GIVE THANKS (Kent Smith Notes 11/19/23)
GIVE THANKS
Having an Attitude of Gratitude
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appreciative
Grateful
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THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR
FELLOW BELIEVERS
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We can (and should be) always thankful for fellow Christians.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 ; 2:13 We ought always to thank God for you,
Philemon 1:4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,
Colossians 1:3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.
1 Corinthians 1:4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thess. 3:9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?
God has established us in community as His people to:
Strengthen one another,
Care for one another,
Protect one another,
Build up one another.
Serve one another
Minister to one another
Encourage one another
Admonish one another
Counsel one another
Prefer one another
Accept one another
And ultimately – to love one another
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THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR
ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT GOD HAS CREATED
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We can (and should be) thankful for all the good that God has created and that He has done.
1 Tim 4:4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,
We can and should be thankful for God’s great diversity in people and things, in likes and dislikes, temperaments, abilities, athletic prowess, musical talents, artistic abilities, races, and languages, and cultures.
The sun, moon, stars, comets and planets; the mountains and valleys, streams and rivers, oceans, and deserts, lakes and forests, insects and snakes, rabbits and squirrels, lions, and tigers, and bears – oh my! The rain and wind, storms and breezes, sunny days and clouds.
Lobster, Shrimp, Filet Mignon, BBQ pork, Deep dish pizza, and Chocolate pie with whipped cream,
I am even thankful for lima beans, green beans, kidney beans, and black beans.
I am even more thankful that God made other stuff, so I don’t have to depend on beans for my nourishment.
I am so thankful that God has an infinitely creative mind! Otherwise, life would easily become monotonous and boring!
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THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR
E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G
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Ephesians 5:19-20 Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father FOR EVERYTHING, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Every blessing Because He uses them to demonstrate His goodness and grace
Every challenge Because He uses them to show His faithfulness to help us
through our difficulties
Every victory Because He uses them to show His power to bring about
His victory
Every defeat Because He uses them to teach us to depend on
Him alone
Every temptation Because He uses them to refine us and make us stronger
Every failure Because He uses them to draw us closer to Him
Every tragedy Because He uses them to teach us to trust him
Every hardship Because He uses them to bring us to the end of ourselves
Every birth Because He uses them to show that He is the giver of life.
Every believer’s death Because He uses them to end our temporal suffering.
Every sickness Because He uses them to show that He is our Healer and to show
He can sustain us through difficult times, and to show us
His comfort.
Every death Because He uses them to show that He alone is the sovereign
God over all creation.
We are to sing and make music in heart in praise and thanksgiving in our heart to God for EVERYTHING! Rejoice in His great goodness!
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WHEN TO BE THANKFUL?
***ALWAYS***
IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES
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There is always a reason to be thankful.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
We can be thankful for whatever we experience in this life BECAUSE IT IS ONLY TEMPORARY!
Revelation 21:1-4
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
I am thankful for this life and His many blessings to me, I am blessed and highly favored. He treats me better than I deserve.
Even so…
I’m thankful that this world is not my home. This life is not my eternal destination, This body is not my final state.
I am thankful that this life is temporary, and I have something better yet to come,
This week as you gather with family and friends: Give Thanks: Be Grateful: Declare your appreciation to God for all He has done, and all that He has seen you through, and all that He has prepared for you YET TO COME.
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