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[MUSIC]
I HAVE OBSERVED SOMETHING IN
LIFE, AND IT IS THIS: PEOPLE
THAT MAINTAIN A GRATEFUL
ATTITUDE ATTRACT GOD'S
BLESSINGS.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY HAVE A
BIG BULL'S EYE PINNED ON THEIR
BACK THAT SAYS "BLESS ME,
BLESS ME, BLESS ME." AND GOD
SEEMS TO ACCOMMODATE THEM.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT
HAVING A GRATEFUL HEART TODAY,
AND YOU NEED TO LISTEN WITH
ALL OF YOUR HEART.
THIS COULD BE VERY, VERY
IMPORTANT TO YOU AND YOUR
FUTURE.
[MUSIC]
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY
ABOUT HAVING A GRATEFUL HEART.
WE PICK IT UP HERE AS NATHAN
THE PROPHET IS SPEAKING TO
KING DAVID.
SECOND SAMUEL, CHAPTER 12, AND
VERSE 8.
I GAVE YOU YOUR MASTER'S HOUSE
AND YOUR MASTER'S WIVES INTO
YOUR KEEPING, AND GAVE YOU THE
HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH.
AND IF THAT HAD BEEN TOO
LITTLE, I ALSO WOULD HAVE
GIVEN YOU MUCH MORE!
WHY HAVE YOU DESPISED THE
COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD, TO DO
EVIL IN HIS SIGHT?
YOU HAVE KILLED URIAH THE
HITTITE WITH THE SWORD; YOU
HAVE TAKEN HIS WIFE TO BE YOUR
WIFE, AND HAVE KILLED HIM WITH
THE SWORD OF THE PEOPLE OF
AMMON.
NOW THEREFORE, THE SWORD SHALL
NEVER DEPART FROM YOUR HOUSE,
BECAUSE YOU HAVE DESPISED ME,
AND HAVE TAKEN THE WIFE OF
URIAH THE HITTITE TO BE YOUR
WIFE.' THUS SAYS THE LORD:
'BEHOLD, I WILL RAISE UP
ADVERSITY AGAINST YOU FROM
YOUR OWN HOUSE; AND I WILL
TAKE YOUR WIVES BEFORE YOUR
EYES AND GIVE THEM TO YOUR
NEIGHBOR, AND HE SHALL LIE
WITH YOUR WIVES IN THE SIGHT
OF THIS SUN.
FOR YOU DID IT SECRETLY, BUT I
WILL DO THIS THING BEFORE ALL
ISRAEL, BEFORE THE SUN.'" NOW
I DON'T THINK GOD WAS SAYING
TO DAVID, "DAVID, BECAUSE YOU
DID THIS WICKED THING, I'M
GOING TO BRING WICKEDNESS ON
YOU, AND I'M GOING TO INSPIRE
PEOPLE TO DO WICKED THINGS TO
YOU." BUT GOD WAS BASICALLY
SAYING, "LISTEN, I PUT A LAW
INTO MOTION THAT IS
INESCAPABLE, EVEN AS IT SAYS
IN THE BOOK OF GALATIANS,
'DON'T BE DECEIVED.
GOD IS NOT MOCKED.
FOR WHATEVER A MAN SOWS, THAT
SHALL HE ALSO REAP.'" THE
SCRIPTURE SAYS IN THE BOOK OF
JAMES THAT SIN, THAT IF IT
REACHES MATURITY, ISSUES FORTH
IN DEATH IN ONE FORM OR
ANOTHER.
NOW GOD HAS GIVEN US SOMETHING
WHEREBY WE CAN INTERRUPT THAT
SIN-TO-DEATH CYCLE.
IT'S CALLED REPENTANCE.
YOU KNOW, THE SEEDS GET SOWN,
GOOD OR BAD, AND YOU WILL REAP
WHAT YOU SOW.
BUT GOD HAS GIVEN US A SHOVEL,
IF YOU WOULD, TO DIG UP THOSE
SEEDS BEFORE THEY PUT THEIR
ROOTS DOWN AND GROW UPWARD,
AND IT IS CALLED REPENTANCE.
BUT DAVID DIDN'T REPENT.
FOR MORE THAN A YEAR HE LIVED
IN BROKEN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
AFTER HAVING COMMITTED
ADULTERY WITH BATHSHEBA,
MURDERING HER HUSBAND TO COVER
IT UP, AND THEN TAKING HER TO
BE HIS WIFE.
AND DAVID, BECAUSE OF THAT, IT
WASN'T UNTIL NATHAN THE
PROPHET EXPOSED IT THAT HE
FINALLY REPENTED.
AND WE HAVE THAT BEAUTIFUL
PRAYER OF REPENTANCE FROM
DAVID IN PSALM 51.
I PERSONALLY THINK IF DAVID
WOULD HAVE GOTTEN ON HIS FACE
RIGHT AWAY, CONFESSED HIS SIN,
THAT HE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO
REAP ALL OF THOSE TRAGIC
EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE IN HIS
LIFE.
