The Importance of a Thankful Heart

Dr. Greg Dixon

Text: Ps 100:4  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 

Rom 1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

This verse from the book of Romans declares that there was a time when there was only one religion on earth.  All those living on earth knew the true and living God which is the God of the Bible.  But the sin of ingratitude caused them to fall away and false religions came into existence.  it was the root sin that caused entire nations to depart from God.

Introduction:  The longer I live the more I have come to believe that ingratitude is one of the greatest of all sins.   God said that it was the root sin that caused entire nations to depart from God.  

One of the greatest examples of ingratitude, to me, is the father that criticized Pres. Trump for "What he didn't do" in keeping his son from prison in China after he stole some sun glasses and other items.   The young man could have been facing ten or more years in a filthy Chinese prison.

Jesus gave an example of ingratitude from His own ministry.     

The 10 lepers healed, only one returned to give thanks.  

Lk 17:11-19 - And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

Why is ingratitude such a sin?

It hinders answered prayers - Php 4:6   Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Five things gratitude Recognizes:

A.   It recognizes the Glory of God.  Lk 17:18  There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 

19  And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Glory means dignity – Recognizing Him above all others.  His sovereignty

B.   It is recognizes the Providence of God - 1Th 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  It's not aptitude it's attitude.  Whenever you reach the impossible place in your life, remember the price the Apostle Paul paid to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles.  

2 Cor 11:23 …in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 

24  Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 

25  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 

26  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 

27  In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 

28  Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 

C.   It recognizes the peace of God - Col 3:15   And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye

 are called in one body; and be ye thankful.  

Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

D.  It recognizes the Eternity of God - Ps 107:1  O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

E.   It recognizes the Provision of God – Luk 22:19  And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 

Mat 6:25  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 

26  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 

27  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 

28  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 

29  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 

30  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 

31  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 

32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 

33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 

Conclusion:  

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary
Because it means you've made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

Author Unknown

Websites Links

http://unregisteredbaptistfellowship.org/

http://the-trumpet-online.com/

http://biblicallawcenter.com/

Spring Unregistered Baptist Fellowship Meeting

March 19 – 20, 2018

Victory Baptist Church 

Okeechobee, Florida

Johnny Jarriel, Host Pastor