Rekindling the Flame of Gratitude

Someone said when gratitude dies on the altar of a man's heart. That man is well-nigh hopeless. I like to ask you to turn the Psalm 146 if you would, and our message is entitled rekindling the flame of gratitude rekindling the flame of gratitude. Psalm 146 and I like to read that and then a brief introduction before we get into our message tonight rekindling the flame of gratitude. Psalm 146 verse one. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord all my soul while I live I will praise the Lord I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Do not put your trust in princes nor in the son of man in whom there is no help. His spirit departs, he returns to his earth, and that very day his plans perish happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God who made heaven and earth, the sea and all it is in them, who keeps truth forever who executes justice for the oppressed who gives food to the hungry, the Lord gives freedom to the prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord raises those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers. He relieves the fatherless and widow by the way it but the way of the wicked. He turns upside down. The Lord shall reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations.

Praise the Lord just for a second I want to read an introduction to place our message in a context there's something almost magical about an intentionally made control fire. I say intentionally made in control because one that's out of control.

It starts by accident can be very dangerous but there is indeed something almost magical about an intentionally made control fire for many of us looking into the fire causes us to reflect on a variety of things, like his father before him. My father-in-law used to dove a good fire as a noble fire. We all know what happened.

Stephen, a noble fire if it's not refueled slowly dies down to a few glowing embers and finally ends up as a heap of ashes in this message. We are not likening fire to our salvation, but to our condition or the condition of our praise and what we can do to make certain that is not merely a flicker or smoldering amber, but a noble flame, a worthy offering to God. In Psalm 146. The psalmist begins and ends this song with an emphatic praise the Lord Charles Spurgeon wrote this profound statement. He said when we praise God let us rouse our innermost self, our central life. We have but one soul, and if it be saved from eternal wrath. It's bound to praise its creator, heart, mind, thought, my whole being, my soul, my all be all on flame with joyful adoration. In other words folks praise God like a noble fire of burning consuming flame of gratitude we see first of all in this Psalm I determine exaltation of God.

In verses one and two. The psalmist writes praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord, O my soul while I live I will praise the Lord I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

I want us to consider three things in this first heading to determine exaltation of God and that is first of all our perpetual declaration of perpetual declaration perpetual means continuing forever.

And those who are in Christ will join angels and saints alike and praise to our God for eternity.

What a thought.

But the question a night that we need to reflect upon is how are you praising him down. How my praising him now the focus of the Psalm is upon the Lord, all capital letters. As you read in your Bible or Jehovah. This name for God is used 11 different times in 10 short verses John MacArthur states the following, the psalmist admonishes himself to offer praise to the Lord Jehovah. The covenant name for God, who is the eternal independent self existent, all knowing, all powerful everywhere present sovereign creator and sustainer and orchestrator of all things.

Joe Jehovah has always been. I am who I am the one who is and will be beloved your praise and my praise reflect our knowledge of who God is, if we study him little if we meditate upon him little that will directly affect our praise and the opposite is true. Also in verse two.

Psalmist also says I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

This word for God is Elohim and Elohim as a pure plural.

I should say of Majesty highlights God's oneness everything ascribed to deity finds its fullness in him.

He is the most high God because being itself finds expression ultimately in God. I would take you to Genesis 120 6A, then God. The word Elohim then God said, let us make man in our image, according to our likeness diminishing another quote from a commentator Adam Clark and I wish that I had time to break this down into bite-size pieces. I'll read it slowly but it did to me is profound and it really challenged me. Adam Clark wrote this we learn that God is the sole object of adoration that the perfections of his nature, are, such as must astonish all of those who piously contemplate them and fill with horror. All who would dare to give his glory to another or break his commandments, that consequently he should be worshiped with reverence and religious fear that every sincere worshiper may expect from him help in all his weaknesses, trials, difficulties, temptations and freedom from the power of guilt nature and consequences of sin. He concludes, and to be supported, defended and saved to the uttermost end of the end.

Folks what you think of God affects your praise when you think of God, do you ever simply astonish and I must confess I wish that that happened to me more often than it does when we reflect upon who God is, we must agree with Adam Clark. It should cause astonishment. The Puritan preacher Thomas Watson said this, the motion of our praise must be like the motion of our pulse which beats as long as life lasts and I would suggest this, that the absence or irregularity of a harpy indicates a serious physical issue. In the absence of praise or irritant irregularity also indicates a serious spiritual issue. Think about it for a moment. How would you rate your praise, the psalmist has a perpetual declaration.

