1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:10,520 Amen. Give the Lord good praise this morning. Continue to praise him. Continue to thank 2 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:17,080 him for his goodness and his mercy. That endures forever. If you have your Bibles, turn with 3 00:00:17,080 --> 00:00:26,120 me to Psalm 92. Man, thank y'all for leading us in the presence of the Lord this morning. 4 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:31,960 Amen. Wonderful. Y'all did a great job today. You always do, but I mean exceptional this 5 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:43,240 morning. Hallelujah. Amen. I heard Pastor Brian did well last week. You're here, so 6 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:51,200 he did okay. Amen. I'm glad to know that I can go and not have nothing to worry about. 7 00:00:51,200 --> 00:01:00,120 A lot of guys can't say that, so they just don't go. I can go and feel good about it. 8 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:06,000 Not be happy I'm gone, but feel good about it. I have to worry about you. In good hands. 9 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:11,000 He's coming on, amen. He gets full-grown and dried behind the ears, he's going to make 10 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:20,560 a good one. He's not in here. He's wetting his whistle, so he didn't hear that. Amen. 11 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:27,360 Psalm 92. Again, so good to see you in the house of the Lord today. It's good to be back 12 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:33,560 in worship with you. Appreciate your prayers last week. We felt them as we ministered at 13 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:42,680 the Linden Church. Thank you for that. Amen. Psalm 92, verse one reads, it is a good thing 14 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:49,920 to give thanks unto the Lord and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High. Sound familiar? 15 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:56,480 To show forth thy loving kindness in the morning and thy faithfulness every night upon an instrument 16 00:01:56,480 --> 00:02:02,160 of ten strings and upon a psaltery, upon the harp with a solemn sound. That doesn't mean 17 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:08,600 sad, it means in tune. It means harmonious, together, like what we heard this morning. 18 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:17,720 That's a solemn, it's sound. Amen. It's in tune. For thou, O Lord, hast made me glad 19 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:25,240 through thy work. I will triumph in the works of your hands. O Lord, how great are thy 20 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:35,600 works and thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish or senseless man knoweth not, neither doth 21 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:43,400 a fool understand this. But I got it. Have you got it this morning? I want to appreciate 22 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:53,240 you on a simple thought for the next little bit. Gratitude is an attitude. Gratitude is 23 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:59,520 an attitude. Amen. Now this can go one or two or three different directions. So you 24 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:09,320 pray that it stays on the right way. What's the right way? Positive. Uplifting, right? 25 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:14,880 Because if you're not careful, you'll see a sire face and you'll just shift gears. So 26 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:23,280 smile while I'm preaching and we won't shift the gear. Amen. Somebody was here last week 27 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:32,360 and I wasn't thinking, is this really the guy? Yep. Father, I love you. I thank you 28 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:37,760 again for your goodness and your mercy and for the anointing that we feel in this house 29 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:45,240 today. And you're truly here with us. Help us now Lord. Help me. Help me Lord to preach 30 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:53,120 what's pleasing to you and edifying to the body of Christ. And may our attitude be that 31 00:03:53,120 --> 00:04:00,400 of gratitude. In Jesus name, the church say it. Now tell your neighbor, smile at him. 32 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:10,760 He gets along if you don't. We're approaching the magical Thursday, turkey day, lethargic 33 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:17,440 day, lethargy sets in after turkey. It's something chemically in it and it'll just pull you to 34 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:29,680 a couch, a recliner, an afternoon nap. It just does it. So eat ham. Unless you want 35 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:39,440 to take a nap and then load up. We're going to belabor the point just a little bit today. 