Give Thanks
Notes
Transcript
Scripture
Scripture
A Psalm of David.
1 I will praise thee with my whole heart: Before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, And praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, And strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
4 All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, When they hear the words of thy mouth.
5 Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: For great is the glory of the Lord.
6 Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: But the proud he knoweth afar off.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: Thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, And thy right hand shall save me.
8 The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: Forsake not the works of thine own hands.
Introduction
Introduction
David is the only man in the Bible God said this is a man after my own heart.
Now when you study the life of David - that statement can leave you questioning why God would say that about David because David sinned in some great ways in his life.
But when you really examine the life of David - 1 thing that stands out to you is that David was real.
He was honest with God about everything - he didn’t try to fake his spirtuality like many people do today.
If David was vex he would tell God he is vex
If he having a bad day he would tell God he is having a bad day.
Some Christians today so super spiritual they might have a bad day but you ask them how they going and their response is
God is Good - I am blessed and highly favored -
When he was caught in sin he didn’t make any excuse
He would say I have sinned
When you read some of the Psalms and you see some of the things David says to God
You will think he probably crazy to talk to God like that
He was real with God
He loved the Lord and always expressed how he felt towards God
He did not hold back
A lot of the Psalms are laments where he is complaining to God about what is happening
However when we look at this scripture we see that he is giving thanks
Today I would like to speak to us about Giving Thanks because like David
We all have a lot to be thankful for
In the midst of these dark times we are living in we have so much to be thankful for
How many of you got Covid and survived it
You have a lot to be thankful for because not many people survived it
Many times we find it hard to give thanks because of what we keep focusing on
We love to focus on the negative
Count Your Blessings Song
I have chosen today not the longest, and certainly not the most eloquent, psalm of thanksgiving, but one that is simple and specific:
Today I would like to share 4 Reasons why we ought to give thanks
Because of Answers to Prayer
Because of Answers to Prayer
3 When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me.
Now I don’t know about you but there have been many times in my life where I went through situations that were hopeless and I felt helpless and the only person who I knew I could call on was God because he was the only person who could have gotten me through the situations in my life.
There are some things people can help you with but there are other things where you need divine intervention.
There are situations where if God doesn’t show up then you in some serious trouble.
Because the only person who can help you in such times is God.
David is one person who had such great confidence in God that he never hesitated to pray to him because he knew that God is a God who answers prayers
I believe that 1 reason why people do not pray is not because they don’t know how to pray but it’s because they don’t believe that God will answer there prayer
We limit God by our belief in him
Now I admit that it can be a little intimidating to pray in Public.
I mean Sanjay would talk about how he would sweat etc
But when you at home you can talk to God like you talk to a normal person and tell him your needs
Anybody can pray - cause anybody can talk
Today I want to remind you that you have a reason to thank God because he will answer your prayers
I was listening to a Pastor one time and he was speaking on the Prinicple of Exception
It basically says that when you are a child of God - God will make exceptions for you
Birds don’t feed people, people feed birds but for Elijah God made an exception
People dont go into a fiery furnace and come out without a burn yet for the hebrew boys God made an exception
A man doesnt get thrown into a lion’s den and come out alive but with Daniel God made an exception
The same God of Elijah is the same God of Camara
The same God of Daniel is the same God of Darius
The same God of the Hebrew boys is the same God of Lisa
These men knew that God was a good who can answer your prayers from even the toughest of situations
We see in this Psalm that David knew that God was a God who answered his prayers
He knew that he could call on God at any time of day or night and God is ready to answer his prayers
That’s the reason he’s praising God. He’s saying, “God, I had a need that was great, and I brought my need before you in utmost prayer, and you answered me. You gave me revelation, you gave me relief, you gave me assistance,
How many of you today can testify that there were times when you cried out to God for assitance and he answered your prayer
God says you can call on me and I will answer you
Today’s Best Sermons, Volume 3: 52 Sermons on Holidays & Special Events I. We Give Thanks for Answers to Prayer
For some of you there has been a healing of a relationship that has been damaged over many, many months—but no longer. For others there has been relief from physical pain. For some, a child has come home, back to God. For others there has been a glorious, marvelous provision of an occupation that you needed, and God gave it. I think it’s good for us right now just to pause eight or ten seconds in silence and recall an extraordinary answer to prayer God gave. Let’s do that
Because of The Glory of God
Because of The Glory of God
4 All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, When they hear the words of thy mouth.
5 Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: For great is the glory of the Lord.