BUT THE WHEELS JUST TURNED TOO
FAR.
THE ROOTS OF THOSE TERRIBLE
SEEDS THAT HE HAD SOWN HAD
GONE DOWN, AND IT WAS GOING TO
BEAR FRUIT UPWARDS, AND HE WAS
GOING TO HAVE TO PARTAKE OF
THE BITTER FRUIT.
AND, YOU KNOW, AS YOU READ THE
STORY, IT'S JUST TRAGIC THE
THINGS THAT HAPPENED EXACTLY
AS NATHAN... BECAUSE GOD KNOWS
THE BEGINNING FROM THE END;
GOD KNEW HOW IT WAS GOING TO
PLAY OUT IN DAVID'S LIFE, AND
HE JUST TOLD HIM, "THIS IS
WHAT THE FRUIT IS GOING TO
LOOK LIKE." HIS SON, AMNON,
*** HIS STEPSISTER, TAMAR.
THEN ABSALOM, HIS OTHER, YOU
KNOW, ONE OF HIS OTHER SONS,
KILLS AMNON.
AND ABSALOM TRIES TO TAKE OVER
THE KINGDOM; DAVID HAS TO FLEE
JERUSALEM.
EVENTUALLY, ABSALOM IS KILLED;
DAVID'S HEART IS BROKEN, AND
IT'S JUST TRAGEDY UPON
TRAGEDY.
I WAS READING THE STORY THE
OTHER DAY, AND IT JUST DAWNED
ON ME YOU CAN TRACE IT ALL THE
WAY BACK TO THIS ONE THING.
DAVID'S SIN AND ALL OF THE
HEARTACHE AND ALL OF THE
TROUBLE AND ALL OF THE BITTER
FRUIT THAT CAME AFTERWARDS CAN
ALL BE TRACED BACK TO THIS ONE
THING IN VERSE 8 THAT NATHAN
SAID TO DAVID BY THE SPIRIT OF
THE LORD: "I GAVE YOU YOUR
MASTER'S HOUSE AND YOUR
MASTER'S WIVES INTO YOUR
KEEPING, AND GAVE YOU THE
HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH.
AND IF THAT HAD BEEN TOO
LITTLE, I ALSO WOULD HAVE
GIVEN YOU MUCH MORE!" IT ALL
TRACED BACK TO THE FACT THAT
DAVID DIDN'T APPRECIATE AND
WAS NOT GRATEFUL FOR WHAT GOD
HAD GIVEN HIM.
IT WENT BACK TO A LACK OF
GRATITUDE.
GOD SAID, "DAVID, I GAVE YOU
ALL OF THESE THINGS, AND I
WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU SO MUCH
MORE.
BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH!
YOU WOULDN'T BE SATISFIED WITH
WHAT I GAVE YOU." AND BECAUSE
OF THIS LACK OF GRATITUDE ALL
OF HIS MANIFOLD TROUBLES CAME
INTO HIS LIFE.
AND I THINK MUCH OF THE SIN,
HEARTACHE, AND TROUBLE THAT WE
EXPERIENCE CAN BE ROOTED IN
THE SAME THING: A LACK OF
GRATITUDE.
WON'T YOU LOOK WITH ME AT
DEUTERONOMY, CHAPTER 28, IF
YOU WOULD.
DEUTERONOMY, THE TWENTY-EIGHTH
CHAPTER.
IT'S THE CHAPTER WHERE MOSES
IS TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THE
BLESSINGS THAT COME FROM
OBEDIENCE AND ALL OF THE
CURSES THAT ISSUE FORTH AND
COME UPON THE DISOBEDIENT.
AND YET HE SHARES SOMETHING
BESIDES SIMPLE DISOBEDIENCE AS
A CAUSE OR A DOORWAY, IF YOU
WOULD, FOR ALL OF THESE CURSES
AND BAD THINGS TO COME UPON A
PERSON'S LIFE.
IT'S REALLY QUITE PROFOUND.
LOOK AT VERSE 45 OF
DEUTERONOMY 28.
HE SAID, "MOREOVER ALL THESE
CURSES SHALL COME UPON YOU AND
PURSUE AND OVERTAKE YOU, UNTIL
YOU ARE DESTROYED, BECAUSE YOU
DID NOT OBEY THE VOICE OF THE
LORD YOUR GOD, TO KEEP HIS
COMMANDMENTS AND HIS STATUTES
WHICH HE COMMANDED YOU.
AND THEY SHALL BE UPON YOU FOR
A SIGN AND A WONDER, AND ON
YOUR DESCENDANTS FOREVER.
"BECAUSE YOU DID NOT SERVE THE
LORD YOUR GOD WITH JOY AND
GLADNESS OF HEART, FOR THE
ABUNDANCE OF EVERYTHING, NOW
THERE ARE TWO "BECAUSES"
THERE.
ONE OF THEM, "BECAUSE YOU
DIDN'T OBEY." BUT THERE IS
ANOTHER ONE THAT'S EQUALLY AS
IMPORTANT, THAT IS A LYNCHPIN,
AS WELL.