36 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:49,760 So as not to rush to the next holiday before we've really taken full account of this one. 37 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:53,640 What was that little blow up thing we saw in somebody's yard the other day? I saw it 38 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:59,560 somewhere, like a snowman mashing a turkey. You know, like just getting right on through 39 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:06,960 not even taking time. But we to fully appreciate the next season that is about to approach, 40 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:16,440 you need to really take account of this holiday. Amen. To really appreciate Christ's birth, 41 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:23,160 you've got to be thankful and to be thankful to have gratitude. We live in a society that 42 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:29,960 is overwhelmed with ingratitude. You know, it's very selfish. It's very self-centered 43 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:35,800 in our culture and our society. And you can't be self-centered and be a child of God because 44 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:42,120 your focus must be on him and not on yourself. And when we begin to think about it, Thanksgiving 45 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:49,360 is foundational for the child of God. It is a platform for every believer that we must 46 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:57,720 live on and live through. It's a response for the believer. It's a recognition that 47 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:03,840 we truly acknowledge that we're not in control, but God is. And he's a better driver of your 48 00:06:03,840 --> 00:06:10,520 life than you are if you'll just let him, let Jesus take the wheel. If you'll do that, 49 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:16,920 life will begin to turn out a lot better. Recognition that God has blessed us, that 50 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:22,120 you are where you are today because of the goodness of God and the great things that 51 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:29,280 God has in store for us. That's where we are. But unless we become very intentional, we 52 00:06:29,280 --> 00:06:35,160 won't be people of gratitude. You have to be intentional about gratitude. You have to 53 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:42,000 condition yourself, amen, to be grateful and to be thankful and to respond with that. Children 54 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:45,640 today, you know, when you were raised and when your parents raised you and when you 55 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:56,080 raised your children, you know, it is a taught response. They just grab the sucker and run, 56 00:06:56,080 --> 00:07:01,840 right? You grab them before they get out of arms reach. What are you supposed to say? 57 00:07:01,840 --> 00:07:07,720 Right? Gratitude is a taught response. Same way for the child of God. You have to teach 58 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:13,600 your heart to be grateful for everything that God has done for you. And it's foundational 59 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:18,200 in the life of a child of God. If the foundation be destroyed, then what can the righteous 60 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:25,240 do? If the foundation and one of the foundations of our faith is gratitude, if it gets destroyed, 61 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:31,320 then woe be unto us because the good things from God will stop flowing. Amen. Just like 62 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:35,640 you are with your children. If they refuse to be grateful, refuse to be thankful, we 63 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:39,280 say, well, okay, we're going to learn a lesson. Well, I don't want to learn that lesson from 64 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:44,320 God. And it's a whole lot easier for me to condition myself to be grateful and to be 65 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:51,640 thankful for all the good things that God brings into my life. As it is foundational, 66 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:56,800 David found out in first Chronicles 16, four through seven, there was a, it was a wonderful 67 00:07:56,800 --> 00:08:01,320 time David had reclaimed the Ark of the covenant. They brought it back. They've had that, that 68 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:06,280 wonderful worship for March where they would stop every few places and offer up sacrifice. 69 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:10,280 And they finally got back in to the city of David and David's built a new tent and he's 70 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:15,240 put it over the tabernacle and he wants everyone to rejoice. He wants everyone to know how 71 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:19,800 thankful and how grateful he is for God's presence to be back in. So he gives everybody 72 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:24,240 some bread. He gives everyone something to drink and they just keep sacrificing and worshiping 73 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:31,820 God. But after the said party was over, David had done something that I think is very mindful 74 00:08:31,820 --> 00:08:36,640 for us to do. He said some Levi's over in the temple and he gave her in the round the 75 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:41,080 tabernacle and he gave them a charge. He said, here's what I want you to do. I want you to 76 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:47,560 get in there and I want you to record. I want you to thank, and I want you to praise God 77 00:08:47,560 --> 00:08:52,360 for all that he has done for Israel. And I think that's something we can be mindful of 78 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:59,280 today that we need to stop and do a little self revelation and get some insight back. 79 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:04,320 And we need to sit down and begin to record how good God has been. And if you were to 80 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:08,960 start writing it down, I guarantee you the good's going to outweigh the negative that 81 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:13,640 