How Is Your Gratitude Quotient
How is your GQ?
(Gratitude Quotient)
Luke 17:11-19
Niles Grace Brethren Church
10/05/08
1. The principle of displacement
1a. How do I get the air out of this cup
Can’t pour air out
So I use the principle of displacement
I displace the air by filling the glass with tea
We will see this law in action this morning
2a. The Biblical principle
Luke 11:24-26 {NKJV} {24} - “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ {25} - And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. {26} - Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”
3a. Put off the old – put on the new
Colossians 3:8-10 {NKJV} {8} - But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. {9} - Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, {10} - and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
1b. The principle of displacement
Paul talks about putting off the old man with his sinful ways
But he does not leave the matter there
They are to put on the new man
2b. Try to give up minced oath
just substitute another phrase
Give up one habit – substitute another
We can’t exist in a vacuum
Do you see what we’ve done?
We’ve just traded one negative for another
3b. The opposite of a complaining attitude is a thankful attitude
I can’t exist in a vacuum
I don’t want to trade one negative attitude for another
So I need to choose to replace a negative with a positive
The perfect displacement for complaining is gratitude
2. Thanklessness is nothing new
1a. The universal theme SONG of humanity
Gimme, Gimme, God
God, do this for me - God, do that for me
God, I’ve got this problem
God, that Doctor’s report scares me
OK, God things are going good now --- Get back in your box
I can’t comprehend God’s mercy and patience with us
2a. Jesus heals ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19)
1b. The plea of the ten lepers
Luke 17:11-13 {NKJV} {11} - Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. {12} - Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. {13} - And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
Leprosy a picture of sin
Neuropathy that leads to major disfigurement
Lepers had to keep distance from people --- stood afar off
They called to Jesus – asking for mercy
Grace = getting what I do not deserve
Mercy = not getting what I do deserve
2b. Jesus’ response to the ten lepers
Luke 17:14 {NKJV} {14} - So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.
Priests would examine a man and declare him a leper
Only priest could declare man cleansed – rejoin humanity
As they stood there – nothing changed
It was only as they stepped out in obedience that they were healed
Suddenly all ten men were healed
Suppose they waited to be healed before they went to priest
They would still be standing there waiting for God to work
3b. The response of the ten lepers
Luke 17:15-16 {NKJV} {15} - And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, {16} - and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.
All ten were healed and knew they were healed
Nine kept going – only one came back
He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet
Lepers supposed to keep distance
His response – Gratitude !!
Ten lepers in need
Ten lepers healed
Ten lepers chose their response
Only one leper chose an attitude of gratitude
4b. Christ notices those who are ungrateful
Luke 17:17-18 {NKJV} {17} - So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? {18} - Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”
Were there not ten cleansed – where are the nine?
Rhetorical question – Jesus was not trying to figure it out
Lord was simply pointing out their ungrateful attitude
Gratitude is an attitude choice
5b. Lord’s reward for his choice, the attitude of gratitude
Luke 17:19 {NKJV} {19} - And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”
Jesus not talking about physical healing – all were healed
But for the nine, physical healing was all they received
Because of your gratitude you have been made spiritually well
3a. Thankfulness is more than saying the proper words
I was taught to be thankful at my mother’s side
Somebody would give me a cookie
I felt her elbow in my ribs as she whispered – Say thank you!
Then before I knew it I was elbowing my kids – say Thank you
It’s polite to say Thank You
But how many times are we really thankful
Waitress can tell you that Thank You’s and tips often are not equal
Even godless corporate world is realizing the power of gratitude
Insincere gratitude doesn’t upgrade employee loyalty or productivity
Sincere gratitude does
If insincere expressions of gratitude don’t move us – what about God?
4a. So what is gratitude anyway?
Gratitude = to show that a kindness you received is valued
Thank you for cookie – I’m just being polite
Thank you for helping me load my wood pellets – really value your help!
5a. What was going through your mind as you came to church?
What am I going to get from the service today?
Am I going to be encouraged by the message?
Will I enjoy the sacrifice of praise?
Will I be glad I came?
Do you see how self-centered that is?
