Give Thanks—'A Joyful Noise'

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(S1)— (pic)

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

A Season to Give Thanks

Our nations first thanksgiving—When the pilgrims celebrated the first harvest at Plymouth, along with the Wampanoag Indians who had occupied the land for thousands of years and were key to the survival of the colonists during the first year after their arrival—To the settlers, it was a religious holiday celebrating all that God had given them. (The National Museum of the American Indian)

Five things we know…

1. More than 100 people attended—90 Native men/50 Englishmen)

2. They ate for three days—2 days to arrive—stay awhile

3. Deer topped the menu—Along with a variety of fowl and fish

4. It wasn’t called Thanksgiving—Abraham Lincoln officially declared Thanksgiving a national holiday by proclamation in 1863.

5. The peace was short-lived—together they lived in peace through a symbiotic relationship for about 10 years until thousands of additional settlers arrived… (MELISSA CHAN, Time)

For many it is still a time to gather...eat…watch football…provide a meal to those in need—More than a day or even a season—but a life devoted to giving thanks to God.

A father was trying not only to share his joy and express his gratitude and trying to get his daughter to do the same: "He asked little Kathy if she didn’t want to thank God for sending her such a fine new baby brother. Imagine his surprise when she prayed: "Thank you, dear God, for Jimmy. I’m really especially thankful that Jimmy wasn’t twins like I heard the doctor say he might be" (The Speaker’ Sourcebook, p. 262).

The first feast was about giving thanks, but wasn’t he first act of gratitude towards God.

The concept of thanksgiving evolves theologically throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament, it is closely tied with the verb “to bless” (בָּרַךְ, barakh; e.g., Deut 8:10). The most common Hebrew noun used for “thanks” (תּוֹדָה, todah) derives from the verb “to confess in praise” (יָדָה, yadah).

Praising God for His blessings, became a part of the Hebrew peoples sacrificial system—Instituting thank offering’ (Lev. 7:11-15)— Giving thanks was more than a season, it became away of life!

(S2)— Give Thanks (charis’)

“In the New Testament, thanksgiving is tied to the concept of “grace” (χάρις, charis)” Giving thanks for God’s greater plan of salvation revealed in Christ. It is this plan that is revealed in…

Jeremiah (15-16)

It has been said that "Giving thanks is a course from which we never graduate" (Eleanor Doan’s The Speaker’s Sourcebook. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1988, p. 262).

How often to do you give thanks to God? Do you ever find it difficult to give thanks? Would Thanksgiving everyday change the landscape of your life—your attitude, health and well-being?

One minute challenge—What you are thankful for?

(S3) — Title

Today’s scripture lesson, we learn that giving thanks was part of God’s plan for restoration—Jesus was always God’s plan for salvation

To hear again the sound of giving thanks was music to God’s ears

“11 the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord, saying, “Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; his love endures forever.”

GIVE THANKS is a Joyful noise

PRAYER

(S4) — Jeremiah

King of Judah (1:1)— a prophet in difficult times—who endured much in faithfulness to God and the people.

— Set apart for God’s purpose in the womb (5)—Called at a Young age (6)

—Facing oppression and influence an all sides—Babylonia and Egypt

—“Prophesied the destruction of Amon” (Egyptian God)

— Judah’s (Jerusalem’s) fall to Babylon and captivity (70 yrs under king Nebuchadnezzar, and return from exile (587-539BC)

— Weeping prophet—he grieved the leaders and the peoples sin and their unwillingness to repent..

“Society was deteriorating, economically, politically, and spiritually. Wars and captivity dominated the world scene. Gods word was deemed offense.” NIV BIBLE

God sent Jeremiah to a crumbling nation to warn of their impending demise – a warning they didn’t heed. Turning away from God...the people had stopped giving thanks.

While he was being held in captivity (33:1), God’s word comes to him

Jeremiah 33:4-5

(S5)

How bad was it? There own words confirm it

10 “This is what the Lord says: ‘You say about this place, “It is a desolate waste, without people or animals.”

Sin had severed their relationship with God and his blessing—the result—The Temples destruction and their Captivity (70 years). They were in a bad place! It was going to last for awhile!

Ever been there? Feeling distant from God’s goodness and blessing?

Just like its easy to get WRAPPED UP in Christmas…it easy to get OVER-STUFFED with the stuff of thanksgiving…

(S6)—

In the face of God’s Judgment Jeremiah hears God’s promise of Israel’s RESTORATION

11 “For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,” says the Lord.

Land in those days was interconnected with abundance, prosperity and the worship of God…

What would God’s promise of restoration look like?

