BEING GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL

BEING GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL: GIVING THANKS ALWAYS WITH A GRATEFUL HEART! 

“IN EVERY THING GIVE THANKS: for this is the WILL of God in Christ Jesus CONCERNING you” 1 Thessalonians 5:18. 

Make THANKS a LIVING VIRTUE — your WORTH in life is marked by GIVING THANKS ALWAYS, both in good times and in the midst of mishap, challenging and difficult times — in the Name of the Lord Christ Jesus’ stead. Amen. 

“GIVING THANKS TO THE FATHER, who has QUALIFIED US to share in the INHERITANCE of the saints (God’s people) in the Light. 13 For He has RESCUED US and has DRAWN US to Himself from the dominion of darkness, and has TRANSFERRED US to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have REDEMPTION [because of His sacrifice, resulting in] the FORGIVENESS of our sins [and the CANCELLATION of sins’ penalty]” Colossians 1:12-14 Amplified. 

Your GRATITUDE will change your ATTITUDE; and your ATTITUDE will define your ALTITUDE and APTITUDE in life and in godly living. 

“By him therefore let us OFFER the sacrifice of praise to God CONTINUALLY, that is, the fruit of our lips GIVING THANKS TO HIS NAME” Hebrews 13:15. 

When you make a living of being thankful and grateful with a gracious and graceful heart — firstly to God and to others — you create an enabling atmosphere that ensures and assures the environment you illuminate and will enjoy seamlessly. 

Make THANKS a LIVING VIRTUE, for your WORTH in life is marked by GIVING THANKS ALWAYS in the Name of the Lord God. 

GIVING THANKS to God for ALL THINGS includes also your: family, spouse, children, career, friends, colleagues, business, possessions, acquisitions and even in the midst of any mishap and the like. Give it a go today. 

SELAH – PAUSE AND THINK 

SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT: 

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 GIVING THANKS ALWAYS for ALL THINGS unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 submitting yourselves one to another in the fear (REVERENCE) of God” Ephesians 5:19-21. 

“Let THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY IN ALL WISDOM; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 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” Colossians 3:16-17. 

“By him therefore let us OFFER the sacrifice of praise to God CONTINUALLY, that is, the fruit of our lips GIVING THANKS TO HIS NAME” Hebrews 13:15. 

SUMMARY 
The message is a Kingdom charge to make THANKS a LIVING VIRTUE by GIVING THANKS ALWAYS with a GRATEFUL HEART, because gratitude is the WILL OF GOD and the gateway to godly ALTITUDE and APTITUDE in life. 

It teaches that thanksgiving is not seasonal, but a continual SACRIFICE OF PRAISE that qualifies us, rescues us, and creates an atmosphere where we can live and enjoy God’s grace seamlessly. 

KEY POINTS 

1. THANKSGIVING IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU

• “IN EVERY THING GIVE THANKS: for this is the WILL of God in Christ Jesus CONCERNING you” [1 Thessalonians 5:18]. 

• We are to give thanks ALWAYS — in good times and in the midst of mishap, challenging and difficult times. 

• It is to be done “in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ” [Ephesians 5:20; Colossians 3:17].

2. GRATITUDE IS ROOTED IN REDEMPTION

• “GIVING THANKS TO THE FATHER, who has QUALIFIED US to share in the INHERITANCE of the saints” [Colossians 1:12]. 

• He has RESCUED US, DRAWN US from darkness, and TRANSFERRED US to the Kingdom of His Son, in whom we have REDEMPTION and FORGIVENESS [Colossians 1:13-14]. 

• Our thanks flows from what Christ has ALREADY done, not just what He will do.

3. GRATITUDE TRANSFORMS YOUR LIFE

• “Your GRATITUDE will change your ATTITUDE; and your ATTITUDE will define your ALTITUDE and APTITUDE in life and in godly living.” 

• A thankful heart creates an enabling atmosphere. It ensures the environment you ILLUMINATE and will enjoy seamlessly. 

• Thankfulness is a VIRTUE that marks your WORTH.  

4. THANKSGIVING IS A CONTINUAL SACRIFICE

• “By him therefore let us OFFER the sacrifice of praise to God CONTINUALLY, that is, the fruit of our lips GIVING THANKS TO HIS NAME” [Hebrews 13:15]. 

• It is expressed through psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, and making melody in your heart to the Lord [Ephesians 5:19]. 

• Let THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY as you sing with grace [Colossians 3:16].  

5. WHAT TO GIVE THANKS FOR
   GIVING THANKS to God for ALL THINGS includes:

• People: family, spouse, children, friends, colleagues 

• Purpose: career, business, possessions, acquisitions 

• Process: even in the midst of any mishap and the like 

CALL TO ACTION 

1. DECIDE TODAY: Make THANKS a LIVING VIRTUE. Choose gratitude as a lifestyle, not a mood. “Give it a go today.”
2. PRACTISE CONTINUAL THANKSGIVING: Offer the SACRIFICE OF PRAISE CONTINUALLY [Hebrews 13:15]. Speak it, sing it, live it.
3. GIVE THANKS FOR ALL THINGS: Make a list. Thank God for your family, career, business, and even challenges — because He is working all things for good.
4. LET THE WORD AND WORSHIP FILL YOU: “Let THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY” [Colossians 3:16]. Speak to yourself in psalms and hymns with a grateful heart.
5. LIVE SUBMISSIVE AND GRACIOUS: “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God” [Ephesians 5:21]. A grateful heart produces a gracious and graceful life.
6. WATCH YOUR LIFE RISE: As your GRATITUDE changes your ATTITUDE, God will lift your ALTITUDE and sharpen your APTITUDE for Kingdom living. 

REV. CHUKIE MORSI