Thankfulness

Seeking First Gods Kingdom

Seeking Gods Presence

How??

Thankfulness

Psalm 100:4 (NIV) 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

Thankfulness and Praise are often put together in scripture particularly when it comes to entering Gods presence

Gates- entry point into something- entry point of city or fortress

If you dont use the gate you cant get in.

Romans 1:21 (NIV) 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Sign of Darkness- people who dont thank God are in the darkness about who He is and what He has done.

If you are thanking him you have allowed the darkness in.

Foolish heart and futile thinking

Psalm 95:2 (NKJV) 2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

Thankfulness- thank offering - Verbal Dict.Thankful definition, feeling or expressing gratitude for what you have received

Start The Process- Before you start you have to stop

Stop looking at what you dont have- thats someone who is ungrateful

Stop complaining

Stop looking at your problems

Start- thinking on your blessings.

Take a breath. your alive-

Start- thanking God by opening your mouth for the simple things

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Guilt, Shame And Sin

James 4:8–10 (NKJV) 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Draw Near To God- Cleanse- Purify- Humble

Repentance- Turn your thinking around- Turn towards right, turn your back on wrong

Matthew 4:17 (NKJV) 17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 4:17 (The Message) This Isaiah-prophesied sermon came to life in Galilee the moment Jesus started preaching. He picked up where John left off: “Change your life. God’s kingdom is here.”

Passion- From that time on Jesus began to proclaim his message with these words: “Keep turning away from your sins and come back to God, for heaven’s kingdom realm is now accessible.”

Romans 3:23 (NKJV) 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Confession Cures Guilt & Shame

1 John 1:9 (NKJV) 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Confession- Profess-to confess allegiance Admit-acknowledge bad behavior Declare- speak it out

Unrighteousness- unjust acts- wrongfulness

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Psalm 9:1 (NIV) 1 I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 107:1 (NKJV)1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Psalm 107:8 (NIV) 8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind,

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (NKJV) 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Chronicles 16:34 (NIV)34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.