I. His HELP to bring healing, and lasting PEACE

(S7)

6 “ ‘Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.

They were a divided nation (southern/Northern kingdoms)…

Although the present generation (5b) displeased (angered) God, and was suffering his judgement, the day was coming when when God would help and heal the land

health (repair what was undone) — to bring them into a state of wholeness; as a nation and a people

God’s promise to Abraham was a LASTING covenant for the people. There livelihood was directly connected to their relationship with God, which through their sin, they had severed.

Isaiah 57:18–19 I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners, creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near,” says the Lord. “And I will heal them.”

This meant reestablishing his covenant by the FAITH of the people.

Does our nation/world need God’s help in healing? Don’t we desire lasting peace?

Jesus’ healing of a man with leprosy…

Luke 17:15 “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, giving thanks to God in a loud voice.”

Are you facing something that seems to much to bear? Have you ever given-up on the God? Does your faith need restoring? Do you desire God’s help and healing—to know His lasting peace?

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

God’s healing in Jesus brings lasting peace. God’s promise is for us still today—we reestablish our faith in God when we GIVE THANKS!

What would God’s promise of restoration look like?

II. Their LIBERTY and a time of REBUILDING

(S9)

7 I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before.

Their captivity, the result of their sin—brought with it great destruction of their home land—The babylonians…

never-the-less…God’s promise was set them free and return them to their the promised land…

No place like home...

Their unity and rebuilding, would return them to a place of strength

John 14:23 “Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”

God promises to rebuild our broken lives—we find our way home when we GIVE THANKS!

God’s promise of RESTORATION…?

III. FORGIVENESS and their return to HOLY living!

(S10)

8 I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me.

The defiled nations only way back from its rebellion against God was through the purification if sins.

Psalm 1:5 (NLT) Sinners will have no place among the godly.

Forgiveness would restore them to a place of holy living and holy devotion to Him.

God’s promise to forgive and cleanses for us today. Our restoration of our relationaship with God found in the one who had no sin.

2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus is God’s greater plan of forgiveness and cleansing for Holy living

We reestablish our trust in God when we GIVE THANKS for Jesus!

God’s promise of RESTORATION

IV. A return to JOY and the SOUNDS of happiness!

(S11)

9 Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.’

From the sounds of silence to the noise of happiness—Their joy would be known and would once again be a witness to the surety of God’s word and His promise of restoration.

With God’s help and healing, “their return from captivity and unified rebuilding. Through the forgivness of God and His spiritual cleansing, A dramatic reversal of the nation’s horrible trials will take place. Their suffering will be erased, and the people will be wonderfully blessed—the Joy and sounds of happiness would be heard again. (Preachers Outline Sermon Bible)

Jesus himself promised his followers in difficult times, a return to joy

John 16:20 “ Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.”

God’s restoration would bring a joyful noise that could be heard across the land—Their sounds of happiness?

(S12)

and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord, saying, “Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; his love endures forever.”

giving thanks (Yadah) is a verb— To Praise (ἐξαγορεύω)- as to make known or confess

How loud is your thanks giving? Is it recognizable, visible, joyful, heard...

“Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; his love endures forever.”

They deserved God’s judgement...they got God’s grace. God plan of Restoration meant an end to their affliction—But it was not God’s final word!

(S13)

14 “ ‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. 15 “ ‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land.

They would not see God’s full restoration—because it was always meant for people everywhere—all who would turn to him by faith and give thanks in Jesus’ name.

God’s plan of restoration, was always about God’s greater plan of Salvation!

1. Ever find yourself in a desperate place? Do you need God’s HELP, his healing and lasting PEACE?

2. Has something got a hold of you that is keeping you from trusting fully in God?

— Jesus is calling you HOME and promises to free you so you can rebuild your life.

3. Does unforgiveness weigh heavy on your heart? What is keeping you from living God’s best?

— Jesus is God’s forgivness...

4. How is the Joy of your salvation? Do you have the love of Jesus down in your heart?

God’s plan of restoration, was always about God’s greater plan of Salvation—Jesus…who brings...HEALTH—brings us HOME—helps us to live HOLY lives—and is the JOY of our salvation

We have every reason to give thanks!!!

Give Thanks Cards

GIVE, GIVE, GIVE—One time a skeptic said to a preacher, "I can’t stand this Christianity business. All I ever hear from you Christians is give, give, give." The preacher thought a minute and said, "That’s about the best description of Christianity I have ever heard!"

GIVE THANKS...in ALL circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

God’s plan of restoration, was always about God’s greater plan of Salvation