Oh Give Thanks

NLT - Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. 2 Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. 3 Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. 4 Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. 5 Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given,

Thanksgiving in essence marks the start of the season of giving, from Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Year’s many people around this time of year are friendlier, more in a giving frame of mind, whether it be giving of their time, their money or stuff for people in need.

For the Christian it should just serve as a reminder to be thankful, a time when we can step up our service, our giving, our thanks, our worship, our praise; after all we should be thankful all year long…right? I mean when we think about it, God is good all year long 24/7, 365 and every four years 366, so we should be thankful the same way God is faithful. Am I right about it?

This Psalm was written by King David and given to Asaph to be used in the daily service of the sanctuary when the ark was fixed in the place he had prepared for it. David was laying out for the people how worship was to be conducted, and what their responsibilities were in the Service.

So David begins by telling the people “Give thanks to the Lord”. It sounds so simple, but do we really stop to think about all the things God does for us on a daily basis? Have we truly considered the things He has blessed us with?

The people in our lives - our families, church and biological and those we’ve adopted along the way.

Jobs - the ones we like and the ones we didn’t or don’t like, remembering there is someone who would love to have the job you have.

The income from that job that allows you to pay your bills and gets some of your wants as well.

The house you live in, whether you’re renting or you own, there’s someone on the street that would love to be at your address.

Our health - however good or bad it is. These bodies are breaking down, but the spirit man is well and happy for every day it has on this earth and looking forward to an eternity in heaven where there won’t be any isms or schisms, no aches and pains, or walking sticks.

From childhood we are taught to say, “thank you” when we’re given something, but do we really stop to think about all that God has, is and will do for us and how often do we stop to say, thank you. We will thank someone for holding the door open for us, but David says we are to give thanks to the Lord.

Not only that, we are to proclaim his greatness. God is great and greatly to be praised. If he never does anything else, He’s done enough for us to proclaim his greatness every day for the rest of our days.

And to whom are we proclaiming his greatness—the whole world. David says we need to let the whole world know what he’s done. How close did you get to inviting 10 people last month? You fell a little short? No problem, it’s a new month, let’s start again and this month has one of those holidays that’s big for those who don’t normally go to church. So you have an advantage.

So David gives us two whats

Give thanks to the Lord

Proclaim his greatness

He gives us the who

To the whole world

Now he gives us some hows. You ever been given a task and you have no idea where to start? You really want to do it, but you just don’t know how.

Well David says “sing to him; yes, sing his praises”. Music. Music is such an important part of worship, it sets the atmosphere for the coming of the Holy Spirit. The musicians and the pastor are a team who come together to help the congregation experience God in worship. To help them go to another level of spiritual maturity.

There is an art to the music ministry in worship. When you think about it, have you ever had a song lift you out of despair? I’ve been in some places in my life mentally and spiritually, where had it not been for the music of Yolanda Adams and Fred Hammond and John P. Kee, CeCe Winans and The Winans. And songs like, In the Garden and Near the Cross as the Mississippi Mass Choir sang it, Total Praise and Amazing Grace.

There are songs that comfort, there are songs that reassure, there are songs that lift you out of the depths of despair, there are songs that cause you to remember a certain place and time and person, there are songs that encourage you, there are songs that can usher you into the very presence of God and there are songs that can remind you of who God is, of his greatness, of his mercy, of his grace, of his faithfulness, of—his love.

Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. In David says, “Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: 2 Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious”. Martha Munizzi told us in her song Glorious, “I was created to make your praise glorious”.

Many of the Psalms are songs and there are artist who have been able to once again set them to music

says, “Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. 2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God.

2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

3 But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

4 I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

Verse 3 is the chorus and it says, But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, the lifter up of mine head.

5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.

Verse 4 is another verse, I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. 5 I laid me down and I slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.

6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

And verse 6 is another verse to the song I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that set themselves against me round about.

One of my absolute favorites is the 121st division of the Psalm, the song says

2 Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.

I will lift up mine eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, the Lord which made heaven and earth. He said He will not suffer thy foot, thy foot to be moved: the Lord that keepeth thee he will not slumber nor sleep.

2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

For the Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand, upon thy right hand. No the sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. He shall preserve thy soul even forever more.

5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

And it rises in crescendo to, my help, my help, my help, all of my help cometh from the Lord.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

Sing to him, yes, sing his praises.

And we can’t leave out our own neighboring hometown great Thomas Dorsey who penned the hymn Precious Lord after the death of his wife during childbirth and his son a day later. In his grief he wrote;

Precious Lord, take my hand Lead me on, let me stand I'm tired, I'm weak, I'm worn Through the storm, through the night Lead me on to the light Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

While there are many artist who have set their grief to music, another I’m sure you all will know is what became an iconic song of overcoming…

Never would have made it, never could of made it without you, I would have lost it all, but now I see how you were there for me. I’m stronger, I’m wiser, I’m better, much better, when I look back over all you’ve brought me through, I can see you were the one I held on to.

Penned and performed by Marvin Sapp after the death of his father.