This heart preparation promotes complaining and stifles gratitude
If I never received another thing from God in my lifetime
I should still be able to fill each day with genuine gratitude
Thank you, God, for this new day
Thank you for life that I can use to serve you
Thank you for breath I can use to praise you
Thank you for the health I do have
Thank you for the strength I do have
Complaining minimizes the blessings and focuses on the negatives
Gratitude minimizes the negatives and focuses on the blessings
6a. What is your GQ? - (Gratitude Quotient)
Attitudes are patterns of thinking developed over a long period of time
You choose your attitude
3. Three specific points of victory regarding gratitude
Psalm 107:8 {NKJV} {8} - Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! (Also 107:15, 107:21, and 107:31)
1a. first – thankfulness is a decision
Thankfulness is a choice we make
- “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord … “
What if it said - “Oh, that men could give thanks to the Lord … “?
Could means it is all up to God
God I would like to give you thanks but I can’t
My ingratitude is all your fault God
But it says “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord … “
Thankfulness is my choice
2a. Second – thankfulness is a decision based in reality
1b. Not talking about the power of positive thinking
Man asked God to give him better eyesight
Charismatic pastor told him to demonstrate his faith
He was to throw away his eyeglasses
Little bit later he ran into utility pole
God had restored his sight
His eyes just hadn’t accepted their healing yet
Not talking about pretending there are no problems
Talking about gratitude in the midst of problems
2b. Bill McCartney, Colorado U football coach, Promise Keeper Founder
Predecessor won total of 7 games in three years
McCartney won just 7 games in three years also
14 wins in 6 years was lowest in NCAA history
McCartney said they would have to die to get better
Said wife left two football tickets on dashboard as she shopped
When she got back someone had added two more tickets
In spite of this, McCartney had a positive attitude of gratitude
Mentioned the great coaching staff he had to work with
Mentioned school had sent 68 players to the NFL
Slogan – “Gratitude is the attitude that sets the altitude for living”
3b. Robinson Crusoe’s debit and credit list – (Daniel Defoe, 1719)
Spent 27 years alone on a desert island
Here are samples from the list he drew up
Complaint: I am stranded on island with no hope of recovery.
Blessing: I am alive and not drowned like everyone else on ship
Complaint: I have no clothes to cover me
Blessing: I am in hot climate so if I had clothes I wouldn’t wear them
Complaint: I am without any defense against man or beast
Blessing: I am on an island where I saw no harmful beasts or men
3a. Third, thankfulness is a life-changing decision
1b. Note the pattern that develops in Psalm 107
The psalmist lists a number of adversities Israel faced
They cry out to the Lord and he delivers them
Psalmist admonishes the people to remember to be grateful to God
1c. Psalm 107:1-8
Redeemed from the hand of the enemy
Gathered out of the lands
Wandered in the wilderness
Found no city to dwell in
Hungry and thirsty
Souls fainting in them
They cried to the Lord out of their trouble and he heard and delivered them
--- Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
2c. Psalm 107:9-15
They sat in dark cells in the shadow of death
Bound in affliction and irons
They disobeyed God and he brought them down
They fell down and there was none to help
They cried to the Lord and he delivered them out of their distresses
--- Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
3c. Psalm 107:22-31
Their soul melts because of trouble
They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunkard
They are at wits end
They cry out to the Lord in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses.
--- Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
2b. Consider Pastor Martin Rinkhart of Eilenburg Germany in 1637
1c. Song, “Now Thank We All Our God”
Now thank we all our God with hearts and hands and voices
Who wondrous things has done, In whom, His world rejoices
Who from our mother’s arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today
O, may this bounteous God through all our life be near us
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us
And keep us in His grace and guide us when perplexed
And free us from all ills in this world and the next
All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given
The Son and him who reigns with them in highest heaven
The one eternal God whom earth and heaven adore
For thus it was, is now, and shall be ever more
2c. Song was written in 1637, in midst of 30 Year War
Thousands of refugees fled to safety of walled city
Starvation and plague devastated the city
Rinkhart conducted over 4,000 funerals that year
Among them was his own wife
“Now Thank We All Our God” was written in this circumstance
4a. Complaining or gratitude? --- It’s your choice
One leper, Robinson Crusoe, Martin Rinkhart all chose gratitude
Will a complaining heart cause you to walk right by God’s blessing for you
Can you honestly sing - “Now Thank We All Our God” ??
# 36 - “Now Thank We All Our God”
