COME UP HIGHER NOW: THE ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE AND THE CALL TO PRAISE By: Major Frank Materu
Key Scripture: “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
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INTRODUCTION
The voice of the Lord is calling His people to a higher dimension of spiritual maturity, discipline, and alignment with His divine purpose. In this prophetic message, the Spirit of God reveals a deep concern regarding the destructive habit of complaining, murmuring, and maintaining negative attitudes among believers. God speaks with clarity, firmness, and fatherly correction, urging His people to abandon the attitudes that dishonor Him and embrace the life-giving posture of constant thanksgiving, praise, and gratitude.
Gratitude is not merely a feeling; it is a spiritual discipline, a lifestyle, and a weapon of warfare. It lifts the believer from the lowlands of spiritual defeat into the high places of revelation, joy, peace, and victory. Conversely, complaining is not simply an emotional reaction; it is sin, spiritual rebellion, and an open door for demonic influence. When Christians neglect thanksgiving, they surrender the spiritual grounds of their peace and become vulnerable to the schemes of the enemy.
This lesson explores the theological, spiritual, and practical implications of maintaining the Attitude of Gratitude as commanded by God. It examines the consequences of murmuring, the dangers of negative attitudes, the historical warnings from Scripture, and the call to rise above the patterns of worldly negativity. The message emphasizes that gratitude unlocks revelation, strengthens faith, restores joy, and protects the believer from deception and spiritual decline.
We will examine God’s call to “Come Up Higher Now” and understand that this upward movement is not physical but spiritual. It is a call to elevate the heart, the mind, the thoughts, the speech, and the attitude into alignment with God's character and will. Every believer is invited to rise above negativity, silence the influence of demonic suggestions, cultivate thanksgiving, and walk in the perpetual joy of the Lord.
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THE CALL TO COME UP HIGHER THROUGH THANKSGIVING
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.” (Psalm 100:4)
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The message begins with an invitation: “Come Up Higher Now.” This upward movement is made possible through thanksgiving and praise. The Lord emphasizes that gratitude is a gateway into His presence, a spiritual elevation that lifts the believer into deeper realms of revelation, discernment, and communion with God.
God does not want His people weighed down with the burdens of negativity. He desires to see His children rejoicing in the mercies they receive daily. When believers pause to reflect on the goodness of God, they realize that His provision, protection, and grace are sufficient. Complaining clouds the heart, but thanksgiving opens the eyes to perceive God’s workings.
Thanksgiving is not a reaction to perfect circumstances—it's a spiritual posture regardless of conditions. When believers give thanks, they align their hearts with the truth that God is faithful and actively involved in their lives. This posture demolishes demonic strongholds designed to sow discouragement and heaviness.
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THE SIN OF COMPLAINING AND ITS SPIRITUAL CONSEQUENCES
“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” (Philippians 2:14-15)
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God warns that complaining is not a harmless habit; it is sin. It is rebellion against His goodness, an indictment against His provision, and a reflection of a heart that has lost sight of His sovereignty. When God’s people complain, they align themselves with the voice of the enemy rather than the voice of God.
Complaining weakens faith, drains spiritual strength, and gives demons access to influence a believer's thoughts and emotions. It magnifies problems and minimizes the power of God. The Lord highlights that when believers adopt the murmuring spirit, they disconnect from the flow of divine grace and expose themselves to spiritual decline.
The Israelites in the wilderness serve as a sobering example. Their murmuring brought judgment, death, and divine displeasure. God did not tolerate their ungratefulness because it opposed His purposes and distorted His goodness. This historical account stands as an eternal warning that complaining is spiritually dangerous.
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THE DEMONIC STRATEGY BEHIND NEGATIVE ATTITUDES
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
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The enemy understands that a complaining Christian is a weakened Christian. Satan’s strategy is to shift the believer’s focus from God’s promises to temporary discomforts. Once attention is misdirected, the heart becomes vulnerable to deception, discouragement, and depression.
Murmuring empowers demonic influence, giving demons legal grounds to sow fear, worry, bitterness, and doubt. God warns that when Christians allow negative attitudes to grow unchecked, these become “weeds” in the garden of the heart. Such weeds—symbolic of demonic influences—can choke out faith, hope, and trust. If not uprooted, they ultimately lead to spiritual death.
A believer who fails to guard their attitude becomes spiritually barren. The devil delights in nurturing bad attitudes because they hinder prayer, block revelation, and weaken a believer’s relationship with God. But God calls His people to vigilance. He desires that believers uproot demonic seeds before they take root, allowing spiritual fruits to flourish in their hearts.
