Five Marks of a Thankful Heart
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· 29 viewsA thankful heart will result in certain actions in the believer.
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1 Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him.
3 For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods.
4 He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains.
5 The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too.
6 Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,
7 for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!
8 The Lord says, “Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did at Meribah, as they did at Massah in the wilderness.
9 For there your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw everything I did.
10 For forty years I was angry with them, and I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.’
11 So in my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest.’ ”
INTRODUCTION:
A Time For Thanksgiving (KMB 679)
When the New England colonies were first planted, the settlers endured many privations and difficulties. Being piously disposed, they laid their distresses before God in freequent days of fasting and prayer. Constant meditation upon distress kept their minds gloomy and discontented, and made them disposed even to return to their fatherland, with all of its persecutions. At length, when it was again proposed to appoint a day of fasting and prayer, a plain, common-sense old colonist rose in the meeting and remarked that he thought they had brooded long enough over their difficulties, and that it seemed high-time they should consider some of their mercies; that the colony was growing strong, the fields increasing in harvests, the rivers full of fish, the woods full of game, the air sweet, the climate salubrious, their wives healthful and their children dutiful; above all, that they possessed what they came for, full civil and religious liberty. On the whole, he would amend the resolution for a fast, and propose in its stead a day of thanksgiving. His advise was taken.
It is so easy to get caught-up in a negative mindset by focusing upon our difficulties and problems.
Instead of allowing everyday problems to bring about a bitter spirit and depressed outlook, we need to spend some time (especially in the next couple of weeks) following the suggestion of the old colonist… by counting our blessings.
When we need to allow thanksgiving (as an attitude) to bear its fruit in our lives:
I- SINGING TO THE LORD.
I- SINGING TO THE LORD.
(Psalm 95:1a)
1 Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
A- Sing songs that express the thankfulness of our hearts.
A- Sing songs that express the thankfulness of our hearts.
(Psalm 98:4b)
4 Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!
1- This singing breaks forth because of our gratitude and joy!
B- Sing new songs to the Lord.
B- Sing new songs to the Lord.
(Psalm 96:1)
1 Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!
(Psalm 98:1)
1 Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power!
1- We are not to be limited to the old songs!
C- Sing songs whenever you come into his presence!
C- Sing songs whenever you come into his presence!
(Psalm 100:2)
2 Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.
1- The Lord inhabits the praises of His people!
(Psalm 22:3)
3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
D- Sing all music that glorifies the Lord.
D- Sing all music that glorifies the Lord.
(Ephesians 5:19)
19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.
(Colossians 3:16)
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
II- SHOUT JOYFULLY TO THE LORD!
II- SHOUT JOYFULLY TO THE LORD!
(Psalm 95:1b)
1 Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
A- There are times for silence and times for shouting in worship!
A- There are times for silence and times for shouting in worship!
(Lam. 2:10)
10 The leaders of beautiful Jerusalem sit on the ground in silence. They are clothed in burlap and throw dust on their heads. The young women of Jerusalem hang their heads in shame.
(Hab. 2:20)
20 But the Lord is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him.”
1- His goodness sometimes requires that we express it!
Psalm 103 - Not a quiet Psalm!
A psalm of David.
1 Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
5 He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
6 The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly.
7 He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
9 He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.
10 He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.
13 The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
14 For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.
15 Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
16 The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here.
17 But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children
18 of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!
19 The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything.
20 Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands.
21 Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will!
22 Praise the Lord, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom. Let all that I am praise the Lord.
Note David’s response to God’s goodness: (2 Samuel 6:14)
14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment.
B- It is proper to respond to the word of God and to the goodness of God in worship!
B- It is proper to respond to the word of God and to the goodness of God in worship!
(2 Chronicles 5:13-14)
13 The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words: “He is good! His faithful love endures forever!” At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord.
14 The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of God.
(Nehemiah 8:5-6)
5 Ezra stood on the platform in full view of all the people. When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet.
6 Then Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people chanted, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
(Nehemiah 5:13)
13 I shook out the folds of my robe and said, “If you fail to keep your promise, may God shake you like this from your homes and from your property!” The whole assembly responded, “Amen,” and they praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.
III- SINGLE-OUT REASONS FOR THANKSGIVING!
III- SINGLE-OUT REASONS FOR THANKSGIVING!
(Psalm 95:2)
A- Count your blessings!
A- Count your blessings!
Example: Psalm 103
A psalm of David.
1 Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
5 He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
6 The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly.
7 He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
9 He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.
10 He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.
13 The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
14 For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.
15 Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
16 The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here.
17 But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children
18 of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!
19 The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything.
20 Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands.
21 Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will!
22 Praise the Lord, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom. Let all that I am praise the Lord.
The psalmist listed reasons for thanks!
Paul also named specific objects of thanks!
(Ephesians 1:3-14)
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.
7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan.
10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.
11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.
12 God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God.
13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.
14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.
(2 Corinthians 9:15)
15 Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!
1- Make a list and pray through it!
IV- SUBJUGATE PRIDE TO HIM
IV- SUBJUGATE PRIDE TO HIM
(Psalm 95:6-7)
6 Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,
7 for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!
A- Do so with the physical body!
A- Do so with the physical body!
(Psalm 95:6)
6 Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,
1- Sometimes we need to put the body in a humbled position in order to affect the mind and heart!
a. Bowing acknowledges His holiness and Lordship.
b. Kneeling in prayer acknowledges our dependence upon Him.
B- Do so with the mind.
B- Do so with the mind.
(Psalm 95:7a)
7 for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!
1- Recognize that He is God.
2- Recognize that we belong to Him.
(1 Corinthians 6:19)
19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,
3- Recognize your lack of wisdom.
(James 1:5)
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
Sheep have no wisdom…must be led.
C- Do so with the heart.
C- Do so with the heart.
(Psalm 95:7b)
7 for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!
1- Reject the path of hard-heartedness.
2- Ask Him to tenderize your heart!
V- SURRENDER TO HIS WILL
V- SURRENDER TO HIS WILL
(Psalm 95:7-11)
7 for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!
8 The Lord says, “Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did at Meribah, as they did at Massah in the wilderness.
9 For there your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw everything I did.
10 For forty years I was angry with them, and I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.’
11 So in my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest.’ ”
A- Hear His voice.
A- Hear His voice.
(Psalm 95:7b)
7 for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!
1- Listen for His voice:
a. In worship
b. In everyday life
B- See where the Lord is at work-
B- See where the Lord is at work-
admit and confess that it is Him and not men.
(Psalm 95:9)
9 For there your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw everything I did.
1- The Israelites grumbled and complained against Moses and Aaron, not realizing that God was working through them.
a. Get in on the action…don’t grumble.
C- Reject the path of disobedience
C- Reject the path of disobedience
, for to disobey is to grieve God.
(Psalm 95:10)
10 For forty years I was angry with them, and I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.’
1- God can and will be grieved by our disobedience.
(Ephesians 4:30)
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
a. Disobedience shows ingratitude.
2- Disobedience short-circuits our peace and joy.
CONCLUSION:
Real thankfulness produces action. Are you showing as well as speaking your thankfulness?