Entering His Gates
Holidays • Sermon • Submitted
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· 5 viewsThis season reminds us that this is a time for praise and thanks. Let us have an attitude of graditude.
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Gratitude
Gratitude
Definition:
the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
God reminds us
to be thankful
every day.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Every day,
is the day,
the Lord has made.
Every day
is a day to
rejoice!
According to an article in the Harvard Mental Health Letter, “gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”
According to an article in the Harvard Mental Health Letter, “gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”
It seems that
being thankful
pays dividends!
This is why Paul
reminded us:
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
We all know
that we should be.
The hard part
is when
thing are going poorly.
But God does not
give permission
to be ungrateful
no matter
the context.
Rejoice always,
How often?
even when things
are going bad.
V. 18
makes it clear:
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Some may say,
how can I!?!
In the late 1800’s George Mueller operated an orphanage that at one time had 1,000 orphans. One morning there was no food to eat, but he called all the children and staff together and prayed thanking God for the provision of food, even though no food was on the table. A few moments later a baker knocked on the door. He told Mr. Muller that God had led him to bake bread the night before and give it to the orphanage. Before the bread was given to the children, a milkman knocked on the door. He said that his milk truck had broken down and he wanted to give the milk to the orphanage.
George Muller gave thanks, even when it took faith to do so.
God has said
“all circumstances.”
Job
Job
Like Job
Lost
Property
Children
Later Health
Left with
bad wife
“curse God”
bad friends
“it’s your fault”
In the midst
Job says:
And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
In the book
The Hiding Place.
Corrie Ten Boom
talks about experience
Ravensbruck
one of the worst
concentration camps
World War II
When Corrie ten Boom and her sister Betsie found themselves imprisoned there, they were disgusted to discover that their barracks were infested with fleas.
When Corrie began to complain, Betsie insisted that they instead give thanks, quoting 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” With some persuasion, Corrie finally joined her sister in thanking God for the fleas.
Several months later, the two sisters expressed their surprise that the camp guards had never come back to their barracks to disrupt or prevent the evening Bible studies they held for their fellow prisoners. It was then that Corrie realized that the very fleas which she had so despised had actually been a God-sent protection from the cruel guards.
We can be thankful
even for fleas...
In a very real sense
“The Struggle Ends When the Gratitude Begins.”
“The Struggle Ends When the Gratitude Begins.”
That is why
it can be said:
“It is not happiness
that brings us gratitude
It is gratitude
that brings us happiness.
Gratitude is a choice.
We choose
to be grateful.
If you find it hard
to be grateful
in the current
circumstance,
think of
the future
circumstance.
waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
This side of heaven,
there will be
good
bad...
If things are going bad:
Be Grateful
If things are going good:
Be Grateful
Building Project
Building Project
After World War II, two families were waiting in line after a church service to greet the pastor. The church was preparing to build a building at that time.
The first family in line said, “Pastor, as you know, our son was killed in the war—we would like to give $200.00 as a memorial gift.”
The second family said, “Pastor we were going to give $200.00, but our son came home—we’ll give $500.00.”
Whatever the circumstance
give thanks!
And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
Paul said,
the frequency
of gratefulness
is constantly!
You may be wondering:
How can I grow
in thankfulness?
I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all that you have done;
I ponder the work of your hands.
Take time to
meditate on
God’s blessings.
Last Days
Last Days
Paul talks about
what it will be like
in the last days.
List of sinfulness
What do you suppose
is on the list?
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
Surprise. Surprise.
Ungratefulness is
one of the
sings of the times.
It is also a sign
that we are not
a child of God...
A young woman named Anne Steele had encountered one trial and disappointment after another. Her mother died when she was three, and when she was nineteen she suffered a severe hip injury that left her an invalid. Eventually she fell in love and was engaged to be married, but the day before the wedding her fiancé drowned.
Later Anne Steele penned the following song:
Father, whate’er of earthly bliss Thy sovereign will denies,
Accepted at Thy throne of grace, let this petition rise:
Give me a calm, a thankful heart, from every murmur free!
The blessings of Thy grace impart, and make me live to Thee.
giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Appeal
Appeal
I challenge you
finds something
to be thankful for.
In every sing
circumstance.
It will
change your life