Give Thanks

[0:00] Psalm 136. Maybe you could help me with the second part of each verse. For his mercy endureth forever.

[0:17] ! O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endureth forever. O give thanks unto the God of gods, for his mercy endureth forever.

[0:29] O give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his mercy endureth forever. To him who alone doeth great wonders, for his mercy endureth forever. To him that by wisdom made the heavens, for his mercy endureth forever.

[0:43] To him that stretched out the earth above the waters, for his mercy endureth forever. To him that made great lights, for his mercy endureth forever. The sun to rule by day, for his mercy endureth forever.

[0:57] The moon and stars to rule by night, for his mercy endures forever. To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn, for his mercy endures forever. And brought out Israel from among them, for his mercy endures forever.

[1:12] With a strong hand and with a stretched out arm, for his mercy endures forever. To him which divided the Red Sea into parts, for his mercy endures forever.

[1:22] And made Israel to pass through the midst of it, for his mercy endures forever. But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his mercy endures forever.

[1:32] To him which led his people through the wilderness, for his mercy endures forever. To him which smote great kings, for his mercy endures forever. And slew famous kings, for his mercy endures forever.

[1:46] Shiloh king of the Amorites, for his mercy endures forever. And Og the king of Bashan, for his mercy endures forever. And gave their land for an heritage for his mercy.

[1:57] He endures forever. Even in heritage unto Israel, his mercy endures forever. Who remembered us in our low estate, for his mercy endures forever.

[2:10] And hath redeemed us from our enemies, for his mercy endures forever. Who giveth food to all flesh, for his mercy endures forever. O give thanks unto the God of heaven, for his mercy endures forever.

[2:25] O give thanks unto the God of heaven, for his mercy endures forever. Let us pray. Lord, we thank you that we can thank you. We can find things to thank you for. We can find your grace to thank you for.

[2:37] And for most of all, your mercy endures forever. Lord, we thank you that you love each one that trusts you now. And knows that grace, that life more abundant and free.

[2:51] Lord, for your mercy endures forever. In Jesus' name. Amen. Psalm 136. Give thanks. Give thanks. Thanksgiving.

[3:01] Verse 1. Give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever.

[3:13] Our text here contains three points. An instruction and two reasons. And we will look at a what, two whys and a when.

[3:26] Three points, an instruction and two reasons. Two what, a what, two whys and a when. Firstly, what?

[3:37] What are we to do? Thank God. Thank God. We are commanded to give thanks. To thank God. You know, it's been said, a bad moment for an atheist is when he feels grateful and has no one to thank.

[3:52] What a state to be in. We have someone to thank. Thank God. Thank God. Our Lord, as our example, often gave thanks.

[4:04] We see through the word. And Psalm 92, verse 1, it says, It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High.

[4:18] Psalm 92, verse 1. It's our duty. It's our privilege. Giving thanks does you good. It does you good. It's an expression of faith.

[4:29] It releases the hand of God to work on your behalf. The loaves and the fishes. They gave thanks. And whoo! God blessed.

[4:41] Give thanks. The Maasai tribe in West Africa have an unusual way of saying, I thank you. They say literally, my head is in the dirt.

[4:52] When the Maasai express thanks, they literally put their forehead down on the ground. They want to acknowledge gratitude with humility. They want to acknowledge gratitude with humility. Now, when we give thanks, we say, thank you, God.

[5:05] We're acknowledging what he has done for us. We're acknowledging our dependence upon him. And we're humbling ourselves and thanking him for his provision.

[5:15] So, what are we to do? Thank God. Why? Why are we to thank him? Thank God for his goodness. For his goodness.

[5:26] For what he has given. His bounty. His many gifts and blessings. In 1 Chronicles 29, verse 10. We see that David blessed the Lord.

[5:37] You might want to turn there. 1 Chronicles 29, verse 10. And through 13. 1 Chronicles 29.

