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  DETAILING THE 'EVERYTHING'
  by A.W. Tozer
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Summary: The sermon emphasizes the importance of expressing gratitude to
God in concrete terms, rather than vague generalities.

Topics: "Gratitude", "Acknowledging God"
Scripture References: Psalm 100:4, Psalm 107:1, Psalm 136:1, Luke 17:15-16, 2 Corinthians 9:15, Ephesians 5:20, Philippians 4:6, Colossians 3:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, James 1:17

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DESCRIPTION
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A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of tracing our blessings back to
their true source, God, rather than expressing vague gratitude. He
reflects on an old couple who, despite not being Christians, showed
genuine thankfulness for their lives, yet their gratitude lacked a
direct recipient. Tozer contrasts this with modern individuals who
express joy without acknowledging God, highlighting a common fear of
openly directing gratitude to Him. He suggests that many people, like
Adam, hide from God due to shame or fear of judgment, leading to a
generalization of their thankfulness instead of a personal
acknowledgment. Ultimately, Tozer calls for a more intentional and
personal expression of gratitude towards God.

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CONTENT
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It is important that we trace our benefits back to their source and
express our thanks to the One ?from whom all blessings flow,? rather
than merely to feel a vague stirring of gratefulness that results in
nothing real. I once lived with a fine old couple, neither of whom was a
Christian, and I was impressed with the profound sense of gratitude they
felt for everything they possessed. When the winter winds moaned through
the trees and made the old house tremble, the old man would smile and
say, ?Ah! How good it is to have a warm place to sleep on a night like
this.? And the mother would often speak of her large family, now grown
and scattered: ?How grateful I am that they are all healthy and all
mentally sound. I am so thankful.? Their gratitude was genuine. Of that
there could be no trace of a doubt, but I often wondered who was the
recipient of it. Whom were they thanking? They never said.

The irreligious world has its own way of reacting. When things ?break?
fortunately for a businessman, an athlete or a politician he will slap
his hands together and shout, ?Great! Wonderful!? He is thanking
someone; but whom?

It could be that the old couple of whom I speak were actually meaning to
express their thankfulness to God, and that the modern man who shouts
his pleasure at his lot in life secretly feels his indebtedness to God;
the trouble is that they were and are ashamed to direct their gratitude
pointedly to One with whom they are not acquainted. They flee like Adam
and hide among the trees of the garden rather than face up to the God
they know they have offended. Fear of being thought queer sometimes
leads people to express religious ideas in generalities instead of in
concrete terms.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/aw-tozer/detailing-the-everything/
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