I will's I will praise God. Throughout my life and into eternity. But the second thing that we want to consider under determine exaltation of God is a practical definition what is praise. What is praise it means to be clear. It was originally used of sound but usually of color it means to shine. Hence, to make a show to boast a rave to celebrate the glory. Think of a brilliant sunset. Think of a glorious rainbow against the stormy sky are praises to be of that magnitude.

The foundation of our praises true fear of the Lord.

I've taught our teens.

I teach my Bible class at the Christian school. The simple definition of fear of God. It is matter-of-factly won over it again this morning in Sunday school.

The fear of the Lord is a reverent attitude of awe and adoration whereby the child of God guards and guides his or her thoughts, words and deeds by the word of God for the glory of God to things for what God is done or offer what God is who he is and adoration for what is done me say that again we ought to have a reverent attitude of awe and we have that offer who he is in a reverent attitude of adoration for what is done on our behalf. RC Sproul stated our proper response to him is to fall down in reverent worship will fear the Jews held this name Jehovah in such reverence that they often substituted Adonijah in its place. Adonijah stresses the sovereignty of God and beloved our praise for God. Whether speaking or singing our actions to be done in such a way that it brings glory to him and not ourselves. Psalm 115 verse one says not – the Lord not – but to your name.

Give glory because of your mercy because if your truth may that be our prayer.

We looked at a perpetual declaration were going to praise God for time and for eternity. We've looked at the definition that talks of boasting about God, and finally under this first heading of a determine exaltation of God. One look at her preeminent devotion, and I've quoted several people this one is AW toes are in notice that it goes back to 1978, 43 years.

Compare what he says to what you see in the church today in 1978 AW toes or wrote the low view of God, entertain, entertain, almost universally among Christians is the cause of 100 lesser evils everywhere among us a whole new philosophy of the Christian life has resulted from this one basic error in our religious thinking with our loss of the sense of Majesty is come the further loss of religious and consciousness of the divine presence we've lost our spirit of worship and our ability to withdraw inwardly to meet God in adoring silence modern Christianity. This is 1978 modern Christianity is simply not producing the kind of Christian who can appreciate or experience the life in the spirit, the words be still and know that I am God mean next to nothing to the self-confident, bustling worshiper in this middle.

Of the 20th century. My goodness, if he could see if he could see what it's like today, self-confidence, bustling worshiper that that is today, but today is on steroids. Spurgeon even back further than AW toes are said with holy let us pronounce the word hallelujah and by some in ourselves and all others to adore the God of the whole earth.

I'm going to give you three texts that are the basis of this poem and I would challenge you to look these up. Exodus 24 verse 10 Exodus 24 verse 10. I'm not going to read them tonight because of time.

Exodus 2410 E. Ezekiel 126 through 28, Ezekiel 126 to 28 and then finally the whole chapter of Revelation for Exodus 2410, Ezekiel 126 to 28 Revelation 4 if you were to read those texts and take the time to look up what the Hebrew in the Old Testament in the Greek and the new mean from some of those words, you would have adoration and let me read the poem it's entitled are supreme and glorious God great God unsearchable lie supreme beyond compare, in reverent adoration, Lord, are feeble praise we share thy glory is that excellence unique to the alone spectacular and Majesty vast universe. I thrown for hungry souls by written word grants a faint glimpse of the those damn the image awes the mind and bows both hard and name by grander Maxis King of kings and mighty Lord of lords lead saints to meditate on the and silently adore such blinding light like dazzling flames engulfed by Sapphire thrown that rests upon a sea of glass like clearest crystal stone. The splendor of by glory draws the heart to holy thoughts. Its brilliance shames the rainbows boast in pails heavens host and not five whisper mutes the thunder crash of lightning round.

I thrown Jehovah high and lofty one who calls all things. I know pure worship of the heavenly throng envelops me in praise or overwhelming me with joy.

This has my grateful heart ablaze. None but thyself can fully know the glory that is nine all attributes.