LET ME READ TO YOU VERSE 47
FROM THE AMPLIFIED.
YOU KNOW, THESE THINGS WILL
COME UPON YOU, THESE CURSES,
"BECAUSE YOU DID NOT SERVE THE
LORD YOUR GOD WITH JOYFULNESS
OF MIND AND HEART, IN
GRATITUDE FOR THE ABUNDANCE OF
ALL WITH WHICH HE HAD BLESSED
YOU." AGAIN TRACING BACK THE
GRIEF AND THE HEARTACHE AND
THE CURSE TO AN UNGRATEFUL
HEART BEING THE DOORWAY THAT
LET ALL OF THESE THINGS IN.
AND I JUST WANT TO TAKE A FEW
MOMENTS TODAY AND SHARE WITH
YOU SOME THOUGHTS ON WHY, HOW,
AND WHEN WE SHOULD BE
GRATEFUL... STARTING WITH WHY,
WHY WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL.
BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE A LOT TO
BE GRATEFUL FOR.
STEP BACK AND COUNT YOUR
BLESSINGS.
INSTEAD OF BEING CONSUMED WITH
THE DIFFICULTIES OR THE BAD
THINGS THAT HAVE COME YOUR
WAY, LOOK FOR AND ACCENTUATE
THE GOOD THINGS.
IN ALL PROBABILITY, THEY FAR
OUTNUMBER THE BAD THINGS.
YOU KNOW, SOME TIME AGO I TOOK
A TRIP WITH A COUPLE OF
FRIENDS TO CATALINA.
WE WENT ONE NIGHT ON A LITTLE
BOAT THAT ONE OF THEM HAD.
WE WERE GOING TO GO DO SOME
FREEDIVING FOR LOBSTER.
AND ABOUT A MILE, A MILE AND A
HALF FROM THE ISLAND, THE
ENGINE BROKE DOWN.
SO WE HAD TO TAKE TURNS... THERE
WAS A PADDLE ONBOARD.
WE GOT UP ON THE BOW OF THE
BOAT AND WOULD KNEEL DOWN, AND
YOU'D PADDLE 'TIL YOUR ARMS
FELL OFF, AND IT WAS THE NEXT
GUY'S TURN.
AND WE ROTATED AND ROTATED AND
ROTATED.
IN ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF WE
FINALLY GOT IN CLOSE ENOUGH TO
THE ISLAND THAT WE COULD DROP
ANCHOR.
AND SO WE CALLED VESSEL
ASSIST, AND THE GUY SAID IT'S
GOING TO TAKE A COUPLE HOURS
TO GET THERE.
IN THE MEANTIME, A STORM
BROKE, AND IT BEGAN TO POUR
RAIN ON US.
THE WIND BEGAN TO HOWL, AND
THERE WAS NO COVERING AT ALL
ON THE BOAT.
IT WAS JUST OPEN.
AND, YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY,
VESSEL ASSIST CAME AND WITH A
ROPE THEY HOOKED US UP AND
TOWED US BACK TO THE MAINLAND.
AND THE THREE OF US SAT BACK
THERE IN THE BOAT UP AND DOWN
GOING FIVE KNOTS IN THE
HOWLING WIND AND THE POURING
RAIN.
I MEAN, I HAD NIAGARA FALLS
RUNNING DOWN MY BACKSIDE.
IT WAS FREEZING; IT WAS WET.
FIVE AND A HALF HOURS, YOU
KNOW, GETTING TOWED THROUGH
THIS STORM BACK TO THE
MAINLAND.
I THINK WE GOT BACK LIKE AT 4
A.M.
OR SOMETHING.
AND ALL I CAN SAY ABOUT THAT
IS, "THANK YOU, JESUS!
THANK YOU, JESUS, THAT I HAVE
ACCESS TO A BOAT AND I LIVE
NEAR THE WATER AND I HAVE THE
FREE TIME TO PURSUE SOMETHING
I LOVE.
THANK YOU, JESUS, WE DIDN'T
BREAK DOWN THREE OR FOUR MILES
FROM THE ISLAND BECAUSE THAT
WOULD HAVE TAKEN A LONG, LONG
TIME TO PADDLE.
AND THANK GOD THERE WAS A
PADDLE ONBOARD THE BOAT!" I
MEAN, WE COULD HAVE JUST
DRIFTED OFF TO SEA AND NEVER
BEEN SEEN AGAIN.
IT HAS HAPPENED.
THANK GOD THE RADIO WORKED AND
WE WERE ABLE TO CALL VESSEL
ASSIST.
AND I'M EVEN GRATEFUL THAT
THEY COULDN'T SHOW UP FOR A
COUPLE OF HOURS BECAUSE WE
JUMPED IN THE WATER, AND WE
CAUGHT 15 REALLY BIG LOBSTERS.