the world brings in and what the devil brings against you. And you can begin to record that. 82 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:18,820 And when you begin to record it, there's something that automatically begins to rise up in you. 83 00:09:18,820 --> 00:09:23,400 And that is a grateful heart. Oh Lord, you were good right here. Oh God, you were faithful 84 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:28,680 right here. Oh Lord, you provided right there. Oh God, I remember you protected me right 85 00:09:28,680 --> 00:09:33,800 over here. Let me write that down. Oh, and when you begin to cultivate your thought process, 86 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:38,960 you begin to remind yourself of how good God really is. And when you think about how good 87 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:44,480 God really is, a heart of gratitude begins to rise up and it's not hard to thank him. 88 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:48,480 It's not hard to thank. And before you know it, that Thanksgiving go click right over 89 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:52,960 into an attitude of praise. And before you know it, you are on your feet and your voice 90 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:58,120 is being lifted up. You're putting your hands together. Oh Lord, how great are your works. 91 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:02,840 Hallelujah. And you begin to magnify his name and you keep recording and you keep thanking 92 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:09,040 and you keep praising him because it's a repetitive condition of the heart of a child of God. 93 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:14,520 And I'm telling you, gratitude is an attitude. And when your attitude begins to adjust to 94 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:19,040 the goodness of God, then the goodness of God begins to well up in your soul and you begin 95 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:25,120 to thank him. You begin to praise him and you can't stop recording how good he really 96 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:36,320 is because he really is good and he's really good to you. He's really good to me. And I'm 97 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:43,160 telling you, it's a conditioned thought process because how many of you know what he-haul 98 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:48,800 is? Come on, I'm on data. Raise your hand, you he-haul people. How many of you have no 99 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:59,320 clue what he-haul is? Google it. There was a little skit they always done on their own 100 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:06,440 despair and agony on me. If it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all, right? 101 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:12,320 That's the way we get in life sometimes. We are quickly and easily do we write down all 102 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:17,960 the bad junk, all the negative that people say, all the stuff that the enemy brings against 103 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:22,600 us. But you have to condition your mind to the goodness of God because God does such 104 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:27,680 good things in such subtle ways. You really have to concentrate and to see how good God 105 00:11:27,680 --> 00:11:32,520 is because you see it's a condition for the life of the believer. He just automatically 106 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:38,240 brings goodness and blessing into your life. But you have to slow down to see the goodness 107 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:44,280 and the graciousness of God and develop an attitude of gratitude so that you can record 108 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:53,040 it, so that you can recall it, so that you can be thankful and praise him. 109 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:58,440 Woodrow Wilson said, a nation which does not remember what it was yesterday does not know 110 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:07,520 what it is today. I think we got a bunch of folks that's forgotten a lot of stuff, nor 111 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:13,960 what it is trying to do. We're not trying to do a futile thing if we do not know where 112 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:21,480 we came from or what we have been about. Works that same way in the life of a child of God. 113 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:24,760 If you don't know where he brought you from to where you are, then you don't know what 114 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:30,440 you are today. Can I tell you, I know what he brought me out of. I know what he's redeemed 115 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:37,440 me from and I know what I am today. And by virtue of knowing what I am today, I know 116 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:44,840 what I am about to do this day and tomorrow, no matter the sunshine, shadow or rain. Amen. 117 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:49,000 I know what I'm going to do. I'm going to record the goodness of the Lord. I'm going 118 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:54,400 to endeavor to be a psalmist and sing in tune or maybe out of tune on certain occasions, 119 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:59,920 but I'm still going to lift my voice and let the Lord know that I am thankful for all of 120 00:12:59,920 --> 00:13:07,080 the goodness that he's brought to my life. I'm thankful that he created us in his own 121 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:13,840 likeness and his own image. Psalm 103 verse four says, or 100 verse three and four, know 122 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:18,440 you that the Lord, he is God. You know, that's something you need to figure out real quick. 