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THE DANGER OF WORLDLINESS AND COMPROMISE
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)
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God expresses deep frustration with believers who adopt the attitudes, behaviors, and priorities of the world. Instead of standing boldly for Christ, many prefer to blend in with worldly culture. They fear rejection more than God. They prefer acceptance by unbelievers rather than approval from the Lord.
The message challenges Christians who hide their identity in Christ. God calls them cowards because they refuse to boldly identify with Jesus. They do not want to be seen as different. They want to speak, dress, and behave like the world. This compromise leads them into spiritual danger, drawing them away from holiness and truth.
God contrasts the behavior of worldly fans who proudly wear clothing identifying them with destructive lifestyles, dead idols, and fallen icons—yet Christians are ashamed to visibly identify with Christ. This reveals a heart far from God. True discipleship requires boldness, courage, and public allegiance to Jesus Christ.
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THE ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE AS A MARK OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)
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Gratitude is evidence of a transformed heart. It reflects trust, humility, and spiritual insight. A grateful Christian recognizes that every breath, every blessing, every day is a gift from God. Gratitude protects the heart from pride, entitlement, and self-pity.
The Lord insists that thanksgiving produces joy. Joy is not an emotion but a spiritual force. It strengthens, energizes, and sustains a believer in difficult seasons. A joyful believer remains spiritually stable and resistant to demonic discouragement.
God is calling His people to cultivate gratitude daily. This practice lifts them above darkness and brings them into harmony with heaven. Gratitude is a spiritual discipline that opens doors for revelation, guidance, and wisdom. Complaining shuts those doors and leads to stagnation.
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THE CALL TO BE VICTORS, NOT VICTIMS
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)
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God never intended His people to walk in defeat. He wants believers to rise in strength, courage, and spiritual authority. Complaining produces victims; thanksgiving produces victors. A victim mentality limits destiny, while gratitude unlocks divine empowerment.
The Lord reminds us that even when Christians suffer persecution or hardship, they must not adopt negative attitudes. True believers often experience physical and verbal attacks for the sake of Christ. Yet they endure with praise, not bitterness. Their courage testifies of God’s sustaining grace.
Therefore, believers must refuse to be enslaved by negative emotions. The victory Christ provides must be embraced daily by choosing gratitude over grumbling. This choice determines spiritual progress or decline.
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SUMMARY
This lesson has emphasized the divine call to abandon complaining and embrace gratitude as a crucial spiritual discipline. God warns that murmuring is sin and opens doors for demonic influence, weakening faith and hindering spiritual growth. Complaining mirrors the attitudes of the world, whereas gratitude reflects the heart of Christ. Thanksgiving is a gateway to revelation, joy, victory, and spiritual strength. God desires His people to come up higher, cultivate gratitude, uproot spiritual weeds, stand boldly for Christ, and walk in victory.
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CONCLUSION
The attitude of gratitude is not optional—it is essential for spiritual life, growth, and maturity. Complaining leads to spiritual death, while thanksgiving leads to divine elevation. God calls His people to reject worldliness, break free from negative thinking, and embrace the disciplined life of praise. Through gratitude, believers honor God, resist the enemy, and walk in victory. The invitation to “Come Up Higher Now” is a call to transformation, renewal, and deeper intimacy with the Lord.
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CALL TO ACTION
The Lord is calling you today to actively renounce every complaining spirit and commit your heart to daily thanksgiving. Choose gratitude in every circumstance. Speak life, not negativity. Uproot every demonic influence that seeks to corrupt your attitude. Make a firm decision to identify publicly with Jesus Christ and walk boldly in His truth. Let praise continually be on your lips, regardless of your situation.
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FINAL WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT
The Lord has not called you to defeat but to victory. Do not allow negativity to steal your joy or weaken your faith. Stand firm. Keep praising. Keep thanking God. As you maintain the Attitude of Gratitude, you will ascend into higher realms of revelation, strength, and spiritual authority. The Lord is with you, and His joy will be your strength.
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SALVATION PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I come before You today acknowledging that I am a sinner in need of Your grace. I repent of all my sins, including every negative attitude, every complaint, and every murmuring spirit. I believe that You died for my sins and rose again for my salvation. I surrender my life completely to You. Come into my heart, cleanse me, renew me, and make me a new creation. I receive You as my Lord and Savior. From today, help me to walk in gratitude, holiness, and obedience. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me. Amen.
