Beacon Hill Church

Point #1 - Gratitude glorifies God


Story of Jesus and Ten Lepers - Luke 17:11-19

To the one who returned, Jesus says: Your faith has healed and saved you

· His faith has saved him, he was not simply cured of his disease, but saved in the fullest sense of the word

· Because the one who returned demonstrated that he had faith - he believed in Jesus Christ and by his actions expressed a desire to have personal relationship with Jesus.

· Although the other nine had also received their healing, they had no further connection with Jesus. Their superficial faith and ingratitude prevented them from fully receiving the greatest gift of all – Jesus.


Point #2 – Gratitude draws us to God

Gratitude draws us into an intimate relationship with God.

Point #3 – Gratitude promotes godly virtue


An attitude of thankfulness in a Christian’s life will create an spiritual environment where the virtues of godliness can flourish.


Practicing thankfulness on a daily basis has a way of breaking up the hard top soil of life that can begin to form in one’s heart as we listen to all the negativity in our world.


· As we praise the Lord, His love begins to fill and overflow our lives – Our heart, now nourished by God’s love, becomes a place where godly virtues can grow and flourish.

Point #4 – A Thankful heart brings peace

The Peace that the Apostle Paul speaks of here is not simply that God gives us peace, but a person: CHRIST IS OUR PEACE

· So when Paul’s says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” he is talking about so much more than the cessation of hostilities or the calming of human emotions, he is speaking of the person of Jesus Christ.


“Rule” – Is used here in the sense of “judge,” “decide,” or “control”.


“in your hearts” – Does not point to some private and inward peace of the soul or some peaceful disposition of spirit.

· Rather, “heart” denotes the center of one’s personality as the source of will, emotion, thoughts and affections.

· The peace of Christ is to hold sway or rule over the whole of the believer’s lives as they live in this fallen world and in relationship to one another.

· Philippians 4:7 refers to the “Peace of God which transcends all understanding”


“And be thankful” - The Apostle Paul is talking about an attitude of gratitude that finds outward expression in thanksgiving.


Just “being thankful” has enormous power to bring joy and break the power of the enemy.

· Whenever you give thanks to God, despite the most difficult circumstances, the enemy loses a big battle in your life.

· God is looking for Christians who live in a realm of praise and thanksgiving where the enemy no longer has a foothold, or the ability manipulate that person. Satan is defeated when we have a thankful heart


ACTION STEP:

Begin your day with praise and thanksgiving to God for the next 25 days before Thanksgiving.

· Write down 4 things each day for which you are thankful.

· At the end of 25 days, you will have a list of 100 testimonials of thanks to review and meditate upon as the end of the year approaches.


Thankfulness is a key to your life.
It is the key that turns your situation around because it changes your outlook, your attitude, and most of all it changes you.

There is power in a thankful heart.