Four Keys to Thankfulness

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Four Keys to Thankfulness

• A Thanksgiving
• Sunday Message
• Nehemiah 1227-47

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PUTTING THE THANKS BACK INTO THANKSGIVING

• It requires our intentionality because
• We are prone to get distracted by superficial
  things of the season.
• We are prone to take things (that Gods given us)
  for granted.
• Thankfulness shifts our focus from ourselves to
  God.
• Thankfulness encourages others to be thankful to
  God as well.

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NEHEMIAHS EXAMPLE FOUR KEYS TO THANKFULNESS

• 1) JOY Begin with a decision to rejoice in God.
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• And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem
  they sought the Levites in all their places, to
  bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the
  dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and
  with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres...
  43And they offered great sacrifices that day and
  rejoiced. (vs.27, 43) 
• A joyful attitude is a prerequisite of
  thankfulness.
• Happiness is whats happening to us (passive) but
  joy is how we react to whats happening to us
  (active).
• We are to rejoice in the LORD not in the
  circumstances which requires us activate our
  faith in our perspective.
• So, have you been ACTIVELY trusting the LORD with
  joy? Show it by your attitude and a joyful noise
  to the LORD!

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• 4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth
• break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
• 5Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,   with
  the lyre and the sound of melody!
• Psalm 984-5
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NEHEMIAHS EXAMPLE FOUR KEYS TO THANKFULNESS

• 2) PURIFICATION Be sure to purify your hearts
  before God.
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• And the priests and the Levites purified
  themselves, and they purified the people and the
  gates and the wall. (v.30) 
• The Old Testaments ceremonial purification is to
  honor God who is holy and righteous.
• To us the New Testament believers, it is
  confession of any known sins in purifying our
  hearts before God.
• So, is there any sins in your life which the
  Spirit has revealed to you? Confess your sins to
  God and be purified!
• If we confess our sins,
• he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
• and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
• 1 John 19

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NEHEMIAHS EXAMPLE FOUR KEYS TO THANKFULNESS

• 3) GIVING THANKS for the things God has done for
  you.
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• 31Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto
  the wall and appointed two great choirs that gave
  thanks... gave thanks went to the north gave
  thanks stood in the house of God there were
  songs of praise and thanksgiving to
  God. (vs.31,38, 40, 46) 
• Giving thanks is an obedience of faithto count
  and remember Gods work, gift, blessings for us.
• Why? Our depraved has a spiritual amnesia,
  forgetting what God has done for us.

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Choosing To Be Grateful

• Gratitude as a discipline involves a conscious
  choice. I can choose to be grateful even when my
  emotions and feelings are still steeped in hurt
  and resentment. It is amazing how many occasions
  present themselves in which I can choose
  gratitude instead of a complaint. I can choose to
  be grateful when I am criticized, even when my
  heart still responds in bitterness. I can choose
  to speak about goodness and beauty, even when my
  inner eye still looks for someone to accuse or
  something to call ugly.
• - Henri J. M. Nouwen

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NEHEMIAHS EXAMPLE FOUR KEYS TO THANKFULNESS

• 3) GIVING THANKS for the things God has done for
  you.
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• 31Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto
  the wall and appointed two great choirs that gave
  thanks... gave thanks went to the north gave
  thanks stood in the house of God there were
  songs of praise and thanksgiving to
  God. (vs.31,38, 40, 46) 
• Giving thanks is an obedience of faithto count
  and remember Gods work, gift, blessings for us.
• Why? Our depraved has a spiritual amnesia,
  forgetting what God has done for us.
• So, have you been choosing to be grateful,
  recalling intentionally what God has done for
  you this year? Give thanks to God and be thankful
  for each of them specifically!

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NEHEMIAHS EXAMPLE FOUR KEYS TO THANKFULNESS

• 4) COMMUNAL THANKSGIVING Give thanks to God
  together and share your gratitude communally in
  unity.
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• One went to the south on the wall38The other
  choir of those who gave thanks went to the
  north40So both choirs of those who gave thanks
  stood in the house of God43And they offered
  great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God
  had made them rejoice with great joy the women
  and children also rejoiced. And the joy of
  Jerusalem was heard far away... 44men were
  appointed over the storerooms, the contributions,
  the firstfruits, and the tithes. (vs.37, 38, 40,
  43).
• Communal thanksgiving is a vital part of Gods
  people.
• Thanking God together doubles our gratitudeit is
  contagious and has a powerful testimony to the
  world.
• So, will you take time to practice communal
  thanksgiving as Gods people? Share your
  thankfulness with CrossWay family and also in
  your home this year!

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OUR COMMUNAL THANKS-GIVING TO GOD

• Write 2-4 sentences on your note-card to this
  question
• "Looking back 2011, what are you most thankful
  for
• concerning our CrossWay church family? (Be
  specific.)

Your Name Thank You LORD for
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WHAT HAS GOD DONE FOR US SO FAR IN 2011? (AN
INCOMPLETE LIST)

• Sending Bo Cindy to China/Adrienne Pauls
  safe return
• CrossWay 3rd Anniversary/Lent/EASTER Service
  Celebration!
• Newborn Babies Titus, Elias, James, Amelia
• Expecting Babies Christine, Jenny K, Jamie
• New CW Family Members Rico Ro and Cameron
  Jenny
• A Family Reconciliation Breakthrough
• Healing/Mercy for Christinas dad, Cindys
  sister, Hos kidney stone, Justins lung,
  Carolines headache/kidney, Elgins mom, Jays
  dad
• Our missionaries fruits Wade Helen, Bo
  Cindy, Bob Grace
• All-Church Retreat with Alan Fadling in Palm
  Desert
• Our marriages/families/kids/health/blessings
• Gods provision for Meeting Place 3rd year at
  Olive Crest Facility
• Homegroups/studies on the life of Jacob and
  Joseph
• Mens /Womens groups/QT Training/Prayer
  Meetings/S S Days
• Growing Childrens Ministry Two New Interns
  Lauren Scott
• James Series, Psalm 23 Series, Paradox
  Series/CrossWay Stories
• Church Picnic/Life-Together/Birthday
  Parties/BBQ/Superbowl
• Our own transformation/spiritual growth/unity
  so much more

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TWO PRACTICAL QUESTIONSFOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE

• Communally, what should we thank God for?
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• 2. Personally, what should I thank God for?

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