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THANKFULNESS
(A Praising and a Thankful Heart)
The Lord Jesus “gave thanks” (Mat. 14:19; 15:36; Mark 14:22-23).
THANKFULNESS – being grateful or thankful; mostly directed to God (in response to all His goodness,
blessings and love….) but can be directed to others also.
THANKSGIVING — the aspect of praise that gives thanks to God for what He does for us. Ideally,
thanksgiving should spring from a grateful heart; but it is required of all believers, regardless of their initial
attitude (1 Thess. 5:18). We should be grateful to God for all things (Eph. 5:20; Col. 3:17; 1 Thess. 5:18), but
especially for His work of salvation and sanctification (Rom. 7:25; Col. 1:3–5; 1 Thess. 1:2–7; 2:13). We ought
also to thank God in anticipation of His answering our prayers (Phil. 4:6), knowing that His answers will always
be in accord with His perfect will for our lives (Rom. 8:28–29). (Youngblood, Ronald F. ; Bruce, F. F. ; Harrison, R. K. ; Thomas
Nelson Publishers: Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville : T. Nelson, 1995)
I: IT IS A COMMAND: (it is God’s will and it pleases God) – I Thes. 5:16-18; Phil. 4:4, 6-7; Eph. 5:4; I
Pet. 2:9 (we are called to proclaim His praises! We cannot do this if we are unthankful people.)
II: THE DANGERS OF UNTHANKFULNESS, MURMURING and COMPLAINING: (the opposite of
Thankfulness and Praise)
Some key verses: I Cor. 10:10; Rom. 1:21; 2 Tim. 3:2; Psa. 144:14 (KJV); Prov. 18:21
It brings displeasure to God
It makes us lose favor – from God and from man
Rom. 1:21 – It can lead to backsliding. Unthankfulness is one of the first steps to backsliding. (When
you lose your sense of wonder, you lose your sense of thankfulness and then you start down the road of
backsliding.)
- People who are unthankful can be easily offended with God and with others. They can easily be
attacked by discouragements, doubts and fears. They can more easily be a victim of unforgiveness
and bitterness. These things can more easily take them down the path of backsliding.
It blinds you to your blessings – ex: my testimony when I wanted my friend’s paintings
It brings stress to us emotionally, mentally, physically and socially; can damage relationships;
It attracts demonic and evil spirits. It brings us away from God’s Presence.
Can condition one’s heart to the spirit of offense, hatred and betrayal. – Mat. 24:10
One of the descriptions of evil people in the last days – 2 Tim. 3:2
Brings defeat into a person’s life…. etc…..
III: THE BLESSINGS OF THANKFULNESS
Ushers us into the Presence of God; attracts the Presence of God; focuses us towards God. (Psa. 95:2;
Psa. 100:4)
Helps us to move on in God. Strong Christians are thankful Christians. It helps strengthen one’s faith
and trust in God.
Can lift you up in the spiritual realm of God’s blessings, joy and strength from a depressed, lonely and
heavy circumstance.
Can bring health to one’s emotions, mind and body. (Prov. 17:22)
Can restore and strengthen relationships.
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Can destroy the spirit of offense and can bring healing from offenses.
One of the keys to overcome evil in these last days.
Brings victory over sin…. and many other blessings in the spirit, soul (mind, emotions), body,
relationships.
When you have an unthankful and complaining heart, there’s always something to complain about. When you
have a praising and a thankful heart, there’s always something to thank and praise for.
To give a greater emphasis on the dangers of unthankfulness and complaining, and the blessings of thankfulness
and praising, let us look at the following truths which were taken from Dr. Brian Bailey’s book, “Angels”:
Another aspect of our personal lives that we must guard is the area of complaining, even as King David
describes in Psalm 144:14, “That our oxen may be strong to labor; that there be no breaking in, nor
going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.” God hates complaining, and it is one of the
major reasons people do not receive any favor in His sight. Numbers 11:1 makes this clear, “And when
the people complained, it displeased the Lord; and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled ...”
I knew a man who was stationed at a certain mission field. The other missionaries of that region told him
that the national pastor was known as “Mr. Complainer.” What a terrible testimony! What a horrible
reputation!
I once had the privilege of traveling with Stanley Frodsham, a dear saint who has since gone on to glory.
Psalm 144:14 which states, “that there be no complaining in our streets,” was one of his favorite
Scriptures and he was constantly quoting it to his daughter as she was growing up.
