Cultivate Praise, Prayer, and Thanksgiving

Foundation #8 - Cultivate Praise, Prayer, and Thanksgiving

Text Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 KJV 1900

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Intro: Recap of the series so far. We are in a series looking at 12 foundational truths or principles that shape a young person.

#1 Love God above all else and with all you got

Mark 12:30 KJV 1900

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

#2 Hate Sin Especially Your Own

Romans 12:9 KJV 1900

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

#3 Hide the Word in Your Heart and Live By It

Colossians 3:16 KJV 1900

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

#4 Set Your Mind Where Christ Is and On All That Is Good and True

Colossians 3:1–2 KJV 1900

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

#5 Be an Encourager and Build Each Other Up

1 Thessalonians 5:11 KJV 1900

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

#6 Give Generously in Word, Action, and Supply - There is nothing to lose

2 Corinthians 9:10 KJV 1900

Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

#7 Walk wisely that Christ might be visible

Colossians 4:5 KJV 1900

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

Introduction

What is cultivate mean?

Cultivate means

to foster the growth

to improve by labor, care, or study

to grow

It is always important that we are growing in our Christian walk. If we are not growing, then something is wrong!

Cultivation Takes Time

You must sow in order to reap

Cultivating a heart of praise, prayer, and thanksgiving takes effort

A vegetable garden does not happen over night. The garden prepares the soil, and plants the seeds. He then waters those seeds, and has to remove the weeds.

In order to have a heart of praise, it’s going to take time. It’s going to take purposeful sowing of thanksgiving. You’re going to need to make sure your heart is right with God, that there aren’t any sin roots that need to be pulled. We need to put in the effort if we are going to be young people that show God a heart of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.

You must prepare your heart so you can cultivate these characteristics

Often times in the Bible, farmers would use a plow to prepare the field or soil. As we prepare our hearts to be the right kind of soil that God can use, we must use the plow of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving. What do I mean?

The plow of Prayer plants dependence on God

The plow of Praise plants the seeds of joy and delight in God

The plow of thanksgiving plants hope and peace, and it is a powerful tool for killing the weeds of discontentment, bitterness, and selfishness

We grow in our faith when we cultivate a life of praise, prayer, and thanksgiving

Philippians 2:13 KJV 1900

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Directing our Praise?

The Practice of Praise

We praise what we love

It’s no secret, people praise and talk about the things that they love - sports teams, movies, music, and our hobbies.

We get excited about many things, but we were made to worship and to praise only One - Jesus Christ!

Isaiah 43:21 KJV 1900

This people have I formed for myself; They shall shew forth my praise.

We were created to praise HIM! Sometimes I am guilty of praising what God has made, instead of praising the ONE who created all things for His glory.

We must practise our praise daily

In 1903, the Wright brothers took the first flight. I don’t know about you, but the thought that a metal object could take off from the ground and fly blows my mind. An average plane weighs 175,000 pounds. That is mind blowing! The plane was an amazing advance in technology and the creators of the plane is most praiseworthy.

While the plane is certainly mind blowing, do you find yourselves more amazed by the good things God gives or how good He is to us?

A line in an old hymn says, Tune my heart to sing thy praise!

How does that happen? When we seek God in the pages of His Word and prayerfully ask Him to meet us there.

As we encounter God, it becomes clearer and clearer that nothing and no one else compares.

Psalm 19:1 KJV 1900

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament sheweth his handywork.

God has designed the entire creation to reflect His greatness so that we might respond to Him with a heart of praise. We were created to praise HIM! Have you praised Him today?

The Practice of Prayer

Luke 5:16 KJV 1900

And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

Praying for meals

Praying with family or friends

Praying personally with God

The Bible says that Jesus withdrew Himself to pray. We all hopefully pray for meals and maybe in church or school we will pray with our friends after a convicting message. Or perhaps, your family is in the habit of prayer together at night or to start your day. Those are all great things, but God wants you to personally speak with him on your own.

Prayer is our personal communication with God

Matthew 26:39 KJV 1900

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Prayer grows our relationship with Christ

God make Himself available to us in a personal, intimate way through relationship and by means of prayer. No relationship will ever grow without the proper communication.

How are your communication skills with the Creator?

Psalm 5:3 KJV 1900

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Active Gratitude

It’s easy to be Thanksful for everything that you have during the Thanksgiving or Christmas season. You may spend your time with loved ones and eat way too much food. But what happens throughout the year, when maybe things are going well. Maybe your family and home life is struggling or someone is battling health issues. God IS GOOD. That is who He is. No matter what is going on around us. Sometimes we lose sight of that.

Be gratiful for His mercy

Psalm 106:1 KJV 1900

Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: For his mercy endureth for ever.

Being gratiful is God’s will

1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV 1900

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Be gratiful for God’s goodness, His wonderful works, and His provision!

Psalm 107:8–9 KJV 1900

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, And filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

Being gratiful is a choice!

Keep Sowing

Any good farmer will tell you that some harvests are awesome! Then there are other years, that maybe didn’t yield the best results. A good farmer will continue to sow what they want to reap. The apostle Paul was no stranger to difficulties, but he did not let those difficulties keep him from cultivating praise, prayer, and thanksgiving. In fact, not even imprisionment could stop him from sowing truth and praise in all those around him!

Philippians 1:12–14 KJV 1900

But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Look to Christ during difficult times

Share your faith during difficult times

Allow God to get the glory through your difficult time

Don’t ever give up growing and cultivating your faith. Let’s be young men of prayer. Let’s be young men that praise the Lord. Let’s be young men that are thankful to the Lord.

Galatians 6:9 KJV 1900

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Don’t ever quit on God! He didn’t quit on us!