Sermon Notes PDF When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. (Deut. 8:10-11) The Antidote to Ingratitude We live in amazing abundance, and in such abundance it can be easy to forget the God who gave us what we have. Romans 1:18ff reminds us that ingratitude is the beginning of all other sins. The antidote to ingratitude is for it keeps before us the source of our abundance. Remember the God who Brought You Here (Deut. 8:1-20) Deut. 8:1-5. Remember. Israel’s memory of how God provided for it should motivate its people to obey God. Looking backward is sometimes a good way to know how to move forward. Disciplines. The hardships that Israel suffered for 40 years were a form of discipline intended to the Israelites. And discipline is a good thing, for it makes us better people. Cf., Hebrews 12:5-12. Bread alone. God supplied Israel with divine food (manna), but its intention was to teach Israel to obey God’s divine Word. Deut. 8:6-9. The land that God gave Israel was rich, varied, and teeming with opportunity. Springs gushing. Egypt is a flat country without springs; after hundreds of years in Egypt and the Negev, a spring was a new and beautiful thing for Israel. Rocks are iron. Ironwork was a new technology in Moses’ day; it revolutionized the ancient world like the computer did the modern world. Deut. 8:10-16. It can be easy to forget that our abundance came from God. Forgetting the God who gave us our blessings is the cause of ingratitude. Ingratitude begets a host of destruction. Deut. 8:17-20. My power. The root of ingratitude is pride—the belief that we are self- made people or that we deserve the blessings of God. The humble person who acknowledges the Lord is the happy person. The unworshipful, ungrateful, and prideful person is the miserable person. Some Biblical Terms for Worship To do obeisance; bow down (Hb = chavah; Gk = proskuneo): Exod. 20:5; Psa. 95:6; Luke 4:7 1 Cor. 14:25 To carry out a religious service (Hb = obed; Gk = latreuo, leitourgeo): Exod. 8:1; 20:5; Josh 24:14; Rom. 12:1; 2 Cor. 9:12 To reverence or fear (Hb = yareh, Gk = phobeomai, sebomai): Deut. 6:13; Josh 4:24; Psa. 19:9; Matt. 15:9; Acts 13:16; 1 Tim. 2:10 To praise, bless, sing, or glorify (Hb = hallal, baruch, Gk = epaino, aineo humneo, doxazo, eulogeo): Psa. 148:1; Dan. 2:20; Rom. 15:11; 2 Cor. 1:3; Eph. 1:12 To sacrifice (Hb = olah, minchah, labach, Gk = thuo, prosphoreo, hilaskomai): Exod. 5:17; Lev. 3:3; Phil. 4:18; Heb. 13:15; 1 Jn. 4:10 Engage the Power of Worship Worship focuses our minds on God: we see . Worship takes our minds off ourselves, our hurts, and our problems. Worship teaches through experience, adding strength to mere words. Worship , enabling us to remember and relive them. Worship moves our emotions, which motivates our reason (joy, fear, peace, earnestness, etc.). Worship links us to the past, joining us to the heroes of old. Worship hands the truths of God . Worship links us to other believers in unity, strength, and encouragement.Great Worship Moments in the Bible Jacob worshiped when he had his vision of heaven at Bethel, venerating God and erecting a memorial stone. (Genesis 28:10-22) Moses worshiped when he realized God's presence at the burning bush, removing his shoes and committing to God’s mission. (Exodus 3:1-6) David worshiped when the ark of God returned to Jerusalem, joyfully dancing before the Lord. (2 Sam. 6:1-19) Isaiah worshiped when he had his vision of heaven, confessing his sin and demonstrating eagerness to preach the Word. (Isaiah 6:1-8) Peter worshiped after he caught the miraculous amount of fish, falling to his knees and leaving everything for Jesus. (Luke 5:1-11) Jesus worshiped when He saw His disciples conquering Satan, expressing joy and prayer. (Luke 10:1-24) Thomas worshiped when he touched the risen Savior, crying out “My Lord and God!” (John 20:24-29) The early church worshiped after their baptisms, devoting themselves to the Word, breaking bread, fellowship and prayer. (Acts 2:42-47) The Ethiopian eunuch worshiped after his conversion to Christ, going on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8:36-40) The four beasts, the 24 elders, thousands of angels, and the entire creation worships by falling down, singing praises, laying down their crowns, playing harps, and burning incense. (Rev. 4-5) Your notes: