Thank You LORD

By the end of February, when someone asked, “How are you?,” instead of reporting the latest development in one of my struggles, I noted something for which I was grateful, even if it was only making payroll that week or keeping my business open. Often I mentioned that my youngest was doing well in school. She was always doing well in school, but it had just occurred to me to enjoy what a relief and a delight this success was to me. The new way of responding to “How are you doing?” happened unconsciously, but after I noticed it, I decided it was something I should keep doing. From now on, the way I would answer this question would be by noting something for which I was grateful. I found myself using words like thankful, even blessed, though I was not a great believer in God or a very good churchgoer.

Kralik, John. A Simple Act of Gratitude (p. 46). Hachette Books. Kindle Edition.

Thank you year:

A reminder of just how much people had been generous to him in other words how generous his friends work to him

Illustration: Psychology Today article “The Shutdown Syndrome

Kralik, John. A Simple Act of Gratitude (p. 46). Hachette Books. Kindle Edition.

The instinctual response to negative experiences sets off cycles of avoidance that feed the beast of depression. That’s when it’s necessary to work against instinct.

Tho interrupt the cycle of shutdown, one needs both an attitude o hope and the willingness to we expend effort to do things differently.

Illustration: The Depression Cure: The 6-Step Program to Beat Depression without Drugs by Stephen S. Ilardi

“Blames modern lifestyles for what he sees as an emerging epidemic of depression. He cites people who live in traditional hunter-gatherer communities are much less likely to be depressed. There’s risk of an evolutionary mismatch between modern lie and the environment our minds and bodies evolved to live in.”

Tho interrupt the cycle of shutdown, one needs both an attitude of hope and the willingness to expend effort to do things differently.

Most obviously, we should minimize exposure to serious adverse experiences like neglect and abuse. Ilardi also recommends increasing intake of omega-3 fats, increasing activity (in order to decrease rumination), engaging in physical exercise, finding sources of social support, increasing sunlight exposure, and improving sleep hygiene. All are proven ways of counteracting pathways of depression.

Therapeutic lifestyle change (TLC) from The depression cure by Stephen S Ilardi, phD

Medically treating depression through prescription based therapies

Pain killers & the opioid crisis

Sleep deprivation

Dunkin’ Donuts and our caffeinated sleep deprived culture

Michael Jackson dies from an overdose of sleeping pills

Apple screen time weekly notification

Tho interrupt the cycle of shutdown, one needs both an attitude of hope and the willingness to expend effort to do things differently.

Transition To Body: David is in the midst of affliction by wicked men (nations)

David starts out with a lot of good words and make you feel good statements of praise to the LORD God,

but make no mistake about it David is going through some difficult times and experiencing some potentially catastrophic challenges.

And I got a sneaky suspicion some of you who are here today...

you are saying don’t mistake me because I’m looking good and smelling good and got a big smile on my face

I do have some issues that I’m dealing with.

I do have some problems

That I need the Lord’s help

Well you are in good company with King David today.

They appear to be getting ahead while the poor are being forgotten

Psalm 9:13–14 ESV

13 Be gracious to me, O Lord! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, 14 that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation.

Psalm 9:19–20 ESV

19 Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! 20 Put them in fear, O Lord! Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah

They appear to be getting ahead while the poor are being forgotten

Psalm 9:17–18 ESV

17 The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God. 18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.

Psalm 9:18

Instead of throwing a pity party, David, who was a man after the LORD God’s own heart, does something that may seem awfully strange for many of us in this sanctuary today...

Body- I Will Thank The LORD By

Personalizing And Internalizing My Praise

Offering A Sacrifice Of Thanks

Psalm 9:1 ESV

1 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

Offering A Sacrifice Of Thanks

Sacrifice starts with our full hearts (within ourselves)

From A Full Heart-

Psalm 9:1 ESV

1 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

Sacrifice is Praise

will- throw, cast, shoot a bow, hurl,

give thanks- praise, confess, take confession

whole- all every, any, total, everything, i.e. the totality of any object, mass, collective,

heart- from influence of inner man, mind, will, heart, one’s inner self; inclination, disposition; determination, courage; will, intention; attention, consideration, reason

I not going to just let the choir offer all of the praise

I am engaged and thinking about the LORD God

Before I even open my month;

I am going to start to praise

and thank the LORD

for the things he has done in my life!