[5:55] We thank God for his goodness. For what he has given. We see David here in verse 10. It says, Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation.

[6:08] And David said, Blessed be thou, O Lord God of Israel, our Father. Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever.

[6:21] Thine, O Lord, is the greatness. And the power. And the glory. And the victory. And the majesty. For all that is in the heaven.

[6:32] And in the earth. Is thine. Thine is the kingdom, O Lord. And thou art exalted. As head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee.

[6:42] And thou reignest over all. And in thine hand is power and might. And in thine hand is to make great. And to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God.

[6:54] We thank thee. And praise thy glorious name. Now therefore, our God. We thank thee. And praise thy glorious name.

[7:05] Why? Thank God. Thank God for his goodness. For what he has given. His gifts and his blessings. We could not possibly list all the many blessings that we have received from the Lord.

[7:18] You know, like the song goes, Count your many blessings. Do we stop and count them? We'd need a long piece of paper, wouldn't we? It would be countless blessings.

[7:29] Even the trials that he sends to us do us good. That's a profound thing, isn't it? Wow. Even the trials.

[7:42] Why? Because he knows what he is doing. He knows what he is doing. Even though at times we may not understand. Romans 8.28, that familiar one, it says, All things work together for good.

[7:57] To those who are called. To those who love God. To those called according to his purpose. All things. All work together for good. So give thanks for what he has done.

[8:08] For what he has given. For what he has done for us. His works. In Psalm 26 verse 7. It says, God has been so good to us.

[8:30] Day after day. Week after week. Blessing after blessing. And we can truly say, Thanks a million. We've so much to thank him for.

[8:41] Blessed be God. His mercy endureth forever. Think of his works. What he has done for us. Think of how much God has done for you. We're so often guilty of the sin of grumbling.

[8:53] Of being unthankful. Ungrateful. Not appreciating the blessings. That God has given to us. It's easy to be like the children of Israel. Where at times.

[9:04] Murmuring. They weren't satisfied with what they had. And we know the word says, Be content. So easy to get discontented, isn't it?

[9:18] And want more. That greedy grasping. That dissatisfaction. I can't get no satisfaction. That murmuring. That complaining. The seeing of things that are not how we want them to be.

[9:29] Yet not seeing what God has given. And just being appreciative of that. And this is not to discount that some of you are in a heavy time.

[9:41] And there's a cross for you. There is a cross for every one of us. We're not always aware of what the other person's cross is like. How heavy that might be.

[9:53] Yet he gives grace to us to carry that cross. Your cross. Your cross. Your cross. It's different from my cross. But murmuring is so easy to get guilty of that.

[10:06] And to lack faith in the goodness of God. The present time might seem hard. We don't know what's around the corner. And as we look back, we think, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.

[10:17] We see his blessings. Even though at that time, it seemed it was a trial. And we lack trust in the Lord. Concerning what is best for us.

[10:28] Who knows what is best for us? He does. He knows. He knows. It's been said that gratitude is the best medicine. There was a preacher of old time in Britain who said, Gratitude is a vaccine.

[10:43] An antitoxin. And an antiseptic. So, to elaborate here. Gratitude, thankfulness, is the best medicine.

[10:56] A vaccine. A gratitude can act like a vaccine in the sense that it prevents the invasion of a disgruntled, discouraged spirit. Have that at the start.

[11:08] Gratitude. It's like an antitoxin. An antitoxin. So that gratitude prevents the toxic effects that are all around us. We're living in a toxic environment.

[11:21] Amen? Isn't that true? The more you hear and mix with people who don't know Christ, you think it's toxic out there. Toxic.

[11:31] Some people, it's like they've got to punctuate every sentence with some colourful word that dishonours Christ and just rolls them in the mud and muck and filth.

[11:47] We need an antitoxin. And this antitoxin of gratitude, it prevents us from that effect of the poisons that are all around us, the cynicism, the criticalness, the grumbling.