123 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:24,800 He's God and you're not. He does the telling, you do the listening, not the other way around. 124 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:35,200 Oh, he's never done anything I've told him to do. Once I recall, amen, I was talking 125 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:42,720 to our niece, Kathy's niece, Charlotte last night. We were talking about it. I said, you 126 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:51,800 know, he's never done anything I've told him to do. I guess he figures he knows better 127 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:59,000 and don't think I don't tell him. I've told him stuff about you. I've told him what I'd 128 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:08,560 like for him to do to you. Y'all just automatically think it was bad for some reason, the way you're 129 00:14:08,560 --> 00:14:14,040 chuckling. No, I told him to bless you and you are getting blessed. Some of you finding 130 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:18,480 money, some of you getting checks in the mail, getting raises, getting better jobs. So I 131 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:22,720 mean, he's listening to a degree, but I think he was going to do that anyway because he 132 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:28,640 loves you. And I'm just reminding him that he loves you. Amen. But then there's some 133 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:36,800 of those other things I've told him as well. I said, Lord, you know which ones need an 134 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:45,160 attitude adjustment? Would you kindly tune them up? You think I'm being funny, but I'm 135 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:50,680 not. I'm telling you the truth. It may be funny, but I'm telling you the truth. There 136 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:56,560 are times we need some attitude adjustments, but an attitude of gratitude needs less tuning 137 00:14:56,560 --> 00:15:04,360 I better see it. Now y'all, y'all just see how we all, you see how it can get away? Do 138 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:09,280 you see how it can get away? Lord, let me get back to this. Know you that the Lord, 139 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:13,080 he is good and it is he that's made us and not we ourselves. We are his people and the 140 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:19,320 sheep of his pastor enter into his gates with thanksgiving. Come to his courts with praise. 141 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:27,000 Be thankful unto him and bless his holy name. I think that behooves you and I today when 142 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:31,880 I think that I've created an image in the likeness of God and into our lungs, he breathed 143 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:38,320 his breath and we became living souls. Hallelujah. From the very beginning, but into the image, 144 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:42,960 expressed image of his beloved son, we are now being transformed into. I don't know about 145 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:47,480 you, but I'm grateful and thankful for the transformation that old things have passed 146 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:53,560 away. Behold all things to become new because I am a new creation in Christ. I am thankful 147 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:59,080 for that. I am grateful today because of the expressed image of the son of the living God 148 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:03,760 that I am being transformed into to be in alignment to his word, in alignment with his 149 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:16,720 principle. I'm telling you today, I am grateful for his image and likeness. Let me hurry. 150 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:23,960 I'm grateful for him sending his son. You see why you got to have gratitude before you 151 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:31,240 get to Christmas morning. You got to know what it was that was sent. Amen. You got to 152 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:36,600 know the value of the gift. Can I tell you the value of the gift is not always on the 153 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:51,720 price sticker. Some of the least expensive gifts monetarily are the most valuable sentimentally. 154 00:16:51,720 --> 00:17:09,200 Right? Socks, for instance. You get them for Christmas. Oh, it's a pair of socks. But no, 155 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:23,760 it's a pair of socks. Got mallard ducks on. Hello? It's not just a pair of socks. If it 156 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:27,480 was just a pair of socks, I got other blue ones that I would wear with these paints that 157 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:39,960 make them look better. But I like the mallard duck. Hello? It's not the sock, it's the duck. 158 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:45,760 It is the monetary value. It's the heart from which it was given, the gratitude for which 159 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:55,600 it was received. And every time I put the sock on, I know who gave it. And I'm thankful. 