“THANKSLIVING”

 “THANKSLIVING”

Text: Psalm 100:1-6

ILLUS.: This week, we are celebrating Thanksgiving. Being THANKFUL is part of Thanksgiving. We have set aside this Thursday to Thank The Lord for His blessings.  

-We celebrate Thanksgiving Day once per year, but it is something that we should celebrate 365 days/per year.

-Life is our gift to God; what we do with our life is our gift back to God.  

-We should live our life with gratefulness, serving the Lord in word & deed with heart, soul, mind, and body.

Psalms 95:2

Being thankful is part of the THANKSGIVING SEASON. When we live in a state of THANKSLIVING it releases God’s supernatural power in our lives.  God deserves our praise!

Thanksgiving should be a spirit, but we have made it a SPURT.  Instead of giving God the Praise, we often give all the complaints, objections, &  grievances.  

*Are you thankful? Do you complain? No one likes to live among complainers. You need to know that. God’s spirit will not dwell in the midst of a complainer.

Do you want God’s touch?  Do you want God’s anointing? Praise God…..….BE THANKFUL!

THANKSLIVING is not an emotion. It is a decision. An act of our will.

The Spirit of Thanksgiving will help you to be Thankful when your back is against the wall.  The Spirit of Thanksgiving will help you when your friends have forsaken you. It will help you to say:

“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Phil. 1:6

With all my heart, I believe we are a blessed people & STILL A blessed nation.

Of all those who “give thanks to God & praise His name,” we should be at the top!

Many people live their life in the rear-view mirror, looking at life in reverse.

Thinking of what they have missed out on, thinking of what they don’t have- thinking of what is missing in their life, thinking of the things they have never been able to gather, achieve and secure!

I believe that God tells us to Give thanks to God for all He has given to us.

Give thanks to the Lord for the blessings we have been given.

Give thanks to the Lord for His goodness.

Give thanks to the Lord for HIS grace, mercy, and peace.

Give thanks to the Lord for His Salvation.

Give thanks to the Lord for His forgiveness.

Give thanks to the Lord for His answers to prayer

and give thanks to the Lord even when He doesn’t answer.

It is not uncommon to compile wish lists at Christmas & draw up a list of resolutions for New Years. But there is another list we often overlook – a Thanksgiving Day list of all for which we are thankful.

I’m sure my thanksgiving list would include the major things – life, health, family, friends, & our nation. And even more, I’m thankful for my salvation, my church family at ROL, & the mercy that God showers upon me daily.

POINT: THE REAL TEST OF A THANKFUL HEART IS HOW IT RESPONDS TO A CONTEXT OF CRISIS.

Real faith and gratitude are seen in our ability to thank God in hard times, and praise God when we are pushed against the wall.  IT TAKES FAITH TO SAY,  “I AM BLESSED WHEN YOU ARE HURTING.”

ILLUS.: Many people look in a refrigerator full of food & say, “There’s nothing to eat.” People open a closet full of clothing & complain, “I don’t have anything to wear.” People have a job and complain when they have 2 hours of overtime. People have family to love, and complain when they come over and can’t wait till they leave. Ha  

Thanksgiving Day is a distinctive holiday. It doesn’t commemorate a battle or anyone’s birthday or anniversary. It is simply a day set aside to express our nation’s thanks to our nation’s God.

ILLUS.: In 1789, George Washington made this public proclamation.

Our nation pauses once again to give thanks. And one would assume that because of the example of our forefathers, & because we have so much, we would be extremely thankful people. I think that the 100th Psalm was written to deal with that attitude, to remind us of our need to be thankful, & to maintain an attitude of gratitude.

 

1. GOD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL.

When we are faithless, God is faithful!

A. LET’S REMEMBER WHAT WE HAVE.

God said to them, “When you come into the promised land, & settle down in your warm homes, & you have plenty to eat, don’t forget Me. I led you out of the wilderness & I brought you into a land flowing with milk & honey.”

JESUS IS THE GOAL IN EVERYTHING!
It doesn’t take very long to realize that the people of Israel needed a reminder & I am afraid that we need it, too.

I believe that God had us in mind when this Psalm was written.

