Give Thanks
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
Thanksgiving lunch or dinner is what Thanksgiving means to a lot of people.
A family gathered around a big turkey and meal with all the goodies to go with it.
And that’s certainly a special time for many families here in our blessed country.
We have great abundance in America.
We can buy most anything we want if we have the money or the credit.
We have freedom in America to go where we want, when we want.
We have the precious gift of being able to travel and be with our families on Thanksgiving and at other times.
Counting our blessings and giving thanks is what Thanksgiving is all about!
However, thankfulness is so much more than having enough food to eat, a nice, warm home to live in, good health, or financial security, because each of those circumstances can be taken from us in an instant.
Thankfulness is a state of being and a way of life, and we usually fail to live in a state of thankfulness because we take what we have for granted.
Psalm 136 is a psalm of praise to God from the nation of Israel because of what He has done for them. Ultimately, they are giving thanks for the ways He has blessed them.
Let’s learn from their example on how to give thanks.
Responsive reading Psalm 136:1-9
GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR HIS CREATION (v. 1-9)
GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR HIS CREATION (v. 1-9)
Creation is a reflection of His intellect (v. 4-5)
As we observe the created order around us, we cannot conclude anything less than an intelligent Creator’s signature on His work of art
All the earth’s systems work in perfect harmony, making it too “coincidental” to have come about by chance.
Things like the water cycle and carbon cycle work in a manner that is consistent with the laws of nature…given to us by God himself.
The human body is so immensely complex that all the parts had to be present and working properly in order for it to live
Bacteria...the simplest life form on the planet...still confounds scientists today
Psalm 19:1–2 (ESV)
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
Creation is a reflection of His kindness (v. 7-9)
Most people in this room are not particularly interested in the cold winter weather that is coming down the pipe.
Loads of snow filling our yards and driveways.
Bitter cold brought on by wind chill that leads to negative temperatures.
Makes you appreciate the warmth of the sun, doesn’t it?
The Lord is the One who created the sun.
He created everything that we take for granted.
He gave us heat and warmth from the sun.
He gave us light from the sun, moon, and stars.
Mankind since creation has been trying to make sense of it and give thanks for these wonderful creations. Unfortunately, they did so by choosing to worship it rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25).
Yet, His kindness is still shown through His provision for all people.
so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Creation is a witness of His existence
Romans 1:18–20 (ESV)
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Creation points to a Creator; much like a painting points to a painter and a watch points to a watchmaker. Because of this fact, every person is left without excuse when they choose to suppress the truth of his existence in order to pursue their own fleshly desires.
Acts 14:15-17 (when Paul and Barnabas were preaching in Lystra, and the people wanted to worship them)
Acts 14:15–17 (ESV)
“Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”
Responsive reading Psalm 136:10-22
GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR HIS POWER (v. 10-22)
GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR HIS POWER (v. 10-22)
Power for judgment (v. 10-12)
God fought the battle for the nation of Israel against the mighty Egyptians.
His chosen people had been enslaved and Pharaoh refused to let them go.
After promising to let them go, then refusing to when the time came, God punished Pharaoh and the people of Egypt
God is the one who sets up rulers and nations and He is the one who tears them down.
The nation of Egypt was a great power but was still no match for the Lord
Romans 13:1–2 (ESV)
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
No one is impervious to His judgment because we must all stand before the throne and receive our sentence
Hebrews 9:27
it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment
Power to provide a way of escape (v. 13-15)
Psalm 136 recounts that the Israelites were standing at the impassable Red Sea with the Egyptians behind them when God parted the waters for them to cross over and escape imminent death.
But before this amazing deliverance by God, there was a feeling of hopelessness and despair.
Exodus 14:11–12 (ESV)
They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”
In a similar fashion, we all face the overwhelming desires to sin against God and do what He does not want us to do.
The enemy is strong and these desires are temptations to lead you into sin.
However, God has the power to provide a way of escape…and He does so with every temptation.
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
The only question we need to ask is: are we going to take the escape or allow ourselves to be defeated?
It should be a no brainer.
When the Red Sea parted before them, do you think the Israelites thought twice about it?
Then why do you?
Power to provide a home for His people (v. 16-22)
Even though the land was already occupied, God led His people, Israel, to victory over those who were in the land in to claim a home for them.
Remember, these people were already in the land when God promised it to Abraham and his descendants.
John 14:1–3 (ESV)
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
Jesus, having already won the victory for us on the cross, is now preparing a place for us in His Father’s house. We may die before He comes to receive us, but we can take it to the bank that He is coming.
Abraham’s descendants had to wait nearly 500 years before the land that was promised would be given to them.
It has been nearly 2,000 years since Jesus went back to heaven. Time is not a limitation with God...He will deliver on His promises.
Responsive reading Psalm 136:23-26
GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR HIS DELIVERANCE (v. 23-26)
GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR HIS DELIVERANCE (v. 23-26)
Deliverance from bondage (v. 23)
The low estate of Israel was that they were slaves in Egypt for over 400 years.
The promises that God made to Abraham and his descendants seemed but a flickering ember of lost hope.
The low estate of every man is being in bondage to sin because all have sinned
John 8:34
Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
God has provided deliverance from our bondage to sin through the power of the Gospel
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Deliverance from evil (v. 24)
Just like the Israelites, we all have adversaries we must face.
They may be other people or organizations for some folks, but we all must face the world, the flesh, and the devil.
The world is simply that: the world. Other people, media, ideas, etc.
Ultimately, it is the sinful practices that are propagated in society.
The flesh is the sin nature that we must deal with on a regular basis.
Our own sinful desires that we must learn to master.
The devil is the one who rebelled against God and tempted Adam and Eve to sin in the Garden of Eden.
He desires to see mankind continuously rebel against God.
1 Peter 5:8 tells us that the devil is our adversary and he “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
However, as 1 Peter 5:9 says, we need to resist by being firm in [our] faith, knowing that God can deliver us from him.
Matthew 6:13 (end of the Lord’s prayer)
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Deliverance from starvation (v. 25)
Matthew 6:25-34
God, as our creator, is also our provider. He provides for all of His creation and for that, we ought to be thankful.
CONCLUSION
As you continue to give thanks and enjoy the bountiful harvest of food left over from Thursday, remember to give thanks to God for the things that matter most.
Without His creation, we would not be here to begin with
Without His power, we would be hopelessly left up to our own capabilities
Without His deliverance, we would forever be in bondage to sin and separated from Him
