Being Thankful for What We Have - Pastor Johnny Marten

As we gather in this season of November, our hearts are drawn to the theme of stewardship—how we use our gifts, our resources, and, most importantly, our attitude of thankfulness. Reflecting on the past weeks, we’ve considered how God calls us to serve with our talents and to use our financial blessings for His kingdom. Today, the focus is on cultivating a spirit of gratitude for all that God has given us—our abilities, our resources, and the opportunities that come our way.

Our attitude shapes our lives in profound ways. A joyful, grateful heart not only opens doors for us in the world but also positions us to receive God’s blessings. Just as a positive attitude is valued in the workplace, it is also a key to experiencing the fullness of God’s favor. When we are ungrateful or negative, we may find ourselves missing out on the blessings God desires to pour into our lives.

We looked at the story of the ten lepers whom Jesus healed. Only one returned to give thanks, reminding us how easy it is to forget gratitude when our prayers are answered. It’s a sobering thought—how often do we run ahead with our blessings and forget to return to God with thanksgiving? This is a call to pause, reflect, and remember to thank God for every answered prayer and every provision.

The Israelites, after years of slavery and wandering, were warned not to forget God when they entered the Promised Land and experienced abundance. We, too, are prone to forget the source of our blessings, especially when life is going well. It’s tempting to take credit for our success, but Scripture reminds us that it is God who gives us the ability to produce wealth and provides us with opportunities.

Gratitude is not just for the good times. We are called to give thanks in all circumstances, even when life is hard or when serving God leads to suffering or opposition. Like soldiers who endure hardship for a greater cause, we are called to remain faithful and grateful, knowing that our struggles are not in vain. The apostles rejoiced even after being persecuted, because they understood they were serving God, not people. In every season, there is a reason to be thankful—sometimes we just need to look at our situation from a different angle.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Attitude Shapes Our Experience of Blessing A grateful and positive attitude not only influences how others respond to us but also how we experience God’s blessings. When we approach life with gratitude, we become more receptive to the opportunities and gifts God places before us. Conversely, a negative or ungrateful spirit can close us off from the fullness of what God wants to do in our lives. [33:11]
• 2. Remember to Return and Give Thanks It is easy to forget to thank God when our prayers are answered or when blessings come our way. Like the one leper who returned to Jesus, we are called to pause and express our gratitude, recognizing that every good thing comes from God. This act of returning to give thanks deepens our relationship with God and keeps our hearts humble. [36:36]
• 3. Don’t Forget God in Times of Abundance When life is going well and we are enjoying abundance, it is tempting to take credit for our success. Scripture warns us not to forget that it is God who gives us the ability to prosper. Remembering our humble beginnings and God’s faithfulness keeps us grounded and grateful, preventing pride from taking root. [42:33]
• 4. Gratitude in All Circumstances, Even Hardship True gratitude is not limited to easy seasons. We are called to give thanks even in difficulty, recognizing that hardship is part of following Christ. Like the apostles who rejoiced after suffering for Jesus, we can find reasons to be thankful even when serving God is costly, trusting that He is with us and will bring us through. [51:14]
• 5. Faithfulness and Gratitude Lead to Eternal Reward Serving God faithfully, even when it is hard, leads to a reward that far outweighs the cost. One day, God will welcome us home and honor our faithfulness—not because we earned it, but because we remained grateful and steadfast. This hope gives us strength to persevere and to keep a thankful heart in every season. [54:10]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [30:43] - Introduction to Stewardship Series
• [31:32] - The Power of Attitude
• [32:17] - Attitude Shines Through in Life
• [33:11] - Attitude and Opportunities
• [34:34] - Attitude and Blessings
• [35:08] - The Ten Lepers: A Lesson in Gratitude
• [36:02] - One Returns to Give Thanks
• [36:36] - Are We Grateful for Answered Prayers?
• [38:08] - Recognizing God’s Blessings
• [39:05] - Thankfulness in Financial Situations
• [39:41] - Israel’s Journey: Remembering Hard Times
• [40:14] - Warning Against Forgetting God
• [42:33] - Pride and the Source of Blessing
• [45:00] - Thankfulness in All Circumstances
• [46:41] - Suffering as Soldiers for Christ
• [49:16] - Apostles’ Example of Rejoicing in Suffering
• [53:09] - Gratitude in the Midst of Opposition
• [54:10] - The Eternal Reward for Faithfulness
• [54:58] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Reading

Luke 17:11-19 (ESV) – The Ten Lepers — > On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Deuteronomy 8:11-18 (ESV) – Remember the Lord in Abundance — > Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery... Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV) — > Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Observation Questions

1. In the story of the ten lepers, what did Jesus tell them to do before they were healed, and how did they respond after being healed? ([35:08])
2. According to Deuteronomy 8, what warning did God give the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land? ([40:14])
3. What does 1 Thessalonians 5:18 say about when we should give thanks? ([45:00])
4. In the sermon, what example was given about how our attitude can affect the opportunities and blessings we receive? ([33:11])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think only one of the ten lepers returned to thank Jesus, and what does this reveal about human nature and gratitude? ([36:36])
2. What are some reasons people might forget God or take credit for their own success when life is going well, as described in Deuteronomy 8? ([42:33])
3. The sermon mentioned that being a follower of Christ means facing hard and unpleasant situations. How does gratitude play a role in these times? ([45:53])
4. How does a grateful attitude change the way we experience God’s blessings and interact with others, according to the sermon? ([33:11])

Application Questions

1. Think about a time when God answered a prayer or provided for you. Did you take time to return and thank Him, or did you move on quickly? What could you do differently next time? ([37:32])
2. When life is going well and you’re experiencing abundance, do you find it easy or hard to remember that your blessings come from God? What practical steps can you take to stay humble and grateful? ([42:33])
3. The sermon talked about being thankful even in hard times, like the apostles who rejoiced after suffering for Jesus. Is there a difficult situation you’re facing now where it’s hard to be thankful? What would it look like to practice gratitude in that situation? ([51:14])
4. The pastor mentioned that our attitude can open or close doors for us, both with people and with God. Is there an area in your life where a negative or ungrateful attitude might be holding you back? How can you work on changing that attitude this week? ([33:11])
5. The Israelites were warned not to forget God when things got better. Are there “good times” in your life where you’ve drifted from God or taken credit for your own success? How can you build habits of remembrance and thankfulness? ([40:14])
6. The sermon compared serving God to being a soldier who sometimes gets hurt in the line of duty. Have you ever felt hurt or discouraged while serving God or others? How can gratitude help you keep going? ([49:16])
7. The pastor suggested looking at our situation from a different angle to find reasons to be thankful. Is there a current challenge where you need a new perspective? What’s one thing you can thank God for in the middle of it? ([53:09])