November 17 Year 24 Lesson 12

A Song of Thanksgiving

Psalm 100:1 (KJV 1900) Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

Psalm 100:1, is an invitation to all the earth to express joy and gratitude to the Lord.

Let the people from every corner of the earth raise their voices in joyful praise to the Lord, celebrating His greatness and goodness.

As believers, we have every reason to celebrate and praise God. Do you know Why?

for through Jesus, we have been given new life and a perfect relationship with Him and God (2 Corinthians 5:17).

So we should let our hearts be filled with joy and our voices lifted in praise as we reflect on His goodness and grace.

We are reminded that we have been made new, and our hearts are aligned with God's Spirit, enabling us to express genuine joy and gratitude (2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 5:22-23).

But the joyful noise is not just about singing or music but about a life that reflects the joy and peace we have in Christ that comes from the heart. (Philippians 4:4).

Psalm 100:2 (KJV 1900) Serve the Lord with gladness: Come before his presence with singing.

Psalm 100:2 encourages us to joyfully serve the Lord and approach Him with a heart filled with song, as our service is an expression of gratitude for what He has done for us (Ephesians 2:8-10; Colossians 3:17).

Whether we lend a helping hand to someone in need, volunteer our time, or simply show kindness, these actions reflect our gratitude and deepen our connection to others and God.

Psalm 100:3 (KJV 1900) Know ye that the Lord he is God: It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Why do you think God is reminding us that He is Lord and God? What's the difference between God and Lord?

When we say that God is the Creator, we mean He is the Creator in a category all by Himself because He started with nothing (Colossians 1:16).

Psalm 24:1 (KJV 1900) The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein.

God is seen as the highest, most powerful being, often associated with the creation of the universe and a divine presence.

Lord can refer to anyone in a position of authority, whether it's a god in religion or a leader in society.

So who is the Lord of lords and King of kings?

Revelation 19:16 (KJV 1900) And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Revelation 17:14 (KJV 1900) These (Revelation 16:14) shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they ( Revelation 14:4; Matt. 20:16. & Matt 22:14) that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful (Revelation 2:10).

1 Timothy 6:15 (KJV 1900) Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate ( The God of the Hebrew and Christian faiths), the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Psalm 100:3 (KJV 1900) Know ye that the Lord he is God: It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Psalm 100:3 tells us that we are God's handiwork and that we were uniquely created and valuable to Him.

Genesis 1:27: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

Psalm 139:13–14 (KJV 1900)

13 For thou hast possessed my reins: Thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Marvellous are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well.

Our Creator has created us with care and made us new creations in Christ through the New Covenant (2 Corinthians 5:17).

‌The transformation is a sign of our belonging to Him and our close connection with Him as His children.

Another issue in society is that people can change many aspects of their lives, such as their interests, hobbies, diets, friendships, and careers.

However, God created man as a man and woman as a woman.

Regardless of attempts by men and women to change their sex, on Judgment Day, they will still be what God created them to be.

What is your opinion of a transgender male competing against a female in sports and how would God judge this?

More Americans oppose transgender athletes competing in sports that align with their gender identity and say transitioning genders is “morally wrong,” according to a report from Gallup.

‌Another reason God gave us Psalm 100:3 is that Scientists are examining a variety of intriguing theories about human origins to convince man that God is not our creator.

This is another way to worship idol gods and deny God, our true creator.

One theory suggests that humans evolved from preexisting life forms through natural selection.

Another perspective that suggests we originated from the Big Bang, the explosive event that birthed the universe and led to the formation of stars and planets.

The big bang theory, more or less, holds that planet earth and all its life forms developed from stardust.

So we must stay vigilant and place our trust in the Lord, our God, for He is both our Creator and our Shepherd, guiding us through every challenge.

Keep in mind that none of man theories promise you whats in Revelation 21:4 (NLT) He will wipe every tear from your eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

None of man theories promise you eternal bliss and fellowship with our deceased loved ones while ensuring that we are completely satisfied and content in his presence.

So let us stay alert to avoid deception.

Trust in the Lord, our God the Creator and Shepherd because Psalm 100:3 tells us that “We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

Psalm 100:4 (KJV 1900) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

This verse encourages believers to enter God's presence with thanksgiving, recognizing His goodness and faithfulness.

The act of giving thanks is a natural response to the grace and love we have received from Jesus Christ, and it expresses our gratitude towards God's work in our lives (Colossians 3:16-17).

Psalm 100:4 (KJV 1900) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

The 'courts' are like the gathering spaces around a temple where people come together to worship.

This shows that worship is not just a personal experience, but a community event where everyone takes part.

Hebrews 10:25 says, “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

Through our praise of God, we are reminded of His greatness and the blessings He has given us (Hebrews 13:15, Ephesians 5:19-20).

Psalm 100:4 (KJV 1900) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Being thankful and blessing His name is a way to honor God for who He is and what He has done.

Our relationship with God is strengthened by our appreciation and praise attitude, which aligns our hearts with His purposes (Philippians 4:4-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Psalm 100:5 (KJV 1900) For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; And his truth endureth to all generations.

Everlasting mercy means that there is a kind of compassion that never runs out or fades away, no matter what mistakes we make.

It's like having a loving parent who always forgives and accepts us, showing that true kindness is limitless and always available to us.

John 3:17 reminds us that “God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (NRSV).

How do mercy and forgiveness work together?

God's forgiveness of our sins flows from His mercy.

But mercy is greater than forgiveness, because God is merciful to us even when we do not sin, just as we can be merciful to those who have never done anything against us.

God's mercy does not just forgive our transgressions but reaches to all our weaknesses and needs.

Mercy is all about not giving punishment or penalties to those who deserve them. what we do deserve is (judgment, death, punishment, etc.) because of our sin.

When you really think about mercy, it’s hard not to become overwhelmed by the goodness of God sparing us from what we really deserve.

Psalm 103:8 (NLT) – “The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.”

The best grace is that God purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave all our sins.