[12:04] Gratitude is an antitoxin. And it's like an antiseptic. So a spirit of gratitude can help soothe and heal the most troubled spirit.

[12:15] So that even when you're in it and it's hurting you, the gratitude will see you through that stage. It will help you through that time.

[12:26] It will soothe. It will heal. It will help you through. A vaccine, an antitoxin, and an antiseptic is a good way of thinking about it. So we've seen what?

[12:37] Thank God. We are to thank God. Why? Thank him for what he's given. Thank him for what he's done. And gratitude is the best medicine. Thirdly, why?

[12:49] Why are we to thank him? Why are we to thank him? Thank God for his mercy. Thank God for his mercy. He saves.

[13:00] He saves. His priceless gift of salvation should be reason enough to praise, to thank him. The grace of God. Grace that is greater than all my sin.

[13:15] Matchless, infinite, perfect grace. Beyond our words to express it. As Paul says, 2 Corinthians 9.15. Thank God for his unspeakable gift.

[13:27] He couldn't put it into words. There was a man on trial. He was trembling with fear. And the judge said, now look, fella. Don't be so nervous.

[13:39] You're going to get justice. And the prisoner said, I don't need justice. I need mercy. Thank God. His mercy endureth forever.

[13:50] Amen. Thank God. Mercy that endureth forever. Can we comprehend that? Mercy that endureth forever.

[14:02] And some people think, well, I'm saved, but then I've slipped and I've lost it. His mercy endureth from A to Z.

[14:16] From alpha to omega. From beginning to end. He's saved you. His mercy endureth forever. Glory. Mercy is what we need, isn't it? It's what I need.

[14:27] It's what you need. It's what everyone needs. The Pharisee in Luke 18, he was thankful. You can look there. Luke 18. From 9 to 14.

[14:43] He went up to the temple to pray. Luke 18, verse 9. The Lord was addressing those who trusted in themselves.

[14:56] That they were righteous and despised others. Two men went up into the temple to pray. The one a Pharisee and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself.

[15:09] God, I thank thee that I am not as other men. As other men are.

[15:22] Extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this, publican. I fast twice in the week. I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican standing afar off would not lift so much as his eyes unto heaven.

[15:37] But smote upon his breast and saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner. I'll tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other.

[15:49] For everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased. And he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Brother, sister, here was this thankful man.

[16:00] Thankful that he was so right. And they were so wrong. But not seeing. The mercy that he had to call upon. Yet the one who called upon God's mercy received it.

[16:15] Likewise we. We must lean upon God's mercy. Lean upon his mercy. Lean fully upon it. The sinner pleaded with God for mercy.

[16:26] And he received it. So why are we to thank God? Thank God for his mercy. Thank God because he saves. For his unspeakable gift. Thank God because he sets us free.

[16:36] Free indeed. He's freed us from the dungeon master of sin. 1 Corinthians 15, 57. Paul says, but thanks be to God. Which giveth us the victory.

[16:48] Through our Lord Jesus Christ. There's mighty, marvellous victory. Glorious victory. Sin shattering, defeating victory in Christ.

[17:01] Forgiveness of sin. Pardon. Pardon. And he's our shepherd. He is our shepherd. I think I'm quoting in part here that something that I picked up along the way.

[17:16] But think of this. When he's our shepherd. Think of the shepherd. And I've had occasion to be a bit of a shepherd lately. I'm not much of a good one. Because I've already lost one of the sheep. Back in the paddock. And he liked the next paddock better.

[17:28] It's a bit like church sometimes. They like the next paddock. And I'm spending all my time chasing them down. But I'll let them go. Go and let someone else shepherd you if you want to jump the fence.

[17:39] But people of God. He is our shepherd. And it says, I think I'm quoting here. I must confess it's not original here. But when you come to the valley of the shadow. His mercy endures forever.