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

(Transition: Because I am actively engaged in worship and thinking about the LORD God, I am)

Proclaiming All The LORD’S Extraordinary Works

Psalm 9:1 ESV

1 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

recount- quantify the amount of a collection using numbers as a unit of measure, relate, number, take account of, carefully observe and consider, tell, proclaim, recount, inform, i.e., speak words which give an accounting of a event or principle

wonderful deeds- be surpassing, extraordinary; pertaining to an attitude of great surprise and awe

you ought to run out of fingers while re-counting

Every time I think of what the LORD has done for me, I shout, I praise His Holy Name

I cannot help myself, I gotta tell somebody...

Illustrate: The response of the man healed of a legion of demons

Mark 5:18–20 ESV

18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

Mark 5:18-20

A division of 3,000–6,000 men, including a complement of cavalry, in the ancient Roman army.

Luke 7:47 ESV

47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

-47

Illustrate:

WHEN I THINK ABOUT HIS GOODNESS AND WHAT HE'S DONE FOR ME WHEN I THINK OF HIS GOODNESS AND HOW HE SET ME FREE I WANT TO DANCE DANCE,DANCE ALL NIGHT LONG,ALL NIGHT LONG

Mark 5:18–20 ESV

Mark 5:

recount- quantify the amount of a collection using numbers as a unit of measure, relate, number, take account of, carefully observe and consider,, tell, proclaim, recount, inform, i.e., speak words which give an accounting of a event or principle

give thanks- praise, confess, take confession

whole- all every, any, total, everything, i.e. the totality of any object, mass, collective,

heart- from influence of inner man, mind, will, heart, one’s inner self; inclination, disposition; determination, courage; will, intention; attention, consideration, reason

When I think of the goodness of Jesus, and what he has done for me, my soul cries out, "Hallelujah!" Praise God for saving me.

wonderful deeds- be surpassing, extraordinary; pertaining to an attitude of great surprise and awe

quantify the amount of a collection using numbers as a unit of measure

Projecting An Attitude Of Joy And Happiness

Psalm 9:2 ESV

2 I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

be glad- rejoice, delight in, be elated i.e. have a feeling or attitude of joy and happiness with a possible focus of making an outward expression of that joy

deeds

relate, number, take account of, carefully observe and consider,

exult- rejoice, be jubilant i.e. be in a state of joy, which may include verbal expressions of joy and praise. triumph i.e. to conquer another and so win a victory in a hostile situation, with a focus on the joy and rejoicing by the conqueror

note that David does not exult over his enemies, instead he exults in the LORD

tell, proclaim, recount, inform, i.e., speak words which give an accounting of a event or principle

(Why, while in the midst of trouble, be joyful and happy?)

Professing The LORD Sits (Eternally Enthroned)

2a: to declare or admit openly or freely

3: to confess one's faith in or allegiance to

4a: to practice or claim to be versed in (a calling or profession)

b: to teach as a professor

(now this may not move you too much because we have a problem sitting down and being patient and waiting on the LORD)

Psalm 9:7–8 ESV

7 But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, 8 and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness.

Psalm 9:

The LORD Is A Safe Haven For Those Who Seek Him

Psalm 9:9–10 ESV

9 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

stronghold- secure height, retreat, fortress, refuge i.e. an inaccessible, secure place possibly up high in rim-rock

oppressed- pertaining to those harassed and in distress, crushed, miserable

trouble- dearth, destitution, drought, extended lack of rain as a weather condition

know- notice, hear of, learn; reveal, be or become know; realize

trust- confident i.e. pertaining to placing reliance or belief in a person or object.

forsaken- be remote, absent, depart, abandon, reject, desert

seek- seek with care, care for; to be intent on; to make supplication

The LORD Has Not Forgotten The Afflicted

(in fact the LORD is right there in the midst with you in the fiery furnace)

Psalm 9:9-

(

Psalm 9:11–12 ESV

11 Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! 12 For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

sing praises- i.e. praise as an act of worship to God in chanting or melody, with the voice as an instrument

enthroned- inhabit, dwell, live, stay i.e. be in a place for any period of time, using implying a longer amount of time

Zion- An ancient name for various parts of Jerusalem, of Judah and all the land, and also a metaphor for the people of God, at various periods, from biblical times to the modern period.

