Life: What Foundations are You Building On?

Thankfulness: The heart of relationship with God.

This sermon was prepared and preached by Pastor Mike Rose at First Federated Church in Des Moines, Iowa, on
Sunday, November 18, 2007.
Copyright © 2007, First Federated Church

I want to acknowledge and make welcome all of the guests who came today to take part in our
Thanksgiving celebration.

Over the past 7 weeks we’ve been in a series of messages titled LIFE: What Foundations Are You
Building On?

It’s based on a parable of Jesus that compared the building practices of a wise man against a man Jesus
said was foolish. The foolish man built his house on a sandy foundation, and when the winds and rain
beat on it, it fell, because it was built on an shifting foundation. The wise man built his house on bedrock,
and when the winds and rain beat upon his house, it stood, because it had a sure foundation.

Now Jesus wasn’t talking about houses, He was talking about lives, contrasting those who build their
lives on unsure belief systems against those who build on truth. And so, we’ve been learning from The
Bible some of the absolute truths that constitute the “bedrock” that makes sure foundations to build our
lives upon.

As you know, we are in the “Thanksgiving Season,” and thankfulness is one of the 10 foundations. So
today, I present Foundation No. 7 – THANKFULNESS: The heart of my relationship with God. Take
note of the following Scriptures that speak to us about thankfulness:

Ephesians 5:15-20 – NLT – 15So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are
wise. 16Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand
what the Lord wants you to do. 18Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be
filled with the Holy Spirit, 19singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making
music to the Lord in your hearts. 20And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:15-17 – NLT - 15And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. …And always
be thankful. 16Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each
other with all the wisdom He gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful
hearts. 17And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through
Him to God the Father.

Hebrews 13:15 – NASB – Speaking of Jesus’ work as the Lamb of God that takes away our sins, the Holy
Spirit inspires this command - 15Through Him (Jesus) then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise
to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

Over and over we see the command to thankfulness for those who belong to Jesus. We are to be a
thankful people. But what does it mean to be thankful?

Thankful = aware and appreciative of a benefit.

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Foundational to the attitude of thankfulness is being aware of the benefits you are or have received.

What is a “benefit”? The word benefit, in it’s oldest meaning = an act of kindness.

An act of kindness is something done for us without regard to our deserving, or earning it. It is a
gift based on the giver’s good nature and not on my worthiness.

So to be thankful is to be aware of the acts of kindness that we’ve received and to be appreciative of
them.

Now, with that in mind, let’s consider another scripture related to thankfulness. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 –
NASB - 16Rejoice always; 17pray without ceasing; 18in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for
you in Christ Jesus.

The Bible tells us that God’s will for us, in “everything” is that we be aware of the benefits He is
extending toward us, especially those extended through Christ Jesus.

Truly we are a blessed people. We live in a nation that has many things to be thankful for. But have you
noticed how unthankful we often are? It seems like many are unaware of the acts of kindness (benefits
that God provides daily), therefore we are not appreciative.

No doubt there are many things blocking our ability to be thankful. However, I believe that a sense of
“self-sufficiency” plays a huge role in this. I believe this self-sufficiency is birthed from an inaccurate
view of ourselves. Many believe that the blessings they enjoy are the result of their own abilities and that
God has nothing to do with it.

This mentality is nothing new, we see it in the life of Israel. The Bible tells us that God created a nation
out of Abraham. This nation became known as Israel, and God delighted in blessing Israel:

¾He led them out of captivity in Egypt.

¾He provided their every need in the wilderness.
¾He took them into the promised land, defeating their enemies for them.
¾He gave them a land He described as “flowing with milk & honey.” In other words, it was a
prosperous land.

Yet, God knowing His people, knew that in all their prosperity they would become self-absorbed, they
would forget His benefits and would turn away from Him to chase after the fancies of their own
imaginations.

Deut. 31:19-20 – NLT - 19“Now write down the words of this song, and teach it to the people of Israel.
Teach them to sing it, so it may serve as a witness against them. 20For I will bring them into the land I
swore to give their ancestors—a land flowing with milk and honey. There they will become prosperous;
they will eat all the food they want and become well nourished. Then they will begin to worship other
gods; they will despise Me and break My covenant.

You say, Pastor, I thought you were talking about thankfulness, what does this have to do with
thankfulness? It shows us the opposite of thankfulness which is ingratitude.

Ingratitude defined is = forgetfulness of kindness received - Remember:

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 Gratitude/Thankfulness = awareness and appreciation of kindness received.

Ingratitude = forgetfulness of kindness received.

Israel received many kindnesses from God, but in their prosperity, they forgot about His goodness. They
began to think that their prosperity was of their own making and this lead them away from God.

Deut. 32:15 – NLT - But Israel soon became fat and unruly; the people grew heavy, plump, and stuffed!
Then they abandoned the God who had made them; they made light of the Rock of their salvation.