AND I'M ALSO GRATEFUL THAT
EVEN THOUGH WE FROZE OUR TAILS
OFF, I WASN'T STUCK ON THE
BACK OF THAT BOAT FOR NEARLY
SIX HOURS WITH SOME BORING
PEOPLE THAT I DIDN'T LIKE.
I WAS THERE WITH FRIENDS.
AND THOUGH IT WAS FREEZING, WE
LAUGHED ALMOST ALL THE WAY
HOME.
AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO HAVE A
DO-OVER ON THE NIGHT, BUT YOU
KNOW WHAT?
I WOULDN'T TRADE IT FOR
ANYTHING.
THERE'S A LOT TO BE GRATEFUL
FOR ON A NIGHT LIKE THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT
TO BE GRATEFUL FOR EVEN IF
YOU'RE GOING THROUGH STUFF
RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN, YOU'RE SITTING IN THIS
BEAUTIFUL AIR-CONDITIONED
BUILDING IN THOSE PADDED
SEATS.
MOST OF YOU LOOK PRETTY WELL
FED.
YOU'RE CLOTHED.
I MEAN, EVEN ON YOUR WORST DAY
YOU ARE GOING TO HEAVEN.
WE HAVE A LOT TO BE GRATEFUL
FOR.
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS.
LOOK WITH ME AT EPHESIANS,
CHAPTER 5.
THE SECOND REASON WHY WE
SHOULD BE GRATEFUL: BECAUSE
GOD TELLS US TO BE THANKFUL.
AND IT'S NOT A SUGGESTION FROM
HIM.
IT'S ACTUALLY A COMMAND.
EPHESIANS 5 AND VERSE 20, IT
SAYS, GIVING THANKS ALWAYS FOR
ALL THINGS TO GOD THE FATHER
IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS
CHRIST, GIVING THANKS ALWAYS.
WE NEED TO CULTIVATE A SPIRIT
OF GRATITUDE.
WE NEED TO BE GRATEFUL AT ALL
TIMES.
LOOK IN THE BOOK OF
COLOSSIANS.
IT'S JUST A FEW PAGES OVER.
CHAPTER 3 AND VERSE 15.
AGAIN, NOT A SUGGESTION, BUT A
COMMAND FROM GOD.
COLOSSIANS 3:15, AND LET THE
PEACE OF GOD RULE IN YOUR
HEARTS, TO WHICH ALSO YOU WERE
CALLED IN ONE BODY; AND BE
THANKFUL.
HERE'S A THIRD REASON: BECAUSE
IT WILL KEEP YOUR HEART SOFT
AND SENSITIVE TO GOD.
GRATITUDE WILL KEEP YOUR HEART
OPEN, SOFT, PLIABLE, AND
SENSITIVE TO GOD.
ROMANS, CHAPTER 1.
ROMANS, CHAPTER 1, AND I WANT
YOU TO LOOK WITH ME AT VERSE
21.
BECAUSE, ALTHOUGH THEY KNEW
GOD, THEY DID NOT GLORIFY HIM
AS GOD, NOR WERE THANKFUL, BUT
BECAME FUTILE IN THEIR
THOUGHTS, AND THEIR FOOLISH
HEARTS WERE DARKENED.
NOTICE: AN UNTHANKFUL ATTITUDE
AFFECTS BOTH THE MIND AND THE
HEART.
INGRATITUDE LEADS TO A
DARKENED HEART.
THAT'S A HEART THAT CANNOT
SEE, CANNOT DISCERN OR HEAR
FROM GOD.
IT GOES ON AND TALKS ABOUT HOW
THEY THEN DENIED GOD AND
WORSHIPED THE CREATION MORE
THAN THE CREATOR.
AND THERE IS ACTUALLY A
PROGRESSION FROM THESE VERSES
THAT SPIRALS DOWNWARD THROUGH
THE END OF THE CHAPTER WHERE
HE FINALLY TALKS ABOUT PEOPLE
THAT ARE BLASPHEMERS, HATERS
OF GOD, HAVE GIVEN THEMSELVES
OVER TO EVERY KIND OF
UNRESTRAINED ***.
AND YOU TRACE IT BACK, AND
IT'S A PROGRESSION THAT COMES
ALL THE UP THROUGH THE CHAPTER
TO THIS: INGRATITUDE.
THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE
SPIRAL DOWNWARD.
AN UNGRATEFUL ATTITUDE LED TO
FOOLISH THINKING AND A
DARKENED HEART.
NOW IF INGRATITUDE LEADS TO
THAT, IMAGINE WHAT AN ATTITUDE
OF GRATITUDE WILL DO.
IT OPENS THE CURTAINS AND LETS
THE LIGHT OF GOD IN.
IT WILL HELP YOU BE SENSITIVE,
TO BE ABLE TO DISCERN THE HAND
OF GOD IN THE PROVIDENTIAL
CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE.
SENSITIVE TO HEAR HIS VOICE,
SENSITIVE TO RECEIVE
REVELATION FROM HIS WORD.
FRIEND, I'M TELLING YOU, IT IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE
BE GRATEFUL PEOPLE.
