Embracing Thanksgiving: The Power of Praise and Presence
Summary
In a sermon centered around the theme of Thanksgiving and gratitude, the speaker delves into the transformative power of praise and the revelation of God's enduring goodness. The speaker begins by urging the congregation to know God intimately, as this knowledge equips them with the strength and wisdom to overcome life's challenges. They emphasize the importance of shifting focus from oneself to God, living in His presence, and moving in Him. The speaker introduces the sermon's title, "The Sign of Thanksgiving," and shares two life rules: the necessity of personal change before seeking change in others, and the reflection of one's faith in the words spoken during trials.
The speaker then discusses the power of praise, likening it to a realm of authority that can bind and loose things on Earth and in heaven. They encourage the congregation to apply the prophetic word of a better day coming to their individual lives, reminding them that they dwell in God's presence because of salvation. The speaker shares a personal story about geese flying south for the winter, using it as an analogy for the congregation to rest in God during storms and allow Him to lift them higher.
The sermon also touches on the importance of giving thanks in all circumstances, referencing Psalm 107 and the dedication of Solomon's temple, where the people acknowledged God's goodness and mercy. The speaker highlights the significance of praise as a display of faith, which brings victory and aligns believers with God's covenant. They remind the congregation that Jesus has overcome the world, and they should focus on the abundant life He promises rather than the enemy's attempts to steal, kill, and destroy.
The speaker addresses the tendency of religious people to blame the devil for their failures without taking personal accountability, emphasizing that Jesus defeated the devil 2,000 years ago. They encourage the audience to focus on their blessings and enter God's presence with thanksgiving and praise. The sermon concludes with a call to let the joy of the Lord overcome sorrow and to use one's mouth as a weapon to produce praise.
Key Takeaways:
- The knowledge of God is foundational for overcoming life's challenges. When we shift our focus from ourselves to God, we gain access to divine strength, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. This shift is essential for living a life that is rooted in God's presence and moving according to His will. [12:41]
- Praise is not merely an act of worship but a declaration of authority over life's circumstances. As believers praise God, they step into a spiritual realm where they can exercise divine authority, binding and loosing according to God's promises. This authority is a key to experiencing a prophetic vision of peace and victory in their lives. [35:14]
- Thanksgiving is a powerful weapon that can elevate believers above their trials. Like geese that use the storm to soar higher, Christians are called to rest in God during their storms, allowing His power to lift them to greater heights. This act of praise and thanksgiving is integral to experiencing God's healing and fulfilling His plan for their lives. [01:03:38]
- The act of giving thanks is a covenantal alignment with God's promises. When believers praise God, they are not only expressing gratitude but also declaring their faith in His enduring goodness and mercy. This alignment is a spiritual signature that marks them as overcomers and partakers of the abundant life Jesus offers. [41:01]
- Believers are called to be more than conquerors through Christ and to live in the victory that has already been won. By focusing on God's blessings and approaching Him with a heart of thanksgiving, they can overcome the devil's influence and live in the fullness of God's presence and joy. This mindset is essential for walking in the authority and victory that is their inheritance in Christ. [44:13]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 107:1 - "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."
2. Psalm 100:4 - "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name."
3. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 - "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Psalm 107:1, what are the two reasons given for giving thanks to the Lord?
2. In Psalm 100:4, what are the two actions believers are encouraged to take when entering God's presence?
3. What does 1 Thessalonians 5:18 instruct believers to do in all circumstances, and why is this significant?
4. The sermon mentioned that praise is a declaration of authority over life's circumstances. How does this concept relate to the idea of entering God's gates with thanksgiving? [41:01]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the act of giving thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18) align with the sermon's message about focusing on God's blessings rather than life's challenges? [44:13]
2. What does it mean to "enter his gates with thanksgiving" in a practical sense, and how can this practice impact a believer's daily life? [46:05]
3. The sermon emphasized the power of praise as a weapon against the enemy. How does this idea connect with the instruction in Psalm 100:4 to enter God's courts with praise? [41:01]
4. Reflecting on the sermon's analogy of geese using the storm to soar higher, how can believers use their trials to elevate their faith and trust in God? [01:03:38]
#### Application Questions
1. The sermon highlighted the importance of shifting focus from oneself to God. What practical steps can you take this week to shift your focus from your problems to God's presence? [12:41]
2. Praise was described as a declaration of authority. How can you incorporate praise into your daily routine to exercise this authority over your life's circumstances? [35:14]
3. The speaker mentioned the tendency to blame the devil for failures without taking personal accountability. How can you take responsibility for your actions and seek God's guidance for change? [44:13]
4. Reflect on a recent trial you faced. How did you respond, and how might you respond differently in the future by using praise and thanksgiving as tools for overcoming challenges? [41:01]
5. The sermon encouraged believers to focus on their blessings and enter God's presence with thanksgiving. Identify three specific blessings in your life and share how you can express gratitude for them this week. [44:13]
6. The analogy of geese resting in the storm was used to illustrate how believers can rest in God during their trials. What is one storm you are currently facing, and how can you rest in God's presence to find peace and strength? [01:03:38]
7. The speaker emphasized the joy of the Lord overcoming sorrow. How can you cultivate joy in your life, even in the midst of difficult circumstances? What specific actions can you take to let God's joy be your strength? [01:00:34]
Devotional
Day 1: Knowledge of God Anchors the Soul
Understanding who God is provides a foundation that steadies one in the tumult of life. This knowledge is not merely intellectual but experiential, leading to a profound shift from self-centeredness to God-centeredness. It is in this shift that one finds the strength and wisdom to navigate life's challenges, rooted in the presence and will of God. [12:41]
Isaiah 40:28-31 - "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Reflection: How can you deepen your knowledge of God this week, and how might this transform your approach to the challenges you face?
Day 2: Praise as a Declaration of Authority
Praise transcends mere song or prayer; it is an authoritative declaration that aligns one's life with God's promises. In the act of praising God, believers enter a spiritual realm where they exercise divine authority, impacting both earthly and heavenly realms. This authority is not for personal gain but to manifest the peace and victory that God has prophesied for His children. [35:14]
Matthew 16:19 - "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Reflection: What situation in your life needs the authority of praise, and how can you actively use praise to declare God's victory over it?
Day 3: Thanksgiving as Elevation Above Trials
Thanksgiving is not passive; it is an active weapon that lifts believers above their circumstances. Like geese that rise higher on the winds of a storm, Christians are called to rest in God's power during life's tempests. This act of thanksgiving allows one to soar to new heights, experiencing God's healing and purpose. [01:03:38]
Habakkuk 3:17-19 - "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights."
Reflection: In what ways can you practice thanksgiving today, even in the midst of challenges, to allow God to elevate you above them?
Day 4: Covenantal Alignment Through Praise
Praise is more than an expression of thanks; it is a covenantal act that aligns believers with God's promises. By giving thanks, one affirms faith in God's goodness and mercy, marking themselves as overcomers. This spiritual signature of praise is essential for living in the abundant life that Jesus has secured. [41:01]
Psalm 50:23 - "Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation."
Reflection: How does your practice of praise reflect your belief in God's promises, and how can you make it a daily expression of your faith?
Day 5: Living in Victory Through Thanksgiving
Believers are called to live as conquerors, not in their own strength, but through the victory Jesus has already won. Approaching God with thanksgiving shifts the focus from the enemy's schemes to the blessings and joy found in God's presence. This heart of gratitude is key to walking in the authority and victory that is the inheritance of every believer in Christ. [44:13]
Romans 5:17 - "For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!"
Reflection: What are the blessings in your life that you can be thankful for today, and how can this attitude of gratitude shape your perspective on victory in Christ?
Quotes
"In knowing you we can receive the strength, the wisdom, the knowledge, the understanding that we need to walk in Victory in this life and overcome in every circumstance." [12:41] (Download)
"In the midst of all of it, we have a weapon that can lift us up above the trial. The trial may be there, but we have our heads above; we're able to see clearly, we can soar above the storm like the eagle does." [01:04:24] (Download)
"Don't use the storms to destroy you and send you to the ground; use the storms as something to rest in and let God raise you up higher so you can make the rest of the journey." [01:05:40] (Download)
"Through Jesus therefore let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name." [01:01:59] (Download)
"Praise is the connection that moves Heaven to Earth because praise is the display of faith. Lord, I'm going to praise you no matter what it looks like." [41:01] (Download)
"In this world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer because he has overcome the world. The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus said I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly." [43:36] (Download)
"Jesus defeated [the devil] 2,000 years ago and so if he is a defeated devil why am I letting him defeat me... I'm here to tell you that you are more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus." [44:13] (Download)
"Let's enter his gates with Thanksgiving and his courts with praise; let's be thankful to him and bless his name. Now doesn't that feel better than saying well the devil's just after me?" [46:05] (Download)
"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever." This simple yet profound declaration reminds us of the enduring goodness and mercy of God, which are foundational to our faith. [54:14] (Download)
"Sometimes we need to stop praying and just start obeying. We just sometimes pray too much because we're praying out of our own feelings instead of praying the will of God." This quote challenges believers to move beyond petition to action, aligning our lives with God's will. [56:01] (Download)
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