1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,189 Those who don't know, I'm a USC fan, and uh, Sorry, yeah. 2 00:00:06,195 --> 00:00:08,085 Some of that doesn't feel genuine right there. 3 00:00:08,095 --> 00:00:12,235 Some of those things feel, uh, like you're more poking fun than 4 00:00:12,235 --> 00:00:13,665 you're actually mourning with me. 5 00:00:13,965 --> 00:00:18,775 Uh, it has been a terrible season, uh, as far as expectations go. 6 00:00:18,795 --> 00:00:21,605 But, anyhow, we're gonna get through this, amen? 7 00:00:22,135 --> 00:00:25,505 And so my name is Marcel Hall and, uh, grateful to be able 8 00:00:25,505 --> 00:00:27,505 to speak God's word here today. 9 00:00:27,505 --> 00:00:31,285 Let's go ahead and, uh, we already, I think we thank the worship team, right? 10 00:00:31,285 --> 00:00:35,894 Can we go ahead and thank all the people behind the scenes doing so much. 11 00:00:35,935 --> 00:00:38,995 We appreciate all that you are doing. 12 00:00:39,884 --> 00:00:41,389 We got Thanksgiving this week. 13 00:00:41,389 --> 00:00:43,435 Are you excited about Thanksgiving? 14 00:00:44,335 --> 00:00:46,135 Ready to get your grub on? 15 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:48,720 What's your favorite part about Thanksgiving? 16 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:49,160 Let's go. 17 00:00:49,160 --> 00:00:51,050 I know some people it's food, some it's not. 18 00:00:51,070 --> 00:00:53,290 Well, what's your favorite part about Thanksgiving? 19 00:00:54,700 --> 00:00:56,230 Okay, someone said my family. 20 00:00:56,230 --> 00:00:57,400 Okay, that's good. 21 00:00:57,400 --> 00:00:57,870 All right. 22 00:00:58,039 --> 00:01:01,350 Yes, Jason You said deviled eggs. 23 00:01:01,369 --> 00:01:05,669 Wow, okay It's so cool to talk about Thanksgiving food and 24 00:01:05,669 --> 00:01:06,780 see the different cultures. 25 00:01:06,780 --> 00:01:07,470 You know what I'm saying? 26 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:09,700 I don't think we've ever had that at my family. 27 00:01:09,700 --> 00:01:11,289 So that's that's really good. 28 00:01:11,289 --> 00:01:11,600 Okay. 29 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:14,789 Yes Taking a nap. 30 00:01:15,460 --> 00:01:17,510 Is that pre food or post food? 31 00:01:18,230 --> 00:01:19,350 Post food, okay. 32 00:01:19,350 --> 00:01:21,550 You're looking forward to that good Thanksgiving nap there. 33 00:01:21,550 --> 00:01:21,950 Yes. 34 00:01:21,950 --> 00:01:24,130 The Macy's Day Parade. 35 00:01:24,130 --> 00:01:26,309 The Macy's Day Parade. 36 00:01:26,309 --> 00:01:27,944 I like parades. 37 00:01:27,944 --> 00:01:29,649 You like parades, okay. 38 00:01:29,649 --> 00:01:32,320 You're one of the few on the West Coast that probably watches that. 39 00:01:32,650 --> 00:01:34,380 Amen, that's awesome. 40 00:01:34,380 --> 00:01:35,320 Alright, yes sir. 41 00:01:35,414 --> 00:01:37,115 The 49ers Seahawks are playing back. 42 00:01:37,634 --> 00:01:41,685 The 49ers Seahawks game, so, so football and the 49ers, 43 00:01:41,695 --> 00:01:43,155 okay, come on, appreciate that. 44 00:01:43,155 --> 00:01:43,505 Yes. 45 00:01:44,725 --> 00:01:45,475 Yes, Corey. 46 00:01:45,475 --> 00:01:47,549 Um, being able to help somebody. 47 00:01:47,549 --> 00:01:47,894 So 48 00:01:51,875 --> 00:01:54,664 being able to help somebody out who needs some, come on, give it up for 49 00:01:54,664 --> 00:01:56,495 Corey, the only spiritual one up in here. 50 00:01:57,854 --> 00:01:59,675 We're talking about naps and deviled eggs. 51 00:01:59,675 --> 00:02:00,665 He's over here serving. 52 00:02:00,735 --> 00:02:01,275 I'm just playing. 53 00:02:01,275 --> 00:02:02,295 Everybody, it's all good. 54 00:02:02,625 --> 00:02:03,395 That's good stuff. 55 00:02:03,395 --> 00:02:07,894 Yes, as we can see, Thanksgiving, there's a, there's a lot more to Thanksgiving 56 00:02:07,894 --> 00:02:09,485 than just some food, isn't there? 57 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:14,090 And, uh, we know there's football, there's, uh, there's time with 58 00:02:14,090 --> 00:02:18,130 family, sometimes we're playing football, whatever the case may be. 59 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:24,480 Um, you know, it's funny, um, that when it comes to Thanksgiving, obviously I'm 60 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:29,100 American and I'm very familiar with the pastime and the tradition, but the actual 61 00:02:29,100 --> 00:02:33,230 word Thanksgiving, it really didn't, like, it didn't really sink in until I was in 62 00:02:33,230 --> 00:02:35,840 college where the idea is you give thanks. 63 00:02:36,970 --> 00:02:39,220 I know that's in the word Thanksgiving, but it didn't hit me. 64 00:02:39,220 --> 00:02:42,060 We're praying one time and the brother says something like, God, you 65 00:02:42,060 --> 00:02:43,290 know, it's Thanksgiving or whatever. 66 00:02:43,550 --> 00:02:46,500 And I really do want to give you thanks and I go, Oh, that's right. 67 00:02:47,905 --> 00:02:50,695 Thanksgiving is about giving thanks, hence the name. 68 00:02:50,865 --> 00:02:53,565 I, you know, obviously I understood the gratitude of the season. 69 00:02:53,825 --> 00:02:55,204 And, uh, but it hit me. 70 00:02:55,445 --> 00:02:57,905 And in fact, I looked it up yesterday or the other day. 71 00:02:58,115 --> 00:03:02,015 And Thanksgiving, the term, the actual, not the celebration, 72 00:03:02,215 --> 00:03:03,434 but just the definition. 73 00:03:03,434 --> 00:03:08,245 The expression of gratitude, especially to God. 74 00:03:09,885 --> 00:03:14,599 The expression of gratitude, especially to God. 75 00:03:14,930 --> 00:03:16,549 To God. 76 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:19,350 So even as we think through Thanksgiving, as we think of the 77 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:24,920 act of Thanksgiving, we know this, is that there's more than turkey. 78 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:30,999 Thanksgiving, especially giving thanks, there's more to it than just some turkey. 79 00:03:31,010 --> 00:03:34,980 Even our celebrations that we mentioned, nobody in fact even mentioned turkey. 80 00:03:34,980 --> 00:03:36,970 We had some deviled eggs in here. 81 00:03:36,970 --> 00:03:37,870 Okay, alright. 82 00:03:38,170 --> 00:03:42,900 And so we know even our celebration, but the act of Thanksgiving. 83 00:03:43,090 --> 00:03:50,000 There's more to it than just a feeling, than just an appreciation. 84 00:03:50,490 --> 00:03:54,899 And so, in fact, we're going to do a little two part series here, today and 85 00:03:54,899 --> 00:04:00,490 next week, in which we're going to dive more into this idea of giving thanks. 86 00:04:00,959 --> 00:04:02,400 Let's go to the Father in prayer. 87 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:05,400 Father, I thank you so much, so, so much. 88 00:04:05,785 --> 00:04:09,835 For this opportunity to dig into your scriptures God you have encouraged my 89 00:04:09,835 --> 00:04:14,764 soul I'm excited about the material that we're covering God I pray that 90 00:04:14,764 --> 00:04:19,464 you allow us to connect with you in a profound way right now father that we 91 00:04:19,464 --> 00:04:23,835 can come away transformed whether it be our thinking in our hearts or in 92 00:04:23,844 --> 00:04:29,334 some type of way in our decision making Father, we want you to be glorified. 93 00:04:29,364 --> 00:04:31,314 We want to commune with you, God. 94 00:04:31,314 --> 00:04:36,314 We want your will to be done, and I pray that it's done right now. 95 00:04:36,734 --> 00:04:41,374 God, you are a God who is worthy of our praise, and we don't have enough time 96 00:04:41,374 --> 00:04:45,564 or even the energy, uh, uh, Father, to be able to give you thanks for all that 97 00:04:45,564 --> 00:04:50,924 you have, are, and will do, not only in our lives, but in those around us. 98 00:04:51,124 --> 00:04:53,384 We pray in Jesus name, amen. 99 00:04:54,385 --> 00:04:57,195 We're going to go ahead and look, you know, there actually is a 100 00:04:57,195 --> 00:04:58,734 Thanksgiving meal in the Bible. 101 00:04:58,734 --> 00:05:02,084 It's actually the, the first Thanksgiving meal, if you will. 102 00:05:02,315 --> 00:05:04,054 And so it's God's Thanksgiving meal. 103 00:05:04,054 --> 00:05:08,195 And so we're going to go ahead and look at this right now and we're going to 104 00:05:08,205 --> 00:05:12,865 see something really important here is that giving thanks is important to God. 105 00:05:13,674 --> 00:05:16,445 Giving thanks is important to God. 106 00:05:16,445 --> 00:05:19,905 And so we're going to go on over to the book of Leviticus. 107 00:05:20,075 --> 00:05:22,645 When's the last time you had a sermon out of the book of Leviticus? 108 00:05:23,599 --> 00:05:24,539 It's been a long time. 109 00:05:24,539 --> 00:05:27,150 Some of you are like, how are we going to get a sermon out of Leviticus? 110 00:05:27,250 --> 00:05:27,700 Okay. 111 00:05:28,030 --> 00:05:28,210 All right. 112 00:05:28,250 --> 00:05:29,430 So we're going Leviticus here. 113 00:05:29,450 --> 00:05:32,669 And my friend Chad Hoffman told me it's good to put some timelines up here. 114 00:05:32,669 --> 00:05:36,530 And so I want us to understand at what point in, in, as far as our faith 115 00:05:36,549 --> 00:05:38,529 goes, that this was written down. 116 00:05:38,530 --> 00:05:38,930 It takes. 117 00:05:39,020 --> 00:05:43,169 Place and so during the time of exile the prince of egypt the movie there, right? 118 00:05:43,349 --> 00:05:47,169 They move and they're going over to the promised land And so god is establishing 119 00:05:47,299 --> 00:05:51,789 his people a culture of government an understanding of how to relate to him and 120 00:05:51,799 --> 00:05:56,609 how to be the light To the surrounding nations and we're going over in leviticus 121 00:05:56,930 --> 00:06:01,169 chapter, uh seven we're going to go to and it's important here that we 122 00:06:01,169 --> 00:06:06,590 understand in the book of leviticus god establishes a sacrificial system A 123 00:06:06,590 --> 00:06:10,880 system in which they would have offerings and give sacrifices and really, this 124 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:13,710 was to communicate spiritual truths. 125 00:06:14,250 --> 00:06:17,810 So these were physical manifestations of spiritual realities. 126 00:06:18,060 --> 00:06:22,780 And this side of the cross, we understand that a lot of these offerings that 127 00:06:22,780 --> 00:06:27,229 were prescribed for God's people were foreshadowing of Jesus and 128 00:06:27,229 --> 00:06:30,150 what He is, does, and would fulfill. 129 00:06:30,719 --> 00:06:35,459 And so there was five main sacrifices or offerings when it came to 130 00:06:35,459 --> 00:06:39,729 the book of Leviticus and for God's people before Jesus's time. 131 00:06:39,729 --> 00:06:43,269 And if one was the burnt offering, the grain offering, the fellowship 132 00:06:43,289 --> 00:06:47,179 offering, the sin offering and the trespass offering, that 133 00:06:47,179 --> 00:06:51,058 fellowship offering can also be, uh, considered the peace offering. 134 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:55,840 And I want us to look at this fellowship offering today over in Leviticus 135 00:06:55,849 --> 00:06:58,289 chapter seven, because within this. 136 00:06:58,884 --> 00:07:03,004 Fellowship offering there is something that's called the thank offering 137 00:07:03,604 --> 00:07:09,004 which again is really the God's first and Established Thanksgiving meal. 138 00:07:09,334 --> 00:07:12,924 So we're gonna go over ahead and go over there to Leviticus chapter 7 139 00:07:13,114 --> 00:07:16,524 and study this out and again Have some application for our lives. 140 00:07:16,534 --> 00:07:17,234 So brothers sisters. 141 00:07:17,234 --> 00:07:17,854 Are you ready? 142 00:07:18,594 --> 00:07:19,144 Let's go ahead. 143 00:07:19,144 --> 00:07:22,304 Let's get into a Leviticus chapter 7 in verse 11. 144 00:07:22,304 --> 00:07:26,874 It says These are the regulations for the fellowship offering Anyone 145 00:07:26,884 --> 00:07:31,375 may present to the Lord If they offer it as an expression of thankfulness. 146 00:07:31,825 --> 00:07:35,305 Then along with this think offering, they're to offer thick loaves made 147 00:07:35,305 --> 00:07:39,805 without yeast and with olive oil mixed in thin loaves made without yeast, 148 00:07:39,805 --> 00:07:44,305 and brushed with oil and thick loaves of the finest flour well needed, and 149 00:07:44,310 --> 00:07:48,085 with oil mixed in along with their fellowship offering of Thanksgiving. 150 00:07:48,085 --> 00:07:51,985 They're to present an offering with thick loaves of bread made with yeast. 151 00:07:52,255 --> 00:07:54,295 They're to bring one of each kind as an offering. 152 00:07:54,810 --> 00:07:56,229 A contribution to the Lord. 153 00:07:56,229 --> 00:07:59,049 It belongs to the priest who splashes the blood of the fellowship 154 00:07:59,049 --> 00:08:00,799 offering against the altar. 155 00:08:01,150 --> 00:08:03,729 The meat of their fellowship offering of thanksgiving must be 156 00:08:03,729 --> 00:08:05,039 eaten on the day it is offered. 157 00:08:05,229 --> 00:08:08,229 They must leave none of it till morning. 158 00:08:08,430 --> 00:08:10,509 Boy, oh boy, did that make a lot of sense to you. 159 00:08:11,899 --> 00:08:13,700 You're like, what, what was all that about? 160 00:08:14,060 --> 00:08:17,180 And we're going to get, not get into all the specifics of this offering, but we 161 00:08:17,180 --> 00:08:19,599 will look at some of these things here. 162 00:08:19,830 --> 00:08:24,099 But there's a couple things here that we have to understand and that we can grasp. 163 00:08:24,594 --> 00:08:29,525 From this text here is that again number one giving thanks the act of 164 00:08:29,525 --> 00:08:35,044 thanksgiving is important to God There's an offerings and he says hey look there. 165 00:08:35,044 --> 00:08:36,294 I want to have something for you. 166 00:08:36,294 --> 00:08:41,044 That's going to be called the thank offering and what is God doing with 167 00:08:41,044 --> 00:08:46,804 this God is training the Israelites on how to Express their gratitude 168 00:08:46,834 --> 00:08:52,069 to him He's training them Why? 169 00:08:52,090 --> 00:08:57,230 Because you and I, today, and anyone who lives, we need training on 170 00:08:57,230 --> 00:08:59,280 how to express thanks, don't we? 171 00:09:00,470 --> 00:09:05,249 I know with my kids, I have to train them on how to express thanks. 172 00:09:05,249 --> 00:09:08,449 If Dominique receives something, hey, hey, what do you say? 173 00:09:09,980 --> 00:09:12,319 You say, well thank you, you say thank you, yes. 174 00:09:13,689 --> 00:09:15,860 Parents did a good job of training, there you go, alright. 175 00:09:16,209 --> 00:09:20,150 But we express thanks, right, because he wouldn't naturally do that on his own. 176 00:09:20,805 --> 00:09:25,285 He might feel something, he might be excited about it, but yet he needs 177 00:09:25,285 --> 00:09:29,675 training on how to express his thanks. 178 00:09:30,415 --> 00:09:36,195 And so God is helping his people here learn how to express their thanks to him. 179 00:09:36,195 --> 00:09:40,584 And so we know that giving thanks is right and proper, isn't it? 180 00:09:40,585 --> 00:09:45,265 As human beings, we know it is proper, it is the right thing to do 181 00:09:45,475 --> 00:09:49,455 to express thanks when you've been blessed with something by someone. 182 00:09:50,814 --> 00:09:55,685 But it's more than just being good or doing the right thing and we're 183 00:09:55,685 --> 00:09:59,644 going to look some more into this But this is interesting that God 184 00:09:59,645 --> 00:10:04,704 did not command his people How often they should have this thank offering? 185 00:10:06,035 --> 00:10:12,824 He didn't tell him what time of the year they should do this And so God 186 00:10:13,275 --> 00:10:17,474 Expected gratitude, but he didn't command his people to be grateful 187 00:10:17,890 --> 00:10:24,260 His goal and his aim is, out of their gratitude, they would want to 188 00:10:24,260 --> 00:10:30,259 spontaneously, on their own, initiate a time in which they can, in a special 189 00:10:30,259 --> 00:10:32,929 and profound way, express gratitude. 190 00:10:34,560 --> 00:10:37,029 And so he allows them this opportunity. 191 00:10:37,030 --> 00:10:44,339 He's training them to go ahead and have a special time to express their thanks. 192 00:10:45,130 --> 00:10:49,385 And so I started to think, okay, So why is this so important to God? 193 00:10:49,395 --> 00:10:51,685 We get it as, as regular human beings. 194 00:10:51,685 --> 00:10:53,944 Yes, this would be something that, that we should do. 195 00:10:53,944 --> 00:10:54,584 It's proper. 196 00:10:54,584 --> 00:10:57,535 It's the right thing to do with the appropriate response. 197 00:10:58,284 --> 00:11:00,805 But as I started to think more to it, I believe the Spirit started to give 198 00:11:00,805 --> 00:11:07,129 me a list of things, of why this is important to God and vital even for us. 199 00:11:07,570 --> 00:11:10,939 And so this isn't an exhaustive list, but this is a list of things 200 00:11:10,939 --> 00:11:13,300 for our time that we have here. 201 00:11:13,530 --> 00:11:16,950 And so a number of things, reasons why giving thanks is important to God. 202 00:11:17,150 --> 00:11:22,130 I believe one, in no particular order, it helps us to be grateful versus ungrateful. 203 00:11:23,759 --> 00:11:30,280 When you are given and provided something, hopefully we feel 204 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:32,189 a little bit of appreciation. 205 00:11:33,055 --> 00:11:37,765 But when we decide to express that, it helps our appreciation even more. 206 00:11:37,775 --> 00:11:41,175 It's on the forefront of our mind, and we're doing something that is 207 00:11:41,195 --> 00:11:45,585 good and is right, but allows us to be grateful for what we have. 208 00:11:46,335 --> 00:11:49,175 As opposed to the opposite of being ungrateful. 209 00:11:49,945 --> 00:11:52,614 How many like being around ungrateful people? 210 00:11:53,664 --> 00:11:55,035 None of us do, right? 211 00:11:55,590 --> 00:11:59,700 We've seen the spoiled child or maybe we were the spoiled child at some point. 212 00:11:59,950 --> 00:12:04,490 And so we know being around those who are ungrateful, nobody likes that. 213 00:12:04,620 --> 00:12:05,020 Why? 214 00:12:05,029 --> 00:12:09,680 Because it will lead to complaining, arguing, bitterness 215 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:13,170 and a lack of appreciation. 216 00:12:14,409 --> 00:12:18,640 And the worst thing that can happen when we are not grateful is we become entitled. 217 00:12:20,670 --> 00:12:24,939 Expecting people to give us things or expecting even when we do it 218 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:28,540 with God, God, you owe me this. 219 00:12:29,740 --> 00:12:32,400 He owes you that. 220 00:12:33,660 --> 00:12:39,030 And so what we can get entitled that puts us in a really bad spot, not only in our 221 00:12:39,030 --> 00:12:44,180 thinking and our choices, but also in our relationship to our Heavenly Father. 222 00:12:45,550 --> 00:12:51,340 But expressing, giving thanks helps us to be grateful and not be ungrateful. 223 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:52,640 Let's look at another one here. 224 00:12:52,660 --> 00:12:57,140 It strengthens our souls, our very being, our faith. 