Next Level Gratitude
Pastor Erickson teaches from 1 Thessalonians 5:18, setting Lot's wife, who looked back at what she was losing, beside the Samaritan leper who turned back to thank Jesus. He calls the church to resist a spirit of entitlement, thank God for each and every blessing, and let their praise and their way of life reflect His goodness.
The message in 6 points
In every thing give thanks
Pastor Erickson notes that the verse says every thing as two words, which means thanking God for each blessing one by one, not with a blanket statement. He asks whether his own worship truly reflects how good God has been to him.
38:00Do not take blessings for granted
Taking blessings for granted feeds a spirit of entitlement. He remembers how the church kept giving through the 2008 recession and a long building project and God kept blessing, and he says he never wants to think he simply deserves it.
44:26David's songs of thanksgiving
He reads a run of psalms where David offers thanks in the congregation, comes before God with thanksgiving, and gives thanks for His mercy that endures forever. Praise, he says, is how gratitude shows.
49:09Lot's wife could not let go
The angels took Lot's wife by the hand and pulled her out of Sodom by the mercy of God, yet she looked back and became a pillar of salt. He says next level gratitude starts with trusting God's direction by faith, even when we cannot see the whole picture.
52:30The one leper who came back
Ten lepers were cleansed, but only the Samaritan turned back to glorify God at Jesus' feet. He could have gone to his own priest, but he came back to the healer, and Jesus spoke as healer, priest and king, showing outsiders brought in through faith.
1:01:06Two who turned back
Lot's wife turned back to her old life, while the leper turned back to give thanks. Pastor Erickson calls everyone to remember what God brought them out of, offer the sacrifice of praise, and let their gratitude show in their worship and their lifestyle.
1:13:57
In his words
“I don't want to be the type of person who feels entitled for what I've been given. Because taking blessings for granted feeds the spirit of entitlement.”
“Next level gratitude says, I, I don't see it all yet, but I trust the one who can see it. I trust the one who can see the big picture.”
“They both turn back. But one turns back to Sodom. One turns back to their old lifestyle, their old way of living. And the other one turns back to give God gratitude and God thanks.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
1 Thessalonians 5:18
18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
King James Version.
Psalms 35:18
18I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
King James Version.
Psalms 50:14
14Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
King James Version.
Psalms 69:30
30I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
King James Version.
Psalms 95:2
2Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
King James Version.
Psalms 100:4
4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
King James Version.
Psalms 105:1
1O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.
King James Version.
Psalms 106:1
1Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
King James Version.
Psalms 107:8
8Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
King James Version.
Psalms 136:1-3
1O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. 3O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
King James Version.
Genesis 19:15-17
15And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. 17And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
King James Version.
Genesis 19:24-26
24Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 25And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. 26But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
King James Version.
Hebrews 11:1
1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
King James Version.
Luke 17:12-19
12And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
King James Version.
Psalms 150:6
6Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
King James Version.
Hebrews 13:15
15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
King James Version.
Related messages
The Right Praise at the Right Time
Also about gratitude, worship, faith
Also about gratitude, worship, faith
Also about gratitude, worship, salvation