The Foundational Strength of Thanksgiving
Please Note: the full transcript is available in the Manuscript link above.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 - But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
Psalm 138:3 - On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul.
1. Shoring up foundational areas in our walk with Christ and our church ministries that comprise the basis of godliness and effective community service.
2. Planning and praying for the construction of Faith West and the successful launch of a cluster of new ministries in West Lafayette.
3. Preparing for the next round of ministry dreaming as we embark on a new strategic planning process in 2013.
5 lessons from 9 ungrateful men
I. God Gives Us Opportunities to Choose to be Thankful
A. The importance of the location
B. The severity of the disease
C. The significance of the healing
II. Choosing to be Thankful Brings Great Glory to God
verse 15 - Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice...
verse 18 - Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?
Revelation 4:8-11 - And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
A. Immediate
B. Enthusiastic
C. Humble
III. There is No Automatic Relationship Between a Person’s Access to Truth and His Willingness to Cultivate a Thankful Heart
Warren Wiersbe - “An unthankful heart is fertile soil for all kinds of sins.”
A. Beware of the hardening of the heart that comes through self-deception
Hebrews 3:13 - But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
B. A thankful heart that is both softened and focused on the truth of a situation can make accurate and balanced critiques
IV. There is No Automatic Relationship Between the Amount of Blessings, and the Degree of Thankfulness
V. Being Genuinely Thankful is Evidence of Salvation
Luke 17:19 - ...Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.
Warren Wiersbe - “The Samaritan’s nine friends were declared clean by the priest, but he was declared saved by the Son of God. While it is wonderful to experience the miracle of physical healing, it is even more wonderful to experience the miracle of eternal salvation.”