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LETTING OUR THANKSGIVING SHOW
VARIOUS
Introduction
I am sure that there are some things that each one of us is grateful for.
I am sure that there are some people that each one of us is grateful for.
Most of the time, when we are grateful for what someone has done, we thank them in some way. Sometimes we express our gratitude with our mouths, sometimes it is with a card, sometimes with a small gift or with a reciprocal kind deed or it may even be in some other way.
When someone expresses their thanks to us for something we have done, we appreciate it, don’t we? But on the other hand, we don’t appreciate those who are ingrates.
We celebrate Thanksgiving this week, which is a national holiday. And, by the way, it is “Thanksgiving Day” and not “Turkey Day!” Thanksgiving was established for our nation to show gratitude to God for all the things that He has done for us as a nation and as individuals. But the emphasis in many places is on everything else rather than giving thanks to God!
If there is anybody that should show their gratitude to God for all His blessings, it is the Christian!
Our gratitude to God should be something that is evident in our lives as Christians. We should be willing to let it show so that others, and especially God, can see our gratitude.
I want to share with you four ways that we should let our gratitude show.
Read Luke 17:11-19.
Most of us are familiar with this story. Ten very sick men who were lepers approached Jesus.
Because this disease had eaten away at their bodies, and because this disease had made them social outcasts, they lived rather lonely lives.
They were separated from their families, friends, and society in general.
If they did come in close proximity to others, they were required to cover their faces and cry "Unclean! Unclean!" to warn others of their terrible condition.
We see here that they came near Jesus and cried out to Him and asked for mercy.
Jesus gave them an unusual answer. He told them to go show themselves to the priests.
When someone was healed of leprosy, they were required to appear before the priests in order to be admitted back into society.
But these lepers had not been healed as yet. It was a step of faith for them to believe that as they went to the priests, they would be healed.
Vs. 14 tells us that as they went they WERE healed.
Can you imagine the joy and relief these former lepers must have felt.
As they were healed can you imagine what might have they been thinking?
"I’ve got to hurry to the priests so I can get back to my family!"
"I’ve got to hurry to the priests so I can function in society again!"
“I’ve got to hurry to the priests so I can get on with life!”
But, we see that one of these ten former lepers did something quite different!
He immediately returned to Jesus to worship Him out of gratitude.
And that is the first way we should let our thanksgiving show.
I. WE SHOULD LET OUR THANKSGIVING SHOW THROUGH OUR WORSHIP! (Luke 17:15)
It says here that He glorified God with a loud voice.
It wasn't with a soft, "Thank you Lord, I'm well."
It was a loud, booming, "PRAISE GOD! I'M HEALED!"
Anyone in the vicinity would have heard him, no doubt!
Verse 16 says that he fell down on his face at the feet of Jesus giving Him thanks.
What was unique about this, was that he wasn't even a full-blooded Jew. He was a renegade, half-breed Jew, called a Samaritan.
In verses 17-18 we see that Jesus points out that there were nine others who didn't come back to worship. And also that the one who was least likely to show gratitude was the only one who did.
Every person who has been marvelously changed by Christ ought to show their gratitude through their worship! AMEN?
That means that every Christian should bow before the Lord and worship Him with every ounce of their being!
Don’t you think that it is just reasonable that we should be eternally grateful to God for what He has done for us!
Andrae Crouch said it this way in his song entitled, “My Tribute.”
How can I say thanks for the things You have done for me?
Things so undeserved yet You give to prove Your love for me!
The voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude!
All that I am and ever hope to be, I owe it all to Thee!
To God be the glory, To God be the glory,
To God be the glory for the things He has done!
With His blood He has saved me! With His power He has raised me!
To God be the glory for the things He has done!
Just let me live my life, let it be pleasing Lord to thee
and should I gain any praise let it go to Calvary.
(Andrae Crouch, Copyright 1971, Lexicon Music Inc.)
Look at verse 19. I believe that Jesus was talking of more than just physical healing here. This man’s faith had saved him and had given him eternal life. You can’t be whole until your are born again!
Listen to me, worshiping God and being grateful for His salvation is part of truly being a Christian. I have my doubts about those who profess to be Christians, but don’t have a desire to worship God with gratitude in their hearts.
Hebrews 13:15–“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18–“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
As I sit up here and view our song services, sometimes it seems that as many folks sing the hymns and songs of faith, they do so without any true worship. Some don’t bother singing. They are out in “la la land” or otherwise distracted.
Some sing but you can tell that their singing is disconnected from their hearts. (i.e. their hearts just aren’t in it!)
