Enter His Hates With Thanksgiving
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· 11 viewsAmong all the holidays in the American calendar, this is one is probably the most biblically accurate. What can we learn from both american history and the biblical teaching of thankfulness.
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Transcript
True Story
Story of an ancient Persian, Ali Hafed, who owned a very large farm that had orchards, grain fields, and gardens. Ali was a wealthy and content man. One day Ali entertained a guest who told him all about diamonds and how wealthy he would be if he owned a diamond mine. Ali Hafed went to bed that night a poor man—poor because he was discontented.
Craving a mine of diamonds, he sold his farm to search for the rare stones. He traveled the world over, finally becoming so poor, broken, and defeated that he committed suicide.
One day, the man who purchased Ali Hafed’s farm led his camel into the garden to drink. As his camel put its nose into the brook, the man saw a flash of light from the sands of the stream. He pulled out a stone that reflected all the hues of the rainbow. The man had discovered the mine of Golconda, the most magnificent diamond mine in all history.
Had Ali Hafed remained at home and dug in his own garden, he would have had acres of diamonds instead of experiencing death in a strange land. The more we want from a human perspective, the less we have.
Source: Acres of Diamonds, Russell H. Conwell
More important,
concept of thankfulness
is foundational biblical.
Psalm 100:4 (ESV)
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
Again and again,
scripture invites us
to be thankful.
But Why?
Is God selfish?
Why does He
demand praise
from us?
The truth?
God is not
a narcissist.
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
In reality,
the source of
joy and peace
is through thanksgiving!
Said conversely
the heart without
thankfulness is
a heart without joy...
How is this possible?
and what is it
about thankfulness
that sets the heart free?
The answer seems
to lie in the concept
of contentment:
Paul said:
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
Do you have
any idea where
Paul was when he wrote
this letter?
He was in prison
not for
evil act
mal-intended behavior
malicious attack against the citizenry
No No.
Rather:
insolent act
preaching the gospel.
There in prison
he said,
I’m content!
Contentment is
a condition of being
happy and satisfied with
the current situation.
Paul is clear.
He is not content
because the situation is great.
He is content if
situation is great
or not!
Contentment is not
reaction to what
is going on environmentally.
Contentment is
residing peace
no matter what
is going on.
We have all heard
the saying:
“The grass is greener on the other side.”
Few people have
stopped to realize
this does literally
appear to be true.
If you stand over your yard
look down
you can see
bald patches and weeds
all the dirt and inconsistencies.
But if you look at the neighbors
horizontal angle
can’t see bare patches
everything looks green.
Same is true in life.
Look at neighbors
social feed...
Always looks greener!
Why?
Can’t see the dirt
from that vantage point!
Part of contentment
being okay
with the dirt...
Not saying
satisfied with
immoral life...
Be satisfied with
imperfect
circumstances.
If we are
content
happy
satisfied
at peace
the words found at
our lips are:
THANKFULNESS.
Those with
joy and peace
say thank you
for their condition.
Psalm 9:1 (ESV)
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
If God has blessed
you this year,
tell others!!!
The beauty of
thankfulness goes deeper.
Thankfulness is not
just the result of
words spoken by
individual who has
chosen to be content.
It is more!
Thankfulness is
solution to
sour attitude!!!
When everything in
the situation seems bad
but we stop to see
what can we be thankful for...
we change the state
of our mind!!!
There are so
many things that
we take for granted.
(Being Thankful for Being Better Off Than Many People Around the World)
There was a circulating email that read:
"If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the six million who won’t make it through the week.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.
If you can attend a church service without fear of persecution, arrest, torture or death, you are more blessed than 3 billion people in the world.
If you have food in the fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world.
If you have money in the bank, money in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy."
We can end
sadness
loneliness
depressed moods
anxiety
selfishness
resentment
etc. etc. etc.
by being thankful!
Even in
bad situations.
Paul says:
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul is
in prison again here.
Still be
content
happy
thankful.
So why does
God want us to
be thankful?
God wants us
to be happy.
And thankfulness
is the path toward
joy and peace and happiness!
In fact,
the time to be
most thankful is
when most unhappy!!!
