The Sin of Ingratitude

By:  M. Allen

 

FILING INFORMATION:

97031

06/29/97 - Cyclone, KY

 

I.  Introduction

A.   1 Thess. 5:18 says:

1.     Psa. 50:14 says…

2.     Eph. 5:19 says…

3.     Psa. 95:2 says…

B.    The Bible is clear in showing that the Christian is to be thankful for what Almighty God & Jesus Christ has done for us.

1.     From the texts just read, we find David & Paul demonstrating their thankfulness and encouraging others to do the same.

2.     The child of God who wished to be pleasing to God must be thankful and must demonstrate that thankfulness.

C.    Webster's defines thankfulness: Showing or feeling gratitude: grateful; appreciative.

1.     consider where we would be w/o Christ.

a.     no forgiveness of sins

b.     totally & undeniably alone

c.     no hope of salvation - whatsoever

2.     consider what He went through for you and me

a.  1 Jhn. 4:8-11

3.     Why is it so hard for many of us to demonstrate our thankfulness to God when it is so easy to show thankfulness to men?

a.     b/c many Christians are not spiritual minded enough to try to grow closer to God through the study & application of His Word!

b.     As one grows in Christ, he grows in understanding, and appreciation for what the Lord has done for him.

c.     Unfortunately, many act as those in Lk. 17:11-19

D.   We want to take the time to expose the ways that we can display ingratitude toward God.

1.  Let us take notice of these things so we will not fall into the trap of sin.

 

II.  We Show Ingratitude By:

A.   Refusing to Obey the Gospel.

1.     The invitation has been extended.

a.     Mt. 11:28-30

b.     Christ extends an invitation to all men. Those who have been made poor and lost, and ruined by sin are encouraged to come to Christ.

1.     We come to Christ to receive rest from sin, fear of eternal death.

c.     There is no one who is out of His grasp.

d.     Christ has the power to save man from his sins - Jhn. 14:6

e.     No one has the excuse NOT to obey.

2.  The Jews refused to listen to Christ.

a.     Mt. 23:37-38 - Jews chosen people of God - had the law - if anyone should have believed, it should have been them.

b.     The majority rejected Christ & His gospel.

c.     Jhn. 1:10-12 - the refused to receive Christ & eventually had Him put to death.

3.  Men can do the same today!

a.      Hear many that say thankful for the Lord.  But refuse to demonstrate it by obedience

b.      Hear many who b/l in Christ!  But refuse to obey the bible plan of salvation.

c.      Have those who know they are outside Christ - sit through invitation after invitation and never respond.  Not thankful!

B.    Not Living Faithfully Before God.

1.     There are those who have responded to the gospel call for salvation.  They knew at that time that w/o Christ, they would be lost.

a.     But for some reason have drifted back into the world.

b.     Jhn. 6:66 - there have always been some who would accept gospel & drift away.

1.     v. 67-68 - but do we have Peter's attitude?

a.     Follow Christ no matter what - through "thick & thin?"

b.     realize to reject Christ is to ask for spiritual disaster

2.     If one really understand that Christ has the words of life, he will not depart.

2.  Again, the Israelites an example.  1 Cor. 10:1-12

a.     For awhile, served God & were pleasing to Him!  V. 1-4

1.     But majority turned desires on themselves & insisted on serving their own lusts.  V. 6

2.     Result:  back into sin - separated from God.

3.     Idolatry, fornication, murmuring, etc.

4.     Had they been thankful for the Lord in a genuine manner these things might never happened

b.     v. 11-12 - we need to look at what happened to them.

1.     Downfall of many Christians is they rearrange priorities to focus upon self only!

a.      Job, financial concerns, fun/pleasure, hobbies, etc.

b.      When one places these things above everything else - he is asking for trouble - even spiritual death.

c.      Must focus upon Christ - not self!

d.      On self?  Not thankful.

e.      Where are your priorities centered?

3.  When on rejects God, he has no hope.  Destruction is imminent.

a.     thought demonstrated in Jer. 2:13

1.     What better graphic than the one painted in this text?

2.     Of what value is a broken cistern?  Fill it up - just a waste of time

b.     Those who reject God today by living unfaithfully are only wasting valuable time.

c.     If more truly realized that God is the fountain of living waters they would never reject Him.

d.     It boggles my mind how anyone would knowingly reject Him!

