WE SHALL OVERCOME!WE SHALL OVERCOME!

Part I

Overcoming Ingratitude

Part I

Overcoming Ingratitude

INTRODUCTION:INTRODUCTION:

A. We are taught by command to be grateful (Note the progression).A. We are taught by command to be grateful (Note the progression).

1. It is God’s will to be thankful (I Thess. 5:18).1. It is God’s will to be thankful (I Thess. 5:18).

2. Thankfulness required to enter the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 7:21).2. Thankfulness required to enter the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 7:21).

3. To be an ingrate is disobedience; to be disobedient is to be lost (Heb. 2:2). 3. To be an ingrate is disobedience; to be disobedient is to be lost (Heb. 2:2).

B. We are taught by example to be thankful:

B. We are taught by example to be thankful:

1. Jesus was thankful (Mt. 11:28).2. He is our exemplar (I Pet. 1:21, 22).3. David (I Chron. 16:7-36).4. Daniel (Dan. 6:10).5. Anna (Lk. 2:38).6. Paul (Acts 27:35).7. Angelic Host (Rev. 7:11-12).

1. Jesus was thankful (Mt. 11:28).2. He is our exemplar (I Pet. 1:21, 22).3. David (I Chron. 16:7-36).4. Daniel (Dan. 6:10).5. Anna (Lk. 2:38).6. Paul (Acts 27:35).7. Angelic Host (Rev. 7:11-12).

I. Remember to never forget:I. Remember to never forget:

A. “Forget not all his benefits” (Ps. 103:2).A. “Forget not all his benefits” (Ps. 103:2).

B. “Forgetfulness is the foe of gratitude.” B. “Forgetfulness is the foe of gratitude.”

C. Joseph remembered, the butler forgot (Gen. 40:23).C. Joseph remembered, the butler forgot (Gen. 40:23).

D. One leper remembered, nine forgot (Gen. 40:23).D. One leper remembered, nine forgot (Gen. 40:23).

“Blessed are those who give without remembering and those who can receive

without forgetting”

“Blessed are those who give without remembering and those who can receive

without forgetting”

II. Do Not Major In Your TroublesII. Do Not Major In Your Troubles

A. Count your blessings, not bruises!A. Count your blessings, not bruises!

B. Be thankful for troubles and inconveniences!B. Be thankful for troubles and inconveniences!

1. Fanny Crosby wrote in the song, A Wonderful Savior, “with numberless blessings each moment He crowns.”

1. Fanny Crosby wrote in the song, A Wonderful Savior, “with numberless blessings each moment He crowns.”

2. Fanny Crosby was blind.2. Fanny Crosby was blind.

Little boy was thankful for his glasses;

it kept boys from fighting him and girls from kissing him.

Little boy was thankful for his glasses;

it kept boys from fighting him and girls from kissing him.

Matthew Henry wrote in his diary about being robbed: “Let me be thankful first, because he:

Matthew Henry wrote in his diary about being robbed: “Let me be thankful first, because he:

1. never robbed me before; second, because although he took my purse,1. never robbed me before; second, because although he took my purse,

2. he did not take my life; third, because although he took all I possessed,2. he did not take my life; third, because although he took all I possessed,

3. it was not much; and fourth, because3. it was not much; and fourth, because

4. it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed.”4. it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed.”

III. Think How Much Better Off You Are Than So ManyIII. Think How Much Better Off You Are Than So Many

IV. Count The Blessings You Do Have, Rather Than Concentrating On What You Do Not Have

IV. Count The Blessings You Do Have, Rather Than Concentrating On What You Do Not Have

A. Be content with food and raiment (I Tim. 6:8).

A. Be content with food and raiment (I Tim. 6:8).

B. Be content with what you have (Heb. 13:5).B. Be content with what you have (Heb. 13:5).

C. Try counting…

1. Our Spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3):

C. Try counting…

1. Our Spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3):a. God’s Sona. God’s Son

b. Churchb. Churchc. Biblec. Bible

d. Exceeding great & precious promises. d. Exceeding great & precious promises. e. Hope of heavene. Hope of heavenf. Our conversionf. Our conversion

2. Physical blessings: 2. Physical blessings:

c. Shelterc. Shelter

a. Healtha. Health

b. Foodb. Food

d. Clothingd. Clothing

e. Freedome. Freedom

f. Beautiful World f. Beautiful World

3. No doubt about our blessing being innumerable.3. No doubt about our blessing being innumerable.

V. Consider How Detestable Ingratitude Really Is V. Consider How Detestable Ingratitude Really Is

A. “Neither were thankful” (Rom. 1:21).A. “Neither were thankful” (Rom. 1:21).

B. “Unthankful” (II Tim. 3:1-5).B. “Unthankful” (II Tim. 3:1-5).

C. “Blow, Blow thou winter wind, thou are not so unkind as man’s ingratitude.” Shakespeare

C. “Blow, Blow thou winter wind, thou are not so unkind as man’s ingratitude.” Shakespeare

VI. Express Your Attitude About Your GratitudeVI. Express Your Attitude About Your Gratitude

A. Express it verbally

1. “Give” not just “feel” or “think” thanks (I Thess. 5:18; Eph. 5:20).1. “Give” not just “feel” or “think” thanks (I Thess. 5:18; Eph. 5:20).

2. “Let the redeemed of the Lord so” (Ps. 107:1-2).2. “Let the redeemed of the Lord so” (Ps. 107:1-2).

B. Express it by your lifeB. Express it by your life

1. “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?” (Ps. 116:12).

1. “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?” (Ps. 116:12).

2. Resolve to give: time, talent, love, money, lives, our all to God.2. Resolve to give: time, talent, love, money, lives, our all to God.

VII. Do Not Take Commonplace Things Of Life For GrantedVII. Do Not Take Commonplace Things Of Life For Granted

A. “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Lk. 12:15).

A. “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Lk. 12:15).

VIII. Avoid Overemphasizing The Luxuries Of LifeVIII. Avoid Overemphasizing The Luxuries Of Life

2. Be thankful for, and put emphasis on, the spiritual things (Eph. 1:3).2. Be thankful for, and put emphasis on, the spiritual things (Eph. 1:3).

B. Things to do:B. Things to do:

1. Be thankful for simple necessities.1. Be thankful for simple necessities.

a. Remission of sins (Acts 2:38).a. Remission of sins (Acts 2:38).

b. Mansion in heaven (Jn. 14:2).b. Mansion in heaven (Jn. 14:2).

c. Peace that passes understand- ing (Phil. 4:7).c. Peace that passes understand- ing (Phil. 4:7).

d. Joy unspeakable (I Pet. 1:8).d. Joy unspeakable (I Pet. 1:8).

e. Divine love that never fails (I Cor. 13:8).e. Divine love that never fails (I Cor. 13:8).

f. Faithful and devoted mate (Prov. 31:10).f. Faithful and devoted mate (Prov. 31:10).

g. Devoted children (Ex. 20:12).g. Devoted children (Ex. 20:12).

h. True, loyal friends (Prov. 18:24).h. True, loyal friends (Prov. 18:24).

i. Crown of life (Rev. 2:10; Jas. 1:12).i. Crown of life (Rev. 2:10; Jas. 1:12).

j. Savior, Jesus Christ who supplies all my needs freely (Phil 4:19).

j. Savior, Jesus Christ who supplies all my needs freely (Phil 4:19).

IX. Do Away With Murmuring And ComplainingIX. Do Away With Murmuring And Complaining

A. Biblical perspective:A. Biblical perspective:

1. Israel murmured (Ex. 15:24; 17:3).1. Israel murmured (Ex. 15:24; 17:3).

2. Avoid duplicating this spirit (I Cor. 10:10).2. Avoid duplicating this spirit (I Cor. 10:10).

3. “Give thanks always for all things” (Eph. 5:20).3. “Give thanks always for all things” (Eph. 5:20).

4. “Do all things without murmurings and disputings” (Phil. 2:14).4. “Do all things without murmurings and disputings” (Phil. 2:14).

“Some people who should be humbly grateful only become more grumbly

hateful.”

“Some people who should be humbly grateful only become more grumbly

hateful.”

X. Realize That You Are A Recipient; And Never Forget The Giver In The Gift.X. Realize That You Are A Recipient; And Never Forget The Giver In The Gift.

A. All that we have, we have received of God (Jas. 1:17).A. All that we have, we have received of God (Jas. 1:17).

B. Now, let us never forget the giver in the gift.B. Now, let us never forget the giver in the gift.

“Our Father, thou has given us so much. Do, please, give us one

more thing…a grateful heart” (G. Herbert).

“Our Father, thou has given us so much. Do, please, give us one

more thing…a grateful heart” (G. Herbert).