When all is wrong,
The world is crashing in,
appears nothing good,
this is the moment,
God commands
thankfulness!!!
God is clear:
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV)
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
If Plane crashes
nobody killed
people are thankful.
If plane crashes
few people are killed
thankful most survived.
If plane crashes
only one survivor
person eternally grateful.
If plane crashes
everyone is killed
people say
thankful just missed warehouse.
If the plane hits warehouse
thankful didn’t hit
hour earlier when
it was crowded with people.
If plane crashes
everyone is killed
his warehouse while busy
everyone is warehouse killed
There will be one person
missed flight by 5 minutes
He will be thankful!
How thankful he is now
that he got a flat tire
on the way to the airport.
Comedian said cynically...
BUT IT IS TRUE!
“give thanks in all circumstances”!
Look at these biblical examples:
Book of Jeremiah:
Sad, Sad story.
Israelite became
idolators
Sabbath breaker
extortioners
false prophets
murderers of true.
God had enough
allow consequences for
their decisions.
Babylon came.
destroyed major cities
took slaves
damaged army
attacking capital city!
Jeremiah’s job,
help them see
this is result
of their own choices...
Jeremiah’s call:
repent of sins
surrender to Babylon.
Lots of sadness,
called the weeping prophet.
If there ever where
problems for
God’s people,
it was then...
They could have
depressed
angry
blame
resent..
and many did...
Yet, not all.
There was a call.
An invitation.
To see what
God would do when
He restored them.
Jeremiah 30:18–19 (HCSB)
This is what the Lord says:
I will certainly restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents
and show compassion
Every city will be rebuilt on its mound;
every citadel will stand on its proper site.
Thanksgiving will come out of them,
a sound of celebration.
I will multiply them, and they will not decrease;
I will honor them, and they will not be insignificant.
In the midst of
disaster and woe...
All is wrong!
starvation
captivity
slavery
destruction
burning cities
war atrocities...
open sin
blasphemy
rebellion...
God says:
He will restore...
He will not just
restore their circumstances
More importantly:
thankfulness
in their hearts.
James says:
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Truth is:
even when there is
not promise of restoration.
We cans still
choose to be grateful.
Grateful for what?
according to James,
grateful for
the trials themselves!
Why?
because if we allow
don’t become
bitter
resentful
trials produce
a good character.
A devout Quaker was watching his new neighbor move in next door. After all kinds of modern appliances, electronic gadgets, plush furniture, and costly wall hangings had been carried in, the onlooker called out, “If you find you’re lacking anything, neighbor, let me know and I’ll show you how to live and be happy without it.”
Source: Unknown
Happiness is not
found in possession
or in circumstances.
It is appalling
how unhappy
America is today.
Rate of depression
increases year-by-year.
currently around
30% of American
been diagnosed with
depression at some point.
That is up
10% over
just 10 years ago!
Why?
The story is told about a pilot who always looked down intently on a certain valley in the Appalachians when the plane passed overhead. One day his co-pilot asked, “What’s so interesting about that spot?” The pilot replied, “See that stream? Well, when I was a kid I used to sit down there on a log and fish. Every time an airplane flew over, I would look up and wish I were flying... Now I look down and wish I were fishing.”
We want what
we don’t have.
But most have not
experience serious trials.
We don’t know
what it is like
be hungry
be homeless
war in homeland
Why are we
so discontent?
Never experience hardship
Take blessings for granted!
If we want
to be happy.
We must cultivate
attitude of thankfulness.
As Paul says:
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
In February 2000, Mozambique experienced its largest rainfall in more than fifty years. By March 2, there were an estimated 100,000 people who needed to be evacuated and around 7,000 people who were trapped in trees.
One Mozambique minister named Samuel Naftal gave thanks to God and mosquitoes for saving his life. As Samuel, along with 16 other people, clung tightly to the limbs of trees for 2 days, he began to preach. All of them hoped his preaching would keep them alert to their surroundings.
