Thank God!

Introduction

Illustration: Secular use of “Thank God” vs. holy use

"Thanks" is an abbreviation of "thank you", so "Thanks, God" would be saying thank you as if speaking to God itself. "Thank God" is a phrase spoken to someone else, suggesting that they are thankful to God for their good fortune.

Some Examples:

After narrowly avoiding a car while riding his bike, James looked up at the sky and said, "Thank you God!"

"Thank god!", responded Jennifer after hearing that James was unharmed.

I'm not certain but it seems like the phrases expand to:

Thank God > Let us thank God Thanks, God > Thank you, God

Transition To Body- When the Psalmist issues A Command To Give Thanks!

Psalmist is not on his way to the physical church building yet, he is thinking about church, He or She is just out and about looking around

When the Psalmist looks out into the earth at humankind- the people’s of the earth...

Genesis 1:26–29 ESV

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.

Then the Psalmist issues a command:

like Lawrence Fishburne in School Daze:

“Wake up!”

Whereas’ David says in Psalm 122

Psalm 122:1 ESV

1 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”

This Psalmist consider God and says

Psalm 100:1 ESV

1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

Psalm 100- A Psalm for Giving Thanks

Body- Thank God: When You/Me/We Come To Church We Ought Participate In

Joyful Praise Of The LORD

Psalm 100:1 ESV

1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

Psalm 8:1–9 ESV

1 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? 5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, 7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 9 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 24:1–2 ESV

1 The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, 2 for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.

Joyful Attitude Of Service (Ministry) (Loudly Singing In the LORD’s presence)

Psalm 100:2 ESV

2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!

How we serve matters?

The attitude which we serve matters.

Psalm 16:11 ESV

11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Serving the LORD Ain’t A Mundane Affair!

Definitions of mundane

1. lacking interest or excitement; dull.

2. of this earthly world rather than a heavenly or spiritual one.

Mundaneness of the world vs. vitality of worship & being in the presence of the LORD

Psalm 90:4

4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.

No grumbling here

They knew of God but did not worship God

1 Corinthians 10:1–5 ESV

1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

John 17:11 ESV

11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.

John 17:14–15 ESV

14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

1 John 2:16 ESV

16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Joyful Relationship Of Thanksgiving (to the LORD)

Reasons for Thanksgiving

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Hebrew (Old Testament) 1978 דֵּעָה

information about a person, with a focus on the relationship with that person

Reason #1 The LORD God is our Creator & Caregiver

Psalm 100:3 ESV

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.

Psalm 139:13–14 ESV

13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

1 Peter 2:9–11 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

Reason #2 We Have Safety & Security @ The LORD God’s House (again)

Psalm 100:4 ESV

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Imagining What it feel like to approach the temple area (not inside the church yet)

Illustration: The annual pilgrimage to the LORD’s House

Matthew 16:18 ESV

18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Reason #3 The LORD God’s Love & Faithful Commitment (for all perpetuity)

Psalm 100:5 ESV

5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

The LORD’s Good Plans For Your Life

Jeremiah 29:11–13 ESV

11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Faithful God in the Midst of Faithless People

2 Timothy 2:13 ESV

13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

Illustration: Darwin Hobbs sang Exceedingly, Abundantly

Above all, all you could ask or think

According to, the power

That worketh in you, you…

God is able to do just what he said he would do

He's gonna fulfill every promise to you

Don't give up on God, 'cause he won't give up on you

He's able

[Chorus]

God is able to do just what he said he would do

He's gonna fulfill every promise to you

Don't give up on God, 'cause he won't give up on you

He's able

He’s able!”

God Who Goes Above & Beyond

if you can think it or conceive it

The LORD God is thinking something far greater....

1 Corinthians 2:9–10 ESV

9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

Ephesians 3:20–21 ESV

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

perpetuity- an annuity payable forever

Transition To Close

Illustration: Term Life vs. Whole Life

Term Life

Temporary coverage, often with options that allow you to prepare for the future.

Whole Life

Guaranteed lifetime protection and access to cash value that's guaranteed to grow.

Length of coverage

Term Life- A set period of time, usually 10 to 20 years.

Whole Life- Lifetime protection as long as your premiums are paid.

1 Corinthians 6:20 ESV

20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Galatians 3:13–15 ESV

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. 15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified.

Jesus Regarding Permanent Joy

John 16:19–24 ESV

19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Ezra said to the people

Nehemiah 8:10 ESV

10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Jesus who for the joy was set before him

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Illustration: Thro' many dangers , toils and snares, I have already come; 'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home .- Amazing Grace by John Newton

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost, but now am found

Was blind but now I see

Was Grace that taught my heart to fear

And Grace, my fears relieved

How precious did that Grace appear

The hour I first believed

Through many dangers, toils and snares

We have already come

T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far

And Grace will lead us home

And Grace will lead us home

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost but now am found

Was blind but now I see

Was blind, but now I see

The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary Thanksgiving

THANKSGIVING. Greek words derived from the root eucharist- are used in the NT almost exclusively in the sense of thanksgiving directed to God

Close- Give Thanks to the LORD God

Luke 15:7

7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Luke 15:10

10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Luke 15:31–32 ESV

31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”

Psalm 107:1–3 ESV

1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble 3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

Psalm 136:1–3 ESV

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;

Revelation 4:9 ESV

9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever,

Revelation 11:17 ESV

17 saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.