160 00:17:55,600 --> 00:18:03,360 Hello? It's the value that's in our heart. And I am grateful and thankful. Paul wrote 161 00:18:03,360 --> 00:18:12,360 it this way. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. Hallelujah. I'm grateful that God sent 162 00:18:12,360 --> 00:18:18,800 his son. I don't know how I would do with the law. Just to be honest with you, I don't 163 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:26,960 know how I would function under the law. I'd be offering up goats all the time. I'd be 164 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:35,040 having to round up peace offerings all the time. Without the transformation, oh, come 165 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:41,520 on now, without the transforming action into the expressed image of God's son, without 166 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:45,720 that transformation, I wouldn't have been a good law keeper. I'd have probably been 167 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:51,280 running with old Barabbas. Just to be honest with you, I wouldn't have been running where 168 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:56,840 I needed to be. And I sure wouldn't be where I am today, this morning, without the sending 169 00:18:56,840 --> 00:19:02,880 of the son. So I'm grateful for that unspeakable gift. Hallelujah. That has been bestowed. 170 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:09,780 And then that unspeakable gift performed an unspeakable act by the redeeming of his blood 171 00:19:09,780 --> 00:19:17,880 for the remission of my sin. Hey. Now when I get to Christmas, my mind automatically 172 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:23,320 goes ahead to Easter. Hallelujah. When we get to Christmas, when I see the manger and 173 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:28,360 I begin to focus on, oh, holy night, and when I begin to sing Silent Night, and when we 174 00:19:28,360 --> 00:19:33,600 begin to sing Joy to the World, my mind's already in March or April. I'm already looking 175 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:39,680 toward Calvary because I know if it hadn't been for the unspeakable gift of Christmas, 176 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:44,920 there would not have been a Calvary's Hill. But there was a Calvary's Hill which soaked 177 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:58,000 up the shed blood of the redeeming grace of Jesus. And I am grateful. Woo. Most of you 178 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:06,800 wouldn't like me without that redeeming grace. That's true. You'd say he's a smart aleck 179 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:16,280 and all that stuff. You'd probably say that anyway. But I'm a saved smart aleck. Do you 180 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:29,160 like that, Sister Gail? She just cackled right out on that one. Hey. It's all right. Go ahead, 181 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:36,920 Sister. Let's get you blessed. If it wasn't for the redeeming grace, you know, more people 182 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:44,400 may like you when you get redeemed if you're not already. And if you are, act like it. 183 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:52,360 Woo. I got to move on. See how quick it can take a, let's keep it on the upside. For his 184 00:20:52,360 --> 00:20:58,760 redeeming blood, I'm grateful. John the Revelator put it this way in 5 and 9. And they sung 185 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:05,960 a new song saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, to open the seals thereof. And thou 186 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:14,120 was slain and has redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and 187 00:21:14,120 --> 00:21:18,960 people and nation. Peter would put it like this in the first, first letter, first chapter, 188 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:24,920 18th verse. For as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, 189 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:29,480 for as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, money can't 190 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:36,400 buy you out. Amen. Prosperity can't buy you out. Friends can't get you out. And that's 191 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:43,680 not what has redeemed us. But we have been redeemed with the precious blood of Christ 192 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:51,400 as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. And I for one am grateful. I am thankful this 193 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:57,280 morning for the shed blood of Jesus Christ. I'm thankful for the invitation. I'm thankful 194 00:21:57,280 --> 00:22:04,800 for the opportunity. I'm grateful that when I was a sinner, he redeemed me there. Hallelujah. 195 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:10,440 When I was lost and undone, he came on a search for Oak Cliff waters. When I was without him, 196 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:14,520 when I was backslid and running from him, when I was doing things I shouldn't have been 197 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:21,280 doing, he didn't give up on me. But my gratitude for his pursuing after me, I am grateful today. 