“I helped some people climb onto the roof of my house, and climbed into a tree with others,” said Pastor Samuel. “We saw televisions, furniture and dead calves floating past. Everything was destroyed. The people asked me to preach to them, so that they would stay awake. Today, I thank God for the mosquitoes, because they prevented me from falling asleep and falling into the water. I would have been simply swept away.”13
—Peter Kennedy, Preaching Illustrations Vol. 1
Have you ever been
thankful for mosquitoes?
No,
Life never been that bad.
To be that thankful.
Hardship puts things
in perspective and
encourages gratitude.
Duke University did a study on “peace of mind.”
Factors found to contribute greatly to emotional and mental stability are:
1. The absence of suspicion and resentment. Nursing a grudge was a major factor in unhappiness.
2. Not living in the past. An unwholesome preoccupation with old mistakes and failures leads to depression.
3. Not wasting time and energy fighting conditions you cannot change. Cooperate with life, instead of trying to run away from it.
4. Force yourself to stay involved with the living world. Resist the temptation to withdraw and become reclusive during periods of emotional stress.
5. Refuse to indulge in self-pity when life hands you a raw deal. Accept the fact that nobody gets through life without some sorrow and misfortune.
6. Cultivate the old-fashioned virtues—love, humor, compassion and loyalty.
7. Do not expect too much of yourself. When there is too wide a gap between self-expectation and your ability to meet the goals you have set, feelings of inadequacy are inevitable.
8. Find something bigger than yourself to believe in. Self-centered egotistical people score lowest on any test for measuring happiness.
Source: Unknown Submitted by Ray Cazis
Back to Jeremiah
God Promised restoration
for Israel.
Restoration of
Thankfulness too.
But...
Let me be clear.
For many,
“it wasn’t soon enough.”
All of them
died before seeing
promised restoration!
It was decades before
slaves brought back
from Egypt.
Those taken
died in captivity
deplorable conditions.
They remember
promises of God.
2 Chronicles 6:36–39 (ESV)
“If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to a land far or near, yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity, saying,
--
‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’ if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity to which they were carried captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name,
--
then hear from heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their pleas, and maintain their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you.
Every day
Daniel
Shadrach
Meshach
Abednego
pray towards temple.
Claiming promised fulfillment
of prayer of Solomon.
They died in captivity
but they clung tenaciously
hope
contentment
joy
peace
thankfulness.
They never saw it,
but their grandchildren did.
And when they did
thankfulness was
forced from their lips.
Psalm 69:30 (ESV)
I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Like Israel of old,
we look forward to
final restoration.
Most days,
seems like it
will never happen.
At times,
hard to believe
all will be made right.
Thankfulness restored completely!
Heavenly Thankfulness
Heavenly Thankfulness
Context - Great Multitude and 144,000
Revelation 7:11–12 (NKJV)
All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever.
Amen.”
It is coming
final restoration!
Object of our hope!
The time when
fulfillment of
all our thankfulness
is finally realized
in eternal bliss.
It is coming!
FINAL RESTORATION!
I don’t know
details about your
joys and sorrows.
I’m unclear if
this holiday brought
answers to pray
or
burdens and needs.
I can be sure
something for us
cling to thankfulness.
There is something
to experience thanksgiving about!
If you can see
anything else...
Focus on that time
of final restoration.
Moments of
joy
adoration
praise
glory to God
ULTIMATE THANKFULNESS
Until then
be content.
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
John Wesley was about 21 years of age when he went to Oxford University. He came from a Christian home, and he was gifted with a keen mind and good looks. Yet, in those days he was a bit snobbish and sarcastic. One night, however, something happened that set in motion a change in Wesley’s heart. While speaking with a porter, he discovered that the poor fellow had only one coat and lived in such impoverished conditions that he didn’t even have a bed. Yet, he was an unusually happy person, filled with gratitude to God. Wesley, being immature, thoughtlessly joked about the man’s misfortunes. “And what else do you thank God for?” he said with a touch of sarcasm. The porter smiled, and in the spirit of meekness replied with joy, “I thank Him that He has given me a life and being, a heart to love Him, and above all a constant desire to serve Him!” Deeply moved, Wesley recognized that this man knew the meaning of true thankfulness.
Source: Unknown
Appeal
Appeal
This holiday weekend
may we all find
TRUE THANKFULNESS.