Even in death, which looks like the end to us sometimes; we can rejoice in the Lord, we can find that song to sing to our great God who has given us every thing.

We need to tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. When you’ve get good news you want to share that news. You want to shout it from the roof tops the blessing you’ve received.

At the birth of a child there are sometimes formal birth announcements that are sent out, wedding announcements and invitations, graduation announcements and invitations, baptism and dedication invitations. When you’re celebrating, you want others to join you in that celebration.

In that same vain, we need to celebrate Jesus…celebrate the fact that he gave his life for us so we wouldn’t have to experience the death and torment of hell. Jesus died so we could be reconciled to God, so we could go directly to God with our prayers and petitions. We no longer need the priest or the pastor to talk to God on our behalf. The curtain was torn from the top to the bottom opening the holy of holies to us all—praise God.

Now don’t get me wrong, I still pray for you, but when you have a petition instead of asking me to pray for you, ask me to pray with you. You need to be active in petitioning God for your situation. Nobody can pray like you about your situation, because you’re the one living it. You’d better learn to pray, so you can experience that, “Late in the midnight hour, God’s gonna turn it around, He’s gonna work in your favor” blessing. Everybody say blessed…

You tell everyone about his wonderful deeds so they can join in the praise, so they can be encouraged, so they too can know they can make it through whatever they are going through.

The situation may be bleak—right now,

It may seem hopeless—right now,

You may feel helpless—right now

You may be tired—right now

You may feel lost—right now

You may be angry—right now

You may be grieving—right now

BUT! When you begin to look back over all the hills and valleys God has brought you through to get you to where you are right now, to get you to this place today… you can exult God’s holy name.

To exult is literally to leap up, to be boastful, to praise. Now let me make this clear…when you exult His holy name you are going to move. This is not a pity pat praise, it’s not a golf clap praise. To exult God is to get on your feet, to leap for joy, to dance, to move. This is a break out, break through kind of praise.

Has anybody ever gotten a break through? You’ve been crying out to God for something near and dear to your heart and then...

you got your answer,

you got your release,

you got the job (you know, the one you weren’t qualified for),

your child came home,

you received your healing

What has he done for you, rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.

Oh I know you’ve got something to praise God for…come on, this is the season of thanksgiving—Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. That means from the beginning to the end of time. Give God praise in this place.

5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations That means from the beginning to the end of time

We are to continually search for the Lord, He’s in every situation, in every heartbreak, in every area and aspect of our lives. He did not save us to leave us alone. No never alone, no never alone, he promised never to leave me, no never alone. Seek while he may be found. Now is the appointed time to seek the Lord. Don’t make this one of those I’ll get around to it kind of things, you know the thing you say you’re going to do, but never get around to it.

This is important, this is your very life, your immortal soul hinges on what you do today, because tomorrow is not promised. Search for the Lord and for his strength. We are weak, frail humans, but we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. What have you been trying to do on your own? How’s that working out for you? Continually seek the Lord, work in His power and might and you can do anything, because…

What you must remember

are the wonders he has performed—he created the earth and everything in it, he placed the sun, moon and stars in their orbit and they all stay in their place

his miracles—every child that is born and mother and baby come through alive, it’s a miracle of God.

and the rulings he has given—he said, touch not mine anointed and do my prophets no harm. Are you God’s anointed?

And finally the song says

I've got so much to thank God for So many wonderful blessings and so many open doors A brand new mercy Along with each new day That's why I praise You And for this I give You praise For waking me up this morning That's why I praise You For starting me on my way That's why I praise You For letting me see the sunshine of a brand new day A brand new mercy along with each new day That's why I praise You For this I give You praise You're Jehovah Jireh That's why I praise You You've been my provider That's why I praise You So many times You met my need, So many times You rescued me That's why I praise You I wanna thank You for the blessings You give to me each day That's why I praise You For this I give You praise For every mountain You brought me over For every trial you've seen me through For every blessing Hallelujah, for this I give You praise

If you’ve never received Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, today is a good day

Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the holy one, give thanks because he’s given Jesus Christ His Son, and now let the weak say I am strong, let the poor say I am rich, because of what the Lord has done for us

Salvation

Membership

Rededication

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Communion

As we prepare for communion, let us turn our hearts and minds to the meaning of the sacrament. This solemn ceremony is one that is for baptized believers, please govern yourselves accordingly.

As Jesus sat in the upper room with his disciples on the night he was betrayed, he took a loaf of bread and blessed it and broke it. He explained that the bread represented his body which would be broken for us. Then he took the cup, and said this is the new covenant in my blood, his blood would pay for every sin we have or ever will commit, he blessed the cup and gave it to the disciples, explaining this is done in remembrance of him and his sacrifice. It’s to remember whether we do it once a week, once a month or once a year.

This is to be done with a clean heart and a pure conscience, let us pray that God would forgive us for anything that we’ve done that was not pleasing to him, it is also a time to forgive anyone we may have an ought with…let us pray.