Study Notes

I.      Why is thanksgiving important? (Colossians 3:15-The Word tells us to be thankful)

A.    We are to keep thanksgiving on our lips in everything at all times

1.     Heb13:15-By him therefore let us offer sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

2.     1 Thess 5:18-In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

3.     Col 3:17-And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

4.     Eph 5:20-Giving thanks always for all things unto God & the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

B.     God doesn’t need His ego stroked & HE doesn’t NEED us to be thankful; IT’S FOR U

1.     Everything God told you to do is for you; be thankful is for your benefit

C.    Thanksgiving is important b/c it connects you to victory-1 Corinthians 10:10

D.    We’ve been taught for years to say thank u after something good happens, but in the Kingdom of God we live by faith and we say thank you for what we can’t see or feel

1.     Mk 11:24, Phil 4:6-We believe we receive & thank God 4 our victory b4 our victory

2.     Waiting to say thank u until u can see it in your life would be walking by sight, but saying thank u 4 a victory that u can’t see or feel would be walking by faith (Josh 6)

II.     Self Pity

A.    This heavy, sorrowful, sad, bitter, self-pity, pouting, dark life is not okay and it’s simply the result of you being unthankful (Philippians 4:6-7)

B.     Matthew 16: 22-This unthankful attitude of self-pity is extremely dangerous

1.     Jesus was and is so vehemently against self-pity; he responded in one of the most strongest ways that he ever responded; because he wants no part of this

2.     Jesus had feelings the way you and I do and he doesn’t deserve these bad things that were going to happen and he was capable of feeling like I don’t deserve this

a.    All self-pity (unthankfulness) stems from “I deserve better”           

1)       When you believe you should have something b/c u deserve it & you don’t, the next that happens is you’re going to feel sorry for yourself

b.    Peter vocalizes what Jesus has been dealing & that’s why He responds so strongly

3.     Peter is not the devil, but the devil is speaking through Peter and trying to get Jesus to feel sorry for himself

4.     One of the main attempts the enemy makes in the life of believer is to get them to feel sorry for themselves (1 Kings 21-Ahab)

III.   When u r operating in the spirit self-pity ur not being thankful & it will cut you off from the grace of God

A.    What is Grace?

1.     Grace is the supernatural ability of God (1 Corinthians 15:10, Hebrews 12:28)

2.     Grace is the supernatural power of God that manifests the goodness of God

3.     Grace is whatever you need it to be at the time

a.    2 Cor 9:8-When grace abounds towards you, you’ll have more than enough no matter what the need

b.    So no matter what your problem is grace is your answer

B.     God cannot be gracious to a person who thinks they deserve it b/c if they think they deserve it then it is not a free gift of grace, but it’s works and wages

1.     What you think you deserve God cannot get to you be grace

2.     There’s pride in “I deserve” – Self-pity is prideful, self-entitlement is prideful

a.    James 4:6-The proud get resisted, the humble get grace

b.    God cannot show a person grace who believes they deserve

c.     There’s humility in thanksgiving-Thanksgiving in a connector to more grace

C.    We entered into this grace by faith and faith has thanksgiving with it (Romans 5:2, Colossians 2:7)

1.     In the time of need you need grace to help (Hebrews 4:16)

2.     Come 2 the throne of grace w/ faith & thanksgiving in ur mouth & find grace to help

D.    2 Corinthians 12

1.     8-He begged God three times; I thought you’re supposed to come boldly

2.     9-If he was in faith, thanksgiving, and humility that grace would have been there

a.    We know he’s operating in a little pride, a little unbelief, and unthankfulness

3.     9-The moment God said grace it triggered something in Paul because he knew how to access that grace by faith and thanksgiving

a.    I will rejoice in my weakness, not for my weaknesses

b.    I’m going to be thankful so that grace can come on me

E.     John 11:1-4, 41-44-What Jesus put his eyes on led to him being thankful

1.     3,5 (AMP)-They were his dear friends and he held them in loving esteem

2.     4-Jesus speaks words of faith and this is supposed to come to pass

3.     14-Jesus knew Lazarus was dead before he got there (Didn’t move him to tears)

4.     15-Jesus speaks faith words over this situation again

5.     17-When he gets there he finds out he’s been dead four days (Didn’t cry)

6.     20-You see bitterness in Mary here; she wasn’t busy she was sitting

7.     21-She is blaming Jesus (6-He could have been there two days sooner)

8.     23-He speaks words of faith again

9.     32-She’s blaming Jesus

10.  33-When he saw their weeping Jesus was agitated (not pleased)

a.    There’s not faith and there’s no thanksgiving

11.  35-These were his dear friends and they’re blaming him for his friends death

12.  36-They thought he wept over Lazarus; they were wrong

13.  38-Jesus is agitated and their unbelief and lack of thanksgiving

a.    Again-This isn’t the first time he’s groaned and their unbelief

14.  39-40-This is a stern exchange

15.  41-Jesus could have a nice sized pity party right here

a.    He’s being blamed his dear friends; His spent time ministering to these people and they have no faith; A person who he was close to and loved dearly is dead; He spoke something & it looks like it didn’t come to pass

16.  41-He lifted his eyes to Heaven – The thanksgiving principle

a.    He knows he’s going to have to stay in faith & thanksgiving & to do that he had to get his eyes on something else

IV.   How would you not yield to self-pity and remain thankful always? You Look to Jesus-Hebrews 12:1-3

A.    1-Since we’re surrounded by such a great record (everybody who lives by faith wins) don’t be heavy

B.     1-Lay aside every weight-load, burden, hindrance; he doesn’t want you heavy

1.     It’s easy to get unthankful; just focus on the wrong thing

C.    1-Run with patience-constancy, continuance, cheerful endurance

1.     Not heavy and dark, but with cheerful endurance

D.    2-How would you run and not be heavy and be cheerful? Look to Jesus

1.     Look-Separate and look; separate yourself from the wrong stuff and look to him

2.     He is the word made flesh and you look to him, by looking to the word (Jn 1:14)

E.     2-He’s is the leader and captain of your faith

1.     Play follow the leader; look to him and do what he did; he’s your example

2.     When he got into pressure situations he lifted his eyes and looked to the Father and operated in thanksgiving and he wasn’t heavy or dark

F.     2-He’s the finisher of your faith-make perfect, complete, fulfill conclude the act

1.     By God’s grace and mercy you make ever effort you can to live by faith the exact way that Jesus did and if you fall short he’ll join his faith with yours and complete your faith and it’ll work the way his did

G.   2-For the joy of winning Jesus paid the price of enduring

1.     The price for winning is enduring

H.    2-Endured-Remain, stay in a given place, persevere, abide, continue, be present

1.     When God does the faith role call you better be saying “PRESENT”

I.      2-Depsing the shame

1.     He didn’t exalt it, he didn’t magnify it, he disesteemed it; this is nothing

2.     He neglected it and didn’t focus on it

J.     3-Consider him that stayed the same and was always present