"SYMPTOMS OF GRATITUDE!"

Written and preached by David P. Nolte

PHILIPPIANS 4:4-20

1. PRAISE IS A SYMPTOM OF GRATITUDE:
1. Even in prison, Paul had a spirit of praise. He wrote, "How grateful I am, and how I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again." Paul's gratitude was expressed in praise.
2. Praising God is telling of His works; is speaking highly of Who He is; is expression of approval of all that He does; is expressing gratitude. The Bible says, 'With Jesus' help, let us continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by proclaiming the glory of his name." Hebrews 13:15 (NLT). And, "I come to Your altar, O LORD, singing a song of thanksgiving and telling of all Your miracles. Psalms 26:7 (NLT) Praise is symptomatic of gratitude because it:
1. Puts the spotlight on God, giving Him center stage in our minds and hearts.
2. Shows that we are conscious of, and thankful for, the good things God does in our lives.
3. Evidences appreciation for what we have, even when it comes through the agency of other people.
4. Manifests thanksgiving for what we have, even when it comes through painful circumstances.
3. Nothing pleases God more than our praise; and nothing expresses heartfelt thanks more than heartfelt praise. Praise is a symptom of gratitude. You don't find the ungrateful giving praise; and you don't find those giving praise ungrateful.
4. Sometimes the symptom of praise is so obvious. This week I had the privilege of doing a memorial service for Grandma Jackie Graham. Here was a lady who was full of praise. Suffering with cancer, bedridden, knowing that her earth life was ebbing away, she was truly thankful to God and praised Him for His goodness. On our last visit last week, she smiled and said, "I love Jesus and Jesus loves me." And she looked at me and said, "And Jesus loves you, too."

2. GENEROSITY IS A SYMPTOM OF GRATITUDE:
1. The Philippians were generous with Paul and their offerings were a sweet-smelling sacrifice that pleased God. We read in Hebrews 13:16 (NLT) "Don't forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to God." In the Old Testament sacrificial system, when the people gave sacrifices they were thanking God. They were expressing gratitude for the things He had done for them. So, in gratitude for God's blessing them, the Philippians were generous to Paul. Their generosity was a symptom of their gratitude.
2. When Jacob wanted to make peace with his brother Esau, he offered gifts. He said, " Please take my gifts, for God has been very generous to me. I have more than enough." Genesis 33:11 (NLT). Having received much and being grateful, he wanted to give. A song says, "Because I have been sheltered, fed, by Thy good care, I cannot see another's lack and I not share my glowing fire, my loaf of bread, my roof's safe shelter overhead, that he too, may be comforted. Because love has been lavished so upon me Lord, a wealth I know that was not meant for me to hoard I shall give love to those in need, shall show that love by word and deed; thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed."
3. Generosity is a symptom of gratitude because:
1. It says, "I have been so richly blessed, and am so thankful, I want to bless you in turn."
2. It says, "God has given me enough so I have enough to share with you."
4. Let me illustrate: Grace was overwhelmed by the burden of a mortgage she could not pay off. One day her friend Molly called and told her that she and her husband had just made a killing when his Internet company went public, and she was going to give Grace the money to pay off the mortgage. Grace was overwhelmed. "You can't do that," she said. "It's so much money." And Molly replied, "I feel so grateful that my life has been so blessed. I just want to spread some of the blessings around. It would be give me great joy to alleviate that burden on you." That's generosity expressing gratitude. (M. J. Ryan)

3. CONTENTMENT IS A SYMPTOM OF GRATITUDE:
1. Paul said, "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." The contented heart says, "I am well taken care of thanks to God's goodness."
2. Contentment prevents us from:
1. Whining and complaining that we don't have enough.
2. Griping and groaning that what we do have is not good enough.
3. Wishing for what the other fellow has and not noticing what we have.
4. Being embittered by a spirit of ingratitude.
3. We cannot give be discontented and grateful at the same time. To be content is to be satisfied with the blessings we have even when they are not exactly what we had in mind. That kind of contentment manifests gratitude.
4. Little eight-year-old named Christina illustrates gratitude by her contentment. She had cancer of the nervous system. When asked what she wanted for her birthday, she thought long and hard and finally said, "I don't know. I have two sticker books and a Cabbage Patch doll. I have everything!" That's contentment and let me tell you it was a sure symptom of gratitude.

4. SERVING GOD IS A SYMPTOM OF GRATITUDE:
1. Paul served as a missionary and was grateful for God calling him to that service. He wrote to Timothy, "How thankful I am to Christ Jesus our Lord for considering me trustworthy and appointing me to serve Him," 1 Timothy 1:12 (NLT).
2. Paul expressed his gratitude by serving. It has been well said,
1. "To serve Him willingly and diligently is evidence of gratitude and respect for God. We recognize that all we have comes from Him. If thanksgiving means anything at all, it will show itself in some tangible form in living life for Christ and in more faithful service. The real proof of gratitude is a more service to God."
2. "If gratitude is genuine, we will invariably want to please the giver in some way. We desire to return the favor not because we must, with a sense of obligation or guilt, but because we simply want to show our thanks."
3. Our gratitude for all God has done should show itself in service to God - which we do by serving others and serving His church. The Psalmist says, we should "serve the Lord with gladness" and "enter His gates with thanksgiving." Psalm 100 (NASB). When we truly understand what God has done to save us from sin and wrath, we ought to gladly respond with a desire to work for Him any way we can."
4. A native in Africa was walking down a trail when he was confronted by a lion. Just as the lion was about to leap on the man, a shot rang out and the lion dropped in its tracks. A hunter had seen the situation and saved the native's life. The native ran to the hunter, fell at his feet and said, "For saving my life, I will be your servant forever."

For all God has done; for all God has given us; for all God promises us, let us be thankful. Praising Him, being generous, being content and serving Him all adds up to "Thanksliving." If you truly want to express your gratitude to God Who gave His all when He gave His Son, then give your all back in surrender and service. We all need to translate our lip thanks to life thanks. That only takes place when we make it the goal and purpose of life to live for Jesus. To that, we call you this morning as we sing our hymn.

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