Pr. Annie Wong
Sermon Outline 31st Dec 2017
Topic: Reflection & Thanksgiving
Text: Psalm 107:1,2,8,22,32
Thanksgiving is living with an ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE for everything God has done for us.
“I recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult
in you; l will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” Ps 9:1-2
An attitude of gratitude is a force that moves our heart to
celebrate the acts of God in our lives and a time of reflection, to pause, to
take stock of the blessings that surrounds us, recounting the pass acts of God as
in Ps 9: 1-2.
1. Acknowledge God with thankfulness
Prov 3:5-6
If we acknowledge Him, He will make your path straight.
Isaiah 40 3-5,
Prepare the way of the lord, make straight a highway for our God
…..and His glory will be revealed.
God want us to remove every obstacle in our lives and He is
willing to help in removing all the obstructions if we acknowledge Him and in
the process welcome His presence. The key is to acknowledge Him for all that He
has done in the past with a Thankful Heart. God is looking for a Thankful
Heart.
Luke 17, 12-17
Healing of the 10 lepers. Jesus gladly healed all 10 lepers but he
is also looking for a response of thankfulness from them. The key to continuous
blessings is to respond with a joyful and thankful heart.
2. Thankfulness releases God's blessing
Paul in Philippi Acts 16:16-26
Despite Paul and Silas fate of being beaten and thrown in jail,
they did not stop praising and giving thanks to God and they were delivered.
Paul did not complain or went into self pity but he chose to praise God and he
was delivered.
Jesus with the multitudes Matt 15: 29 to 38
Jesus healed the multitudes and he also wanted to feed them too as
He had compassion for them. As He gave thanks to the heavenly Father for the 5
loaves and 2 fish, these were multiplied and feed all who were present with
left overs. For some of us, the present needs maybe overwhelming but God says
thankfulness releases God’s blessing in abundance.
3) How do we acknowledge God?
(a) Thank Him in words -Ps i 107:8
We are to thank Him in words which are our prayers. Let it be a
habit of looking for ways to thank God for His blessing upon our lives.
(b) Thank Him in joyful song Psalms 107:22
Let everything within us praise the Lord.
David willed and commanded his heart to praise God as stated in Ps
43:5 regardless of how he felt and his soul was lifted up.
Thankfulness should be naturally flowing out from our hearts and mouths
and as we continue in this manner, we will be able to overcome any heaviness in
our spirit and stop the enemy from taking advantage of the situation when we
put on the garment of praise.
1 Thess 5:16-18
Be joyful always, ….. give thanks in all circumstances….
(c) share testimony with others psalms 107:32
When has God done something for us, we are to testify of His
goodness to us. We need to announce to all in the assembly of people.
Testimony:
Renne Bong: God’s blessing of providence of a scholarship under
circumstances that she could not understand at a certain point of time in her
life.
Bong: God physical healing as he praises God during a time of
physical pain and God’s protection overall. Lamentation 3: 22-23
(d) Bring Him a "Thank Offering"
Ps 107: 22
We thank God by giving back in our acknowledgement of His
blessings.
Question:
1) How to apply thankfulness from the following verses: Ps 9
1-2, Pro 3:5-6, Isaiah 40. 3-5, 1 Thess 5:16- 18
2) Share one experience for which you are most thankful this year
and why are you thankful for it?
3) How can we give thanks in times of adversities and what can be
the outcome?
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