WEBVTT 00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:04.400 Hi, my name is Michelle Steele. 00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:10.080 Pastor Phillip and I want to thank you for listening to this message from Life of Faith First. 00:00:10.480 --> 00:00:16.800 We have more resources available to help you build your faith and bring your world by the Word of God. 00:00:17.039 --> 00:00:22.800 From our website, lifeofffaith.net, you can connect to our YouTube channel. 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:26.239 Watch the live stream feed from our church services. 00:00:26.559 --> 00:00:29.600 Access books and downloads in our web store. 00:00:29.920 --> 00:00:33.439 And discover more about Life of Faith Church. 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:36.799 Producing like city, state, nation, and world. 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:39.759 Visit lifeoffaith.net today. 00:00:42.479 --> 00:00:45.359 Go with me to Philippians chapter 4 tonight. 00:00:45.679 --> 00:00:47.679 And uh we want to continue. 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:51.280 Uh we've been looking at the core values of the believer. 00:00:51.679 --> 00:00:58.399 And uh we've spent a lot of time, a number of weeks, talking about being determined to walk by faith. 00:00:58.719 --> 00:01:08.879 And uh you can probably gather from the name of our church, Life of Faith, that we'll never uh uh take too long before we minister on faith again. 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:20.959 Um but the fourth thing that the Lord said about the core values of the believer was determined to be thankful, determined to be thankful. 00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:31.200 And so we want to take some time ever how long the Holy Spirit will have us on this to look at this understanding about being thankful. 00:01:33.760 --> 00:01:40.480 And uh the Lord has said many things to us concerning faithfulness over the years. 00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:48.640 But one of the one of the greatest things I ever heard, uh I was sitting in a meeting with Brother Jerry, Jerry Savell, and he made this statement. 00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:57.680 When you learn to abound in thanksgiving and it becomes your lifestyle, then you can count on it, God's best will come into your life. 00:01:58.719 --> 00:02:08.400 When you learn to abound in thanksgiving and it becomes your lifestyle, then you can count on it, God's best will come into your life. 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:10.319 We need that again. 00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:18.080 When you learn to abound in thanksgiving and it becomes your lifestyle, then you can count on it. 00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:21.599 God's best will come into your life. 00:02:21.840 --> 00:02:22.879 Hallelujah. 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:24.719 Let's just say it out loud right now. 00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:27.280 Lord, I determined to be thankful. 00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:36.080 The Lord has said to us concerning being thankful over the years. 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:40.800 He said, Being thankful opens up the doors of abundance. 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:45.599 Being thankful opens up the doors of abundance. 00:02:48.879 --> 00:02:53.120 I remember when he said, thankfulness will never be denied. 00:02:54.479 --> 00:02:57.840 Thankfulness will never be denied. 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:05.840 He said, Thankfulness will produce opportunity. 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:08.879 Amen. 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:12.479 I told I told Pastor Larry something. 00:03:12.639 --> 00:03:22.879 Uh we had uh made some some uh uh you know Pastor Larry's on on staff and and we had made some some changes and and uh well I'll tell you what had happened. 00:03:22.960 --> 00:03:32.800 I I talked to him, I sat him down, and we we sat down and talked about some things, and I said, look, we we need to do some different things for uh uh a few months, two or three months. 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:42.719 And I said, uh then once we get what the Lord's telling us to do back in line, we'll we'll come and and I'll talk to you and we'll we'll bring you back over here. 00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:43.599 Now watch. 00:03:43.759 --> 00:03:44.639 And here's what he said. 00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:45.360 Here's what he said. 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:49.120 Now I'm not now I'm I'm not bragging on you, but I am bragging on you. 00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:49.680 All right. 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:51.280 Here's what he said. 00:03:51.599 --> 00:03:55.280 He said, Okay, can I still help out on Tuesdays? 00:03:57.199 --> 00:03:58.719 I said, Yes, you can. 00:03:58.879 --> 00:04:03.840 And when I told him, I said, you know, we've been looking at this, and this is the date we want to bring you back online. 00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:11.199 And I I just felt this in uh in my spirit to say to him, because notice thankfulness will produce opportunity. 00:04:11.360 --> 00:04:17.360 I said, Listen, what made this possible was your attitude because you were thankful. 00:04:17.839 --> 00:04:19.519 You were thankful, right? 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:20.639 You were thankful. 00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:24.480 Thankfulness produces opportunities. 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:33.040 And then he said, Thanksgiving determines the distribution of the good things of God. 00:04:34.959 --> 00:04:53.360 Thanksgiving determines the distribution of the good things of God, and so where our receiving from God is concerned, thankfulness is vital in our receiving from God and in our living for God. 00:04:55.279 --> 00:05:02.800 Because what what thanksgiving does, being thankful, keeps God in his rightful place in my life. 00:05:03.439 --> 00:05:04.000 All right? 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:09.279 Because the the bottom line is he's the reason for every good thing in our lives. 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:09.920 Right? 00:05:10.160 --> 00:05:12.160 God's the reason for every one of them. 00:05:12.319 --> 00:05:12.560 Right? 00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:14.000 I didn't do it. 00:05:14.399 --> 00:05:15.360 God did it. 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:20.240 You know, I've I've heard people say, well, you know, uh, people say, well, how'd you get that? 00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:22.319 Well, I used my faith. 00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:24.079 Glory to God. 00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:27.279 Or God did it. 00:05:27.839 --> 00:05:28.079 Right? 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:28.720 God did it. 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:31.920 I mean, I did use my faith, but that's what I'm supposed to do. 00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:36.879 That's why he gave me his faith so I could use it. 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:39.839 His faith that comes from his word. 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:41.199 Right? 00:05:41.279 --> 00:05:43.519 And then he gave me a starter measure. 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:47.600 And he said, Here's what you can do to make this work. 00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:50.639 Told me how to do it, explained it to me. 00:05:50.879 --> 00:05:51.439 Right? 00:05:51.600 --> 00:05:55.279 When I missed it, he came and told me, you missed it, and you didn't do that quite right. 00:05:55.360 --> 00:05:58.240 But if you'll correct this, then everything will be okay. 00:05:58.480 --> 00:05:59.439 He did it. 00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:01.680 Is that right? 00:06:03.360 --> 00:06:04.000 Amen. 00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:06.319 This is amen. 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:08.879 Is that right? 00:06:09.040 --> 00:06:16.079 You know, my mother, my mother was very kind, but she didn't pass out compliments. 00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:21.439 If you lived on compliments about my around my mother, you're gonna starve to death. 00:06:22.240 --> 00:06:24.560 Because you just did you just didn't get them. 00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:27.839 She'd tell you real quick when you were wrong, right? 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:29.199 And set you straight. 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:32.720 But compliments, no, just not gonna do it, right? 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:48.160 Here's the thing God is always, God is always coming along and saying, look, I see you did your best there, and and you got some results, but if you'll just do this a little better, right? 00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:54.720 If you'll just add a little thanksgiving to this, right? 00:06:55.360 --> 00:07:03.439 In Philippians chapter 4 and verse 6, this is a familiar verse. 00:07:05.680 --> 00:07:13.120 He says, Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. 00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:16.399 Let your request be made known unto God. 00:07:16.720 --> 00:07:25.199 Now, very often in this verse, the focus is the careful for nothing, in everything by prayer and supplication. 00:07:25.920 --> 00:07:33.759 But then he tells us how we're supposed to give that prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:38.560 With thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:42.879 And so that is prayer, all kinds of prayer and definite requests. 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:48.639 And then with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God. 00:07:49.519 --> 00:07:49.920 Right? 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:52.160 So, Father, I thank you for what you've done. 00:07:52.319 --> 00:07:54.240 I thank you for all you've done in my life. 00:07:54.399 --> 00:07:57.040 I thank you for all the things that you've done for us. 00:07:57.199 --> 00:08:00.560 And Father, I thank you for all the things that you're going to do. 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:02.240 I'm just thankful. 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:06.079 I'm just grateful because you've been so good to us. 00:08:06.319 --> 00:08:15.279 Father, if you don't ever do another thing for me, I can say God has been good to me, and I'm thankful. 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:17.360 Amen. 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:19.439 Hallelujah. 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:26.160 Thanksgiving is one of the greatest evidences of faith. 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:32.080 Because I'm thankful for what he did, but I'm thankful for what he's going to do. 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:44.000 Remember, if you were here for healing school on Tuesday, I ministered about the one of the keys to healing, one of the uh basics of healing is trusting God. 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:44.799 Right? 00:08:45.039 --> 00:08:46.159 Trusting God. 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:55.360 And Paul said in 2 Corinthians, he said, it was so bad in Asia, it got so bad that I wanted to die. 00:08:55.600 --> 00:08:58.320 I wanted to go on home and be with Jesus. 00:08:58.480 --> 00:09:02.399 And he said, but we had the sentence of death in ourselves. 00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:13.679 He said, but we learned to trust in the living God that did deliver us, that does deliver us, and we believe he will yet deliver us. 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:16.639 God, I'm thankful that you have delivered me. 00:09:16.799 --> 00:09:23.600 I thank you that you are delivering me, and I thank you that if something comes in the future, you'll deliver me then. 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:25.279 Amen. 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:29.039 So no matter what I face, I face it with thankfulness. 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:32.000 You face it with thanksgiving, right? 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:34.639 Because that keeps God in his rightful place. 00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:37.360 Yeah, but this is going wrong and this is going south. 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:47.600 Boy, I thank God that the Bible says that God makes the high places low, he makes the crooked places straight, that he makes water and rivers in a desert. 00:09:47.919 --> 00:09:52.720 I'm thankful that no matter what I'm going through, God's with me. 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:54.159 God's for me. 00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:56.799 God's got my best interest at heart. 00:09:57.039 --> 00:10:02.399 It doesn't matter if I'm going through something that causes everybody else to fail. 00:10:02.639 --> 00:10:07.679 I come out on the winning side because God is for me. 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:10.159 Hallelujah. 00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:12.320 God is for me. 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:17.279 Say out loud, I'm thankful that God is for me. 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:19.840 Hallelujah. 00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:24.000 So he said, do this with thanksgiving. 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:28.879 So with thanksgiving is how we present our request to God. 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:32.080 We present our request with thanksgiving. 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:37.919 Being thankful is saying amen. 00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:39.679 There it is. 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:42.559 Being thankful is saying amen. 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:50.240 So thank you is not just what you say when somebody gives you something. 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:52.480 Right? 00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:56.720 Thank you when you're when you're when you're presenting your request to God. 00:10:56.799 --> 00:10:58.159 And Father, I thank you. 00:10:58.320 --> 00:11:00.240 The same as saying, there it is. 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:00.879 Why? 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:02.080 Because I thank you. 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:04.559 It's mine, it belongs to me. 00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:05.600 Amen. 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:11.120 When you say thank you for my healing, it's the same as I've received it. 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:12.720 I thank you for it. 00:11:12.799 --> 00:11:13.840 And now I'm thankful. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:15.200 What are you so thankful about? 00:11:15.279 --> 00:11:16.000 I'm healed. 00:11:17.679 --> 00:11:20.960 You mean that's that the doctor's report came back that it's gone? 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:22.879 Look, I'm not talking about a doctor's report. 00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:23.440 I'm healed. 00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:25.039 Thank God I'm healed. 00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:26.320 Amen. 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:29.120 Your thankfulness will change the report. 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:32.159 Your thankfulness will change the situation. 00:11:33.440 --> 00:11:35.679 And I have to determine to be thankful. 00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:39.039 That's why the Bible says, in everything, do what? 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:40.639 Give thanks. 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:42.320 In everything. 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:46.080 And in our circles, we're quick to say, not for everything. 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:51.279 No, I can say there's a lot of things that's happened in my life that I'm not thankful for. 00:11:52.320 --> 00:11:52.639 Right? 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:54.720 Because they were not good situations. 00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:57.120 But in it, I was thankful. 00:11:57.360 --> 00:12:02.799 And here, right on the other hand, I wouldn't take a million dollars for the experience. 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:05.279 Because I learned something in it. 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:09.200 I don't want to go through it again, but I learned. 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:10.399 Amen. 00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:14.159 And I what one of the main things I learned was to be thankful. 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:15.360 Amen. 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:19.039 Being thankful is saying amen. 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:20.720 There it is. 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:24.639 Being thankful is a faith accelerant. 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:27.679 Amen. 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:34.480 This is thankfulness for what he has done and thankfulness for what he will do. 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:36.720 In Psalm chapter 100. 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:40.799 I'm thankful. 00:12:44.879 --> 00:12:46.879 Psalm chapter 100. 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:52.480 And uh verse 4. 00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:58.639 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving. 00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:01.759 Now we'll read the rest of this, but I want you to see this. 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:10.799 Enter in with thanksgiving, and then notice what he says, and into his courts with praise, be thankful unto him and bless his name. 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:13.840 So being thankful is first. 00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:19.200 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving. 00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:21.440 So you enter in thanking him. 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:25.200 Hallelujah. 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:27.440 And be thankful. 00:13:27.840 --> 00:13:36.960 So by heaven's protocol, because verse 5 says, the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting, his truth endureth to all generations. 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:41.360 So by heaven's protocol, thanksgiving precedes praise. 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:45.759 Thanksgiving precedes praise. 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:49.120 A thankful heart is a praiseful heart. 00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:52.159 A thankful heart is a praiseful heart. 00:13:52.320 --> 00:13:55.200 If I'm thankful, I'm full of praise. 00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:57.440 Because I thank God for it. 00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:58.399 Amen. 00:13:59.279 --> 00:14:01.919 And that precedes the praise. 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:04.720 The thankful get the help. 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:08.320 It's the thankful that get the help. 00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:12.159 The more thankful you are, the more help you receive. 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:18.000 The more thankful you are, say it out loud, the more thankful you are, the more help you receive. 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:20.799 Oh, hallelujah. 00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:21.600 Amen. 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:23.919 Now there's a lot of examples that we could give. 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:29.120 But if you've ever given a gift to somebody and they just kind of went, oh, thanks. 00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:33.759 That made you just want to run out and buy them something else, didn't it? 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:36.159 No. 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:41.919 If we're honest about it, we'll say, well, I give it back. 00:14:42.720 --> 00:14:43.360 Right? 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:47.200 But but but have you ever given something to somebody? 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:51.039 And you know, if you're honest about it, it wasn't that much. 00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:53.519 I mean, it was nice, it was well thought out. 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:58.240 You it was a thoughtful gift, and you gave it to them, and they went, oh my goodness. 00:14:58.639 --> 00:14:59.919 Thank you so much. 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:01.360 This is so wonderful. 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:10.080 And you're sitting there thinking, I'm almost embarrassed because they think a lot more of that, right, than I do. 00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:12.399 But they were so thankful. 00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:12.879 Right? 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:16.320 Next time you went to get them a gift, you got them a better gift. 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:19.759 Because they were so thankful. 00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:21.279 Is that right? 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:22.159 What listen? 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:26.559 In raising your kids, what do you want to see out of them when they get a gift? 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:28.639 Gratitude. 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:29.840 Thankfulness. 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:30.320 Why? 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:32.639 Because nobody had to get you that. 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:35.200 Nobody had to buy you that. 00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:36.159 Right? 00:15:36.320 --> 00:15:40.159 Somebody took their money and bought that for you. 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:42.240 You should be grateful. 00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:42.960 Right? 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:44.399 Well, I don't like that color. 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:46.240 No, uh-uh. 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:48.000 We're thankful. 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:52.879 Because somebody thought enough of you to buy you a gift. 00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:54.960 Right? 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:55.919 Amen. 00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:58.080 Glory to God. 00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:00.879 See, thankfulness helps you endure. 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:05.919 When God has to correct you, thankfulness helps you endure it. 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:13.919 Because your thought process is God loves me so much that he's willing to correct me, and I'm thankful. 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:14.960 Amen. 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:17.919 Look at look at uh Hebrews 13. 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:20.879 Am I helping you tonight? 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:27.360 Hebrews chapter 13. 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:31.519 And verse 15. 00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:43.600 The writer of Hebrews says concerning Jesus, by him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually. 00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:47.440 Well, what is the sacrifice of praise to God continually? 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:53.200 The fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:57.360 So we offer thanksgiving continually. 00:16:58.559 --> 00:16:59.600 Continually. 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:02.799 Always something to be thankful for. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:04.640 Amen. 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:08.640 Thankfulness produces fruitfulness. 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:13.039 Thankfulness produces fruitfulness. 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:20.000 So no matter what I'm facing, it's always proper to be thankful. 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:24.000 When I don't understand, I'm thankful. 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:27.200 When it looks like it's not going right, I'm thankful. 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:30.880 When everything seems to be falling apart, I'm thankful. 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:37.279 When it looks like I'm just having victory after victory after victory, I'm thankful. 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:38.000 Right? 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:40.720 Never let down on the thank on your thankfulness. 00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:43.119 Never let down on being thankful. 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:43.920 Right? 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:48.079 Because no matter what, thankfulness is the key. 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:49.599 Being thankful. 00:17:49.759 --> 00:18:00.079 He said, let us offer unto God the sacrifice of praise continually, which is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. 00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:01.039 Right? 00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:02.640 You may have heard this. 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:04.720 If you have, you can hear it again. 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:05.759 Maybe you haven't. 00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:08.960 I call it my goose story. 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:12.480 And one day I came home from the office. 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:17.119 This is when we were living full-time in Kansas, and we had a home there. 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:19.839 And we had two little dogs, a little black poodle. 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:21.839 My wife likes little black poodles. 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:24.079 And we had a white Maltese. 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:33.839 And uh I uh got home and and let them out in the backyard, and and I was walking out in the backyard, and it was one of those cold, crisp fall days. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:46.160 I mean, just like the the the sky was so crisp and and it was just, you know, it was cold, but it was just beautiful, sun shining, and I'm just the dogs are out walking around, and I'm just enjoying it. 00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:52.240 And I looked up, I heard some geese honking, and I looked up, and the geese were flying over. 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:55.680 And I thought, Lord, that's wonderful. 00:18:56.000 --> 00:19:04.960 And that goose pooped right on my head, right between the eyes. 00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:09.839 Right between the eyes. 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:15.599 And the only thing that came out of my mouth was, well, at least I'm not going to hell. 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:17.599 That's all that came out. 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:19.519 I'm thankful I'm saved. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:20.480 Right? 00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:21.920 What's the moral of that story? 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:27.279 When a goose messes on your head, just be thankful that you're saved. 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:29.359 Hallelujah. 00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:32.079 Find something to be thankful for. 00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:33.519 Oh, hallelujah. 00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:46.480 You know, now now most of us in here, we've advanced, you know, past uh uh uh the the rudimentary things, meaning, meaning that for for most, you know, your your needs are met and you've learned how to believe God along those lines. 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:47.839 But understand something. 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:52.559 No matter what you're facing, thankfulness is the proper response. 00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:58.880 You know, if my car breaks down, I'm not thankful my car broke down, but I'm thankful that God's got a plan. 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:00.799 Hallelujah. 00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:10.160 If I'm facing a financial challenge, I'm not thankful for the challenge, but I'm thankful that God does supply all of my need according to his riches and glory. 00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:12.319 Amen. 00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:15.440 And how how do I do that? 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:16.960 Constantly. 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:18.880 Constantly. 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:25.680 There are things we face that we're not thankful for, but to come out in victory, I have to be thankful in them. 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:31.680 If I want to come out in victory for it to change, circumstances don't change. 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:37.920 You can quote scripture to your circumstance and not be thankful and it won't change. 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:45.359 Because thankfulness is a faith accelerant. 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:48.400 Amen. 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:59.680 If I refuse to be grateful, if I refuse to be thankful, what I do is I short circuit the life of the word in that circumstance. 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:05.680 Because it requires thankfulness, it requires joy, it requires peace. 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:06.640 Amen. 00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:11.599 There are things we can miss if we're not thankful. 00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:13.759 Look at Romans 1. 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:23.279 Romans chapter 1. 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:29.279 And uh verse 21. 00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:37.279 And of course, Paul is uh talking about these people that well we'll we'll we'll read it here and we can see it. 00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:44.880 Verse 21 it says, because that when they knew God, now notice they knew God. 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:59.759 When they knew God, these are people that have walked away from God, and it says, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, they weren't thankful. 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:02.000 What did they do? 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:08.960 But became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:15.759 They became vain in their imaginations or futile in their thoughts. 00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:22.400 When they knew God, they didn't give him the glory as God, and they were not thankful to him as God. 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:24.880 Hallelujah. 00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:33.599 One translation says, yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:38.559 Another says they were not grateful. 00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:42.079 And still another says they did not thank him. 00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:43.440 So what happened? 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:46.400 They missed something because they were not thankful. 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:51.599 There's things of God that they missed because they weren't thankful. 00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:59.279 When a person is of the mindset that I may not understand everything that's happening, but I'm thankful. 00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:04.400 I don't understand why that happened, but I'm thankful. 00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:05.839 Amen. 00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:07.519 Hallelujah. 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:19.119 I was talking in in healing school about the family, the Wilder family, that all their kids were in that accident back in July. 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:24.640 And, you know, the first thing that comes up with people is questions. 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:27.119 Well, this, that, and the other. 00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:32.799 And thankfully, their dad and their mom didn't entertain those questions. 00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:34.480 They just kept believing God. 00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:34.880 Right? 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:36.480 But people, where'd we miss it? 00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:37.519 And what did we do here? 00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:38.799 And I stopped them. 00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:41.279 They asked me that question, I stopped them and said, wait a minute, wait a minute. 00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:42.000 Whoa, whoa, whoa. 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:44.160 We're thankful we're not going to a funeral. 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:46.880 Nobody died. 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:50.000 We can answer all those questions later. 00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:53.119 Right now, we're thankful everybody lived. 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:54.960 Right? 00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:58.640 I may not understand everything that happened. 00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:01.039 I'm thankful nobody died. 00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:03.599 I'm thankful everybody lived. 00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:05.200 Oh, hallelujah. 00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:05.839 Amen. 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:10.319 You might you may a person will say, Well, you know, but our finances, they're kind of short. 00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:11.680 Whoops, stop and be thankful. 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:12.960 Our electric's paid. 00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:14.640 Our house note is paid. 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:16.160 Our water bill is paid. 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:17.200 We got groceries. 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:18.240 We got gas in the car. 00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:19.200 I'm thankful. 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.319 I'm thankful. 00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:23.759 No, I'm I may not have a lot of extra right now. 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:24.480 I'm going to. 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:26.720 I thank God I'm going to have a lot of extra. 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:31.119 I may not have a lot of extra right now, but right now the kids are clothed. 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:32.240 Everybody's fed. 00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:33.680 Our bodies are healthy. 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:35.119 God is taking care. 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:36.400 I'm thankful. 00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:38.079 I'm thankful. 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:43.119 See, I I may not understand everything, but I can always be thankful. 00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:45.680 I can always be thankful. 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:50.400 I've run into pastors and they wonder why their church is struggling. 00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:51.839 They're not thankful. 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:54.319 They're not thankful for what they do have. 00:24:55.200 --> 00:24:59.440 For God to give you more, you've got to be grateful for what you do have. 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:00.880 Amen. 00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:04.480 I ministered for a pastor a whole week. 00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:06.799 He wanted me to come and help him with this church. 00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:08.880 He was part of our fellowship in Florida. 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:11.039 And this minister's in heaven today. 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:16.319 And uh I went there and he had probably 12, between 12 and 15 people. 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:18.960 He was meeting in a hotel meeting room. 00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:29.440 And uh the the the whole time that I was there, from the time that I got to his house, he picked me up at the airport, all he did was talk to me about how he only had 15 people. 00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:30.799 He only had 12 people. 00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:33.839 He didn't know what God could do because he only had 12 people. 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:35.920 And I looked at him on the way home from the airport. 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:41.279 I said, Man, you got 12 sheep that show up every service. 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:44.400 You should be thankful. 00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:48.960 You got 12 folk that will come hear you minister every service. 00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:53.359 And he'd, boy, he'd he'd say, Well, yeah, you know, you're right. 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:54.240 You're right. 00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:58.160 And then an hour later, I just don't, this can't be God's will. 00:25:58.319 --> 00:26:00.240