Sermon Tone Analysis

During the Holidays and especially this Thanksgiving season I think that it can be very challenging for people to not be thankful, or to even know what to be thankful for?

The events over the past few years have certainly caused tension and division in families and other relationships... and some people struggle finding reasons to be grateful.

This is why it is very crucial for us as a church family to run to God's Word on this topic of thankfulness and gratitude.

God’s people are called to give thanks and make music to God.

They are to tell of God’s ‘hesed’ (His steadfast love) and His faithfulness.

These are the things Israel has depended on since God rescued them from Egypt.

They have been taken from the bondage of slavery and their lives have been restored, what a reason to celebrate and give thanks.

The gates and the courts here are in reference to those of the temple.

The psalmist has in mind here that it is good to come to God’s house to meet with Him and with other believers and praise God and give Him thanks.

So often, it is easy to make other priorities or put other things before God and no wonder we lose our attitude of gratitude.

Notice the word 'IN' all circumstances and not 'FOR' all circumstances!

God would never want us to be thankful for the hurtful, evil, mean things of this world (like when evil men bombed the world trade towers on 9-11.) but instead God calls us to be especially thankful in those times.

More than any time church, we need to be reminded of this word thankfulness.

We need to take a look at all of the things the Father has done for us and praise God who gave us His Son who paid it all for us on the cross of calvary.

I want to get to the practical side of this as quickly as i can today.

One of the things that studies have shown us is that the attitude you have for the day is set in the first eight minutes of your day.

The question is, do you want to grumble, gripe, and complain your way through the day, or do you want to be grateful as you go about your time?

For me one of the very first things I have to do is get alone and get into my word and to find time alone to pray.

If I don’t get time alone with the Lord I find that it is so much easier for me to get caught off guard and grumble or complain about matters.

So, let’s dive into God’s Word and see what it has to tell us about being Thankful.

The Bible says, “Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

(James 1:17 ESV).

James tells us here that God is the giver of every good and perfect gift.

In other words, God is the source of everything good.

He helps us resist temptation when it comes our way, He allows us to be kind, loving and forgiving.

He helps us to pursue a growing faith in Him, and carries us along until He calls us home.

God is from above and He is the creator of lights.

He orders the stars into the sky and controls the seasons, days and years.

Today as we think about everything the Father has done for us, the word gratitude should come to mind.

Gratitude allows us to focus on our loving Father who meets all of our needs.

The take away for us today is that we need to begin every day with gratitude!

Here are some things that have helped me and that I want to share with you.

Think about God and his goodness.

Thank him for being a good Father and for being caring, close, and consistent.

Take some time and list the ways he’s been good to you.

Tell him what you’re thankful for.

You don’t have to worry about the right thing to say.

Just say what you feel and what’s on your mind.

There are several ways that Scripture shows us that we can demonstrate being thankful.

1.

First we can start our day by singing.

Here is what Psalm 98 tells us.

So, one of the ways you can start your day with thankfulness is to make a playlist of songs.

Choose songs of gratitude that remind you of who God is and what he has done for you.

Play it as soon as you open your eyes so that your first thoughts are of gratitude.

Worship is the best way to wake up!

2. Number 2 is Remembering.

Make a list of the things you’re thankful for and keep it near your bed or wherever you have a quiet time with Jesus.

A gratitude list can help you remember the things the Lord has done for you and to help you keep your mind focused on His goodness, regardless of your circumstances.

3.

This will lead us to number 3, Praying.

Just like verse 8 of 1 Chronicles chapter 6 tells us, “Call upon his name.”

When we begin our day calling upon the name above all other names it truly helps us to be humble and realize that everything we have comes from God.

He will help us as we go about our day.

Prayer should cause us to truly be thankful.

4. Finally, Giving.

Scripture tells us in Acts 20:35 that Jesus himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

It is so exciting for me to be able to give someone a gift and help them out or to give God a tithe.

This week someone gave me a gift and I could tell that they did it because they had been blessed.

They were thankful for what God had done in their life.

When you wake up each morning, make sure the first thing you’re doing is thanking God for his consistent love and recalling all the ways that he is good to you.

Get up with gratitude.

It will change everything about your day!

There are always things to be grateful for—even when our lives are falling apart and we don't feel like giving thanks.

The Bible shows us many things we can always be thankful for so I want to share just a few with you today.

Here are the 4things you can always be thankful for:

1.

You can always be thankful for the grace that God has shown to you.

What Paul does here is that he looks beyond his troubles to give praise and thanks to God.

Yes, Paul had troubles in his ministry but he was able to focus on God’s grace and have a joyful perspective.

Note here that Paul says, “Christ will always lead u in triumphal procession.

Paul uses some imagery here from a Roman ceremony called the triumph.

This is where a victorious general would be honored with a parade and he went through the streets of Rome.

So, here Paul gives thanks because he is led by His God at all times and he promises us victory in and through Jesus Christ.

This is a wonderful picture of the grace of God church.

2.

You can always be thankful for the plans he has for your life.

When it comes to discovering God’s will and plans for our lives, I think that many of us can live in fear wondering what is God really doing?

Does he have a plan?

Yes he does!!! God’s will for us is his word and every time we open it up we are reminded of his wonderful deeds.

Let’s trust Him today.

3.

You can always be thankful for his promise to never leave you.

God promises to take care of His people.

He promises us that He will forgive, love and take care of our needs.

Even when we feel far away from God He is still there longing for us to run back to him and to be in a right relationship with the Father.

It is important during this Holiday season to remember that our Father has not abandoned us, he never walks away, in fact He is near and longs to meet with us.

Call out to Him today and know that He will speak to you through His word.

4.

You can always be thankful for the home he's prepared for you.

John 14:1-4

God has an eternal home prepared for you today.

If you have trusted Christ and He has truly changed your life than today you need to remember and be thankful that someday when you draw your last breath here on earth you will wake up to a new home in heaven for ever and ever.

What a wonderful celebration this will be.

What good news that is for every believer today.

Celebrate good times!!!

Because that it will be.

I want to close with this is a short poem by Paul David Tripp.

This poem reminds us of just about every area of our lives that we can be thankful.

Thank you, Lord,

for the morning light

reminding me of your