Unthankful
Foundation Statement: It’s irreverent to be
unthankful – Psalm 140:13, 2Timothy 3:1-2
I.
Thanksgiving manifests
when you value what’s been given to you
A. Thanksgiving manifests
when you appreciate what’s been done for you
1. To appreciate what’s been
done for you means that it’s valuable to you
a. You don’t appreciate
things that aren’t valuable to you
2. You’re thankful and
appreciative for things that you value
B. When you’re not thankful
for what has been given to you, that reveals to us that you don’t appreciate or
vale it very much
1. It’s irreverent to be
unthankful to God because through thankfulness you’re saying that you don’t
value what He’s done
a. You don’t appreciate it,
value it, it and it’s not that important to you
(1)
If
you did value it and appreciate it we’d know because of your thanksgiving
b. Through unthankfulness
you are devaluing what God has done and in doing so you’re dishonoring him
2. Where there’s
unthankfulness there’s a lack of value for what’s been given or done
a. EX: People aren’t
thankful for the word because they don’t value it
C. Through thanksgiving we
express how precious or valuable something is to us
1. When you’re not thankful for
something you’re saying it doesn’t mean much to you
2. You’re devaluing that
thing and in doing so dishonoring it
3. EX: Imagine your spouse
taking the time to something very special for you and your respond to them in a
very unthankful manner. It’s
irreverent and disrespectful because you’re devaluing all the time, energy, and
effort that they put into that thing and in doing so you’re dishonoring them.
D. Thanksgiving will
manifest more when you see the true value of God, His things, and what he’s
done in your life
1. When you to value what
God has done thanksgiving will follow & honor will manifest
2. When you value what’s
been given to you, you’ll be thankful, and then treat that thing differently by
investing it (Honor) (Appreciation > Thanksgiving > Honor)
E. Unthankful and Dishonor
go together (Revelation 7:12)
1. When you’re unthankful it
shows you’re lack of appreciation or value for what was done. And because you don’t value or
appreciate as precious you won’t honor it be investing into it.
2. Honor can’t manifest
without thanksgiving being present
II.
Thanksgiving is not a
feeling, but it is an act of your will that you release by faith
A. Just b/c u don’t feel
thankful or appreciative doesn’t mean you aren’t and can’t be
1. Thanksgiving-To throw,
shoot, cast, to shoot (arrows), to give thanks, praise, to confess,
thank-offering,
a. Throwing, shooting,
casting, praising, & giving are all acts of your will not feelings
2. As an act of my will, out
of my reverence and respect for My Father and what He’s done, I am thankful
a. Thanksgiving is no more a
feeling than love is a feeling
b. Lord I thank you for
opening up my eyes to see the true value of things
B. Hebrews 13:15 – A
sacrifice of praise
1. It’s a sacrifice when you
don’t feel thankful, when you don’t want to be thankful, but you do it as an
act of your will
2. Continually with your lips give
thanks to Him
a. We cultivate this
lifestyle of thanksgiving out of reverence and respect
3. Continual thanksgiving
shows God that u value & appreciate what he’s doing in your life
a. Don’t make light of what
God has done; it’s irreverent
III.
The irreverence of the
unthankful
A. Complaining people keeps
company bad company (1 Cor 10:6-13)
1. As irreverent as lust,
idolatry, fornication, & tempting God are, so is being ungrateful
2. Pay attention and make
sure you’re being thankful and not murmuring
B. Unthankfulness and
Unbelief
1. Let your request be made
known with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6)
a. Your thankful b/c in your
minds eye you’ve believed you have received & it’s done (Mark 11:24) (I’ll
believe you and give you thanks when I see it = Irreverent)
b. You value it &
appreciate it like it’s already done when you can’t see it or feel it
(1)
If
you believed God you wouldn’t be complaining about the lack, you’d be thanking
him for your met needs
2. Thankful people are faith
people (Deuteronomy 1:27-32)
a. They didn’t believe God
was with them, for them, and on their side and that’s why they complained
C. Unthankfulness forgets
what God has done & in doing so devalues what he’s done (Psalm 106:7-48)
1. Focusing on what hasn’t
manifested leads ungratefulness
a. Do you spend more time
appreciating God than you do complaining about what you don’t have
manifested?
b. You ungrateful thing
sitting there focusing on what hasn’t manifested. Why don’t you focus on where God has
brought you from and all the great things he’s done in your life and be
thankful for that?
c. Be thankful for what you
have rather than thinking about what hasn’t manifested
d. Ungratefulness leads to
rebellion---Forget > Unthankful > Rebellion
2. Look at, consider, and
give your attention to all the good things that God has done for you, it leads
to you being thankful & in turn reverent towards God (1 Sam 12:24)
3. Many times ungratefulness
manifests because of covetousness (Heb 13:5)
a. Grateful does not mean
stagnate
(1)
You
can be thankful for what you have and desire more
b. Covetousness-You believe
you can’t live without this thing (Lk 12:15)
(1)
Be
thankful for what u got & know that the only thing you can’t live w/o is
Jesus
D. Unthankfulness manifests
when you begin to compare yourself with somebody else, in doing so you devalue
what God’s done in
your life (2 Cor 10:12 AMP)
1. Often people are
ungrateful because of the size of what they’ve been given
a. They weren’t thankful in
with what they Lord had given them because in their eyes it wasn’t big enough
(Numbers 16)
2. If you’re not faithful in
the least you won’t be faithful in much (Lk 16:10)
a. Part of being faithful in
the least is being thankful for the least
(1)
If
you’re not thankful for what you have right now God could multiply what you
have 100X and you wouldn’t be thankful then
b. When you’re not
thankful/appreciative for the “least” that you have you aren’t valuing it and
in turn you won’t honor it and qualify for more
IV.
A lifestyle of
thanksgiving
A. It’s God’s will that we
live a reverent and thankful life
1. Psalm 140:13 –
Righteous people of character give thanks to the Lord
2. Colossians 2:7 –
Abounding in thanksgiving
3. Colossians 3:15,17
– Giving thanks in all that you do
4. Ephesians 5:20 –
Giving thanks for all things unto God
5. 1 Thess
5:16-In everything you give thanks for it’s the will of God that you give
thanks
6. Ephesians 5:4 – Be
known for your giving of thanks to God
7. Philippians 2:14 –
Do all things without murmuring
B. Results of thanksgiving
1. Thanksgiving pleases God
more than any other sacrifice (Psalm 69:30-31)
2. Being grateful 4 what God
has already done will lead to him doing more-Lk
17:14-19
3. Thanksgiving increases
the strength of your faith (Romans 4:18-20)
4. Thanksgiving leads to
multiplication and increase (Jeremiah 30:19)
5. Jesus valued that little
bit that they had b/c he his mind it was seed (Mark 8:1-9---See the value of
your seed)
6. Being ungrateful will
lead you under the foot of your enemies (Deut 28:47-48 AMP)
7. Being ungrateful leads
people into confusion (Romans 1:21)