AND HERE'S ANOTHER REASON.
IT STRENGTHENS RELATIONSHIPS,
BOTH WITH GOD AND MEN.
GRATITUDE HELPS STRENGTHEN
RELATIONSHIPS.
YOU KNOW, THANKLESS PEOPLE ARE
VERY DIFFICULT TO BE AROUND.
IT'S TRUE.
NOBODY LIKES TO HANG AROUND
WITH UNGRATEFUL PEOPLE.
YOU SEE, GRATITUDE ATTRACTS;
INGRATITUDE REPELS.
ATTITUDE ATTRACTS... A GRATEFUL
ATTITUDE ATTRACTS BOTH PEOPLE
AND GOD WHILE INGRATITUDE
REPELS BOTH GOD AND PEOPLE.
HERE'S ANOTHER REASON:
GRATEFUL HEARTS ATTRACT THE
BLESSINGS OF GOD.
YOU CAN SEE THE PRINCIPLE
THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE.
I WILL GIVE YOU A FEW
REFERENCES YOU CAN LOOK UP
LATER.
SECOND SAMUEL, CHAPTER 2,
TALKS ABOUT THE MEN OF JABESH
GILEAD.
SAUL HAD RESCUED THEM IN THEIR
HOUR OF NEED, AND THEY NEVER
FORGOT IT.
THEY NEVER LOST THEIR SENSE OF
GRATITUDE.
EVEN AFTER SAUL HAD
BACKSLIDDEN AND BEEN KILLED,
THEY NEVER FORGOT WHAT HE HAD
DONE.
AND THOUGH THE PHILISTINES HAD
TAKEN SAUL'S BODY AND HIS
SON'S BODY AND PUT THEM ON THE
WALL OF BETHSHAN, THE MEN OF
JABESH GILEAD, OUT OF
GRATITUDE FOR WHAT SAUL HAD
DONE, HAD RISKED THEIR LIVES
AND TRAVELED BY NIGHT AND WENT
IN THERE AND STOLE THEIR
BODIES FROM OFF OF THAT WALL,
STOLE THOSE PHILISTINE
TROPHIES AND GAVE THEM A
PROPER BURIAL.
AND DAVID SAID TO THEM, AND
YOU CAN READ IT IN THE CHAPTER
I REFERENCED, "BECAUSE OF THIS
ACT OF GRATITUDE, BECAUSE OF
THIS KINDNESS THAT YOU HAVE
SHOWN TO THE HOUSE OF SAUL,
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY GOD
SHOW KINDNESS TO YOU.
AND I AM GOING TO BLESS YOU,
AS WELL." FRIEND, GRATITUDE,
EXPRESSED GRATITUDE DRAWS
BLESSING FROM GOD.
I THINK ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE RUTH
IN THE BIBLE.
MAN, SHE HAD EVERYTHING
AGAINST HER.
HER HUSBAND HAD DIED; HER
BROTHER-IN-LAW DIED, HER
FATHER HAD DIED.
SHE RETURNS BACK TO ISRAEL
WITH HER NAOMI, HER
MOTHER-IN-LAW, WHO WAS A VERY
BITTER WOMAN.
RUTH, SHE'S PENNILESS; SHE'S A
WIDOW; SHE IS NOT PART OF THE
COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL, SHE IS
NOT A JEW.
SOME PEOPLE WOULD HAVE LOOKED
DOWN UPON HER AND DESPISED
HER.
EVERYTHING HAS GONE WRONG IN
HER LIFE, BUT SHE NEVER PICKED
UP THAT BITTER, CYNICAL SPIRIT
THAT HER MOTHER HAD... OR THAT
HER MOTHER-IN-LAW HAD.
RUTH WAS ALWAYS BRIGHT.
SHE WAS ALWAYS POSITIVE.
AND SHE WAS ALWAYS GRATEFUL,
EVEN FOR THE SMALLEST OF
THINGS.
WHEN SHE WENT OUT INTO THE
FIELD AND BEGAN TO GATHER
BEHIND THE REAPERS, BOAZ TOOK
NOTICE OF HER.
AND YOU LISTEN TO HER
INTERACTION WITH BOAZ.
SHE WAS GRATEFUL THAT BOAZ
TOOK NOTICE OF HER, AND SHE
THANKED HIM FOR IT.
SHE WAS GRATEFUL FOR THE KIND
WORDS THAT HE SPOKE TO HER,
AND SHE THANKED HIM FOR IT.
SHE WAS GRATEFUL FOR THE
GENEROSITY THAT HE SHOWED HER.
SHE EXPRESSED IT.
SHE WAS GRATEFUL FOR THE
PROTECTION THAT HE AFFORDED
HER, AND SHE VERBALIZED IT.
AND I BELIEVE THAT ATTITUDE,
AS MUCH AS ANYTHING, BROUGHT
THE BLESSING OF GOD INTO HER
LIFE.