Saints may offer the fall short by thy design yet fearing they and loving me and walking in my ways seek to glorify thy name beyond my earth down day earthbound days folks when we do our very best to glorify God it fall short by his design.

There's no way that we can truly glorify and praise God for who he is, we cannot comprehend. And I would like to imagine that when we first are in the presence of God even when Christ comes back for his owner takes us through the doorway of death. We will have adoration and on its purest forms do you habitually call your soul the praise Jehovah for who he is, for what he's done for what he is doing for what he will do or have you become somewhat complacent or careless in worship. Do you need to rekindle the flame of gratitude we have looked at a determine exaltation of God.

We've considered a perpetual declaration for time and eternity.

A practical definition.

Praise means to boast to celebrate who God is and what is done in is doing and will do and finally, a preeminent devotion, our prey should reflect on and adoration. But secondly tonight I want us to consider a delightful expectation of present, and promised blessings. A delightful expectation of present and promise blessings. And that's going to be verses three through 9A, but will start out first of all, the psalmist cautions a sober warning notice verses three and four. He says do not put your trust in princes Myrna son of man in whom there is no help.

His spirit departs, he returns to this earth and that very day his plans perish. In other words, don't be enticed to put your trust in government in general and specific individuals or in yourself. Psalm 3310 through 11 states. This the Lord Jehovah brings the Council of the nations to nothing. He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever. The plans of his heart to all generations. Verses 16 through 22 state no king is saved by the multitude of an army, a mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety.

Neither shall it deliver any bias, great strength, behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his mercy to develop to deliver. I should say their soul from death and to keep them alive and famine are soul waits for the Lord. He is our help and our shield for our heart shall rejoice in him because we trusted in his holy name lecture mercy, O Lord upon us just as we hope in you. History teaches us that most governments are no friend of Grace. I want to read something that is a promotion for a book written by David Horowitz, who was a is a prominent Jewish American leader.

He is a conservative commentator again. Get this. This is a prominent Jewish American who happens to be a conservative commentator listen what it says about his book. He's recently written a book entitled the war to destroy Christian America. He contends that political extremists militant fringe groups and the press have Christianity in their science folks would you agree with her. Think about what he said here political extremists. Militant fringe groups in the press have Christianity in their sites that could be this depressing. If we hadn't had the Psalm such as this, we need to take heart, because the eye of the King of Kings is on those who fear him in the battle. The battle is the Lord's.

Secondly, we see that psalmist cautions with a sober warning, but secondly the salmon kind psalmist contemplates his supreme wealth and there are several things that we had that really had a feed our praise without question. First thing we see is the start of five a. The wealth of our condition and what is our condition. Look at the first part of verse five happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help.

Could that be said of you true happiness is inseparable from a relationship that you and living God, the world futilely seek happiness in all the wrong places in a list. If euphoria they seek happiness in position and power and prosperity in popularity. The list of God alternatives is as futile as it is endless. People will want to find happiness anywhere but in God apart from God's grace.

No natural man would come to Christ and conversion. That's the second wealth that we need to look at the wealth of our conversion.

Look at the second part of verse five, whose hope is in the Lord and notices his God. The psalmist speaks of Jehovah being his Elohim is a personal relationship that exceeds gaming. The whole world and losing his own soul. And if you would listen to just three tax our dependence upon God for our conversion is the theme in both the old and the new Testaments and beloved. No matter what comes down the pipe we had arrest in this. If we have a confidence that we are one of God's children that he's enabled us by faith to put our trust in him there is a sense in which the best is yet to come in matter what the immediate future. Listen to these three tax to Old Testament one of many New Testament Deuteronomy 29 to 2 through four and think about this.

Our utter dependence upon God for our conversion.

The wealth of our conversion.

Moses Seminole Israel and said to them, you have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh and all his servants, and all his lands the great trials that your I saw the signs and those great wonders, but to this day the Lord Jehovah has not given you a hard to understand or eyes to see her ears to hear as profound a saw the parting of the Red Sea. They saw all the diseases and plagues that God brought upon the Egyptians and yet Moses ends this little section here, to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see her ears to hear one other text.

