A Heart of Thanksgiving

“A Heart of Thanksgiving”

The Christian Way Series

August 4, 2024

Sermon Notes 

Luke 17:11-19 (NKJV)

11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

The people of God should instinctively be a thankful people.

Thankful means being conscious of benefit received; expressing gratitude and relief; being appreciative.

What comes to mind is understanding how good God has been and being grateful to Him for being so good.

One of the biblically stated characteristics of the last days is people being unthankful.

That attribute is supposed to come from people of the world and not the people of God.

2 Timothy 3: 1-5 (NKJV)

1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

Throughout the scripture, God is encouraging us to be thankful.

It’s the Christian Way!!

A Heart of Thanksgiving is an attitude!

A Heart of Thanksgiving is a kingdom posture.

The Christian Way has a bent toward thanksgiving.

Psalm 106:1 (NKJV)

1 Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Psalm 107:8 (NKJV)

8 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

God’s word teaches us to be thankful in spite of the circumstance, situation, good times and bad times.

It’s the Christian Way.

We are to carry a heart of thanksgiving all the time.

Psalm 34:1-3 (NKJV)

1 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;The humble shall hear of it and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.

“at all times” means in the good times and the bad times.

Paul and Silas were beaten, falsely imprisoned, and shackled down so they could barely move.

Acts 16:20-26 (NKJV)

20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; 21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” 22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.

A Heart of Thanksgiving will prompt you to pray and sing hymns to God even while in prison.

God may not send an earthquake to your situation, but He IS calling for us to be thankful, pray, and praise Him

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 (KJV)

17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

God is responsible for the results.

You are responsible to maintain a Heart of Thanksgiving.

Get in the habit of saying Thank You Lord!

Never let a day go by without telling the Lord thank you!

Luke 17:15- 19 (NKJV)

15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

God expects us to be thankful.

This Samaritan was a foreigner, but knew to say, Thank You!

It’s the Christian Way!

Hebrews 13:15 (NKJV)

15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 

Lord, I thank you…..