BOAZ FALLS IN LOVE WITH HER,
MARRIES HER; SHE GOES FROM
POVERTY TO BEING WEALTHY, TO
BEING INFLUENTIAL, BEING
WELL-MARRIED, BECAME THE
GREAT-GRANDMOTHER OF KING
DAVID AND IN THE LINEAGE OF
JESUS CHRIST.
THAT GRATEFUL ATTITUDE JUST
PAINTED A BULL'S EYE ON HER
THAT SAID, "BLESSING." YOU
KNOW, I WAS WITH A FAMILY
ONCE.
WE WERE IN HAWAII.
AND I TOOK WHAT THEY CALL
THEIR HAWAIIAN SLING, A POLE
SPEAR, OUT AND WENT OUT ON THE
REEF, AND I SPEARED SOME BIG
FAT REEF FISH FOR DINNER,
BROUGHT THEM BACK, AND I
WASN'T READY TO GO BACK TO
WHERE WE WERE STAYING, SO I
STRUNG THEM UP AND PUT THEM
DOWN IN SORT OF A LITTLE TIDE
POOL.
AND I WAS SITTING OVER ON A
ROCK BY THE BEACH, AND I
NOTICED SOMETHING MOVING
AROUND BY MY FISH ABOUT TEN
MINUTES LATER.
I WENT DOWN THERE, AND THERE
WAS A MORAY EEL EATING MY
FISH!
AND SO I TOOK MY FISH AWAY
FROM HIM, AND HE LOOKED AT ME
AND SWOOSH, DISAPPEARED
THROUGH THIS HOLE.
NOW HE HAD TO COME OUT FROM
DEEPER WATER.
AND IT AMAZED ME THAT HE WAS
ABLE TO GET THERE.
BUT THOSE FISH, AS THE TIDE
WOULD COME IN AND THEN WASH
OUT, IT SENT OUT THE AROMA,
THE SCENT OF THOSE FISH, AND
TO THAT MORAY EEL, IT WAS
IRRESISTIBLE.
AND I THINK IF YOU WOULD HAVE
SEEN WHERE THEY WERE AND WHERE
HE HAD TO COME FROM, IT WAS
AMAZING!
A VERY DETERMINED EEL.
HE HAD TO GO OVER ROCKS,
AROUND BOULDERS, THROUGH
TUNNELS, AND MOVE UP PROBABLY
50 OR 75 YARDS THROUGH THIS
ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE MAZE OF
STUFF TO GET TO WHERE MY FISH
WERE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT A HEART
OF GRATITUDE SENDS OFF A SWEET
AROMA FOR THE HEAVENS THAT IS
AN IRRESISTIBLE ATTRACTANT TO
THE BLESSINGS OF GOD.
AND I THINK THE BLESSINGS WILL
GO OVER THINGS AND AROUND
THINGS AND THROUGH THE
UNIVERSE AND PASS OVER OTHER
PEOPLE AND COME TO YOU IF YOU
HAVE A GRATEFUL HEART.
YOU JUST WON'T BE ABLE TO
ESCAPE THEM.
NOW HOW IS GRATITUDE TO BE
EXPRESSED?
LET ME SHARE SEVERAL WAYS.
NUMBER ONE, VERBALLY.
YOU CAN MARK THIS REFERENCE
DOWN.
SECOND CHRONICLES 5:13 TELLS
US THAT THANKSGIVING IS A
SOUND TO BE HEARD.
SO SAY IT, SING IT, SHOUT IT,
BUT LET IT BE HEARD.
I KNOW SOME PEOPLE SAY, "WELL,
I HAVE A PRAISE IN MY HEART."
WELL, IF IT'S IN YOUR HEART,
IT WILL COME OUT YOUR MOUTH
BECAUSE OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE
OF THE HEART THE MOUTH SPEAKS.
AND EVEN WHEN IT COMES TO
PEOPLE, IF YOU ARE GRATEFUL
FOR YOUR COLLEAGUES OR FOR
FRIENDS OR FAMILY, TELL THEM.
WRITE THEM A NOTE.
EXPRESS IT.
I KNOW SOME PEOPLE THINK,
"WELL, I FEEL GRATEFUL IN MY
HEART; THEREFORE, I'M A
GRATEFUL PERSON." YOU'RE NOT!
GRATITUDE THAT IS NOT
EXPRESSED IS NO GRATITUDE AT
ALL.
AND I DON'T KNOW, YOU MIGHT
FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT
YOURSELF AND FEEL THAT YOU'RE
MAGNANIMOUS AND GENEROUS AND
GRATEFUL.
IF YOU NEVER TELL PEOPLE AND
YOU KEEP IT TO YOURSELF,
THAT'S NOT REALLY GRATITUDE.
IF YOU DON'T TELL GOD AND LIFT
YOUR HANDS AND THANK HIM, IF
YOU DON'T EXPRESS THE
GRATITUDE, IT'S TRULY NOT
GRATITUDE.
IT'S JUST YOU HAVING GOOD,
UNTRUE FEELINGS ABOUT
YOURSELF.
