Giving Thanks
Bible Text: Acts 22:3-21 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: The Solid Acts of God
Psalm 92:1-2 It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you
Acts 22:3-21 …I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just as all of you are today. And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, binding and delivering both men and women to prison…As I was on the road, nearing Damascus, about noon a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me…I was blinded by the intense light and had to be led into Damascus by my companions. A man named Ananias lived there…He came to me and stood beside me and said, Brother Saul, receive your sight…
Saul was BITTER and ANGRY and RESENTFUL and THREATENED by people who believed in Jesus
Hebrews 12:14-15 …without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many…
God’s Word is Sweet
Psalm 19:7-10 The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy… …the commandments of the LORD are right…clear…the laws of the LORD are true…they are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.
Psalm 119:101-104 How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
God’s Word Transforms
Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Exodus 15:23-26 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter…So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, What are we to drink? Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the LORD made a decree …He said, If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you
Worship takes place when a human soul bows down before the Lord in adoration and deliberate thanksgiving of Him alone!
We have a Personal Duty and Obligation of love to Worship Him Alone!
Luke 4:5-8 Then the Devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world…I will give it all to you if you will bow down and worship me. Jesus replied, the Scriptures say, You must worship the Lord your God; serve only him.
Psalm 95:6-7 Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the sheep under his care.
Worship is Healing
Jeremiah 8:21-22 I weep for the hurt of my people. I am stunned and silent, mute with grief. Is there no medicine in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why is there no healing for the wounds of my people?
Genesis 18:1-15 …Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? And the LORD said to Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?
Is anything too hard for the LORD?
Psalm 77:1-6 I cried out to God with my voice– To God with my voice; And He gave ear to me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord…
Exodus 7:16 Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness;
WHY? So that …they may serve (worship) Him. The Lord desires our worship
Psalm 103:1-5 (THE MESSAGE) O my soul, bless GOD. From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name! O my soul, bless GOD, don’t forget a single blessing!
He forgives your sins — every one.
He heals your diseases — every one.
He redeems you from hell — saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy — a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness — beauty eternal.
He renews your youth — you’re always young in his presence
Worship Changes Us
2 Corinthians 3:18 …And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him and reflect his glory even more.
Worship Strengthens Us
Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Worship and the Word is our life support!
Worship and the Word releases life, restores our worth/value!
Worship is released and not produced!
Worship and His Word bring life to the dead areas in us!