Thankfulness

Sermon Topic Sunday 1/20/13
Thankfulness
We have a God who is to be praised. The angels around His throne are in constant praise (Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8-11) … and the incense in the Tabernacle, Temple, and at the Throne represents the prayers of the saints.
We would like to appreciate the wisdom in thanking our God.
When God makes a statement, it begs the question: am I into this, and doing it? … The Lord looks upon our hearts.
His Word is full of praises to His holiness.
God’s Holy Spirit gives a person joy (Galatians 5:22-3) thus to be filled with thankfulness … for example, the survivors of the crucifixion catastrophe in the Americas. They had been the more righteous of the people, and fully repented during the disaster and darkness. Their terror and sorrow was replaced with joy when the light returned (3 Nephi 4:64), and when Jesus arrived (3 Nephi 5:17). Jesus was also filled with joy looking around at them and knowing their hearts (3 Nephi 8:22 and 13:7).
Proverbs 16:1-9 We all devise our own plans and ways, and consider ourselves right, but the Lord weighs our spirits, and if we choose Him, He directs our steps and gives us answers.
We live in time, He is outside of time.
1 Thessalonians 1:1-4 We give thanks to God for you … many of Paul’s letters begin with thanks to God for the people of the Church … 2 Thess. 1:1-4 …bound to thank God for you
Our thankfulness to God should come out in our choices (He directs our steps)
Philemon 1-6; Colossians 1:1-5 … again Paul is thanking God for the believers.
We are devising our plans, God is directin our steps … He is worthy of all praise.
Hebrews 13:12-21 He suffered outside the gate so His blood atoned for sin … let us join Him outside the gate.
The enemy knows who you are, and would hinder and trap you if he could … God is to be thanked for protection against him.
The sacrifice of praise is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to Him. Are we doing this?
Do good and communicate (Greek “koinonia”, fellowship, sharing) right, for God is well pleased with such sacrifices.
Submit to those who are in authority over you … the God of peace make you perfect (Greek “katartizo”, complete, adjusted, mended, restored) in every good work.
Romans 6:17-19 God is to be thanked, because look where you were, and where you would have been without Him; and appreciate where you are now by obedience.
1 Peter 2:9 The royal priesthood, the chosen generation … to show forth His praises … a holy nation, a peculiar people. We may not be popular with the world … in fact Jesus promised us that we would be hated by the world … but we will receive blessings from God.
Colossians 3:12-15 The elect of God … exhibiting thankfulness to our Lord
Psalm 107:21-22 O that we would praise our God and thank Him for His goodness … the whole psalm is on this theme
Psalm 95:1-7 Let us sing praises and thanksgiving to the Lord, for He is great.
2 Nephi 14:11-12 Hearken to the Spirit which teaches us to pray … the enemy teaches us to not pray … faint not, and don’t do anything unto the Lord without praying, that he will consecrate your performance to the welfare of your soul … are we teaching our children and friends that he is the source of our existence and blessing?
3 Nephi 8:50-52 watch and pray always lest we enter into temptation … pray in our families that our children be blessed (a very strong tradition and practice among the Jews).
Alma 16:238 Live in thanksgiving daily … so you are not led away by the enemy
We cannot buy a blessing … they are freely given to those who love, thank, and obey.
God bless all of you and have a great Monday!!