225 00:12:57,879 --> 00:13:02,809 When we express gratitude, not just feel it, that's a good starting point, 226 00:13:02,910 --> 00:13:07,760 but when we actually decide to act upon the gratitude that we have. 227 00:13:08,300 --> 00:13:11,850 It helps us during trials, tribulations, testing. 228 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:16,589 We can have a sense of peace and joy, encouragement, strength 229 00:13:17,150 --> 00:13:18,459 to persevere and overcome. 230 00:13:18,459 --> 00:13:21,209 Look at this scripture that most of us are very familiar with. 231 00:13:21,420 --> 00:13:23,540 It says, do not be anxious about anything. 232 00:13:23,550 --> 00:13:24,740 Wow, that's a tough call. 233 00:13:25,809 --> 00:13:27,549 I get anxious about a lot of things. 234 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:29,329 It says, do not be anxious. 235 00:13:29,349 --> 00:13:30,670 Well, how can we do that, Lord? 236 00:13:30,670 --> 00:13:32,370 We says, here's what, here's a step. 237 00:13:32,650 --> 00:13:37,810 But in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, 238 00:13:38,980 --> 00:13:42,400 Present your request to God and the peace of God which transcends all 239 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:47,000 understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 240 00:13:47,270 --> 00:13:49,570 This stood out to me a couple years ago and it hit me recently. 241 00:13:50,210 --> 00:13:55,540 As we are praying about things that we are tempted or we're struggling with, 242 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:59,900 we're feeling anxious, we're nervous about the future, we're battling 243 00:13:59,910 --> 00:14:02,580 fear, whatever the case may be. 244 00:14:03,070 --> 00:14:04,899 God says pray to me about this. 245 00:14:05,579 --> 00:14:08,770 Bring every prayer, every petition to me. 246 00:14:09,410 --> 00:14:13,770 But when you do this, you need to have some thanksgiving in there. 247 00:14:15,530 --> 00:14:17,090 You go, wow, that's interesting. 248 00:14:18,220 --> 00:14:20,310 I'm praying to God, help me out, help me out. 249 00:14:20,539 --> 00:14:25,870 But when I incorporate thanksgiving into that same prayer, it now puts 250 00:14:25,870 --> 00:14:30,390 me in a position and a posture in which the divine supernatural peace 251 00:14:30,390 --> 00:14:34,339 of God can come into my life which transcends all my understanding. 252 00:14:35,435 --> 00:14:38,475 Because what happens, I start to get perspective about things. 253 00:14:41,464 --> 00:14:47,204 I start to view how I'm actually very blessed in spite of the situation or 254 00:14:47,214 --> 00:14:49,645 even in the midst of this situation. 255 00:14:49,744 --> 00:14:51,574 Brothers and sisters, you get what I'm saying here. 256 00:14:52,714 --> 00:14:54,545 When we're praying, God, help me, help me. 257 00:14:54,545 --> 00:14:57,475 But then we say, but God, thank you so much for what you are doing. 258 00:14:57,475 --> 00:14:59,334 Thank you that I have you to pray to. 259 00:14:59,515 --> 00:15:02,135 Thank you that you're with me as I go through this and thank you in 260 00:15:02,135 --> 00:15:03,355 advance for getting me over this. 261 00:15:05,590 --> 00:15:07,950 I might be a little different in my attitude after the 262 00:15:07,950 --> 00:15:09,040 prayer is over, won't I? 263 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:11,730 You see, God is so cool. 264 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:19,170 And so as we express this thanksgiving, it strengthens our souls. 265 00:15:19,899 --> 00:15:23,940 You know, another thing is, it helps us remain faithful to God. 266 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:28,210 When we keep thanking God, when we're mindful, we're being thankful, 267 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:33,710 and we're deciding to act upon that gratitude, it helps us remain faithful. 268 00:15:35,905 --> 00:15:36,635 Look at this scripture. 269 00:15:36,635 --> 00:15:40,025 It hit me the other day in Romans chapter one in verse 21. 270 00:15:40,025 --> 00:15:44,914 He's talking about the fall of mankind and he says something really profound. 271 00:15:44,914 --> 00:15:48,555 It says for although they knew God, they neither glorified in 272 00:15:48,555 --> 00:15:51,754 this God nor gave thanks to him. 273 00:15:53,265 --> 00:15:58,564 But their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 274 00:15:59,795 --> 00:16:00,925 Think about that for a second. 275 00:16:03,570 --> 00:16:06,820 The fall of mankind, the fall of us, the fall of you and me, those who 276 00:16:06,820 --> 00:16:10,930 came before us, those who are present with us, those who will come after us. 277 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:18,699 It says, hey, they knew about God, but they decided they 278 00:16:18,700 --> 00:16:19,999 weren't going to glorify God. 279 00:16:21,060 --> 00:16:23,690 And they decided they weren't going to give thanks to God. 280 00:16:25,140 --> 00:16:26,180 And it led to what? 281 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:30,130 Their thinking became futile. 282 00:16:30,650 --> 00:16:32,070 Start having some stinking thinking. 283 00:16:32,770 --> 00:16:35,030 And then it says their hearts were darkened. 284 00:16:36,660 --> 00:16:37,750 And now what does that do? 285 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:42,770 That disconnects us from our relationship with God. 286 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:45,970 But where did it start? 287 00:16:46,589 --> 00:16:48,140 Well, it started with just temptation. 288 00:16:48,140 --> 00:16:49,279 Yes, all that came through. 289 00:16:49,460 --> 00:16:54,330 But I decided at some point I wasn't going to glorify God and I wasn't going to 290 00:16:54,330 --> 00:16:56,250 thank God for what he's done in my life. 291 00:16:57,350 --> 00:16:58,469 And now what has it led to? 292 00:16:58,900 --> 00:17:03,010 My heart being darkened, my thinking off, and what will I do? 293 00:17:06,230 --> 00:17:08,020 Walk away from my relationship with God. 294 00:17:09,169 --> 00:17:14,249 Those of us who have been around in the faith, we've seen people fall from grace. 295 00:17:14,250 --> 00:17:17,290 We've seen people fall away from God and decide to leave Him. 296 00:17:17,848 --> 00:17:19,259 Think about this for a second. 297 00:17:19,479 --> 00:17:23,949 Has anyone you've ever known who has decided to leave God, did they 298 00:17:23,979 --> 00:17:25,679 do it while they were thanking God? 299 00:17:28,584 --> 00:17:29,434 Of course not. 300 00:17:30,454 --> 00:17:32,124 It's pretty much an oxymoron. 301 00:17:33,484 --> 00:17:35,934 Because if they were, yes, thank you God, thank you for all you've 302 00:17:35,934 --> 00:17:37,364 done for me and I'm gonna leave you. 303 00:17:39,764 --> 00:17:41,175 Wouldn't make any sense, would it? 304 00:17:41,774 --> 00:17:45,504 But it draws us nearer to God when we thank Him. 305 00:17:45,554 --> 00:17:47,235 Brothers and sisters, are you with me here? 306 00:17:48,355 --> 00:17:51,284 And so we can see here how it helps us to remain faithful. 307 00:17:51,425 --> 00:17:53,495 This isn't just a good thing to do. 308 00:17:54,785 --> 00:17:59,455 This allows us to hold on to our father in the midst of temptation and 309 00:17:59,455 --> 00:18:01,325 trial and struggle and tribulation. 310 00:18:01,935 --> 00:18:03,125 Let's go to another one here. 311 00:18:03,315 --> 00:18:05,055 I know many people will appreciate this. 312 00:18:05,324 --> 00:18:08,785 The mental and physical benefits of expressing gratitude. 313 00:18:09,844 --> 00:18:12,175 I saw the Mayo Clinic, they had a little article. 314 00:18:12,425 --> 00:18:16,425 And this article said that the studies have shown that feeling thankful 315 00:18:16,565 --> 00:18:18,385 and expressing it can do this. 316 00:18:18,625 --> 00:18:21,415 Improve sleep, mood, and immunity. 317 00:18:21,705 --> 00:18:25,524 Decrease depression, anxiety, difficulties with the chronic pain and 318 00:18:25,524 --> 00:18:27,815 risk of disease, and release oxytocin. 319 00:18:28,024 --> 00:18:29,485 Does that sound good to you? 320 00:18:30,875 --> 00:18:33,294 Does anybody want to sign up for that afterwards? 321 00:18:33,585 --> 00:18:35,634 That, that pill will be over at the welcome table. 322 00:18:35,635 --> 00:18:37,434 I'm sure it will be stacked over after service. 323 00:18:38,925 --> 00:18:39,805 What does it say here? 324 00:18:39,805 --> 00:18:43,055 Man, just even God knows He loves His creation so much. 325 00:18:43,165 --> 00:18:47,434 He's like, look, if you have a consistency of being thankful, it 326 00:18:47,434 --> 00:18:51,045 will not only help you be faithful to me, it will help you be grateful. 327 00:18:51,175 --> 00:18:54,854 It's going to affect your very being, your livelihood, your 328 00:18:54,865 --> 00:18:56,555 mental and physical health. 329 00:18:57,835 --> 00:18:59,075 So I want to thank all of you. 330 00:19:00,555 --> 00:19:00,835 Thank you. 331 00:19:00,835 --> 00:19:01,085 Thank you. 332 00:19:01,085 --> 00:19:01,325 Thank you. 333 00:19:01,325 --> 00:19:01,585 Thank you. 334 00:19:01,585 --> 00:19:01,835 Thank you. 335 00:19:01,835 --> 00:19:02,085 Thank you. 336 00:19:02,085 --> 00:19:02,495 Thank you. 337 00:19:03,585 --> 00:19:04,574 And I want to thank you some more. 338 00:19:06,830 --> 00:19:08,350 It does something to us. 339 00:19:08,350 --> 00:19:12,750 And even this oxytocin, that's the hormone that helps us connect with people. 340 00:19:14,669 --> 00:19:15,449 Which is interesting. 341 00:19:17,570 --> 00:19:19,950 Which leads to this one. 342 00:19:20,610 --> 00:19:24,149 Is that giving thanks is important to God because it's relational. 343 00:19:25,489 --> 00:19:28,740 And this is to me the one that I want to spend a couple minutes on. 344 00:19:28,910 --> 00:19:32,470 Is that giving thanks is relational. 345 00:19:34,105 --> 00:19:38,175 We tend to not see that on the surface, but as we delve a little 346 00:19:38,175 --> 00:19:42,575 bit into this and we put on our thinking caps and start to analyze 347 00:19:42,605 --> 00:19:45,235 this, we'll see it is so relational. 348 00:19:46,405 --> 00:19:50,514 You know, even when we go back to Leviticus chapter seven, this 349 00:19:50,514 --> 00:19:55,145 thank offering, it was under the category of the fellowship offering. 350 00:19:56,195 --> 00:19:57,045 Now that's interesting. 351 00:19:57,935 --> 00:20:01,255 There were sin offerings, there were all kinds of different offerings. 352 00:20:01,575 --> 00:20:07,395 But the thank offering fell under the category of the fellowship offering. 353 00:20:08,715 --> 00:20:11,095 What does fellowship mean and imply? 354 00:20:12,565 --> 00:20:13,255 Relationship. 355 00:20:14,565 --> 00:20:19,584 So this thank offering is embedded in this idea of relationship. 356 00:20:20,164 --> 00:20:23,545 And it's interesting, even when you look at it in Leviticus chapter 7, it 357 00:20:23,545 --> 00:20:25,985 comes right after the guilt offering. 358 00:20:26,945 --> 00:20:33,135 So after we've had our sins atoned for, we now can express our thanks for our 359 00:20:33,135 --> 00:20:35,685 sweet fellowship that we have with God. 360 00:20:39,024 --> 00:20:43,245 And this thank offering that's prescribed in Leviticus chapter 7. 361 00:20:43,445 --> 00:20:48,425 It's the only of all the offerings that a meal, that there was a 362 00:20:48,425 --> 00:20:52,365 meal that took place in which the person offering participated in. 363 00:20:53,725 --> 00:20:55,495 All the other offerings were here. 364 00:20:55,685 --> 00:20:59,185 We're going to give an offering and then they would not participate in it. 365 00:20:59,965 --> 00:21:03,585 Okay, this is my time of, you know, spiritual reality here. 366 00:21:03,734 --> 00:21:08,485 But there wasn't a time any other than the thank offering in which it was a meal. 367 00:21:09,975 --> 00:21:13,365 And it was a symbolic meal in which the person offering 368 00:21:13,365 --> 00:21:14,795 would be there with the priest. 369 00:21:15,004 --> 00:21:19,285 And symbolically it would also be God present with them. 370 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:27,959 And so now there's this offering, this Thanksgiving meal in which the person 371 00:21:27,959 --> 00:21:30,919 was celebrating the relationship. 372 00:21:32,490 --> 00:21:39,059 Celebrating the blessings that God had provided in their lives. 373 00:21:40,029 --> 00:21:44,719 Not told when, where, because it was supposed to be prompted when 374 00:21:44,729 --> 00:21:48,059 we recognize our relationship. 375 00:21:48,649 --> 00:21:53,349 And blessings in God, there's some applications for you 376 00:21:53,349 --> 00:21:54,899 and I with this, isn't there? 377 00:21:56,749 --> 00:22:02,929 When we thank God, when we remember God's blessing, we want to spend 378 00:22:02,939 --> 00:22:10,189 time with God and relate to God so that we can draw near to God. 379 00:22:11,449 --> 00:22:12,739 Think about this for a second. 380 00:22:12,739 --> 00:22:16,690 When you give thanks, Or when somebody gives thanks to you, what 381 00:22:16,690 --> 00:22:18,760 does that do in your relationship? 