Be Thankful Building Character Psalm 107:1-9

2 Ugly sin of human pride, wisdom, indulgence and calloused heart, Rom 1:21; 2 Tim 3:2Ugly sin of human pride, wisdom, indulgence and calloused heart, Rom 1:21; 2 Tim 3:2 “Counting our many blessings” acknowledges God as the Giver and ourselves as recipients, Psa 103:1-5“Counting our many blessings” acknowledges God as the Giver and ourselves as recipients, Psa 103:1-5 IngratitudeIngratitude

3 Thank God for His goodness with joy, service and praise, Psa 100Thank God for His goodness with joy, service and praise, Psa 100 Thanksgiving is to be found in Zion, Isa 51:1-3Thanksgiving is to be found in Zion, Isa 51:1-3 Citizens of the kingdom of heaven thank the Lord! Col 3:15Citizens of the kingdom of heaven thank the Lord! Col 3:15 Count your many blessings

4 Natural result of life in Christ, Col 3:3, 10Natural result of life in Christ, Col 3:3, 10 Opposite of self-centeredness, arrogance and rebellionOpposite of self-centeredness, arrogance and rebellion –Springs out of love, joy and praise –Where there is thankfulness, we find contentment –Without it, anxiety and lusts abound Giving Thanks

5 “Grateful acknowledgement of benefits received”“Grateful acknowledgement of benefits received” –Giving thanks presupposes… Review of blessings received, Phil 1:3Review of blessings received, Phil 1:3 Knowledge our blessings are from God, Jas 1:17 vs. Dan 4:30Knowledge our blessings are from God, Jas 1:17 vs. Dan 4:30 We know we are not worthy of our blessings, 1 Tim 1:12-13We know we are not worthy of our blessings, 1 Tim 1:12-13 “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 5:20) What it means to be thankful

6 When we must be thankful Before (expectation), 2 Chrn 20:12, (Honor and faith, Heb 13:5-6)Before (expectation), 2 Chrn 20:12, (Honor and faith, Heb 13:5-6) During (reliance), Acts 28:15During (reliance), Acts 28:15 –Aware of God in your life (Rom 8:28) After (acknowledgment), Exo 15:1; Dan 2:23After (acknowledgment), Exo 15:1; Dan 2:23 –Remembering God (Lk 17:15-19) “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 5:20) “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 5:20)

7 What we are thankful for Things physical and spiritual, ordinary and extraordinary, received and withheld, 2 Cor 12:10; 1 Ths 5:18Things physical and spiritual, ordinary and extraordinary, received and withheld, 2 Cor 12:10; 1 Ths 5:18 –Paul’s chains, Phil 1:12-14, 18 –All things work together for good, Rom 8:28 (Phil 1:13; 4:22) –Nothing can separate from God, Rom 8:35-39 “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 5:20) “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 5:20)

8 What we are thankful for For God’s attributes and worksFor God’s attributes and works –Salvation, the church, the word, His judgments, Psa 96:1- 3 (103:1-5) For brethren, family, food (1 Tim 4:4), all men (1 Tim 2:1), memories (Phil 1:3), brethren (Col 1:3)For brethren, family, food (1 Tim 4:4), all men (1 Tim 2:1), memories (Phil 1:3), brethren (Col 1:3) - Everything! 1 Ths 1:2-3; 5:18 “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 5:20) “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 5:20)

9 How we give thanks He is the means of all we receive, Eph 1:3; Col 3:17He is the means of all we receive, Eph 1:3; Col 3:17 We give thanks…We give thanks… –By our words: Lips (prayers and song), Heb 13:15 –By our lives: Sacrifice/service, Heb 13: 16; Col 2:7 “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ ” (Eph 5:20) “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ ” (Eph 5:20)

10 We give our thanks to God God is the Giver of all good gifts, Jas 1:17; Psa 106:1God is the Giver of all good gifts, Jas 1:17; Psa 106:1 –Does not limit our thanks exclusively to the Father, 1 Tim 1:12 –God is the first cause of our blessings, Rom 1:20-21 “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 5:20) “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 5:20)

11 Reveals pride, self-sufficiency, self-satisfaction and self-love, 2 Tim 3:1-4Reveals pride, self-sufficiency, self-satisfaction and self-love, 2 Tim 3:1-4 –Lack of thanks toward God spawns additional sins of ingratitude, 2 Tim 3:2-5 We have been called by the gospel to peace with God and men in the body of Christ – be thankful! Col 3:15We have been called by the gospel to peace with God and men in the body of Christ – be thankful! Col 3:15 IngratitudeIngratitude