Vs. 1-Make a joyful shout to the Lord.

This message of thanksgiving is so deep & wide that it applies to every person in every era in every stage of life.

ILLUS.: We are one of 1 of 10 countries that celebrate THANKSGIVING. USA, Canada, Liberia, Grenada, Germany, Australia, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom & Brazil. I wonder how our world would change if all nations suddenly began to observe Thanksgiving. I think that there is something about giving thanks together to God that breaks down barriers between people & brings about unity, which catches the attention of God and our nation.

I THINK ALSO THAT THERE IS A REAL DANGER IN THIS SEASON OF DETERMINING OUR THANKSGIVING ON THE BASIS OF WHAT WE HAVE. All of these things may change at any time. They may drift away, or someone may steal them or THEY MAY BURN UP.

ROL -PUT YOUR FAITH IN HIM, NOT WHAT WE LOST.

B. REMEMBER GOD’S GOODNESS.

And that is what the 100th Psalm emphasizes.  

The basis of our thanksgiving is the Lord. Are we thankful?

ILLUS.: If I were President and had the votes, I would pass a ANTI-NAGGER BILL. We would vote for one day a year to be a day to nag, complain, grip, and bicker. At daylight, everyone would complain, nag, nag, nag all day long.

At midnight it would cease.  From that day onward, we would never nag the rest of the year, but we would praise the Living God all day long. For we know His mercy endures forever!

The basis of thankfulness – is to remember that we got here with the help of God, & that He is the provider of every blessing we have.

2. FIVE WAYS TO COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS.
We find that there is a series of 5 commands given.

A. THE FIRST COMMAND IS IN VS. 1, “SHOUT FOR JOY TO THE LORD, ALL THE EARTH.”
It means to “shout with the force of a trumpet blast,” a shout of joy to the Lord that comes from the very depths of your being.

Maybe He solved your problem. Maybe He has given you the direction to go forward. Maybe He has provided a blessing, & you realize that it has come from God. So from the depths of your being, you proclaim His praise.

ILLUS.:  I am Thankful that we only elect presidents once every four years. I am Thankful that teenagers will grow up and that one day, they will have children that will become teenagers of their own.

• I am Thankful that I live in West TN. I am thankful that I live in TIPTON County. I am thankful that Bill Lee, a Godly man, is our Governor.
• I am Thankful that Dwayne Cole, a Godly man, is our mayor.
• I am thankful for our New Church!
• I am thankful that ROL is Missional. I am thankful for our ROL churches in Belize, Guatemala and Honduras.
• I am thankful that it gets colder and it makes people put on more clothes.
• I am Thankful that hugs and kisses do not add weight.
• I am Thankful that my name is written down in the lamb’s book of life.
• I am Thankful that God’s love never fails.
• I am Thankful that God is always available!

And that is what the Psalmist is saying….we can change our perspective.

 “Suddenly, you realize that God has been so good to you that you can’t keep it inside anymore. From the depths of your being, you shout your joy unto the Lord.”

B. THE SECOND COMMAND IS V.2 “SERVE THE LORD WITH GLADNESS.”

It says, “serve the Lord.” How do we do that?  The Bible teaches that if we witness on behalf of the Lord, if we feed the hungry and clothe the naked, if we do the work of the Lord, whatever it might be, we are serving the Lord.

Jesus said, “In as much as you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto me.”

I’m not sure that we grasp that. Maybe we serve at times out of a feeling of obligation.  It’s natural for us to desire appreciation when we do something that is worthwhile. But the Psalmist says, “In whatever you do, serve the Lord with gladness.”

JESUS GAVE US SOMETHING TO CHEER ABOUT.

• Be of good cheer, it is I be not afraid.
• Be of good cheer, your sins be forgiven you.
• Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

If you woke up this morning and you were alive, you still have a reason to Praise the Lord.  Rejoice by an act of your will. You are a child of God; you are in God’s family, and you can Thank Him! You have been created by God. You are special to Him. You are unique. You are loved, and He has declared you to be His child.