[17:51] When cancer eats the body up. His mercy endures forever. When you cross the chilly Jordan. His mercy is just beginning. When we see him. His mercy endures forever.

[18:02] When we rise to meet him in the air. His mercy endures forever. When we come back to earth with him. His mercy endures forever. When we walk the streets of gold.

[18:13] And through the gates of pearl. His mercy endures forever. When we've been with him 10 million years. His mercy endures forever. That means no matter what happens.

[18:25] God's mercy is there. And will always be there. Now in the future God may allow squealing brakes. I was driving down the main north road.

[18:37] And I heard those. You just wait for that. God may allow squealing brakes.

[18:51] Burning rubber on the pavement. Crashing of steel. And bodies hurling into the culvert. Or on the shoulder of the road. It may be that God will allow you. To lie there for a while. And wonder if you're going to die.

[19:02] It may be that God has a wheelchair for you. As he does for this lady here. This preacher is talking. It may be that God is going to let you be deaf. Like those folks back there.

[19:13] It may be that you'll never hear the voice of a cricket again. Or the sweet music of the choir. But his mercy endures forever. It may be that God will allow pressures to come into your life. You may fall to the bottom of society.

[19:25] And one day stumble into a rescue mission. But his mercy will endure forever. You cannot get outside his mercy. You can't get outside it.

[19:37] Because it endures forever. God's mercy goes beyond your deepest sin. And beyond your loneliest hour. His mercy endureth forever. Again I'm quoting another preacher there.

[19:49] But it just puts it in that perspective. Of the dimensions of life. They're multifaceted. Aren't they? Who's to know whether we're going to get struck down. And have a disability. You know my eyes might get such that I can't read the paper anymore.

[20:02] You know we know that. But whatever the case. His mercy endureth forever. I might have to humble myself and wear some glasses. You know we might have to get things in perspective.

[20:15] Amen. Brothers and sisters. His mercy endureth forever. So when? When are we to thank God? So easy it is to be like the thankless nine.

[20:26] We know in Luke 17. How ten men came. And ten were healed. But only nine went back. Sorry. Rather only one went back. The nine just went off on their merry way.

[20:38] In Luke 17. They neglected to be thankful didn't they? Psalm 103 verse 2 it says. Bless the Lord oh my soul. And forget not all his benefits. We do not bless.

[20:50] And we do forget. Don't we? We neglect to bless the Lord. And we do forget. All his benefits. But the word tells us to do the opposite of that.

[21:02] To think of those so many blessings that we have. Some of you have got mighty blessings. You've got so many children. Some of you.

[21:13] There's numbers of you. I'm looking at a few of you here tonight. You've got so many big families. You've got such a blessing there. Grandchildren. Great grandchildren. You've got so much to thank God for.

[21:26] And. How we forget. All his benefits don't we? So easily we forget. Yet we're daily receiving. So much.

[21:37] From the hand of the Lord. So when are we to thank him? Bless the Lord. Oh my soul. And forget not. All his benefits. All the time. Always. Ephesians 5 verse 20.

[21:49] It says. Giving thanks always. For all things. Unto God. And the Father. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5 verse 20. Giving thanks. Always. For.

[21:59] All things. That's comprehensive. Isn't it? That is. Absolutely comprehensive. Always. All things. And 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 16. Is alike to that.

[22:10] Verse 16 of 1 Thessalonians 5. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything. Give thanks. For this is the will of God.

[22:23] In Christ Jesus. Concerning you. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything. Give thanks. It's the will of God for you. The will of God in Christ Jesus.

[22:36] Concerning you. So in all circumstances. So when times are bad. When we're sick. Or out of work. When unexpected bills pile up. Or our house burns down.

[22:46] When our house gets flooded. It's happened to me twice. Already. You know. And I know there's a man. Who's coming. Of recent times.

[22:57] He's still repairing his house. After years. Of flood damage. Living in a shed. Yet he's still got a thankful spirit. We need that don't we. We need to maintain that.