382 00:22:21,140 --> 00:22:25,659 When you've given something to somebody, and they sincerely, not just with empty 383 00:22:25,660 --> 00:22:29,220 words, but they sincerely express their gratitude, how do they make you feel? 384 00:22:30,709 --> 00:22:31,640 You feel good, don't you? 385 00:22:32,750 --> 00:22:34,110 You, you're like, wow, this is awesome. 386 00:22:34,260 --> 00:22:34,980 And then what happens? 387 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:38,430 Some oxytocin is going out, and you start to feel what with that person? 388 00:22:39,580 --> 00:22:40,509 A closer bond. 389 00:22:41,350 --> 00:22:43,490 What about when you express gratitude? 390 00:22:44,114 --> 00:22:45,834 You're like, man, I'm just so grateful. 391 00:22:45,834 --> 00:22:47,554 You're like, thank you so much. 392 00:22:48,534 --> 00:22:51,774 Some oxytocin is going across. 393 00:22:51,774 --> 00:22:52,424 And now what? 394 00:22:52,544 --> 00:22:55,824 You're building a closer relationship. 395 00:22:57,084 --> 00:23:00,624 You see, this giving thanks, there's all these great reasons, but I believe 396 00:23:00,624 --> 00:23:04,294 maybe the most profound and the biggest reason is that it's relational. 397 00:23:06,314 --> 00:23:08,774 And God is a relational God. 398 00:23:09,404 --> 00:23:12,079 Wanting us to have a relationship with Him and have a relationship with Him. 399 00:23:12,409 --> 00:23:13,820 with the rest of his creation. 400 00:23:14,689 --> 00:23:18,179 And so this idea of giving thanks will allow us to connect with each 401 00:23:18,179 --> 00:23:22,049 other in profound and deep ways but guess what happens when we express 402 00:23:22,049 --> 00:23:23,669 our thanks to God continually? 403 00:23:23,899 --> 00:23:27,310 It produces a greater walk with Him. 404 00:23:28,060 --> 00:23:30,699 So I want to stay faithful. 405 00:23:31,129 --> 00:23:33,310 I will enjoy my relationship. 406 00:23:33,470 --> 00:23:37,810 I will have times in which I'm truly grateful. 407 00:23:38,860 --> 00:23:41,100 And even my mental and physical being. 408 00:23:42,580 --> 00:23:43,499 We'll be blessed by this. 409 00:23:44,229 --> 00:23:46,310 Brothers and sisters, this is some cool stuff right here. 410 00:23:47,039 --> 00:23:47,899 Come on, Leviticus! 411 00:23:49,889 --> 00:23:52,499 As we can see here, this idea is so profound. 412 00:23:52,509 --> 00:23:53,090 You know what? 413 00:23:53,249 --> 00:23:57,739 It's this magnetic force that pulls us closer to one another. 414 00:23:58,739 --> 00:24:01,109 You know, I had breakfast, uh, I mentioned Chad. 415 00:24:01,269 --> 00:24:02,739 I had breakfast with Chad the other day. 416 00:24:02,949 --> 00:24:04,149 Uh, maybe this was about two weeks ago. 417 00:24:04,149 --> 00:24:04,829 I don't know what it was. 418 00:24:04,829 --> 00:24:07,999 But Chad, I thought like, you know, Chad calls me like, Hey, wanna get breakfast? 419 00:24:07,999 --> 00:24:09,449 I'm like, Okay, cool, Chad. 420 00:24:10,834 --> 00:24:12,955 Uh oh, Chad got a problem with me, you know what I'm saying? 421 00:24:14,264 --> 00:24:16,735 And I thought that for a quick second but then I, you know, I went away 422 00:24:16,735 --> 00:24:17,925 like, Nah, I don't think he does. 423 00:24:18,004 --> 00:24:18,814 At least I hope not. 424 00:24:20,054 --> 00:24:23,014 And we get together and he's like, Hey, I just wanted to take you out, man. 425 00:24:23,024 --> 00:24:24,685 You and your wife, we did something for my family. 426 00:24:24,814 --> 00:24:26,034 And I just want to say thank you. 427 00:24:26,035 --> 00:24:27,286 I was like, what? 428 00:24:27,286 --> 00:24:29,504 I was like, well man, can we go get some steak? 429 00:24:29,725 --> 00:24:32,614 No, I'm just playing, you know what I mean? 430 00:24:32,615 --> 00:24:34,925 But it was so cool and so here we are, we're talking over 431 00:24:34,925 --> 00:24:36,354 this meal because of what? 432 00:24:36,495 --> 00:24:37,385 Because of thanks. 433 00:24:39,660 --> 00:24:42,500 This meal, we're enjoying each other's company, we're laughing, we're getting a 434 00:24:42,500 --> 00:24:44,580 chance to have depth in our conversation. 435 00:24:44,580 --> 00:24:46,700 This was relational. 436 00:24:48,730 --> 00:24:53,190 Appreciate the Langeleers and, and Sonja and just expressing her gratitude 437 00:24:53,210 --> 00:24:56,270 for certain things and being there for the family with Luke and, and Luke's 438 00:24:56,300 --> 00:24:59,730 parents and, and it was just like, wow, the, the bond that we have just 439 00:24:59,730 --> 00:25:02,760 because of gratitude for one another. 440 00:25:04,110 --> 00:25:07,000 You see, giving thanks, it's relational. 441 00:25:10,889 --> 00:25:12,469 It's not just the right thing. 442 00:25:13,379 --> 00:25:15,669 It's to draw us closer to our creator. 443 00:25:15,899 --> 00:25:17,969 And draw us closer to one another. 444 00:25:17,969 --> 00:25:19,019 Can I get an amen? 445 00:25:19,659 --> 00:25:21,090 So what should our response be? 446 00:25:21,090 --> 00:25:24,419 I think it's pretty, pretty, pretty simple and clear. 447 00:25:24,419 --> 00:25:25,699 We should be giving thanks. 448 00:25:26,699 --> 00:25:28,689 You know, 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 18. 449 00:25:28,719 --> 00:25:29,229 Look at what it says. 450 00:25:29,229 --> 00:25:31,699 It says, Give thanks in all circumstances. 451 00:25:31,850 --> 00:25:34,249 For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 452 00:25:34,265 --> 00:25:36,144 Jesus. 453 00:25:36,145 --> 00:25:37,004 It stood out to me. 454 00:25:37,074 --> 00:25:39,594 It didn't say give thanks for all circumstances. 455 00:25:39,594 --> 00:25:41,294 He's like, look, if you're in a bad spot, don't be like, 456 00:25:41,294 --> 00:25:42,534 thank you, God, it's terrible. 457 00:25:42,534 --> 00:25:43,334 I can't do anything. 458 00:25:43,495 --> 00:25:44,094 He didn't say that. 459 00:25:44,114 --> 00:25:46,705 He says, but to be thankful in those circumstances. 460 00:25:49,185 --> 00:25:50,834 Ooh, that's something right there, isn't it? 461 00:25:51,784 --> 00:25:54,844 No matter what the circumstance, I still have something I can thank God for. 462 00:25:54,845 --> 00:26:00,229 He says, because this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 463 00:26:01,290 --> 00:26:02,800 This is what he designed for you. 464 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:03,200 Why? 465 00:26:03,370 --> 00:26:08,920 Because that thankfulness will create a closer connection with him. 466 00:26:10,949 --> 00:26:14,190 But there's some things that prevent us from doing this on a daily, right? 