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Some of the Benefits of Thanksgiving Unto the LordSome of the Benefits of Thanksgiving Unto the Lord
Bible Reading: Psalm 34 Psalm 34:1. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. 4. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. 6. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 8. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 9. O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 10. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. 11. Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 17. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 19. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. 20. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. Thanksgiving: to giving gratitude, appreciation to someone who helped/helps you, who is good or has been good to you. Praise: honour, glory, celebrate, worship, adore, eulogize, hail, pay tribute, to magnify Who? The Almighty God.
1. Thanksgiving and praises bring down the glory of God because He inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3) Our praises and thanksgiving are appealing to God. When He notices that we are praising Him, He moves into our midst, and he answers us, because that is what moves Him. 2. Thanksgiving and praises unto God draws you more into God's presence. It open unto you the gate of His presence. No wonder the Psalmist advises that we: (Psalm 100:4) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. - It even makes God to minister to your spirit, It makes you to hear God more, Psalm 16:7-8 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins/thoughts also instruct me in the night seasons. - As you thank and praise God, He can even give You new songs. Psalms 40:3 He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD. 3. Praises and thanksgiving unto God can strengthen you spiritually, particularly, your faith. Romans 4:19-20 attests to the Abraham’s strengthened faith as he glorified God even in a seemingly challenging situation: 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Likewise, In 1Samuel 30:6 David, being a true worshipper, a true Psalmist, was able to find strength and encouraged himself in the Lord when he was challenged by His people who were grieved for their sons and daughters. **** No wonder Abraham became the friend of God, and David, a man after God’s heart. They revered God through their worship, praise, thanksgiving, even in difficult situations. 4. Praises and thanksgiving unto God fills your heart with unexplainable joy and peace, it refreshes, and calms your soul. No wonder the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 16:5. O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; 7I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; 9Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; 5. It moves God into action to answer your prayer beyond your requests. It causes God to move on your behalf to fight your battles. An example is when God instructed Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah through a prophet amongst them to praise Him, and he conquered their enemies on their behalf in 2 Chronicles 20. Again, listen to the Psalmist – David in Psalm 9: 1-5.9-12 1I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; 3When my enemies turn back, 11Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion! 6. Our thanksgiving/Praises unto God serve as raw material for God to establish a stronghold against the enemies and to silent them as stated in Psalm 8 below: Psalm 8:1. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. 2. Out of the mouth of babes and infants hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou might still the enemy and the avenger. It is indeed a weapon against the enemies camp; therefore, as a worshipper, you become a dangerous weapon against the kingdom of darkness. 7. Your true heart of thanksgiving and praise unto God will continually make the devil mad, yet it weakens his kingdom. It was this Praise and glory what he wanted, which made him loose the glorious position and privileges that he had with God in heaven when he proudly rebelled against his Maker - God by attempting to overthrow the Almighty. This explains why the devil is always mad at a worshipper of God, particularly choristers, Worship or praise leaders, or those who are devoted to true worship unto God. However, he will always fail because God fights for whoever lives a life of true appreciation unto him. Psalm 34:1. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. 4. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed…. 8. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 9. O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 10. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. A life of thanksgiving and praise can never lack. 9. Consistent thanksgiving/Praise/Worship unto God makes you to become a faithful worshipper at all times. Psalm 34:1 " I will bless the LORD at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth" As you cultivate the habit of thanksgiving and praise unto the Lord, you will realize that you will begin to live a life of thanksgiving to God all the time, and your life will continually overflow with God's goodness, His abundance/blessings, you will see yourself being full of appreciation to God even in challenging times, and your life will become a blessing and an encouragement to others! 10. It reminds you of God's goodness/mercies, His awesomeness, His power to deliver, protection, provision, etc. (psalm 8:1, Ps 103, 136;118 and more.) Psalm 8:3. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4. What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5. For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 7. All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8. The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. 9. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! The men and women of old in the Bible who truly appreciated God never lacked God’s abundant blessings. Examples: Abraham our Father, Jehosaphat and the men of Judah Miriam, the older sister of Moses and Aaron, gave thanks to God the tambourine and a joyful dance alongside the other women when God saved them from the Egyptians after crossing the Red Sea (Exod. 15:20-21). Hannah offered a lengthy Thanksgiving prayers unto God in as God answered her request for her son Samuel whom she gave back to the Lord as promise (1 Sam. 2:1-10). David did not only give thanks once, but was a Psalmist, a worshipper, a dancer, and a singer unto the Lord. Psalm 145 attests to David's heart of praise to God. How about his dance before the Ark of Covenant unto the Lord? His wife, Saul's daughter who ridiculously disrespected him as she felt that he danced shamelessly as a king, remained barren for life. 2 Samuel 6:16,20,23, King Solomon (Like his father David) thanked God for all he had done to provide for Israel in his prayer of dedication for the temple (1 Kings 8:14-21). The other psalmists like The writer of Psalm 111 who, filled with praise/thanksgiving for His wonderful and forever enduring works. One of the ten lepers whom Jesus healed returned to thank Jesus (Luke 17:11-19). Paul did not only give thanks to God consistently, but he also gave thanks to God for the believers at the time. Philippi because of their partnership with him in the gospel (Phil. 1:3-11) He praised God in Ephesians 1:3 Eph 1:16, 5:4, 5:20 Col 1:3, 2:7, 3:15, 4:2 1,Thes. 1:2; 2:13; 3:9 *** Significantly, Paul encouraged all believers in Christ to always give thanks in all situations.5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances.... ***Most importantly: Our Lord Jesus and our utmost Example, consistently gave thanks/honour to His Father before any miracle during His ministry on earth. Matt 11:25, 15:36, Mk 8:6, John 6:11, 23 Thanksgiving, praise, worship, adoration from a genuine heart is all that God requires of us because He requires true worshippers in spirit and in truth (John 4:24) like the 24 elders surrounding His Throne, worshipping Him, non-stop, crying HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, GOD ALMIGHTY.... QUESTIONS: - Are you a true worshipper of God? Do you appreciate or thank Him for His goodness always? Do you praise Him? - When? how? - Is it with all your heart? All you have? All you are? In good times? In bad times? At all time? Ask God for the grace to live a life of thanksgiving unto God daily as you live. Oh give thanks unto the Lord; He is good; for His mercies endures forever. Psalm 136:1 Praise the Lord at all times, let His praise continually be in your mouth. Are you saved? If you are not born again, you have not received Jesus into Your life, nor confessed Him as Your Lord and Saviour, then, you cannot thank He truly. If you are ready, please place your hand on your chest and say: Lord Jesus, I come before you, today. I know I am a sinner. I confess all my sins and I forsake them before you now. Please forgive me. I invite you into my live today, please accept me, come into my life, and dwell in me forever. Help me, Lord never to go back to my old, evil ways, but to abide in You, forever. Amen. Than You, Lord for saving me. Amen. Congratulations, you are born again. You can find a Bible believing church or fellowship near you and begin to fellowship with brethren so that you can grow continually in Christ. You are also welcome to worship with us l. God bless you! Prayer: - Almighty God, thank You for Who you are. - Thank you for You for Your goodness and mercies over me and mine. - For give me oh Lord for not being thankful enough. - Oh Lord here I am, help me to live a life of thanksgiving for you, for the remaining days of my life, in Jesus’ name. - By Your grace, Oh Lord, with thanksgiving, I will be a living sanctuary for you all my life, in Jesus' name. JESUS IS LORD! HALLELUIAH! By Ayobola Olusegun-Emmanuel |
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