[23:09] The house we live in is just bricks and mortar. When a loved one is sick. Or suffering. Or dies. To rejoice when things are tough.

[23:21] Takes vision. That seems far beyond the immediate pain or loss. Because we. We look at things. As I kind of touched on. Some time before.

[23:32] That we're in heavenly places. This earth is just. It's just momentary. Isn't it? We're just here for a. A fleeting moment. In comparison with eternity.

[23:45] Our life is. A vapour. It's. And so. Let's. Have that eternal dimension.

[23:57] So. In pain. In suffering. In persecution. In loss. In suffering. In hardship. Knowing that our. Tragedies will work out. For good. In the long run. And God is supreme.

[24:08] Nothing happens to us. Without. His knowledge. Or permission. And that we can have that confidence. That he. Is in ultimate control. Of our lives. When we see.

[24:20] I mean. Even just. As you see. The record of Paul's life. The things that he went through. And. He certainly didn't have. As some would. Kind of put it today.

[24:31] That you become a Christian. And it's just a. A ride on the glory train. And everything's going to be. Hunky dory. And no problems for you. Quite the opposite for Paul.

[24:42] So in a sense. We are. Like little children. Trying to comprehend. Why we have to suffer. The pain of spanking. The anguish. Of separation. From a parent.

[24:53] The grief. Of losing a pet. The frustration. Of being denied sweets. That. The repulsive. Taste of medicine. Or the torment. Of an operation.

[25:04] Now can't you remember. I can still remember. As a little child. And. I think I was driving the go car. And smashed into the. The street pole. And. And then.

[25:14] I had a little. Soft toy. And I went down to the. The hospital. And was lying there. And they started to. Prod and poke. And hurt me. Even more. And we think of those times.

[25:26] Don't we. Even as adults. We think back. Oh that was horrible. But. It was for. Our good. At the end of it all. That temporary suffering. I was still here.

[25:37] To tell the story. So. Let gratitude. Be your attitude. Amen. That every day. Is another gift. From God. And we can learn. To develop that attitude. Of thanksgiving. Even in the midst of trial.

[25:48] Think of people like. For example. Corrie ten Boom. Is one lady. Who tells her story. About going through. Great trouble. In world war two.

[25:59] That she and her sister. They'd been harboring. Some Jewish people. In their home. And they were arrested. And in prison. At Ravensbrook camp. They were locked up. In this concentration camp.

[26:10] And the barracks. Were extremely crowded. And they were infested. With fleas. And one morning. They read in their tattered bible. Of one Thessalonians. The reminder to. Rejoice. In all things.

[26:21] In everything. Give thanks. So Betsy. Said to Corrie. We've got to give thanks. For this barracks. And even for these fleas. And Corrie said. No way. Am I going to thank God.

[26:32] For fleas. But Betsy. Was persuasive. And they did thank God. Even for the fleas. And during the months. That followed. They found that their barracks. Were left. Relatively free.

[26:43] And they could do bible study. And talk openly. And even pray. In the barracks. And witness to their. Fellow. People. In the. Concentration camp. The fellow prisoners.

[26:54] And it was. Their only place of refuge. Were where the fleas were. So several months later. They learnt. That the reason. The guards never came. To the barracks. Was because of those horrible fleas.

[27:06] So you can see. That's just one picture. Of how. Sometimes what is going to. What we're going through now. We can still thank him for. Even though it's almost. Counter cultural.

[27:17] It's almost. Counter intuitive. It's not. It's not logical. As the world would see logic. It's been said. That the soul. Would have no rainbow. Had the eyes. No tears. And sometimes.

[27:29] Those moments. Those experiences. Of life. Are shaping us. For the future. There was one night. Matthew Henry.

[27:40] Who was an old time preacher. Many years ago. He was robbed. And he prayed this prayer. He said. I thank thee first. Because I was never robbed before. Second.

