Victory Life KY

Give Thanks II

Episode Summary

Giving thanks to God is really a declaration of our trust and reliance to the goodness of God no matter the circumstances.

Episode Notes

• Listen to president Lincoln’s words as he addressed our nation, “We often forget the source from which the blessings of our fruitful years come. No human wisdom or mortal hand has devised these things. 
• They are the gracious gift from the Most High God, I therefore invite my fellow citizens to observe this day of thanksgiving and praise to our Father who dwells in Heaven.”

• As Americans, we honor the holiday our forefathers believed in.

• But as Christian, thanksgiving is so much more than a national holiday. Thanksgiving should be at the heart of ever believer confessing Jesus as their savior.

• Giving thanks to God is really a declaration of our trust and reliance to the goodness of God no matter the circumstances.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18,NKJV- “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

• Since is our last Sunday before Thanksgiving, listen to what the apostle Paul says about a thankful heart. As we open our soul to this words, here’s something to keep in mind, this world is not our home.

• Colossians 3:12-17,NKJV- “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 
• v.13, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 
• v.14, But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 
• v.15, And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 
• v.16, 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. 
• v.17, And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

• I honestly believe that as we embrace a more thankful heart, it will absolutely be a turning point in our life of faith, which is ultimately embracing God’s promises, right in the face of challenging situations. 

• And always remember this, a consistent life of thanksgiving is a faith inspired acknowledgement of all God has done for us. This includes the unseen.

• Cultivating a lifestyle of thanksgiving is the doorway to receiving more from the Lord.

• This righteous response of thanksgiving is truly an exercise of humility, and what’s comforting is that God gives more grace to the humble.

• Moses is referenced as one of the meekest of his generation. What’s interesting is that he was also the most used of God in his generation.

• King David said, “Let’s give thanks at the remembrance of His name.”
• Offering up heart felt thanksgiving is one way we glorify God.

• Luke 17:11-16,NLKV- 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!” 
• 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. 
• 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. 
• 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?” 
• 19, And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.””

• The thing I love about this guys heart was that he stopped right away and went back to thank Jesus.

• When we follow the children of Israel in their journey out of Egypt, they didn’t have this kind of faith inspired attitude of gratitude.

• Remember, gratitude is a declaration that God is faithful and good.

• Their unbelief hardened the hearts to what God had already done for them. Think about it, all they had to do was genuinely give God thanks and step into what He’d already given them.

• Truth is, unbelief and unthankfulness go hand in hand. Psalm 78 actually gives us some clear insight into just how destructive ungratefulness can be. “They limited the Holy One of Israel.”

• Seriously, faith thanks God for the unseen. For the things taking place in the spirit. Understand this, spiritual doesn’t mean imaginary.
• Actually when it comes to giving thanks, I would go as far as to say, there’s spiritual power in thanksgiving.

• And this is why I’m convinced that a major key to receiving more from God is simply being more thankful. Acknowledging what He’s already done.

• 1 Corinthians 15:57-58,NKJV-  “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

• In a single act, Jesus wiped out sin, guilt, and death and now He’s leading us in his victory campaign.

• 2 Corinthians 2:14-15,NKJV- “Now thanks be to God who ALWAYS leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 
• For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”

• MSG- In Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us He brings the knowledge of Christ everywhere we go.

• A big take away from Paul is that thanksgiving is connected to victory. But giving thanks before we see the victory is faith, and faith is what connects us to God’s grace.

• Maybe we could say it like this, In Christ we always win.

• My prayer today is to remind everyone that the triumphant, victorious, over-comers Jesus is leading are just regular people, with humble, thankful hearts, willing to trust Him.

• I’m talking to those regular people that are still in the middle of the storm, that are coming out of failure, your biggest mess up, or disappointment, still packing around some of your junk,
• but you’re humble enough to recognize even one touch of God’s immeasurable love is bigger than anything you’re going thorough.

• At the end of the day, there are no perfect people, there’s just people, with all our junk, our wins and losses, ups and downs, humbling ourselves with thankful hearts before our Savior.

• 2 Corinthians 4:7,MSG- If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us.

• The longer I pastor, the more I realize that anyone willing to embrace this humble thankful approach to a life in Jesus will have a recognizable difference in their life.

• I realize it’s a pretty radical thing to give someone you can’t even see the lead in your life, but it’s the only way to discover the life He has for you.

• The thing about a life in Christ we have to stay aware of is that we’ll never discover this life passively waiting around for Him to make everything perfect before we do something.

• The statement, “He always leads us in triumph” is the result of following.

• Like perfume fills a room, every time we yield to Jesus, He fills our little part of the world with His presence. 

• 2 Corinthians 2:14-15,NKJV- “Now thanks be to God who ALWAYS leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 
• For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”

• This is how King David, (adulterer, assassin) who God referred to as a man after His own heart, stood in the office of King.

• Remember, every triumphant, victorious, over-comer Jesus is leading is just regular people, willing to trust Him.

• It’s humble, thankful believers that recognize even one touch of God’s immeasurable love is bigger than anything we’re going thorough.

• During this Thanksgiving, let’s all believe God to help us learn the language of thanksgiving.

• Practice being grateful. Chances are, the thing many of us take for granted, someone else is praying for.