198 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:26,520 Hallelujah for the giftings and the calling of God that I have through Christ, the Redeemer 199 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:33,800 of my lost soul. And I am grateful for the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Now we live in 200 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:40,480 a culture that would love to do away with the blood and the power and the effect of 201 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:48,480 sin. I'm going to do my thing. I'm going to interpret the way I want to and live the way 202 00:22:48,480 --> 00:23:01,960 I think is right. Well, that's good while you're here. But without the shed blood and 203 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:09,480 repentance on my and your part and a turning away, a departure from the sin that has us 204 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:18,480 condemned from the day of our birth, without accepting that unspeakable gift, without being 205 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:25,640 washed in that redeeming force of the flood of Calvary, we are just as lost and undone 206 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:32,640 when we take our last breath. But I'm so grateful. Hallelujah. You can be grateful for you, but 207 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:38,520 I am so grateful for the Highway 28 Church of my God and a pastor who preached truth 208 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:44,400 and hell hot in heaven, sweet and the convicting power of the Holy Ghost that brought an old 209 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:50,920 sinner boy back to an altar and reapplied a fresh coat of that shed blood and washed 210 00:23:50,920 --> 00:24:03,880 my sin away. I'm thankful that he's holy. Psalm 97 and 12 says, rejoice in the Lord 211 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:11,240 you righteous and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. Give thanks at the remember 212 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:23,400 of his holiness. Unlike the God of this world, he's not out to destroy you. He has nothing 213 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:30,920 but good in mind for you. Blessing in store for you. You do realize the devil is taking 214 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:37,280 you down the wrong path, just getting you there to kill you and destroy you, right? 215 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:48,840 To get you to have part in his end. He already knows what's happening to him. You know, the 216 00:24:48,840 --> 00:24:56,580 devil's insane. You know the definition of insanity, doing the same thing over and over 217 00:24:56,580 --> 00:25:02,920 and expecting you're going to get a different result the next time. No, the devil's insane. 218 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:11,520 He thinks in his mind somehow he can still win. I'm so grateful the end has already been 219 00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:17,520 written. Amen. And I've told you this before, one of my favorite phrases in scriptures, 220 00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:22,880 there's an angel in heaven and he's polishing a chain. Hallelujah. And he's going to wrap 221 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:25,880 around that old devil and he's going to be cast into a pit for a thousand years. He's 222 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:34,320 going to be let out and then it's over, honey. It's going to be done. I'm grateful for that. 223 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:38,760 I really am. And if I could get close enough to slap him in the mouth before he goes in, 224 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:53,800 I'd love the opportunity. I'm so mad at him right now. He better be glad I'm preaching 225 00:25:53,800 --> 00:26:03,480 happy this morning. You say you're happy? I am full of joy. I have a grateful heart 226 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:07,680 for his mercy because I've just experienced some of it probably not before you're very 227 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:28,440 young. I'm grateful for his mercy. I deserved like us all. I deserve punishment. Right? 228 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:33,480 Let me remember some of the stupid stuff you did. Don't just dwell on my stupidity. Let's 229 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:42,840 all get in this together. Shit, Cathy, I've heard your testimony. So you grateful this 230 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:49,440 morning? Oh yeah. There's some more of you in here over and abundantly grateful too because 231 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:55,800 you've got a story behind you. But aren't you glad for his mercy? Aren't you thankful 232 00:26:55,800 --> 00:27:04,120 for his mercy that when he could have taken you out, he didn't? When he could have let 233 00:27:04,120 --> 00:27:09,520 you in your stupidity and something you knew better than to do and you've done it anyway 234 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:18,800 and put your life in great peril, he kept you from dying. Maybe just to get you to Hope 235 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:28,120 Well Church of God on the 24th of November in the 2400 year of our Lord, just to get 236 00:27:28,120 --> 00:27:35,960 you here to hear this fat preacher tell you how grateful you ought to be. That God spares 237 00:27:35,960 --> 00:27:42,960 you in your mercy. His mercy, grace extended, he has spared you. I have flashbacks in my 238 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:51,240 mind of different occasions that the Lord could have had opportunity to take me out. 239 00:27:51,240 --> 00:28:02,040 But his hand, his hand, you hear me? I'm grateful for his hand of mercy that spared me and give 240 00:28:02,040 --> 00:28:07,800 me another opportunity. If you've been spared and haven't received and accepted the opportunity 241 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:13,360 for that redeeming blood, you're, hey, you just don't know how blessed you are to be 242 00:28:13,360 --> 00:28:18,460 here today. He's got you in the place that the rest of your life can be totally transformed 243 00:28:18,460 --> 00:28:26,180 and be different. I'm grateful for his mercy. What time is it? We're getting late. I'm grateful 244 00:28:26,180 --> 00:28:39,760 for his goodness as a shepherd. The Lord is my shepherd. Right? The psalmist said in 7913, 245 00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:47,980 so we, thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks forever. We will show 246 00:28:47,980 --> 00:28:59,880 forth thy praises to all generations. Let that serve as a reminder to us this morning. 