In the Old Testament and I could've given many Isaiah 43, 10, 11, you are my witnesses, says the Lord. Again, Jehovah you are my witnesses, says the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen. Why did you choose us. God, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me. There was no God for, nor shall they be after me. I even I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior is belief in Jehovah and in his son, the only means of salvation. Indeed, it is one New Testament text, and again a reference one, but we won't read the other one.

Romans 8729 it says because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be so than those that are in the flash cannot please God, but you are not in the flesh but in the spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you know if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, he is not his. Why do I make the emphasis that I do. Prior to regeneration and conversion. All individuals are in the flesh.

We are all natural man and notice what it says those who are in the flesh cannot please God, but you are not in the flesh but in the spirit, if indeed the Spirit dwells in you. If anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, he is not his beloved, we have a wealth of condition happiness. We have the wealth of our conversion eternal life. Third, we have the wealth of creation. Sometimes we read Scripture and we read it quickly and we don't really think about simple statement like I'm about to read.

Look at verse six. The first part who made heaven and earth to see and all that is in the just a simple statement who made heaven and earth to see and all that is in that statement is pregnant with amazing, unfathomable.

Let's call the state and that I just read a black line drawing like a kid. Was he in a coloring book and let me put some color to it now.

You made heaven and earth, heaven, both 70 billion trillion*get your head wrapped around them heaven, both 70 billion trillion stars is taken from a secular website. Listen what Psalm 147 foreign five says he counts the number of the stars he calls them all by name.

Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite.

He likewise numbers the hairs of our head. Secondly, mentally heaven boast a host 70 billion trillion stars but earth and see he makes this statement you made the sea and all that is in this is simple statement signed as predicted, Peter 8.7 million species globally, of which 2.2 million are Marine. Their research suggests that some 86% of the species on earth and 91% in the ocean still await description at think about that folks. And when you think about that and you read you made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them. The wealth of our creation. Genesis 126 God commands man to have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth were commanded to have dominion to subjugate the rain as stewards, but I want to get even more specific. We have a wealth of our creation when it comes to you and to me as individuals. God created us exactly the way he wanted us for his purposes familiar versus Psalm 139, 13 to 16, and some of the political hot potatoes that are going around today. This flies in the face of those. This would not be politically correct to say. Let me read it for you formed my inward parts you covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made marvelous are your works, and that my soul knows very well.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. You saw my substance, yet being unformed and in your book.

They all were written the day's fashion for me, when as yet there were none of them God has made each of us according to his blueprint for each of us just as he wanted us to be and that includes people who may not measure up in some areas from the world standpoint.

Let me insert a parenthetical here.

You know the battle over protecting unborn children to have down syndrome or are of a a race that is not wanted any number of things. If you watch the news at all. That's the latest frontline Exodus 411 says this Civil War again. Jehovah said to Moses, who has made man's mouth or who makes the mute the death. The saying of the blind have not I the Lord. He made those who can speak or cannot speak. He made the mute the death assaying the blind, the man in John chapter 9, who was blind from birth was old enough to be on his own. I don't ask us as parents go to him.

He's of age and yet he was blind from birth, so that Jesus could pass him on a particular day at the exhibit exact spot where he was, for what purpose is to bring glory to God. Folks that's mind-boggling when you consider a lifetime of blindness for just a few minutes, and in those few minutes.

He glorified God, a final thing under our wealth. We looked at our condition, happiness, our conversion, it's all of unmerited grace our creation. Both the earth that were stewards of and our individual bodies. But this last one under this tickler heading. A delightful expectation of present, and promised blessings.

The wealth of our covenant keeping God. The last part of verse six in the first part all the way through the first part of verse nine the first of all, and 6B through seven I who keeps truth forever who executes justice for the oppressed. Charles Spurgeon gave this commentary who keeps truth forever who executes justice for the oppressed, the Lord will never permit his promise to fail.

He's true to his own nature. True to the relationships which he is assumed true to his covenant. True to his word. True to his son. He keeps true and is the keeper of all that is true in some 72 verse four.

Solomon wrote he will bring justice to the poor, the people, he will save the children of the needy and will break in pieces the oppression oppressor.

We have the assurance that our covenant keeping God will keep all of his promises. Notice the last part of verse seven all the way to the first part of verse nine is compassionate in his provision and protection 7B who gives food to the hungry, the Lord gives freedom of the prisoners.

The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord raises those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers. He relieves the fatherless and the widow I want to insert here.

Something that I don't have in my notes but I I can't help but feel prompted to share this who gives food to the hungry. How does God give food to the hungry he uses instruments of righteousness.

He uses you he uses may he doesn't provide manna like he did the children of Israel, but he uses us and something kind of unique happened to me I've given to people or exits before I think it was Thursday or Friday of last week I was on my way to church and I was getting off the exit and I could see further down the exit to Route 62 and there was a gentleman standing there who did not have a code all he had was a blanket around and I felt very strongly prompted to give him some money and attract and I'm thinking Lord you can have to give me a rough life for this to get done because there's dudes behind me.

I can't stop and say here we rate this no red light. I had to I had my wallet. I had the money I intended to give a put it in the track kind of a funny thing about this I had a stop track what I thought was a stock crack if you seen any of them. MacArthur puts another excellent on the premise when I looked again at alto on it was in Spanish civil work so I reach in quickly got a different track. Put the money in, but it was a green light so I went to the light headed to church and I had this overwhelming sense. You need to turn around and give the guy the money so I pulled in a development on safety do turn around I said no. The heart will need to stop by the FedEx at that exit because there are dudes behind me on 62 for sure.

I got up to that in folks I had just gone to the first development on 62, maybe a minute if that. I got up to that exit and he was nowhere to be saying and not to be funny but I even mention of wife. I wondered I mean, it struck me so was this an angel work to do going. I'm looking to see if he was back off the road disappear. So I pulled in the were the cafeteria can Debbie Do turn around came back out, started to church say well Lord you know my heart at a given it to them if I could have, and I was going to this light just past the overpass. I happen to look at waffle house and the guy was cutting across the parking lot so I pulled in there, put the window down and said I'd like to give you this and he was extremely appreciative and I said I just ask that you read this pamphlet that I'm giving any set. I will now I give that Internet is like at Attila teens all the time you give a personal illustration that anybody could give anybody can do that.

That's not braggadocio us any Christian can stop and give someone money and attract. The question is do we do it and I don't do it every time I passed a guy in my accident I greenlight Going, but my point is this. Yes, God will provide. Often he uses us to do it. Here's what Spurgeon said the Lord raises those who are bowed down is looking at the big picture of these verses.

He raises those who are bowed down Jehovah consoles the bereaved he cheers the defeated East Solis is the despondent. He comforts the despairing. Let those who are bowed to the ground, appealed to him and he will speedily uplift them. He was 13, 526 and you had a read these verses in the amplified version sometime. The amplified is too laborious to get through but it packs a punch when it comes to these verses let your conduct be without covetousness, be content with such things as you have, for he himself, Jehovah, he himself is said I will never leave you nor forsake you.

So, we may boldly say the Lord all capital letters.

Jehovah is my helper, I will not fear what can man do to me, and in the climate in which we live folks, that's a great question. What can man do to us. Nothing you turn nothing eternally.

He mice he might send this in the presence of God.

That's an okay thing third and finally we see a declared analyst supremacy with looking to determine exaltation. We look to delightful expectation present in promised blessings and now very briefly. I declared analyst supremacy.

Look at the second part of nine in verse 10, but the way of the wicked.

He turns upside down. The Lord Jehovah shall reign forever your God Elohim of Zion to all generations. Praise the Lord and note that he states that God loves the righteous. In verse eight in the contrast the righteous with the wicked in verse 9B, whom he will turn upside down.

They may think that they're on the right side. The winning side now, but payday is coming folks you want to challenge you imagine the future of those who God loves imaginary future. Imagine the future of those whom he calls wicked that word upside down those words upside down. Here is the idea of thwarting the way of the wicked.

It literally means to make crooked.

We know what the final chapters going to be in for us is eternity in the presence of God. When God calls and end time as we know it. It's the upright, who will remain upright in 1988 and again this is something when you put in an historical context. In 1988 commentator John Phillips wrote this were living in a lawless world where sin and death reign. All too often wickedness and injustice, oppression and crime have their way, so it's not always easy to trace God's overruling Providence. Listen to this. We have to trust him, for we cannot trace him in the end however right always triumphs and wrong reaps the due reward of its deeds. The final setting of mankind's moral accounts is not always in our history books. The fact remains that God loves the righteous and turns the way of the wicked upside down. A key phrase key sentence we have to trust him or we cannot trace you want to put it another way, when we do not understand what God is doing.

