THE POWER OF APPRECIATION
Study Text– Luke 17:11 – 19
Introduction:
- Gratitude is a spiritual force that empowers you to scale higher. You can’t change to higher level without it.
- Ten people were healed, but only one returned to say ‘thank you’ to Jesus. And He took note of that. Psalm 92: 1 – 3.
- Why didn’t the other nine return to give their appreciation to Him? What do you imagine our world would look like if every individual would appreciate God for every blessing received, whether great or small?
- Yes, God expects you to give appreciations. He values our praise and thanksgiving, and is actually motivated by it!
- Thanksgiving and appreciation will establish your blessings as permanent features of your life. Ingratitude is a major reason for stagnation. A man who does not give thanks does not move forward no matter how much he prays.
- It takes gratitude to become great. A man that is not grateful does not live a great life. Until we thank God for where we are, we cannot move to where we are meant to be.
- We shall discuss the topic under three sub-headings:
1. The Purpose of Appreciation
2. The Patterns of Appreciation
3. The Power of Appreciation
1. The Purpose of Appreciation
- Until you thank God for where He has brought you, He will not take you to where He has planned to take you.
- Your struggles will reduce and your glory will show when you live a life of gratitude. Every time the devil reminds you of what God has not done, show him what God has already done.
- When David’s capability of conquering Goliath was questioned, he told them what God has done before, by helping Him to kill the lion and the bear. 1 Sam 17: 34 - 37
Psalms 92:1 - It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:
- There are so many purposes of giving thanks and appreciation to God. The purpose of appreciation and giving thanks include the following:
i. We are commanded to give thanks to God at all times and in every situations as one of the perfect will of God for us. 1Thes 5:18
ii. To acknowledge that every good thing and blessings we enjoy in life has its source in God. James 1: 17
iii. To acknowledge that the blessings we received could not be obtained by our own making, or by other means apart from God. John 3: 27.
iv. To indicate that we value the blessings of God greatly, and this can serve as a platform for receiving greater or other blessings from Him. I Sam 17: 37.
v. To fulfil the scriptural requirement of how to make our request known unto God. Thanksgiving is a MUST for a glorious future. Phil 4: 6 – 7.
Failure to give thanks and appreciate God also has some terrible effects on our life. Some of this include:
i. It opens door for the enemy to attack. (Deut 28:47-48)
- Lack of appreciation keeps God away from you and your affairs but attracts the enemy.
ii. It will attract curses rather than blessings from God. (Malachi 2:1-3)
- When we do not lay it to heart to give thanks to God, He curses our blessings and our position will change for the worse.
iii. It is a form of pride, and can lead to destruction. (Acts 12:21-23)
- The scriptures tell us that King Herod was eaten up by worms because he didn’t give the glory to God.
- Many people are suffering because they did not give ALL the glory to God or they did not lay it to heart to give God thanks for whatever blessing that came their way.
- We should give God thanks no matter how small the blessing may be in our eyes. Ingratitude is a big risk that should be avoided.
2. The Patterns of Appreciation
- Appreciation and Thanksgiving has two main aspects
(a) Thank GOD for His blessings.
- He must take all the glory over every blessing we receive, every success we recorded, every breakthrough we achieved and every height we attained.
(b) Thank MEN whom God has used to bring the blessings to you.
- We must not take the people God has surrounded us with for granted, but they must be greatly appreciated for the various roles they play in our lives.
- As human beings we must learn to appreciate and show gratitude to one another unconditionally. A heart of gratitude and appreciation does not harbour offenses and never seeks opportunity to take revenge for evil.
- Your acts of appreciation have the power to lift you from obscurity to prominence. Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a gift and not presenting it. Appreciation is felt when it is tangible and observable.
- God will be glorified and people will be motivated when we show appreciation and give thanks.
- Certain attitudes and behaviour makes it difficult for us to show appreciation, and must be avoided in our lives. This include:
i. Covetousness
- Nothing is ever enough to the covetous, so he despises the little and cannot show appreciation. Always remember that nothing multiplies until thanksgiving is engaged.
- The Bible says when we are faithful in little, greater things shall be given to us. Appreciation is part of our faithfulness that qualifies us to receive the greater.
ii. Murmuring
- Some people grumbles and complained over almost everything they have and cannot give appreciation over what they have received.
- Murmuring attracts judgement from God and will keep you at the same spot if it doesn’t destroy you.
iii. Pride
- The proud always think that their success is all because of their input. They never remember that they are what they are by the grace of God.
iv. Comparing with others
- The reason some cannot show appreciation is that they always compare their blessings with others, and always found that they had nothing.
- That was the problem of the man with one talents, he compared with the one that had five and the one that had two, so he could not make progress.
- These attitudes and behaviour make their victims not to see any reason why they should thank God or appreciate men that God has used for them.
- To take God for granted for the issues of your life is to be grounded in life. Can lack of appreciation be the reason why things are difficult for you? It’s time to examine your life and make amends where necessary.
3. The Power of Appreciation
- Showing appreciation and giving thanks is very powerful. This is because:
i. It opens door for fresh grace
- Every time you give genuine thanksgiving, fresh grace comes on you. You never run dry with constant thanksgiving (Psa 89:20-24)
ii. It turns your battles to God’s battle
- Every child of God carries enviable future/destiny that attracts combat from the enemy. The greater the glory, the greater the battle.
- Thanksgiving passes your battle to God and you wouldn’t need to fight to win the battle. (2 Chro 20:22-24)
- God delivers Paul and Silas miraculously because the praise Him in the prison, which is a form of appreciation.
iii. It is a platform for greater blessings
- Every blessing (finance, healing, peace, grace, etc.) multiplies at the instance of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the platform for scaling unusual heights. (John 6:6-13)
iv. It sustains your confidence in God and His power
- It is the secrete behind your sustainability in the kingdom of God. The grateful are never offended, because in every situation, they see reasons for appreciation. (Psa 92:13)
v. It authenticates your miracle and blessings.
- When one of the lepers returned to show appreciation, Jesus pronounced Him whole. So many blessings and miracle cannot last because of lack of appreciation, bur our thanksgiving solidifies our blessings.
Conclusion:
- As believers we must always endeavour to show appreciation to God because our existence on earth is not as a result of our beauty, wealth, clout or connections but it is only because of the grace and mercy of God.
- Our expression of appreciation to God must be spontaneous and unconditional. A heart of gratitude and appreciation to God is a recipe for God to release greater blessing and favour.
- Your appreciation to God is a springboard to your next level of greatness. When you always give God thanks, your life will never lose value. (Psa 92:14)