[27:51] Because although they took my purse. They did not take my life. And third. Although they took my all. It was not much. And fourth. Because it was I who was robbed.

[28:03] And not I who robbed. He found reason to thank God. Even in such a circumstance. As that. And so can we. Can't we? Can't we thank him? Even in the midst of. The hardest of times.

[28:14] We could all think. Of things we're going through. And think. Why? Why is this happening to me? And yet. We can thank him still.

[28:25] Thank him still. He's making us stronger for it. And so. Ask God to forgive you. For grumbling. To determine in your heart. To thank him. Thank him. For everything.

[28:37] It's good to stop. And give thanks. Consider what. Can we be thankful for? There was a lady. Who was blind. Who could not hear. Or speak.

[28:48] You know. Her name is Helen Keller. That's her name. She was blind. She could not hear. Or speak. Imagine a life like that. And her teacher. Anne Sullivan. Took time to care.

[28:59] And communicate with her. And she gave Helen. The names of physical objects. In sign language. Touching her hand. And making her. Understand words. And things around. By just. Touching her hand.

[29:11] And trying to communicate things. By tapping. And such. And symbols. And one day. Miss Sullivan. Tried to explain God. And she tapped out the symbols.

[29:21] For the name God. And much to Miss Sullivan's surprise. Helen spelled back. Thank you. For telling me. God's name teacher. For he has touched me. Many times before.

[29:33] She knew something about God. She felt that God. Had touched her life. She was thankful. I'm not necessarily agreeing. With what Helen Keller. Particularly believed. This is an example.

[29:44] That she. Expressed that. That simple truth. And even in the midst of that. The blindness. The deafness. The muteness. She could.

[29:55] Say God has touched me. And so. Friends today. We've got much. Reason to thank God.

[30:06] To thank God. The thankful life.

[30:20] The thankful life. Now we can choose to be thankful. No matter what. Our circumstances. It's like someone said. When you break your leg. Be thankful.

[30:31] It isn't your neck. Now. The. The fictional story. Of Robinson Crusoe. Tells us that. Robinson Crusoe.

[30:41] Was wrecked on his lonely island. And he drew up in two columns. What he called. The evil and the good. He was cast on a desolate island. But he was still alive. Not drowned.

[30:53] As his ship's company was. He was apart from human society. But he was not starving. He had no clothes. But he was in a hot climate. Where he did not need them.

[31:04] He was without means of defence. But he saw no wild beasts. Such as he had seen. On the coast of Africa. He had no one to whom he could speak. But God had sent the ship.

[31:15] So near to the shore. That he could get out of it. All the things necessary. For his basic ones. So he concluded. There was not any condition in the world. So miserable. But that one could find.

[31:25] Find something for which to be grateful. Find something to be grateful for. There was a preacher on a missions trip. Who was leading worship at a leper colony.

[31:37] On the island of Tobago. Here he was on this island. Filled with people. That were losing limbs. And ears. And noses. And you name it. In this leper colony.

[31:49] And there was this woman who was facing away from him. And she suddenly turned around. And looked at him. And the preacher said. It was the most hideous face. I had ever seen.

[32:00] The woman's nose and ears. Were completely gone. And she lifted a fingerless hand in the air. And asked. Can we sing. Count your many blessings.

[32:11] And overcome with emotion. The preacher left the service. And he was followed by a team member. Who said. I guess you'll never be able. To sing that song again. He said.

[32:23] Yes I will. But I'll never sing it. The same way. There was another preacher. Who wrote a lovely hymn. I'll give you his name.

[32:35] Dr. Weagle is his name. I would love to tell you. What I think of Jesus. Since I found in him. A friend so strong and true. I would tell you how. He changed my life. Completely.

[32:46] He did something. That no other friend. Could do. No one. Ever. Cared. For me. Like. Jesus. In the Weagle Music Centre.

