Thanksgiving 1

After kid chat or beginning of sermon: There is something we need to acknowledge as a church. Storm. God’s hand of protection is seen in cancelling (divine prompting, not human wisdom) as well as in how He had prepared us for restoration. The more I take it back to Him and consider all that happened leading up to and after, the more I am convinced He allowed it to show how His hand is on us. He wants that to be known. He wants us to make it known!

C.S. Lewis said something like: As men will spontaneously praise what they value, they will also urge us to join in what they praise. Have you ever been to someone’s house for ‘the game’ but you didnt have a stake in who was playing ‘the game’? Everybody there is all like: root for my guys! Jeremy.

We saw the dark side of that last week when scripture reminded us not only do people partake in a list of debased activity, they also applaud the doing of those by others. But habitual sin, like what’s in that list, robs people of belief in God. It causes them to focus on self.

If men and women choose not to believe, they do so against what is revealed to them by nature. The design, complexity and beauty of creation trumpets the Designer! And the Designer deserves to be praised. Our thanksgiving should be pointed at Him.

Thanksgiving as appreciation. Thanksgiving as ‘worthship’. Who painted your truck? That is outstanding! Who made this BBQ? It is ‘slap yo mama’ good! See? We want to know the source. So we can place value on what they have done.

So one more time, let us admit or remember and embrace the fact that there is an object to thanksgiving. If I am thankful for something, my thanks should be pointed at its source.

Sitting around the table: Let’s each tell what we are thankful for. “I’m thankful for/to me. I am the source of all that I enjoy.” Can you imagine that from your family? What is man, and the son of man…?

So let’s take the time to do just that. What are you thankful to God for?

Psalm 100:1–5 ESV

1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Sometimes we like to look at culture of the day. Timeline. Political climate at the time of writing. This is Israel surrounded by small nations who periodically oppress them. Each with their own gods. What gives the psalmist the weight to call ALL THE EARTH to worship Him? v. 3 gives us the answer. know that the Lord, He is God! The God of Moses is the originator and ruler of the entire universe!

This season of thanksgiving is often a reaction to the things that have happened in our lives in the past year. But before we treat thanksgiving only as an overflow of our experience we should admit God expects it to be an expression of our faith. Can you see that in our text today? Now, our experiences should draw thanksgiving from us. But even prior to, separate from, our experience, thanksgiving should be a part of who we are if we are His.

Thankful people are happier people. They focus on what is good. And focusing on what is good is expected as seen in scripture: Whatsoever is…… think on these things! So let’s focus on what is good - Testimony Time!

v.3 He who made us, we are his (3x). Are you anything worthwhile? Successful? Independent? Kind? Because He made us! Worship leaps forth from that confession! Potter-clay? Shepherd-sheep?

But this text started with a call for all the earth to give praise to God. Where and how will all the earth give praise to God? Sin is keeping that from happening now. So when? Where?

Philippians 2:10–11 ESV

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

v. 5 Hesed- covenant keeping love of God. His love for us is based on His character. His faithfulness. He desires our praise of Him be according to the character He is growing in us. Our faith.

Has His faithfulness created faith in you? I’d like to end our time together with a parable.