Be Grateful

This is a message I delivered at Victory Family Church! In it, I teach the importance of being grateful and for thanking God for all He has done. We all have a lot more to be grateful for than we think. Ultimately, our gratitude should lead to us giving back. The question isn't, will you be grateful, but what will you do with your gratitude? I hope this message encourages and challenges you! The notes from my message are below. Enjoy!

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Message Title: Be Grateful

In this message, Doug Smith teaches us how to be grateful for everything God has done for us!

Watch the message here:

To listen to the audio from this message, go to: https://www.dougsmithlive.com/be-grateful

Message Notes: 

1.) There is a Great Danger when we Take the Blessings of God for Granted

>>Deuteronomy 8:11-18, it says, “But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. 12 For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, 13 and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful!14 Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. 15 Do not forget that he led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock!16 He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good. 17 He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’18 Remember theLord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.

2.) We can and should Be Grateful in all Circumstance

“Give thanks in all circumstances ; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” -1 Thessalonians 5:18

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” –Philippians 4:6

I Thank God for Today

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. -Psalm 118:24

Too often we over-exaggerate yesterday, we overestimate tomorrow, and we underestimate today! -John Maxwell

I thank God for where He's Brought me From

"I'm not where I should be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be!" -Joyce Meyer

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17

I Thank God for What I Have

11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ,[a] who gives me strength. -Philippians 4:11-13

Every time you do something, like eat, drink water, enjoy a day without illness, remember there are those who can't. Take a step to help them. -Henry Cloud

I thank God for My Spouse and Family!

>> Proverbs 31: 28-30 - Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her:“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.

Success means having those closest to me love and respect me the most. -John Maxwell

I thank God that He has a Plan and a Purpose for our Life and the Gifts Needed to Carry that out!

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. -Ephesians 2:10

God for the Gifts He put in Us and The Opportunities He Gives us to Use Those Gifts

6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Romans 12:6-8

Your gifts are NOT ordinary! They are extraordinary! You can do things no one else can do!

God is the Author and Finisher of our Faith

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. -Phillipians 1:6

I'm grateful that this Life is Not all There is!

13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died[f] so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died... -I Thess 4:13-14

I'm Grateful for our Pastors

Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith. -Hebrews 13:7

Fulfilled Campaign: Because of their obedience, so many of our dreams have come true. I hope that because of our obedience, all of the dreams God put in their hearts will come true!

I'm Grateful for YOU! (THE CHURCH!) 

11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 12 So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem[f] will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God. 13 As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. 2 Corinthians 9:11-12

• I'm thankful I had a place that enabled me to create my best memories at a church and not a bar in my teens and twenties
• I'm thankful that so many of you model what a Godly man or woman looks like, a Godly husband and wife, Godly fathers and mothers
• I'm thankful for all of you that saw potential in me and cultivated that potential
• I'm thankful that through serving at this church, I was able to learn my gifts, learn how to be disciplined, learned how to connect with people, learned how to lead.
• I'm thankful for a church that helps us learn the word of God
• I'm grateful for a church that taught me to be a good steward of my finances - We're debt free because of it!
• I'm thankful for a church that taught me how to experience God in everyday life
• I'm thankful for a church that gave me a vision for my life to live for others
• I'm thankful for a church that has helped restores hundreds and thousands of marriages
• I'm thankful for a church that has helped hundreds and thousands of addicts get free
• I'm thankful that this is a church that raises up leaders that go out and make huge impacts in our world
• I'm grateful that this is a church that helps other churches maximize their potential
• I'm thankful for this church!

It's a good thing for believers for them take all of their resources and re-surrender them to God every once in a while!

• Part 1: Re-surrender

Does God expect me to give all of my money? No, but all of your money should be available to Him!

• Part 2: Hear from God
• Part 3: It takes guts to obeyIt took guts to plant this church
• It took guts to build this building
• It takes guts to keep building because there is a need
• Get some guts and obey God!

Can you imagine what we could do for the Kingdom if we were debt free as a church? Can you imagine the stories we'll be hearing from up here in 20 years from the kids that are in those rooms? Let's GO!

I pray this message caused you to be grateful and more importantly, I pray that it will cause you to do something!

Don’t just say you’re all God’s - show that you’re all Gods! 

Thoughts? Comment below!

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