THE HEART OF WORSHIP I Thank YOU Psalm

THE HEART OF WORSHIP I Thank YOU Psalm 107

Rescued! Describe this scene, what do you see in this picture? What could have led to something like this happening? • If you were in that basket, what would you say to your rescuers when you go to the helicopter? • What don’t you see in this picture? What had to happen before this picture could be taken? • What would you say about someone who lowered himself from a safe place, even at the risk of his own life to rescue you from certain death?

We cannot repay God for saving our lives. We were dead and hopeless, and God came in and rescued us with great cost to Himself. The one thing we should surely offer Him is our thanks. INVITATION TO GIVE THANKS

Give Thanks to the Lord Psalm 107: 1 -3 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord proclaim that He has redeemed them from the hand of the foe 3 and has gathered them from the lands—from the east and the west, from the north and the south.

Invitation to Give Thanks This psalm calls all of God’s people to give thanks to God for His goodness. • Do you read verse 1 as an invitation to give thanks or a command to give thanks? • What reasons did the psalmist give for thanking God? Ø Ø He is good His faithful love endures forever He redeemed them from the hand of the foe He gathered them out of bondage and into deliverance • What does it mean that God is “good”? • Who are the redeemed of the Lord?

God’s Will for You “Give thanks ___ everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ” (1 Thess. 5: 18) • Which preposition did Paul use to complete this verse? - For - With - Between - Despite - In - About - Before - After - For almost • How would the meaning be different if Paul had used a different preposition? • Is it easier for you to thank God in good times or in bad times? Why? • What would it look like to give thanks in difficult times? • So, what does “give thanks in everything” really mean?

If we are to give thanks, we must have reasons to give thanks. God supplies us with abundant reasons to thank Him. REASONS TO GIVE THANKS

Reason to Give Thanks Psalm 107: 4 -9 4 Some wandered in the desolate wilderness, finding no way to a city where they could live. 5 They and thirsty; their spirits failed within them. were hungry 6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He rescued them from their distress. 7 He led them by the right path to go to a city where they could live. 8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for His faithful love and His wonderful works for the human race. 9 For He has satisfied the thirsty and filled the hungry with good things.

Let Them Give Thanks • What were the reasons the psalmist gave to thank God? • • His faithful love His wonderful works for all humanity He satisfied the thirsty He filled the hungry with good things • Why is it easier to thank God for blessings when we have gone without them for a time?

Thankfulness in Difficult Times • How has God demonstrated His faithfulness to you, even during times in your life when you may have been less than faithful to Him? • Do you think it is the exception or the rule that people grow more during difficult times? • Why do you think God works this way? • For some people, crises drive them further away from God. For others, crises drive them closer. Do you think it is the crisis or the person that makes the difference?

God blesses us day-to-day in many ways, but sometimes “life” can get in the way and cloud our thinking and cause us to forget abut God’s goodness. But, if we truly are thankful, we should express our thanks to God in worship as a normal part of our lives. RESPONSE OF THE THANKFUL

Response of the Thankful Psalm 107: 33 -38, 43 33 He turns rivers into desert, springs of water into thirsty ground, 34 and fruitful land into salty wasteland, because of the wickedness of its inhabitants. 35 He turns a desert into a pool of water, dry land into springs of water. 36 He causes the hungry to settle there, and they establish a city where they can live. 37 They sow fields and plant vineyards that yield a fruitful harvest. 38 He blesses them, and they multiply greatly; He does not let their livestock decrease. 43 Let whoever is wise pay attention to these things and consider the Lord's acts of faithful love.

God the Giver God humbles and exalts: He devastates the wicked, and He uplifts the righteous. Thankful people realize that God is the giver of all good things and show Him their gratitude. • What are some of the specific things God did to humble the inhabitants of the land? • Does God still humble people today? How so? • How did God reverse the curse in vv. 35 -38? • Which of these things are we supposed to pay attention to in v. 43?

The Ride of Your Life • For those of you who are rafting enthusiasts, which of these trips do you sign up for? The on the left or the on the right? • What is the role of the rafting guide? What gives him/her the authority to steer you down the river? • Does the guide ever intentionally steer you into the whitewater in order to give you a more memorable experience? • As an amateur rafter, what are you supposed to do while you are going through the rapids?

• When you’re going through the rapids of life, it is sometimes difficult to remember God’s blessings in the past and his guidance in the present and his provision for the future. • But, we can’t let the rapids taint our perspective, cloud our thinking, and inhibit our thankfulness. • Just like that rafting guide; God never leaves us, He is there with us every step of the way to guide us through the rapids and see us safely to the other side. • So, don’t take Him for granted; express your gratitude to Him today and always. He is worthy of all of our praise!

Thank You Lord! If you had the chance to send a thank-you note to God, what would you say? • Well, where are you on that rafting ride – on the shore, in the calm water, in the center of the rapids, or safely on the other shore? • Regardless of where you are; fear not and give thanks because your life-saving guide is right there with you!