How wonderful it would be if all fathers would encourage their sons and daughters to live in such a way
of holiness and joyful service unto the Lord. With a thankful spirit there is no room in such a household
for Satan to do his mischief. Yet in the household of Mr. Complainer, the devil entered with glee and
caused poor Mr. Complainer to ever see the dark side of life, giving him even more reasons to complain.
This reminds me of an episode that happened in Canada a few years ago among some Canadian Indians.
A particular group of Indians were intoxicated one night, and while they were under the influence of
alcohol the demons in them were speaking. The demons were talking about the food they enjoyed most.
They said, “We feed on misery, bitterness, sorrow, regret, criticism, complaining, and self-pity.” These
spirits are intangible and they feed on food that is intangible as well.
In the same way that a dump attracts vermin, or a putrefying carcass draws vultures, so these undesirable
works of the flesh lure all these demons. Complaining is food for them. Rather, when we are filled with
thankfulness and songs of praise, there is no food for the demons and they go away.
I cannot overemphasize the importance of having the garment of praise instead of the spirit of heaviness.
We do not want to give Satan a welcome or any food. This is our choice, and it is by grace. A joyful,
rejoicing spirit will bring God’s presence into our homes, and it will also bring the presence of the holy
angels of God who delight to worship with us. How important it is to have the attitude of the saintly
King David who said to his soul when he was being pursued by the superior forces of Absalom, “Why
art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet
praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God” (Psa.43:5).
Our attitudes determine whether the devil comes in or stays out. Worship and praise offered out of a
thankful heart brings in the presence of the Lord and gives no room for the demons. Thus, we have been
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given truths and shown a way of life that will ensure that sin does not have dominion over us. Listen to
David’s prayer in Psalm 19:13, “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have
dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.” The
key to victory over sin is a thankful, rejoicing spirit. Therefore, let us offer the sacrifices of praise, joy,
and of thanksgiving continually as did David.
The key to victory over sin is a thankful, rejoicing spirit.
- Dr. Brian Bailey
IV: SACRIFICE OF PRAISE / THANKSGIVING “I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will
call upon the Lord” (Psa.116:17, 107:22). The praise and thanksgiving that God appreciates most is not
what He receives from the inhabitants of heaven where everything is glory and bliss, but from those on earth
who are under terrible pressure. It is easy to give thanks when we are prospering on every side. But
thanksgiving and praise become a sacrifice when our blessings have diminished and we are facing the
blackness of the night. When Job was reduced to ashes, he fell down in worship saying, “The Lord giveth
and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:20-22). How this warmed the heart of
God! This is the most expensive worship of all. Thankfulness also keeps our wells free and flowing, and
right responses to injury give us an advantage over Satan.
“Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his
name” (Heb.13:15). This is a continual way of life! David said, “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise
shall continually be in my mouth” (Psa. 34:1). True sacrifices are costly. It is no sacrifice to praise and give
thanks when we feel good. What about the times when we feel discouraged and under pressure and
everything in our heart wants to do the opposite? When we put aside our feelings to praise and thank the
Lord, this is a sacrifice well pleasing to God. According to Isaiah 61:3, praise is a spiritual garment. The
“spirit of heaviness” is also a covering. To an extent, we have the ability to put on or put off these spiritual
garments. This ability resides within the power of our choice. Let us choose to put on the garment of praise
and put off the spirit of heaviness, by enabling grace. (Rev. Paul Caram)
V: IT IS BY GRACE (divine enablement; power and strength from the Lord):
To be a thankful and a praising person is by God’s grace! Therefore, we need to continually humble
ourselves and ask God for the abundance of grace! His grace is given to those who humble themselves!
– James 4:6; I Pet. 5:5
The Apostle Paul – “My grace is sufficient for you…..” – 2 Cor. 12:9
Rom. 5:17 – those who will reign (or be victorious) in life are those who are given with the abundance
of grace and the gift of righteousness
VI: IT IS A CHOICE:
To be a thankful and a praising person does not really depend on emotions and circumstances. It starts
with a choice and a decision on our part. (And then the healthy emotions can follow)
Hab. 3:17-18 – praising and thanking God in the midst of very difficult situations (sometimes we don’t
even fully understand)
Heb. 13:15 – sacrifice of Praise
Acts 27:35 – the Apostle Paul – being shipwrecked and were in danger with their lives, but still chose to
give thanks
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6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him,
strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Col. 2:6-7, NIV