SO IT NEEDS TO BE EXPRESSED.
IT NEEDS TO BE VERBALIZED.
AND SECONDLY, THROUGH ACTS OF
SERVICE.
IT'S A GOOD WAY TO EXPRESS
GRATITUDE.
BLIND BARTIMAEUS WAS HEALED;
THE NEXT THING HE DOES IS HE
FOLLOWS JESUS.
IN OTHER WORDS, TO SERVE HIM,
TO FOLLOW HIM.
FOLLOW JESUS IN THE WAY.
GOD TOLD PHARAOH, "LET MY
PEOPLE GO THAT THEY MAY SERVE
ME." ARE YOU GRATEFUL FOR
GOD'S RESCUE IN YOUR LIFE?
THEN SERVE HIM.
SERVE HIS CHURCH.
SERVE HIS FAMILY.
SERVE HIS PEOPLE.
SERVE PEOPLE WITH NEEDS
OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH.
JESUS SAID, "AS MUCH AS YOU'VE
DONE IT TO THE LEAST OF THESE,
YOU'VE DONE IT TO ME." BE A
SERVANT.
IT'S A GREAT EXPRESSION OF
GRATITUDE.
I'VE SHARED MANY TIMES A STORY
I READ REGARDING A ROMAN
AQUEDUCT BUILT IN SEGOVIA,
SPAIN, IN THE YEAR 109 A.D.
FOR EIGHTEEN HUNDRED YEARS IT
BROUGHT FRESH, COOL WATER TO
THAT ARID, DRY CITY.
OVER 50 GENERATIONS OF MEN
WERE SERVED BY THAT AQUEDUCT.
BUT A RECENT GENERATION SAID,
"WHY, THIS IS A MARVEL.
THIS IS A TREASURE.
WE NEED TO PRESERVE IT." AND
SO THEY LAID MODERN PIPES AND
DIVERTED THE WATER; AND WITHIN
A YEAR, THE AQUEDUCT FELL
APART.
THE SUN BEAT DOWN AND BAKED
THAT MORTAR DRY, AND IT FELL
APART.
THE MOMENT THAT AQUEDUCT WAS
TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE, IT DRIED
UP AND FELL APART.
FRIEND, IT'S ONLY IN SERVICE
THAT WE REMAIN ALIVE AND VITAL
AND STRONG AS CHRISTIANS.
THE MOMENT WE STOP SERVING, WE
DRY UP, AND WE BECOME BRITTLE
AND LIFELESS.
GRATEFUL HEARTS SERVE.
FIND A PLACE, FIND A WAY TO
SERVE.
AND THEN THROUGH GIFTS OF
MATERIAL SUPPORT.
I THINK MATERIAL GIFTS AND
SUPPORT, GIVING, IS A WAY TO
EXPRESS GRATITUDE.
AND AGAIN, HERE'S ANOTHER
REFERENCE IN NUMBERS 31,
VERSES 48 THROUGH 54.
THERE HAD BEEN A SEVERE BATTLE
WITH THE MIDIANITES, AND ONE
OF THE COMMANDERS CAME TO
MOSES AND SAID, "YOU KNOW
WHAT?
I'VE COUNTED OUR TROOPS.
WE DIDN'T LOSE A SINGLE MAN
UNDER MY COMMAND." IT WAS
MIRACULOUS.
GOD HAD PROTECTED THEM.
THEIR RESPONSE?
HE SAYS ALL OF THE MEN, YOU
KNOW, FROM THE SPOILS OF THE
WAR, "WE WANT TO BRING AN
OFFERING AND SHOW GOD OUR
GRATITUDE." AND THEY EXPRESSED
THEIR GRATITUDE BY GIVING.
THEY WEREN'T PAYING FOR GOD'S
PROTECTION.
I MEAN, IT WASN'T MAFIA
PROTECTION MONEY: "OKAY, GOD,
WE KNOW IF WE GIVE THIS, YOU
WILL CONTINUE TO PROTECT US."
YOU DON'T BUY THE BLESSINGS,
THE MERCY, THE GIFT, AND THE
PROTECTION OF GOD.
YOU CAN'T.
BUT IT IS A NORMAL MEANS, A
NORMAL EXPRESSION OF
GRATITUDE.
ALL RIGHT, THEN FOURTHLY, JUST
A FOURTH EXPRESSION OF
GRATITUDE IS THROUGH PRAYER.
LOOK WITH ME AT SECOND
TIMOTHY, CHAPTER 1, IF YOU
WOULD.
SECOND TIMOTHY, CHAPTER 1, AND
VERSE 16.
NOW PAUL... BY THE WAY, PAUL HAS
JUST GOTTEN THROUGH TALKING
ABOUT A GROUP OF ASIATIC
CHRISTIANS THAT HAVE ABANDONED
HIM AS WELL AS TWO PROMINENT
BELIEVERS THAT DIDN'T WANT TO
BE ASSOCIATED WITH HIM.