We need to have faith.

He is beloved. The source of our assurances that the Lord shall reign forever is our shelter in the time of storm and two things that truth brings peace that the world cannot know, and that truth should foster praise as a witness to a world that is rejected God in Christ application what you do when a noble, fire dies down the were all let's left is a flicker for a few glowing embers just a practical question. What do you do when a noble five dies down the were all that's left is a flicker a few glowing embers you blow on the embers and the result is typically a rebirth of the flame. Then you feed the fire with fuel.

How can this apply to spiritual apathy.

How can we rekindle the flame of gratitude for things and application ponder the wealth that we have in Jehovah as revealed in his will and his word. Ponder the wealth that we have and Jehovah as revealed in his word for us in a very real sense, the best is yet to come as pastor Kern said this morning we have an measurable blessing now in this life, but imagine being in a place where Jesus is the best is yet to come. In that context. Ponder the wealth that we haven't Jehovah pray for a grateful heart that does not take for granted what you have in his provision action. Pray for a grateful heart that does not take for granted what you have in his provision and protection.

I probably said this in this pulpit before, but a life-changing event to me was when I went to Dominican Republic, the pastor sent me down there to see if a school and that place actually was Mexico and the Dominican Republic. But this illustration was Mexico. It's the school where Mark Webb is affiliated and long story short, what happened to me as one of our trips was out of the village down and we were on a bus going to town that this town and I saw what I thought was Mountain in the distance, and as we got closer I realized is not mountains at all trashy and what gripped my heart was when we drove in their and we saw people picking through that trash picking through the trash. We saw people living in huts made of rusty tin pieces, not full sheets would that would not possibly keep out rain and it impacted me to the point where it just goes against my grain is a waste. And I won't get another more specific than that.

But just say this pray for a grateful heart that does not take for granted you have in his provision and protection folks. What we see today as need may one day vary quickly become luxury think about that because that's the case in most of the world to more and more done. Ponder the wealth pray for grateful heart. Praise God in your thoughts and your words and in your song for what is given you in grace in Christ and let me say this when I say praise God in your songs sing privately know you're expected to sing or make an attempt when we come to church but there's nothing like just singing the praises of God with nobody there to impress my case nobody there to scare but sing privately it will do your heart good when you sing song tenure thinking of the words to give you an example. You want to definition of grace, his robes for mine for words. That's grace, his robes for mine. I can't help but look at the chorus of that song God estranged from God. Jesus is rush and thus the fathers please you sing that on your own, you won't have any problem shedding a tear, you won't have any problem being in awe and adoration. Ponder the wealth. Pray for a grateful heart. Praise God privately and publicly, and finally provide fuel for the fire by reading and heeding his word. I want to close by reading this song. My heart is filled with thankfulness.

It's by Keith Gedeon, Stuart Townsend listen to the words. My heart is filled with thankfulness to him who bore my pain who plumb the depths of my disgrace and gave me life again, who crushed my cursive sinfulness and cloak me in his light and wrote his law of righteousness, with power upon my heart. My heart is filled with thankfulness to him who walks beside who floods my weaknesses will strengthen causes fears to fly whose every promise is enough for every step I take, sustaining me with arms of love and crowning me with grace. My heart is filled with thankfulness to him who reigns above whose wisdom is my perfect peace whose every thought is love for every day I have on earth is given by the king, so I will give my life, my all to love and follow him. Beloved as we close tonight. Do you need to rekindle the flame of gratitude in your own heart to some degree we all need to, and may that be something that we truly desire to do in the days ahead. Father I pray that you take what I've shared tonight and use it as you see fit. Lord we are indeed a blessed people that need to be in eternally grateful people in our pray should be public as a testimony to those about us.

Father, we ask you to put your hedge about our church and about all churches that are faithful to the word of God. We asked you put your hedge about our families. We pray for Christians throughout the world. We know of genocide going in on in many countries Nigeria being one of them. We asked father than in your sovereignty you would protect and provide for your people in ways that would bring honor to yourself and orderly clothes with this desire.

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope to the power of the Holy Ghost.

Amen