Courson’s Application Commentary, Old Testament Volume 2 (Psalms–Malachi) (Psalm 138:3–5)
David’s hope, plan, and desire was that the kings surrounding him would worship the true and living God of Israel once they learned of His ways. and experience his Glory
song but as truly as i live....
The glory of God is the beauty of His spirit. It’s the beauty that emanates from His character, from all that He is. The glory of man—human dignity and honor—fades (1 Peter 1:24). But the glory of God, which is manifested in all His attributes together, never passes away. It is eternal.
Today’s Best Sermons, Volume 3: 52 Sermons on Holidays & Special Events (II. We Give Thanks because of the Unsurpassed Glory of God)
wonderful things happen to our souls when we turn our focus toward the glory of God
Today’s Best Sermons, Volume 3: 52 Sermons on Holidays & Special Events II. We Give Thanks because of the Unsurpassed Glory of God
When you were born again, God came in his glory. Remember the verse, “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”? In that verse, Romans 3:23, the glory represents his standard
We need to thank God that we have experienced his Glory as believers in him.
Many times we want to thank God for what he has done but we need to thank him for who he is.
There is no one like our God.
In the same way how you may think of your husband or wife and your heart is filled with joy just thinking of them - in the same way may we adore God for who he is.
Today’s Best Sermons, Volume 3: 52 Sermons on Holidays & Special Events (II. We Give Thanks because of the Unsurpassed Glory of God)
One person has attempted to describe glory this way: “It is the excellence, beauty, majesty, power, and perfection of his total being; the completeness, wholeness, and the utter desirability of God; the appeal, the fascinating power, he exerts over men.
Moses said Lord - Show me your glory
Today’s Best Sermons, Volume 3: 52 Sermons on Holidays & Special Events II. We Give Thanks because of the Unsurpassed Glory of God
I read in the Gospel of John, chapter 9, of a blind man born in that condition. The disciples come to Jesus and say, “Who is to be blamed—this man or his parents?” Jesus says, “Neither. This is for the glory of God
Today’s Best Sermons, Volume 3: 52 Sermons on Holidays & Special Events II. We Give Thanks because of the Unsurpassed Glory of God
When Lazarus dies suddenly, and the disciples are grieved and embarrassed over not having been there, and they are troubled in their soul, Jesus’ friend is dead, Jesus calms them and says, “This death is for the glory of God
We need to thank God that in the midst of bad circumstances we can witness his Glory.
1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
We are living in the days when the glory and goodness of the Lord will be manifested over His Church! His light shines in the midst of darkness.
Sometimes you pray for people, you counsel people, you help people and they are delivered - it’s because of the Glory of the Lord is upon you. It’s not about you but it’s about his Glory. You preach to people and they are ministered to. It’s the Glory of God on you and around you. Thank God for his glory. The glory of the Lord is in you. We are nothing without the Glory of God.
Because of Ongoing Hope in the Midst of Despair
Because of Ongoing Hope in the Midst of Despair
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: Thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, And thy right hand shall save me.
I am sure all of us have heard the term when it rains it pours
It’s like battle after battle you have to keep facing
Storms keep coming
you keep going through hard times
When you think you overcome 1 medical issue
Another issue keeps coming up
Sometimes it’s bad new after bad news you keep hearing
But David knew what it was like to be surrounded by trouble
David knew what it was like to have King Saul continuously trying to kill him even though he was not his enemy
David knew what it was like to be surrounded with lots of enemies and lots of problems
Today’s Best Sermons, Volume 3: 52 Sermons on Holidays & Special Events II. We Give Thanks because of the Unsurpassed Glory of God
David had the assassination plots against his life. He’s a king; things haven’t changed. And he was a righteous king, and godless men hate righteous leaders. He says “You have done hand-to-hand combat for me, and your right hand will deliver me.”