BUT ON THE HEELS OF THAT IN
VERSE 16 HE SAID, THE LORD
GRANT MERCY TO THE HOUSEHOLD
OF ONESIPHORUS, FOR HE OFTEN
REFRESHED ME, AND WAS NOT
ASHAMED OF MY CHAIN; BUT WHEN
HE ARRIVED IN ROME, HE SOUGHT
ME OUT VERY ZEALOUSLY AND
FOUND ME.
THE LORD GRANT TO HIM THAT HE
MAY FIND MERCY FROM THE LORD
IN THAT DAY-AND YOU KNOW VERY
WELL HOW MANY WAYS HE
MINISTERED TO ME AT EPHESUS.
NOW TWICE THERE, YOU KNOW,
PAUL, IT'S LITERALLY A PRAYER
HE IS BREATHING FROM HIS
HEART: "MAY GOD GRANT MERCY TO
ONESIPHORUS AND HIS HOUSEHOLD.
THESE OTHERS ABANDONED ME,
THEY WERE AFRAID TO ASSOCIATE
WITH ME WHILE I WAS A PRISONER
OF ROME, BUT NOT ONESIPHORUS.
HE SOUGHT ME OUT AND WASN'T
ASHAMED OF MY CHAIN.
HE REFRESHED MY HEART OFTEN."
AND PAUL'S RESPONSE IS TO PRAY
BLESSING ON THE MAN AND TO
PRAY BLESSING ON HIS
HOUSEHOLD.
YOU KNOW, PAUL WROTE THIS TO
THE EPHESIANS, EPHESIANS 1:16,
"I DO NOT CEASE TO GIVE THANKS
FOR YOU, MAKING MENTION OF YOU
IN MY PRAYERS." AND I THINK
IT'S A NORMAL THING TO PRAY
BLESSING ON THE LIVES OF THOSE
THAT GOD HAS USED TO HELP US.
A HEART OF GRATITUDE DOESN'T
FORGET THE MERCY AND THE
KINDNESS THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN
TO IT.
ALL RIGHT, WHEN SHOULD WE
EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE?
WE READ IN EPHESIANS 5:20, IT
SAID, "ALWAYS GIVING THANKS."
ALL THE TIME.
FIRST THESSALONIANS 5:18 SAYS,
"IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS IN
THE GOOD TIMES AND IN THE HARD
TIMES." IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE
THERE ARE SOME THINGS, IF WE
WILL LOOK FOR THEM, THAT WE
CAN PRAISE AND THANK GOD FOR
AND SHOW GRATITUDE REGARDING.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT
GRATITUDE CAN EVEN BE A
POWERFUL EXPRESSION OF FAITH.
GIVING THANKS ALWAYS, IN ALL
THINGS, AT ALL TIMES.
I THINK EVEN BEFORE THE ANSWER
COMES.
ANYBODY CAN SHOUT ONCE
JERICHO'S WALLS HAVE FALLEN.
WE CAN ALL THANK GOD FOR THAT.
BUT IT TAKES FAITH TO SAY
THANK YOU TO GOD WHILE THE
WALLS ARE STILL UP.
I READ ABOUT JESUS STANDING AT
THE TOMB OF LAZARUS WITH
LAZARUS STILL DEAD IN THE
TOMB.
HE SAID, "FATHER, I THANK YOU
THAT YOU HAVE HEARD ME." NOW
WE CAN ALL SHOUT WHEN LAZARUS
HAS BEEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD.
BUT TO BEGIN THANKING GOD WHEN
LAZARUS IS STILL IN THE TOMB,
THAT IS AN ACT OF FAITH.
PHILIPPIANS 4:6 SAYS, "DON'T
WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT IN
EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE BY PRAYER
AND SUPPLICATION, WITH
THANKSGIVING..." SHOWING
GRATITUDE IN ADVANCE, AN
EXPRESSION OF FAITH BEFORE GOD
BRINGS THE ANSWER, BEFORE
THINGS CHANGE.
WE NEED TO BE GRATEFUL TO GOD
AT ALL TIMES.
[MUSIC]
YOU KNOW, FAITH IS AN
INTERESTING THING.
THE TECHNICAL DEFINITION IN
HEBREWS 11:1 FAITH IS THE
SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR
THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT
SEEN.
AND WHEN WE BELIEVE THAT GOD
HAS HEARD OUR PRAYER, BY
FAITH, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T
SEE ANYTHING CHANGED IN THE
NATURAL.
THE THING THAT WE SHOULD DO TO
EXPRESS OUR FAITH IS TO OFFER
OUR GRATITUDE AND THANKS TO
GOD.
LET YOUR PETITIONS AND
REQUESTS BE KNOWN WITH
THANKSGIVING THE SCRIPTURE
SAYS.
SPEND A LITTLE TIME THANKING
GOD FOR THE THINGS YOU DO
HAVE, AND THE THINGS YOU
BELIEVE GOD IS SENDING YOUR
WAY.
I LOVE YOU, I'D LOVE TO HEAR
FROM YOU.
SEE YOU NEXT TIME.