An ancient name for various parts of Jerusalem, of Judah and all the land, and also a metaphor for the people of God, at various periods, from biblical times to the modern period.

Mare, W. H. (1992). Zion (Place). In D. N. Freedman (Ed.), The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (Vol. 6, p. 1096). New York: Doubleday.

The LORD Is Gracious To Save The Elect

Psalm 9:11-

Psalm 9:13–14 ESV

Psalm 9:

The LORD Has Made Himself Known

Psalm 9:16 ESV

16 The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah

Psalm 9:

trouble- dearth, destitution, drought, extended lack of rain as a weather condition

trust- confident i.e. pertaining to placing reliance or belief in a person or object.

forsaken- be remote, absent, depart, abandon, reject, desert

seek- seek with care, care for; to be intent on; to make supplication

John 1:11–13 ESV

11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

sing praises- i.e. praise as an act of worship to God in chanting or melody, with the voice as an instrument

enthroned- inhabit, dwell, live, stay i.e. be in a place for any period of time, using implying a longer amount of time

Zion-

An ancient name for various parts of Jerusalem, of Judah and all the land, and also a metaphor for the people of God, at various periods, from biblical times to the modern period.

Mare, W. H. (1992). Zion (Place). In D. N. Freedman (Ed.), The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (Vol. 6, p. 1096). New York: Doubleday.

John 1:

Transition To Close

Illustration: Ingratitude

Many years ago, a boat was wrecked in a storm on Lack Michigan at Evanston, Illinois. Students from Northwestern University formed themselves into rescue teams. One student, Edward Spencer, saved seventeen people from the sinking ship. when he was carried exhausted to his room, he asked, “Did I do my best? Do you think I did my best?”

Years later, R. A. Torrey was talking about this incident at a meeting in Los Angles, and a man in the audience called out that Edward Spencer was present. Dr. Torrey invited Spencer to the platform. An old man with white hair slowly climbed the steps as the applause rang. Dr. Torrey asked him if anything in particular stood out in his memory. “Only this, sir,” he replied, “of the seventeen people I saved, not one of them thanked me.”

Close: Thank You LORD!

Hebrews 1:1–4 ESV

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Hebrews 1:

But let me tell you the story like the ole school preachers down south would say it...

He sat down!

What did Jesus do to deserve to sit down at the right of the throne of God?

He made purification for sins!

How did he do it?

On one Friday, we call good Friday...

He died...

But three days later, early on Sunday Morning...

He got up...

With all power and authority in His hands...

Not some power

Or little bit of power

But all power

Kind of like Tony Starks new and improved ARC reactor in Iron Man 2

So you get an opportunity to get a heart transplant too..

Do I have a witness...

Let the ole’ school saints sing:

I was sinking deep in sin, Far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, Sinking to rise no more; But the Master of the sea Heard my despairing cry, From the waters lifted me, Now safe am I. Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help, Love lifted me. Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help, Love lifted me.

All my heart to Him I give, Ever to Him I’ll cling, In His blessed presence live, Ever His praises sing. Love so mighty and so true Merits my soul’s best songs; Faithful, loving service, too, To Him belongs.

Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves; He will lift you by His love Out of the angry waves. He’s the Master of the sea, Billows His will obey; He your Savior wants to be— Be saved today.

Psalm 8:1 ESV

1 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.

Psalm 8:2–3 ESV

2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

Psalm 8:4 ESV

4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

Psalm 8:5 ESV

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.

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