467 00:26:14,190 --> 00:26:15,480 On a consistent basis. 468 00:26:15,970 --> 00:26:17,730 I know for me, there's a number of things. 469 00:26:17,730 --> 00:26:19,230 Maybe you can relate to some of these. 470 00:26:19,500 --> 00:26:21,060 The problem is we can't maintain this. 471 00:26:21,060 --> 00:26:22,390 So some things stop us. 472 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:26,040 I know for me, maybe the biggest one is I can take things for granted. 473 00:26:27,429 --> 00:26:29,720 I get so used to just having so many blessings. 474 00:26:29,720 --> 00:26:31,399 I'm just like, man, this is just life. 475 00:26:31,399 --> 00:26:32,480 I should just expect this. 476 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:37,080 You know, I took, you know, I should take, uh, take for granted my, my mom. 477 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:38,870 She used to, you know, I got to brag to my mom. 478 00:26:39,060 --> 00:26:39,720 And this is crazy. 479 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:41,739 Some of y'all look down on me, but even in high school, my 480 00:26:41,739 --> 00:26:43,030 mom used to make lunch for me. 481 00:26:44,599 --> 00:26:44,819 Yeah. 482 00:26:44,820 --> 00:26:45,030 Come on. 483 00:26:45,040 --> 00:26:46,260 Y'all like, wow, she did that. 484 00:26:47,149 --> 00:26:48,590 I thought every mom did that. 485 00:26:49,500 --> 00:26:51,460 And then one day me and her got into an argument. 486 00:26:51,500 --> 00:26:53,279 She decided I'm not going to do this for you anymore. 487 00:26:54,370 --> 00:26:57,010 And I got mad and I started complaining to the homies at school, 488 00:26:57,010 --> 00:26:59,879 like, Man, my mom, man, she ain't even making me lunch anymore. 489 00:26:59,889 --> 00:27:00,470 They were like, what? 490 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:02,520 You complaining because your mom don't give you lunch anymore? 491 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:05,725 I was like, yeah, your mom don't give you lunch. 492 00:27:05,725 --> 00:27:06,424 They were like, no! 493 00:27:06,424 --> 00:27:08,030 I said, oh, I better be quiet then. 494 00:27:08,040 --> 00:27:09,244 You know what I'm saying? 495 00:27:10,104 --> 00:27:13,544 I could take granted for Karina and she just does so much I'd be like, Oh, 496 00:27:13,544 --> 00:27:17,344 that's just what all wives do and then I realize no, that's not what all wives do. 497 00:27:17,345 --> 00:27:19,885 And so it makes me grateful and that's why I need to be grateful. 498 00:27:20,064 --> 00:27:21,424 But I just take things for granted. 499 00:27:21,424 --> 00:27:23,324 Maybe you can relate or maybe you can't. 500 00:27:24,574 --> 00:27:28,834 God, you just do so much for me so I just take it for granted. 501 00:27:31,014 --> 00:27:34,314 Another thing that maybe stops is we focus more on the gift than the giver. 502 00:27:35,809 --> 00:27:39,439 Thank you God for giving us and we just hold this gift, whatever it may 503 00:27:39,439 --> 00:27:45,399 be, and just forget to truly express gratitude, not just with words, but 504 00:27:45,399 --> 00:27:47,379 with our life choices, our actions. 505 00:27:49,370 --> 00:27:53,049 Another area or another way in which we could do this is we, again, going back to 506 00:27:53,049 --> 00:27:57,360 what I said earlier, we can feel entitled, believe that we deserve something. 507 00:27:59,449 --> 00:28:00,729 Another way in which we can. 508 00:28:02,185 --> 00:28:05,985 Stop the stop us from being thankful as we think we've earned it. 509 00:28:07,394 --> 00:28:08,524 I've caused this. 510 00:28:08,584 --> 00:28:13,204 It was my hard work, my determination, my intellect, my skill, my ability, 511 00:28:13,204 --> 00:28:16,034 my talent that got me to this point. 512 00:28:17,874 --> 00:28:19,264 Therefore, we're deceived. 513 00:28:21,064 --> 00:28:22,554 Thinking it was all about us. 514 00:28:22,975 --> 00:28:25,344 You know, no person is self made. 515 00:28:26,344 --> 00:28:28,094 You know, there's a self made millionaires. 516 00:28:28,104 --> 00:28:29,834 No person is self made. 517 00:28:31,054 --> 00:28:34,084 Because even if you're a self-made millionaire, there was a system in place 518 00:28:34,084 --> 00:28:35,855 in which you were to take advantage of it. 519 00:28:35,915 --> 00:28:37,054 You didn't create the system. 520 00:28:38,824 --> 00:28:41,284 You're, I'm a self-made a musician. 521 00:28:41,314 --> 00:28:44,225 Well, somebody on YouTube showed you how to play. 522 00:28:46,685 --> 00:28:48,905 Somebody made that guitar, you didn't make that guitar. 523 00:28:48,935 --> 00:28:49,534 You get what I'm saying? 524 00:28:49,625 --> 00:28:51,020 And that's no shot at anybody in here. 525 00:28:51,020 --> 00:28:51,219 Okay. 526 00:28:53,510 --> 00:28:55,270 But this idea that we've earned it. 527 00:28:55,270 --> 00:28:58,920 No, there's always been some form of a blessing through somebody 528 00:28:59,090 --> 00:29:03,470 in which we were able to take advantage of and be able to excel in. 529 00:29:05,230 --> 00:29:09,180 And so we should never have a posture of I deserve and I've earned this because we've 530 00:29:09,239 --> 00:29:14,639 all been the beneficiaries of someone, someone, but ultimately of God's blessed 531 00:29:15,010 --> 00:29:17,530 kindness and unmerited favor upon us. 532 00:29:19,399 --> 00:29:21,379 So then what's the remedy to get over this? 533 00:29:21,909 --> 00:29:24,149 I've been, you know, learning a lot of things recently here. 534 00:29:24,149 --> 00:29:26,840 But one of the things I've been learning is this idea of reflection. 535 00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:31,879 And I believe the remedy for us is to have times of reflection and intentionality. 536 00:29:33,289 --> 00:29:35,879 Times where we reflect upon the blessings from God. 537 00:29:36,759 --> 00:29:38,639 We just sit back and we reflect upon it. 538 00:29:38,639 --> 00:29:41,659 And as you go there, you actually start to go, Wow, I need a lot 539 00:29:41,659 --> 00:29:43,629 more time than I had anticipated. 540 00:29:44,139 --> 00:29:45,850 Because I am so richly blessed. 541 00:29:47,809 --> 00:29:49,709 But then we need times of intentionality. 542 00:29:50,450 --> 00:29:53,540 In time in which we're intentionally thanking God for 543 00:29:53,540 --> 00:29:54,540 the blessings in our lives. 