Psalm 103:1

C. THE THIRD COMMAND IS, “COME BEFORE HIS PRESENCE WITH SINGING.”

Another passage says, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.” And that I can do.
Have you noticed? In these first 3 commands, God has said, “I want you to be happy. Shout with joy, serve with gladness, & come before His presence with singing.”

ILLUS.:  Now, just take a moment and think of your life. Have you decided to be happy? The Psalmist says, “Come before Him & serve Him & sing His praise with joy in your heart.” 

FAITH IS TAUGHT AND CAUGHT when you work hard, pray hard without ceasing, and worship God when it is tough. When there is nothing left in the reservoir, we still stay true.

Loving Jesus – when our prayers are seemingly unanswered.

D. COMMAND #4 IS IN VS. 3, “KNOW THAT THE LORD, HE IS GOD; IT IS HE WHO HAS MADE US, AND NOT WE OURSELVES; WE ARE HIS PEOPLE AND THE SHEEP OF HIS PASTURE.”

1. GOD HAS MADE US PERFECT. Psalm 139:16

God took every bone, every joint, & He welded them together with sinews & muscles & covered them with skin & gave us eyes that see, brains that think, & fingers that can pick things up.  God made us inside & out.

He made you the way He wanted you to be., and He made me the way He wanted me to be.

Some people are ectomorphs, some are endomorphs, and some are mesomorphs.  Some are just Morphs.

Don’t wish to be somebody else; you are a Paris original! Thank God for who you are.

“Beloved, It doth not yet appear what we shall be, but when he shall appear. We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

God is still making us. That is important. He’s not satisfied with the unfinished product. He’s not satisfied with your temper. He’s not satisfied with the weak areas of your life where you are giving in to temptation.

So He’s still making us. He’s still working on our lives.

God is your maker, & you are created in His image. Therefore give Him thanks for who you are. You are a live recording! An original! Not a copy!

2. “We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.”

Most of us want to be shepherds, not sheep. “It’s not any fun being sheep,” we say. But the problem is, we don’t know where the still waters & green pastures are. And every time we go out searching for them, we invariably end up in a far country.

He is saying, “You be the sheep. Let me be the shepherd, & I will lead you beside the still waters & the green pastures. Just let me lead.”

E. COMMAND #5: V.4 – “ENTER HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING, & HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE; GIVE THANKS TO HIM & PRAISE HIS NAME. FOR THE LORD IS GOOD & HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER. HIS FAITHFULNESS CONTINUES THROUGH ALL GENERATIONS.”

IN THE OT -whenever the people came to the temple & entered the courtyards, they knew that they had come into the presence of God.  The place where we meet to worship God is called a “sanctuary,” indicating that God is there. But God is everywhere. He is with you as you drive on the highway. He is with you when you work. He is with you as you care for your children.  He is with you every moment of your life. That is the source of our thanksgiving!  

‘Cause on my best day, I’m a child of God On my worst day, I’m a child of God

Every day is a good day And You’re the reason why

I’m so blessed, I’m so blessed Got this heartbeat in my chest

No, it doesn’t matter about the rest

If I got You, Lord, I’m so blessed

 

WHAT IF GOD BEGAN TO TREAT US LIKE WE SO OFTEN TREAT HIM?

What if God met our needs to the same extent that we give Him our lives?
I am content until I start looking at what I don’t have.
I liked my car — until I saw the new GMC.
I am satisfied with my clothes — until I stroll through the Tanger Outlet.  

I am satisfied with every area of my life — until I start comparing it with someone else’s life.
I feel like I have enough of everything — until I see someone who has more.

• What if God wouldn’t bless us today because we didn’t thank Him yesterday?
• What if God answered our prayers the way we answer His call for service?
• What if God decided to stop leading us tomorrow because we did not follow Him today?

CONCLUSION:

-The art of THANKSLIVING is gratitude in action. It is thanking God for the gift of life by living it triumphantly in CHRIST JESUS!

-It is thanking God for your talents and abilities by accepting them as obligations to be invested in the common good.

-It is thanking God for all that men and women have done for you by doing things for others.

-It is thanking God for happiness by striving to make others happy-Even if you just shut up.

-It is thanking God for beauty by helping to make the world more beautiful.

-It is thanking God for inspiration by trying to be an inspiration to others.