The Challenge to Excel (Part 3): Giving, Gratitude, & God's Viewpoint 1 Thess.4 by Dr. Rod Mattoon

About this sermon

An important element for excelling in your spiritually growth is learning to give. We are to give to the Lord and we are to give to others. You will excel when you put your focus on Christ and be a blessing to other people instead of yourself. We make a living by what we get out of life, but we make a life by what we give. You will excel when you learn that life is NOT about “things” or “yourself.” Life is about HIM and being a channel of blessing and His love. Yielding and allowing the Lord to work through you will spur your Christian growth. Beloved, giving to the Lord will not leave you with egg on your face, especially at the Judgment Seat of Christ. It is an investment that will yield blessings for you in the future here on earth and in Heaven. Gratefulness is a HUGE trait that is vital if you are going to excel in your spiritual growth. It is one of the key traits that many Christians desperately lack in their lives. How many times have you done things for other people and they acted as if you owed them. They never say “Thank you” at all. Understand that ingratitude hurts your testimony. How many times have you done things for others and they expressed their kindness and gratefulness to you? Their attitudes were totally different and Christlike. If you are a pastor, be sure you make it a point to thank your people in the church for the things they do for you as well as the church ministry. It you are going to pursue excellence in your Christian life and excel in your spiritual growth, then you need to learn to look at yourself as well as your life from God’s point of view. People become inflated in their heads like a big balloon because they have a distorted view of their own importance and abilities. Some feel they are better than others. They come to this conclusion because they compare themselves with other people. Paul warned that this was not a smart thing to do. * 2 Corinthians 10:12- For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. This message was preached on Sunday morning, April 18, 2021, at Lincoln Land Baptist Church.

Topics

• Gratitude
• Giving
• Thanksgiving