But we who truly know Christ ought to be singing from hearts that are overflowing with worship to God because of what the Lord has done and is doing for us!
And listen, you may be going through a difficult time financially. But, it isn’t just what we have in our pockets that should make us thankful, but what we have in our heart! Because that which is in our pocket is temporal, but that which is in our heart is eternal!
Daniel Webster once said, “If you want to feel rich, just count the things you have that money cannot buy!”
WE SHOULD LET OUR THANKSGIVING SHOW THROUGH OUR WORSHIP.
II. WE SHOULD LET OUR THANKSGIVING SHOW THROUGH OUR WITNESS. (Luke 8:38-40)
Here we see a man who had been possessed with a legion of demons but the Lord Jesus has just delivered him from those demons. He had suffered a terrible life of isolation and insanity.
But notice now how that this man was so grateful that he wanted to follow Jesus. But note what Jesus told him: “Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee.”
When someone does something good for us, we often show our gratitude by telling others what they have done.
God has done the greatest thing possible for us who are saved!
He has saved our souls and given us eternal life!
He has given us His indwelling presence in the person of the Holy Spirit!
He is right now seated at the right hand of the throne of God, making intercession for us!
One way we can let our gratitude show, is by telling others what Jesus has done for us. I’m talking about our witness.
Psalm 107:2–“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;”
It is out of gratitude that we should obey the "Great Commission".
Mark 16:15–“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Was this man who Jesus delivered obedient to Jesus? Yes he was! It says here, “And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.”
We who are saved know what Jesus has done for us! We know the way to Heaven! So, if we are truly grateful to God, and want others to join us in Heaven, then we should obedient to Jesus and tell others what Jesus has done for us and what He can do for them!
Think about it. Who do you know that needs to hear the good news from you?
WE SHOULD LET OUR THANKSGIVING SHOW THROUGH OUR WORSHIP. . . OUR WITNESS. . .
III. WE SHOULD LET OUR THANKSGIVING SHOW THROUGH OUR WORKS. (Acts 16:14-15)
What happened to Lydia here? She came to know Christ as her Saviour through the witness of Paul and the other believers he was traveling with.
We can see here that she was grateful for them having shared Christ with her and she showed her gratitude by her works–in opening up her home to these missionaries.
As I said earlier, when someone does something for us, we often like to show our appreciation by doing something for them.
The Lord Jesus has done something wonderful for us having given us eternal life. We can show our appreciation by the works that we do!
Scripture says that Jesus saved us unto good works!
Ephesians 2:10–“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Matthew 5:16–“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Scripture also tells us that we are to be careful to maintain good works.
Titus 3:8–“This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.”
Out of appreciation for what God has done for us we are to do and maintain good works: How?
By listening carefully to those who need someone to listen.
By helping someone who is struggling under a heavy load.
By sharing with those who are less fortunate than us.
By giving encouragement to those who need it.
By helping others who need a helping hand.
By doing something for someone who can no longer do for themselves.
By giving to the Lord of our time, our talents and our treasure so that the work of the Lord can be accomplished
Galatians 6:10–“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
WE SHOULD LET OUR THANKSGIVING SHOW THROUGH OUR WORSHIP
. . . OUR WITNESS. . .OUR WORKS. . .
V. WE SHOULD LET OUR THANKSGIVING SHOW THROUGH OUR WALK. (1 Peter 1:15-16)
As Christians, God has called us to some things:
He has called us to receive of His forgiveness.
He has called us to receive of His eternal life.
He has called us to both receive and be filled with His Holy Spirit.
He has called us to receive His spiritual blessings.
But, He has also called us to be obedient children in holiness!
Out of gratitude for God's call on your life, let me challenge you to live as the Lord has challenged you to live–i.e. live a holy life!
God, who has called us is holy! He wants us to be holy in our walk!
How can we do this? By dying to self and its desires and letting Christ live His life through us!
Galatians 2:20–“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Conclusion
Christian, are you grateful for what God has done? If so, are you letting it show?
THROUGH YOUR WORSHIP
THROUGH YOUR WITNESS
THROUGH YOUR WORKS
THROUGH YOUR WALK
To reject the generosity of someone who has sacrificed greatly to help you is the height of ingratitude.
If you are here without Christ, you need to understand that while you were still a sinner, Christ died in your place and offers you the gift of eternal life through faith in what He has done for you. Don’t reject his free gift! Don’t be an ingrate! Come to Him today!
Home Page Contact Us Service Times Sermons Are You Going To Heaven?
NOTICE: THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!