A Heart of Thanksgiving

A HEART OF THANKSGIVING

THANKSGIVING 2023

Sunday, November 19th 2023

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

GRATITUDE IS LOVING THE GIVE OVER THE GIFT

John 4:23-24 (NIV) Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 

Matthew 15:1-2 (NIV) Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!” 

Matthew 15:7-9 (NIV) “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 8 ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain …’”  

Matthew 15:21-28 (NLT) Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.”

23 But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.”

24 Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.” 25 But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!” 26 Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”

27 She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.” 28 “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.

3 THINGS WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS WOMAN’S WORSHIP

WORSHIP ALLOWS US TO EXPERIENCE THE REALITY OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD. 

Genesis 28:16 (NIV) When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it 

WORSHIP ELEVATES US ABOVE THE REALM OF OUR PROBLEMS.

Psalm 27:4 (NLT) The one thing I ask of the Lord the thing I seek most is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple. 

Psalms 27:5 (NLT) For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. 

WORSHIP ELEVATES OUR FAITH 

Isaiah 11:10  "And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people;  For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious." 

Isaiah 49:6  I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.'" 

Psalm 107:1-2 (NKJV) Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,