[32:58] At Tennessee Temple College. They built a little department. For Dr. Weagle. He was nearly 100. When it was finished. And at the dedication. The mayor came. And cut the ribbon. And a preacher.

[33:09] Preached the message. And everybody had gone. And this preacher. Came to Dr. Weagle. And he said. I went to his room. And started to knock on the door. But I heard a voice saying.

[33:20] Hallelujah. Praise the Lord. I just listened to him. Shout for a while. Finally I knocked on the door. And he came to the door. With a look of heaven on his face. I said. Dr. Weagle.

[33:30] What are you doing? He clapped his hands. And said. Just practicing. For heaven. We ought to practice for heaven. Shouldn't we? Just practice for heaven.

[33:41] This morning. And praise the Lord. For a little bit. Blessed be God. His mercy. Endureth forever. I'm quoting again here.

[33:53] I'm just admitting this is not original work here. Go home today. And have a meal. And shout the praises of God. And say his mercy. Endureth forever. Reach up and touch your eyes.

[34:05] If you can see. Say hallelujah. His mercy. Endureth forever. If you can hear the sound. Of this beautiful music. Say glory to God. His mercy. Endureth forever.

[34:15] If you can walk out of this building. Without being rolled out. In a wheelchair. Say praise the Lord. His mercy. Endureth forever. Or if you have to roll out.

[34:27] In a wheelchair. Or walk out deaf. Or blind. Or if you don't have food to eat. Just jump up. And down. Anyhow. And say. Hallelujah. His mercy.

[34:38] Endureth forever. Forever. Ever. And ever. And ever. And ever. When kingdoms have crumbled for the last time. His mercy. Endureth forever. When dictators have waged their wicked battles for the last time.

[34:52] His mercy. Endureth forever. When the stars have fallen like untimely figs from a tree shaken by the wind. His mercy. Endureth forever. When the sun refuses to shine.

[35:03] And the moon is turned as black. As sackcloth of hair. His mercy. Endureth forever. When people should die no more. And cemeteries shall not dot the horizon. His mercy.

[35:14] Endureth forever. When shoulders shall never stoop. Nor brows wrinkle. Nor faces become furrowed. His mercies. Endureth forever. When all of us awake. In his likeness.

[35:25] To live forever. Around his throne. His mercy. Endureth forever. Blessed be God. His mercy. Endureth forever. Friends tonight.

[35:37] Give thanks. Unto the Lord. For he is good. For his mercy. Endureth forever. Forever.

[35:48] Let us pray. Lord we thank you that you show your goodness. To the children of men. You show your pardon. To those that are guilty of sin. Yet you give grace and mercy.

[36:01] As we trust your wonderful gift. Lord we thank you for each heart. Each home. Lord that we can each know that. Grace. That is greater than all our sin.

[36:14] Lord we know that mercy. That endureth forever. Lord we thank you. And help us to have a thankful heart. Lord help us to find reason to thank you. As we know. Just your mercy is enough.

[36:25] For us to be thankful. Just your mercy is enough. For us to be grateful. Just your goodness is enough. For us to thank you. Lord help us to. Have grateful hearts.

[36:36] To have thankful hearts. To. See the good. Even in the bad. That you are at work. Even still. And we can trust your hand. We can trust your way.

[36:47] We pray if there's any yet to trust you here tonight. That they might find that mercy. That endureth forever. That they might find what it is to know. Sins forgiven. And a home in heaven.

[36:58] To know the glory that awaits. Those who trust you. Lord we know. It's only. Only a short span. Of earthly time. Until all of us will be.

[37:08] In your very presence Lord. In. In that very. Personal. Eternal dimension of heaven. We pray for every soul.

[37:19] That is hearing this Lord. That each one might know. Peace with God today. Lord we pray that each one might know. What it is. To put their hearts trust. Entirely. In your. Saving.

[37:30] And in your keeping. And in your mercy. That endureth forever Lord. Help us to have that thankfulness today. And forever. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.