WHY YOU SHOULD THANK GOD 4

WHY YOU SHOULD THANK GOD 4

Text: Ephesians 5:18-20
Memory verse:
ā€Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.ā€œ ā€­ā€­Psalms 100ā€¬:ā€­4ā€¬ NKJV

There is an adage which says, ā€œIf you donā€™t know how to think, you will not know how to thankā€. Some years ago, as I opened the bath tap with water gushing out, it just occurred to me that so many people suffer to get water which is running freely in my tap yet I had never intentionally thanked God for the provision of water. Do you know that about 703 million people lack access to clean water in the world, and some people walk for over 6 hours daily to haul for water? Since then, even under the showers and while washing my hands in the basin, I habitually say, ā€œThank you, Jesus, for this waterā€.
Likewise, how many times have you thanked God for your forgiveness? Do you know that forgiveness is the greatest miracle we ever received? (Matt 9:5). God first forgave us to be able to relate with us, without which the Holy God wonā€™t associate with the sinful man. Forgiveness was free for us but costly for Him. It cost Him the life of His Son. Thankful people are deep thinkers, and they enjoy the mysteries of thanksgiving.
Another adage says ā€œThe child who expresses thankfulness for the benefits of yesterday will receive a new one today.ā€ God reloads us with new benefits every twenty-four hours” (Psa 68:19). Thanksgiving is the mechanism that sustains that cycle of benefits. The easiest way to stop that reloading cycle is to live a thankless life. If you thank God for what you have, then you can ask Him for what you donā€™t have.
ā€It is good to give thanks to the Lord, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;ā€œ (ā€­ā€­Psaā€¬ ā€­92ā€¬:ā€­1ā€¬).
Thanksgiving is so important that no one can gain access into Godā€™s presence without it. Thanksgiving is the password into His presence.
ā€Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.ā€œ ā€­ā€­(Psaā€¬ ā€­100ā€¬:ā€­4ā€¬).
ā€œEnter with the password: ā€œThank you!ā€..ā€ (MSG).
ā€œYou can pass through His open gates with the password of praise. Come right into His presence with thanksgivingā€¦.ā€ (TPT).
God counts it as gross insult to come before Him without thanking Him for past benefits.
In divine order, thanksgiving precedes praise. You canā€™t be ā€˜praisefulā€™ when you are not thankful.
Friends, donā€™t let your thanksgiving take place only in the church but make it a lifestyle. Thank God for everything, in every place and in all situations.

Praise points
1. Spend more time to itemize those benefits that you have been taking for granted, and thank God for them.
2. Thank God for forgiving you all your sins and for giving you access into His presence.

Todayā€™s declarations
1. ā€œThank Youā€ is my password into Godā€™s presence.
2. Thankful people neverĀ lackĀ supplies.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng