Testimony Chapel

RECAP OF SUNDAY SCHOOL TODAY
TOPIC: THANKSGIVING 🪇
MEMORY VERSE: _"Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms"_ -Psalm 95:2
4-42:
BIBLE PASSAGE: Psalm 100:1-5

INTRODUCTION: To be thankful literarily means to be full of thanks or appreciation. It is an expression of gratitude to someone.🪘 Thankfulness in this context is an act of thanksgiving or a show of gratitude to God. Though some people are ungrateful for various reasons, we must not be ingrates because of its attendant dangers.

REASONS AND BENEFITS OF THANKSGIVING
🪇 Thanksgiving is a command. 1 Chron 16:8📖
🪇The request of a believer should start and end with thanksgiving. Phil 4:6
🪇It is important to thank God for His mercies and divine provisions. Psalms 68:19
🪇Thanksgiving is offered to God for His miracles and restoration of hope (1 Samuel 2:1-5; Psalm 126:1-2).
🪇The primary reason God created us in His image is for fellowship, thanksgiving, praise and a joyful heart (Isaiah 43:21).

If you will cultivate the habit of showing gratitude to God, you will compel overflowing blessings from Him. These blessings include: answered prayers (John 11:41-44); abundant provision (Mark 8:6-8); deliverance from bo***ge (Acts 16:25-26).

Thankful people are peaceful and joyful (Philippians 4:6-7). They enjoy divine presence (Psalm 22:3; 95:2), complete restoration, wholeness (Luke 17:16-19) and victory without a fight (2 Chronicles 20:21-23).

DANGERS OF INGRATITUDE😑
Ingratitude is the result of vain imagination and a darkened heart. Sometimes your thanksgiving is senseless to the ordinary person but it is more profitable to be thankful than to complain (Romans 1:12: Proverbs 15:8).

There are several reasons people are ungrateful to God. Sin or spiritual blindness (Ephesians 4:17-18). Refusal to take account of what God has done (Romans 1:21). Pride (Acts 12:21-23)

Every act of ingratitude comes with its attendant danger. Risk of losing the existing blessing, salvation and Heaven (Matthew 25:24-25, 30). Limiting one's blessings or answered prayers (Luke 17:12-16, 19). It could result in emptiness and sorrow (Proverbs 15:13; 17:22) thereby, making restoration practically difficult.

CONCLUSION: Showing gratitude to God ensures continuous divine presence and fellowship.🫂

QUESTIONS
1. Mention some of the reasons for thanksgiving.
2. Why is ingratitude dangerous?