11/22/18 SHARPENING OUR FOCUS ON GIVING HIM THANKS, THROUGH 3 LENSES
#1 THE ENTIRE WORLD SHOULD GIVE GOD THANKS
Everyone should bless, praise, glorify, exalt, give thanks to God since He is the only One who saves, delivers mankind from our enemies. He is the only One who delivers us from the chains of sin and death.
Psalms 68:19-20 (I used ASV because verse 20 is clearer than KJV at this point)
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily beareth our burden, Even the God who is our salvation. Selah.
20 God is unto us a God of deliverances; And unto Jehovah the Lord belongeth escape from death.
#2 INDIVIDUAL BELIEVERS HAVE MUCH, FOR WHICH THEY SHOULD GIVE THANKS TO GOD
I should give thanks unto God personally because of all the many benefits, blessings He provides for me.
Psalms 103:1-18
1 A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
#3 AS BELIEVERS OUR THANKS SHOULD BE FOLLOWED WITH ACTION
Giving thanks to God is shown, manifested, demonstrated, proved, by the life we live in response to His love, mercy, grace, provision, salvation.
Psalms 116:12-19
12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?
13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.
14 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
16 O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
18 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,
19 In the courts of the LORD'S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.