Question: Was prosperity bad? NO! It was God’s gift to them, however, their forgetfulness that it was
God’s gift, and their belief that it was self-made created within them hearts of ingratitude. A thankful
heart remembers where it’s blessings come from. It praises the source of its blessing. It is not deceived to
take God’s benefits for granted.

This issue of thankfulness is one in years past that was far from me, but in recent times has become
a big issue for me. In the truest since, I have become aware of the tremendous and numerous benefits
God has given me.

Granted, there are times I’m more aware of His benefits than others. But often I like to rehearse the
blessings I’ve received and when do I become overwhelmed with joy at God’s generosity to me.

Let me share some of the things I am aware of that represent God’s benefits to me and cause me to give
Him thanks

Born in U.S. - Freedom

Born in this time of history - Technology
Born into the Rose family – Stability/Love
My wife – Faithfulness/Forgiveness
3 Healthy, Loving Children – Blessing
Financial resources to support my family - God’s Provision
47 years of good health – Ability to live life to it’s fullest.
Modern, comfortable house – Shelter
Abundance of fresh, tasty food – Sustenance
2 vehicles in good repair – Transportation
Closet full of season-appropriate clothing – Regiment
Wonderful friends – support/companionship
Pets – unconditional acceptance
Clean, warm, comfortable bed to sleep in – Rest

These are just a fraction of the natural/physical benefits God has generously bestowed on me. But I am
also thankful for the spiritual benefits that have come to me through Christ Jesus.

Forgiveness of sin – Release from my sin debt with God

Eternal life – Victory over death
Eternity in His presence – Unbroken relationship
A fulfilling purpose for living – Glorify God
Indwelling presence and power of Holy Spirit – Comfort/power for living
Secure in my relationship with God – Peace

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Again, these represent only a fraction of the benefits I enjoy through Jesus. I am aware and I am grateful.

What about you, are you thankful? Are you aware of the benefits that are yours, both in the natural
and spiritual realm? If you are then you understand that all you enjoy came not by the power of your own
abilities, but is a gift from God?

As I’ve said, we all enjoy many benefits from the Lord, but the greatest benefit is not the wonderful
meals, stylish cloths, nice house, or cool cars we get to enjoy.

The greatest benefit is the opportunity to have a personal relationship with Him through Jesus His Son.
It’s an issue of that which is eternal verses that which is temporary.

You see, one day all of our STUFF will be gone. It will rust, wear out, get stolen, we’ll lose interest in it.
No matter how much STUFF we get, it’s never enough, and it never ultimately satisfies.

However, a relationship with God through Jesus Christ satisfies the deepest longing of our soul and will
last for eternity. It’s what we were created for.

But there’s something standing in the way of that relationship. It’s called sin. Sin blocks our ability to
have a relationship with God.

The good news is, God provided an answer for our sin through His Son Jesus. The Bible tells us that God
The Father, gave Jesus His only Son, to pay the price for our sins so that we could have the relationship
with Him we were created for.

1 Peter 2:24 ESV says - 24He himself (Jesus) bore our sins in His body on the tree (the cross), that we
might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.

A relationship with God – it all begins with Jesus. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6

Let me ask, are you aware of the sin that stands between you and a personal relationship with God? If you
are that’s good because awareness of sin is the first step toward that relationship.

The second step is to REPENT of your sin and place your trust/faith in Jesus who took your sin and paid
for it on the cross.

You say, Pastor Mike how do I do that? The Bible says, 9If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is
Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is by
believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you
are saved. 11As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced.” 12Jew and
Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on
Him. 13For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” Romans 10:9-13 - NKJV

God has extended many wonderful benefits, but if we have not receive His benefit of Salvation then all
we have are temporary benefits that will not ultimately satisfy.

The Bible says, 36 …what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Mark 8:36 -
NLT

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By opening your heart to Jesus, you can receive the greatest benefit of all – forgiveness of sins, adoption
into the Family of God, and eternal life, a never ending relationship with God – the very thing you were
created for.

As I bring this message to a close, I remind us that we have been blessed. We have received many
benefits from the gracious hand of God. Let us be aware of them and thank Him for His generous
provision.

Thankfulness:

1. It is God’s will for me to be thankful.

2. It is the only proper attitude in light of the generous gifts God as provided.

If you have not yet received God’s gift of salvation, the greatest expression of gratitude is to recognize
your need, and by faith believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, trusting Him as your Savior and Lord.

If you have received salvation the greatest expression of gratitude is to walk obediently with Him daily,
expressing your thankfulness for all He’s so generously given you.

Today, let us celebrate God’s generosity by receiving His GREATEST benefit and by joyfully giving
Thanks for all He has provided.

The First Federated Church copyright, above, is for the sermon itself, not for any items quoted in the sermon, unless
otherwise stated. All quoted items are done so in good faith, and the source is attributed when it is known.

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