247 00:28:59,880 --> 00:29:08,200 How will the next generation know how to praise if they don't witness you praise? Huh? How 248 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:12,880 are they going to ever see an example of a gratitude and grateful hearts if they don't 249 00:29:12,880 --> 00:29:21,520 see them in church? Right? Stand with me. I'm going to make myself quit. I'm not dumb, 250 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:38,640 but I'm going to make myself quit. I'm grateful for you, other believers, fellow believers. 251 00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:47,280 Paul would pray often. Philippians 1 3 is an example. I thank my God upon every remembrance 252 00:29:47,280 --> 00:30:04,720 of you. When we're not here, we think of you. We speak of you. Just as quickly as I can, 253 00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:16,240 I send a message. What's the count? I don't know how many of you were here. Then when 254 00:30:16,240 --> 00:30:27,960 I get back and I get to talking, Brian and I or whoever, who was out? Who was missing 255 00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:43,400 from our fellowship? Everything okay? Right? Or is you just like me out of pocket? We're 256 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:57,000 grateful for you. I thank God for you because think how special we are for such a time as 257 00:30:57,000 --> 00:31:08,000 this. We've all been assembled in this season of life. Each of us. If you think you're here 258 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:19,040 by accident, then you don't know the sovereign God that we serve. He directs and orders and 259 00:31:19,040 --> 00:31:26,520 sets up appointments. So I'm thankful for you. I'm thankful for the promise of his 260 00:31:26,520 --> 00:31:37,720 return. I'm grateful for, as Paul would tell the Thessalonians for anything and everything. 261 00:31:37,720 --> 00:31:44,600 In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 262 00:31:44,600 --> 00:32:04,760 Now everything is a big subject. Be thankful in everything. Well, that's hard. Anybody 263 00:32:04,760 --> 00:32:15,520 else find it a little difficult? It's hard to be grateful in the middle of crisis. Isn't 264 00:32:15,520 --> 00:32:23,840 it? It's hard to be, whoo, when you just got the wind knocked out of you and you're laying 265 00:32:23,840 --> 00:32:30,080 flat on your back trying to catch your breath. Right? Ain't many owls get run then. That's 266 00:32:30,080 --> 00:32:39,280 why we have each other. Right? That's why we have each other. So the Philippians, Paul 267 00:32:39,280 --> 00:32:43,680 would further say this, be careful for nothing. Don't worry. Don't be anxious. Don't stress. 268 00:32:43,680 --> 00:32:51,520 Don't fret for anything. But in everything, there's that word again, by prayer and supplication 269 00:32:51,520 --> 00:33:04,200 with Thanksgiving. Let your request be made known unto God. There's that everything again. 270 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:12,520 And if we got prayer and supplication going on, then we've got trouble somewhere. Right? 271 00:33:12,520 --> 00:33:17,840 Something isn't in order if there's supplication and prayer taking place. Some things are out 272 00:33:17,840 --> 00:33:29,280 of alignment. But in that, we're still supposed to be thankful. We're still supposed to be 273 00:33:29,280 --> 00:33:42,400 grateful. Well, how and why? How is by His grace. Why? Because His word instructs us to 274 00:33:42,400 --> 00:33:53,600 know that we can find the help that we need. And the time that we need it. Third, it keeps 275 00:33:53,600 --> 00:34:01,720 you from being focused on yourself and your problem. Because you can't focus on the goodness 276 00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:11,420 of God and your problem at the same time. Say, hey, you know that because we're having 277 00:34:11,420 --> 00:34:35,320 to do that. After we regrouped a little. Right? Gratitude's an attitude. And the things that 278 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:43,680 I shared with you this morning is why I've got a smile on my face today. Amen? Why I've 279 00:34:43,680 --> 00:34:50,400 got a praise in my heart this morning. Because, says Katharine, I had to get a little attitude 280 00:34:50,400 --> 00:34:57,320 adjustment over this past week. There's mothers in here that you probably need an attitude 281 00:34:57,320 --> 00:35:11,120 adjustment as well. Because the crisis seems overwhelming. The situation seems impossible. 282 00:35:11,120 --> 00:35:19,880 And to you and I, it may very well be all of that. But not with God. Because according 283 00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:29,720 to His word, which has yet to be proven wrong, all things are possible to those who believe. 284 00:35:29,720 --> 00:35:37,520 Amen? So, come on down here, baby. Let's stand right there in front. If you've got a situation 285 00:35:37,520 --> 00:35:42,400 and a crisis and you've been struggling with your gratitude and you need a little attitude 286 00:35:42,400 --> 00:35:50,200 adjustment in it, come on down. We're going to pray. I'm going to have you pray for us.