But 1 thing David knew was in the midst of the worst of situations there was hope because he knew a God of Hope
David knew to give God thanks because he knew that when all seems lost Nissi would step in - Jehovah Nissi The Lord is my Banner
He was never alone - that’s why he conquered Goliath
No matter who tried to destroy him, no matter what surrounded him
God was with him
Today I want to let you know and to remind you that as David would say - ye thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me
Today I don’t know what hopeless situation you are going through but thank God that Hope has a name and his name is Jesus!
My experience with WBC
For God’s Involvement in What Concerns Us
For God’s Involvement in What Concerns Us
8 The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: Forsake not the works of thine own hands.
This one is probably my favorite reason that David gives
Today I am sure that there are some of you here today who feel like God is not concerned with you and your needs
I remember hearing Camara sharing a couple weeks ago that she felt like God had sort of forgottne her because of how long she was dealing with a certain situation in life
One of the hardest lessons I ever had to learn in life is sometimes God appears silent but in reality he is working out things for us.
Sometimes we can feel like we praying and we praying and we praying and nothing seems to be happening
So we decide to get other people to pray alongside us to strenghten our prayer
and It still seems like nothing is happening
and now you begin to think that you are just wasting your time
You begin to see things happening for other people and it’s not that you jealous of what is happening for them but you begin to question and wonder when it will happen for me
All your coworkers getting promoted but you remaining where you are and wonder what’s wrong with you
Social Media makes it even worst
When you look at facebook and Instagram etc it forces people to compare their lives to other people
Compare leads to despair
People see what is happening to other people and it is not happening to them and they begin to question God and his plans for them
The sad thing is what a lot of people portray on social media is not really a true picture of what is happening to them in real life
but we are now sad and depressed because God is blessing these people in big ways and it seems he doesnt care about what you are going through
Now we get to the point where we become Christians who pray but we pray small prayers
In the beginning I was talking about Christians who dont pray because they feel he stopped answering prayers
In this case we have people who feel that God is not too concerned with their life so they reduce the size of their prayers because they lose the size of their God
We reach the point where we learn to settle.
One preacher put it this way - settling doesnt first show up in our practices it shows up in our prayers
How many of you are saying prayers today that shows you have settled in your circumstances
Some of you today you are like the Shunnamite woman
just to give you a reminder of this shunnamite woman - Elisha was in her area and because she knew he was a man of God she decided to build a place for him to stay which he was very grateful for
one day Elisha wanted to bless her for her hospitality and he asked her what you want?
Remember this was the Man of God - the prophet of God and he asks her what you want
Listen to her resposne
She speaks like someone who is settled
I good I good - I good in my hometown here - I don’t need anything
Elisha told her in one year’s time - you going to get a son
She was like - NOOOOOO Don’t get my hopes up
Elisha knew that this was a big concern of hers
But she felt like God couldnt even grant her this
Her husand is too old
She had settled with living her entire life without having that son
How many of you today have settled
Maybe settled in your relationships - God could never bless me with a Godly person so I take anyone that is willing to take me
Maybe you have given up due to age that you could ever have a child
Maybe in your job you have settled - cant get a better job so I will stay here for the rest of my life
Some of you have settled in your current cirumstances that it would never get any better - this is all God has for me
We then learn to shrink our prayers and stop asking for big things
Today I want to let you know today that you can thank God that you dont need to settle because he wll perfect that which concerns you
He is concerned with every little detail in your life
That little pimple that 1 gray hair
He is concerned
We have learnt to settle
Me setlling with Port of Spain or Chaguanas
Conclusion
Conclusion
Due Season
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.