshakable, and transformative.

Let’s take a closer look at 3 more blessings…

As Paul declares in Ephesians 1:3, God “has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”

That’s where it all begins…

We Are to Be Thankful for Spiritual Blessings

Charles Spurgeon once said, “When we bless God for mercies, we usually prolong them. When we bless God for miseries, we usually end them.” That’s the power of gratitude—anchored not in circumstance, but in Christ.

God has richly blessed us with spiritual blessings that far exceed any temporal gifts.

These blessings are given to us "in heavenly places in Christ" and are designed to make us "holy and without blame before him in love.”

One of our spiritual blessings is…

The Holy Spirit - John 14:16-17

The Holy Spirit is our “Helper” (v.16)

“Helper” (parakletos) often translated “Helper, Advocate, Comforter, Counselor, Intercessor” (Rom.8:26-27)

Parakleos literally means “one called alongside to help”

The Holy Spirit would fulfill a similar role to what Jesus Himself had done for the disciples: teaching, guiding, strengthening, and advocating for them

Just as Jesus walked beside His followers physically, the Spirit now walks beside us spiritually—the same presence, comfort, and counsel in every season of life.

The Jewish New Testament Commentary Yochanan (John), Chapter 14

There are two words in Greek for “another”—“allos” (“another of the same kind”), and “eteros” (“another, of a different kind”). Here the word is “allos”: a comforting counselor just like Yeshua.

The Holy Spirit permanently indwells us

You possess Him “forever” (v.16)

Romans 8:9, reminds us, “…if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.”

The indwelling Spirit is the mark of true belonging to Christ

The Holy Spirit is truth

He is called “the Spirit of Truth” (Jn.17:17)

John 15:26–27, “26 “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, 27 and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.”

Jesus is full of truth - John 1:14, “full of…truth”

Truth is in Jesus - Eph.4:21

Jesus is the truth - John 14:6

Jesus spoke the truth - John 8:40, “But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do.”

Jesus made you clean with the truth - John 15:3, “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.”

You word is truth - 2 Sam.7:28; Ps.119:160

The Holy Spirit is a gift to believers only

The “world cannot receive” Him “because it does not see Him or know Him” (v.17) (1 John 3:1)

“You know Him because He abides with you and will be in you” (v.17)

The Spirit not only lives within us but also leads us into truth—and that truth is found in the living Word of God…

God’s Word - Ps.119:105

The Bible teaches that believers should be deeply thankful for God's Word as one of the greatest spiritual blessings, both because it reveals God's character and because it imparts spiritual life, wisdom, and guidance.

The psalmist describes God’s Word as a “light”

It lightens the path our feet are on

Being a “lamp to my feet,” describes it as practical guidance for daily decisions.

It gives step-by-step guidance

2 Timothy 3:16–17, “16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

Remember daily what Charles Spurgeon said, “Jesus Christ will not tone down the truth of Scripture to suit your carnal taste.”

David said in Psalm 56:10, “In God, whose word I praise, In the Lord, whose word I praise” (see v.9)

Spiritual Gifts - Romans 12:6; 1 Cor.12:11

Spiritual gifts are not talents

Spiritual gifts are “gifts of grace” or “grace gifts”

Spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit to every believer

1 Peter 4:10, “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

And while individual blessings abound, God never intended for us to live this life of gratitude alone…

Fellowship with Believers - Heb.10:24-25

We’re not to forsake the assembly

We are to stimulate one another to love and good deeds

That means we are to “encourage one another”

Freedom in Christ - Gal.5:1

When you sin you are no longer free

You become a slave of the sin you yielded to

Freedom in Christ doesn’t mean liberty to sin, but liberty from sin—the power to finally do what pleases God

Living free means living dead to sin

Having seen the richness of our spiritual blessings, let us now turn to the daily mercies that surround us each day…

We Are to Be Thankful for Daily Blessings

Lamentations 3:22–23 says, “22 The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”

Life and Breath - Job 33:4, “The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”

Our physical existence is not self-generating or self-sustaining

Each breath we take is a gift from God

Every heartbeat is grace

Acts 17:25 says, “…He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things;”

Every inhale is a divine reminder of dependence

Food and Provision - Ps.111:5; Mat.6

We pray for daily bread - Mat.6:11

We’re not to worry about our daily necessities - Mat.6:25-34

1 Timothy 6:17 says, “…God…richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.”

Gratitude for provision keeps us humble, realizing that even our simplest meals are the result of His fatherly care

Proverbs 30:8, “Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion.”

Health and Strength

Psalm 41:3, “The Lord will sustain him upon his sickbed; In his illness, You restore him to health.”

James 5:14–15, “14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.”

1 Timothy 5:23, “No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.”

Family and Friends

Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.”

Proverbs 18:24, “A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9–10, “9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. 10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.”

John 15:13 , “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”

These daily mercies remind us of God’s faithful presence now—but thankfulness also looks ahead to what God has promised for our future…

We Are to Be Thankful for Future Blessings

He’s promised eternal live - Jn.3:16

1 Peter 1:4–5 says, “4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

This is for all who believe

They are given eternal life

He’s promised He will never leave us - Heb.13:5

God will never desert us

He is always with us - Mat.28:20

He’s promised He will wipe away every tear - Rev.21:4

He will do this personally

There will be no more death, mourning, crying or pain

Romans 8:18 says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

Gratitude is the victory cry of those who know sorrow is temporary and glory is eternal

Isaiah 40:29–31 says, “29 He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. 30 Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, 31 Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”

He’s promised He will finish His work in us - Phil.1:6

We are a work in progress

God is making us into the image of Christ

He’s promised His strength will sustain us - Isa.40:31

This comes as we wait on Him

He strengthens you for every battle

He’s promised a heavenly reward - Mat.5:12

We can rejoice and be glad now

We have the same hope as the prophets

So we live with gratitude for what Christ has done, dependence for what He is doing, and anticipation for what He will do…

CONCLUSION

Beloved, as we've journeyed through these profound blessings - spiritual, daily, and future - let us remember that they all flow from the fountain of God's eternal grace.

John Calvin wrote, “We are never truly thankful until we have learned to submit ourselves entirely to God.”

Let us join David in saying, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Psalm 103:2).

Like streams from Calvary, these mercies demonstrate God's immutable love and patience with us through our wilderness journey.

Consider the magnificent truth of the gospel: Christ has purchased these blessings through His precious blood, offering us complete salvation and finished righteousness.

This is not just about counting blessings - it's about recognizing the supreme cost at which they were obtained.

Gratitude is not static—it moves our hands and hearts to action

Our response should be threefold:

Consecrated Living: Those who truly understand that their sins are washed away through Christ's blood will naturally live holy, gracious lives. Our gratitude should manifest in practical holiness and ardent zeal for our Redeemer.

Gospel Proclamation: Having received such abundant grace, we are commanded to "make disciples of all nations." We must ask ourselves: Are we being fishers of men or merely keepers of the aquarium?

Kingdom Service: Every spiritual gift, whether in prayer, financial support, teaching, or administration, must be employed for God's glory. These blessings are not meant for our comfort but for "real usefulness" in His kingdom.

May we leave here today not just counting our blessings, but living as those who have been transformed by the gospel, allowing the supreme power of gratitude to exert its sacred influence in our daily walk.

Psalm 103:1 says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name.”

Jude 24–25 also says, “24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”

Let us close with hearts full of praise to "God from whom all blessings flow".

If you don’t truly know Jesus in a saving way, I urge you to repent and put your faith in Jesus Christ who alone can save you and forgive you of all your sin.

The greatest ingratitude is to reject His saving grace; but the moment you trust Him, gratitude is born anew in your heart

Let’s pray.