C.    Forsaking the Assembly

1.       More & more Christians consider attendance as being not that important.  Revealed in attendance figures.

a.     what if regular church attendance as important as:

1.     Watching favorite TV show.

2.     Some other "important" activities in our lives.

3.     Many don't seem to have a problem missing anything but church.

b.     The thankful Christian is the Christian who attends every service he possibly can.

c.     Could Rom 1:20-25 apply to some Christians?

1.     esp. v. 21-22

2.     Things in v. 24-25 happened to those who were unthankful.

2.  Heb. 10:23-27 - what is one of the keys to one's Christian life?

a.     v. 25 - not forsaking the assembly

b.     come together to receive spiritual food & nourishment

c.     come together to stir up & exhort one another

1.     When you not here - you are missed!

2.     Everyone is important!

3.  Many have the following attitude:

a.     How many worship services can I miss & still be pleasing to God?

b.     Thankful Christians would never ask such a question!

c.     When are we going to quit treating services as a dread and start treating them as God intended - a joy?

1.     Mal. 1:13 - Israelites attitude

2.     They unpleasing to God.  Let us not be unpleasing as them.

D.   Neglect to Do Good.

1.     Mt. 7:12 - the "golden rule."  "doing good" to others is one of the trademarks of Christianity.  But with some who profess to be Christians, you'd never know it.

a.     Gal. 6:9-10 - not grow weary in doing good!

1.     In doing so - Christ glorified.

2.     In doing so - one's example is strengthened!

a.     Best teaching?  By one example

b.     good works are but a testimony of one's faith in Almighty God

3.     If we have opp. To do good and refuse it - cause of Christ has been damaged!

b.  Are you taking advantage of opportunity to do good when you can?

2.     Eph. 4:28

a.     we need to do our part in helping those who are in need

1.     Not always financial.

2.     Are we willing to be there for others?  Esp. bro/sis In the faith?

3.  Importance of doing good stressed in Mt. 25:41-46 - (the bottom line) refuse to do good - suffer eternity in hell!

E.    Refusing to tell others of the Gospel.

1.     We must be concerned about spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ!

a.     If we are truly thankful we would do all we could to tell others!

1.     invite friends to worship

2.     encourage acquaintances to study the bible with us

3.     encourage bro/sis to do the same thing

b.     Christians in Acts 8:4 - went everywhere - preaching the word!  They were not weak in their stand for the Lord.

1.     Preached/taught/encouraged others in the face of death!  Contrast to present.

2.     Church grew enormously during this time.

3.     Let us do the same!

2.     Gospel is not intended to be stationary or immobile.  Intended to be shared with others!

a.     2 Tim. 2:2

b.     Are you concerned about teaching others?  If not, may you are not as thankful as you should be.

c.     Don't you want others to share in the grace & knowledge of Christ?

d.     True thankfulness will overcome fear!

3.     consider Rom. 1:15

a.      Wholeheartedly! - no matter what it took, he was going to preach the gospel

b.     Our goal is to preach the gospel!  If gospel falls on deaf ears, we have still done our part!

1.     Afraid majority of Christians don't realize this!

2.     Could this be why growth is slower than desired?

4.  Heb. 5:12-14

a.     some display their spirit of unthankfulness to the Lord by not growing enough to teach

1.     Have done enough to b/c Christian but that's it.

2.     Aim in Christianity to be moving forward

b.     Hebrews in text not doing this

c.     Are you unskilled?  This is not an excuse for many of us!

4.     let us do our part to demonstrate our thankfulness by doing all we can to follow the Lord & tell others about Him

 

III. Conclusion

A.   Back to Text in Luke 17:11-19

1.     Which group do you fall into?

a.     With the one that glorified God and was thankful?

b.     Or with the 9 who were unthankful?

2.     Which group do you think that God was pleased with?

a.     Is God going to be pleased with you?

3.     How is your attitude?

B.    Let us all demonstrate our thankfulness to God!

C.    Demonstrate it by responding to this invitation if you have need.

D.  Don't delay:  do it while you have the opportunity!