544 00:29:55,800 --> 00:30:00,170 And deciding I'm going to act upon my gratitude for all 545 00:30:00,180 --> 00:30:02,320 that you are doing in my life. 546 00:30:03,340 --> 00:30:05,200 So let's get real practical here for this week. 547 00:30:05,479 --> 00:30:06,979 So let's get some action steps here. 548 00:30:06,979 --> 00:30:07,269 All right. 549 00:30:07,269 --> 00:30:07,910 We love lists. 550 00:30:08,180 --> 00:30:10,950 Go ahead and write down a top 10 gratitude list. 551 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:11,880 Okay. 552 00:30:12,110 --> 00:30:12,510 All right. 553 00:30:12,510 --> 00:30:13,710 And do this by tomorrow. 554 00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:18,270 You can do this tonight or, or, or, or tomorrow, but right now your top 10 555 00:30:18,280 --> 00:30:22,400 gratitude list mean the top 10 things in your life that you are grateful for. 556 00:30:22,550 --> 00:30:26,650 And then thank God, be very intentional and thanking God 557 00:30:26,869 --> 00:30:28,759 for those things in your life. 558 00:30:29,229 --> 00:30:32,990 And then I want you to do here is keep that list for future reference. 559 00:30:33,600 --> 00:30:34,479 Hold on to it. 560 00:30:35,440 --> 00:30:36,160 Be able to use it. 561 00:30:36,190 --> 00:30:38,660 Maybe you edit it as time goes by. 562 00:30:38,940 --> 00:30:42,520 But you'll be able to have an opportunity in which you go over and you're going 563 00:30:42,520 --> 00:30:44,610 to be so filled with appreciation. 564 00:30:44,610 --> 00:30:46,389 It's going to come out in expression. 565 00:30:46,659 --> 00:30:49,630 But it should come out in the way that we live. 566 00:30:49,630 --> 00:30:52,599 And then lastly, another cool tip here I learned here is that 567 00:30:52,599 --> 00:30:55,380 consistent Thanksgiving only prayers. 568 00:30:56,060 --> 00:30:58,310 And what I mean by that is you have a prayer time in which 569 00:30:58,490 --> 00:31:00,350 all you do is you thank God. 570 00:31:01,110 --> 00:31:02,329 You don't ask Him for anything. 571 00:31:03,140 --> 00:31:04,240 Now this is really hard. 572 00:31:04,780 --> 00:31:06,500 He'll be like, well, God, I'm thankful, but if you can 573 00:31:06,510 --> 00:31:08,260 also work in this situation. 574 00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:11,920 But you just want to refrain and God, I'm just going to thank you. 575 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:13,030 In fact, I was praying yesterday. 576 00:31:13,030 --> 00:31:13,920 I was walking around. 577 00:31:14,200 --> 00:31:16,190 I was like, God, I just want to have a time of Thanksgiving. 578 00:31:16,419 --> 00:31:18,340 And I was like, but can I just squeeze in two requests? 579 00:31:19,860 --> 00:31:20,830 Can I just get those two? 580 00:31:20,850 --> 00:31:21,600 I said, I apologize. 581 00:31:21,690 --> 00:31:23,429 I'm going to squeeze those in and then I'm going to thank you. 582 00:31:23,430 --> 00:31:24,360 You know what I'm saying? 583 00:31:24,760 --> 00:31:25,830 So I'm just being honest with you. 584 00:31:25,830 --> 00:31:28,670 It was tough for me yesterday, but man, those times are good and 585 00:31:28,670 --> 00:31:29,720 I need to incorporate them more. 586 00:31:29,720 --> 00:31:31,470 So I'm grateful for God revealing this to me. 587 00:31:31,710 --> 00:31:33,190 But times in which you just thank God. 588 00:31:33,190 --> 00:31:34,400 But again, this is being intentional. 589 00:31:35,450 --> 00:31:36,170 All I want to do. 590 00:31:36,180 --> 00:31:38,360 I don't want to ask you for anything because you've been so good to me. 591 00:31:39,190 --> 00:31:44,290 I just want to acknowledge and thank you for your presence, for your 592 00:31:44,290 --> 00:31:50,510 relationship with me, for my salvation, for the word, for your spirit. 593 00:31:51,089 --> 00:31:53,339 Thank you for the spiritual people who influence you guys. 594 00:31:53,350 --> 00:31:54,270 See what I'm saying here. 595 00:31:55,220 --> 00:32:00,880 And so at time where you consistently thank God only as we close here, the 596 00:32:00,900 --> 00:32:02,990 act of Thanksgiving is important to God. 597 00:32:03,820 --> 00:32:05,780 It deeply affects our souls. 598 00:32:05,780 --> 00:32:07,480 It affects our faith. 599 00:32:08,370 --> 00:32:11,510 But most of all, I believe giving thanks is relational. 600 00:32:12,160 --> 00:32:16,409 And this thanksgiving should lead to thanks living. 601 00:32:17,240 --> 00:32:18,209 And that'll be next week. 602 00:32:18,250 --> 00:32:21,329 We're going to have Kyle come up and he's going to preach next week on 603 00:32:21,380 --> 00:32:23,210 from thanksgiving to thanks living. 604 00:32:24,100 --> 00:32:29,439 But as we consider the thank offering that was explained in Leviticus chapter 605 00:32:29,439 --> 00:32:31,060 7, I want to give you one more note here. 606 00:32:31,355 --> 00:32:34,175 This thing offering it had to be eaten all that day. 607 00:32:34,525 --> 00:32:38,105 And so as they sacrificed the, the, the animal and they had this offering, 608 00:32:38,105 --> 00:32:42,295 there was too much food, but it had to all be eaten in that day. 609 00:32:42,464 --> 00:32:43,374 So what did that mean? 610 00:32:43,375 --> 00:32:48,015 That the person who offered it had to include others with them to enjoy 611 00:32:48,235 --> 00:32:49,964 and participate in this celebration. 612 00:32:51,325 --> 00:32:54,435 Again, the Thanksgiving meal. 613 00:32:55,075 --> 00:32:58,865 And as we have time this week with friends and family, let's have a Leviticus. 614 00:32:58,885 --> 00:33:02,725 Seven style thank offering meal in which we have time with 615 00:33:02,725 --> 00:33:04,285 friends in which we celebrate. 616 00:33:04,285 --> 00:33:04,945 We acknowledge. 617 00:33:04,950 --> 00:33:12,085 We recognize, and we express our thanks to our heavenly Father who's been good to us. 618 00:33:12,505 --> 00:33:15,505 Let's close out in Colossians chapter three, verse 15. 619 00:33:15,715 --> 00:33:19,915 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts since as members of one body, you 620 00:33:19,915 --> 00:33:22,675 were called to peace and be thankful. 621 00:33:23,155 --> 00:33:26,485 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and 622 00:33:26,490 --> 00:33:28,705 admonish one another with all wisdom. 623 00:33:29,005 --> 00:33:32,745 Through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God 624 00:33:32,745 --> 00:33:35,835 with gratitude in your hearts. 625 00:33:36,385 --> 00:33:40,722 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name 626 00:33:40,722 --> 00:33:45,564 of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. 627 00:33:45,595 --> 00:33:47,674 Thanksgiving is more than church.