WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.759 Take your Bibles, turn over to Psalm 100. Psalm 100 this morning is where we're going to find our text this morning as we're going to begin a series here for the next few weeks. 00:00:09.759 --> 00:00:24.640 And thinking of thankfulness, you know, thinking of thankfulness, because thankfulness is something that needs to be thought of, needs to be considered. 00:00:25.780 --> 00:00:33.560 You know, because just over a week, we're going to set aside a day that we have on our calendar that's to say thanks. 00:00:33.560 --> 00:00:41.520 You know, we have a holiday called Thanksgiving, you know, and it's a great holiday to remind us to stop. 00:00:41.620 --> 00:00:51.859 And it's oftentimes when families gather and, you know, one of the good traditions that are often associated with it is somebody will ask a question there as a family. 00:00:51.980 --> 00:00:53.219 You know, what are you thankful for? 00:00:54.219 --> 00:00:57.240 You know, and we'll take time to talk about that. 00:00:57.240 --> 00:01:03.460 And, you know, that's really a good tradition to take time and just to consider how to be thankful. 00:01:04.140 --> 00:01:06.960 But, you know, I noticed something in the last few years. 00:01:07.219 --> 00:01:12.840 Thanksgiving seems to be putting, the holiday itself seems to be putting on the side. 00:01:13.240 --> 00:01:14.879 People have placed it on the side. 00:01:14.980 --> 00:01:16.400 They've kind of skipped over it. 00:01:17.079 --> 00:01:25.820 You know, we go from as you get into the fall, you know, you got a lot of people who will celebrate Halloween and then they jump right to Christmas. 00:01:25.820 --> 00:01:27.099 It's like what a contrast. 00:01:27.239 --> 00:01:39.759 And they miss one of the most important holidays that I think we've set aside as a culture, as a nation, is to remember to be thankful. 00:01:39.979 --> 00:01:42.879 Because, you know, thankfulness is something we need to be reminded of. 00:01:43.799 --> 00:01:49.539 Because it's real easy to go on and not stop to really consider God's blessing. 00:01:50.739 --> 00:01:53.859 To move right past it when God has blessed us. 00:01:53.859 --> 00:01:59.579 And Thanksgiving seems to be becoming less popular and less thankful. 00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:10.000 You know, even those who observe Thanksgiving as a day, often it becomes just a day on the calendar and not a habit in our heart. 00:02:10.919 --> 00:02:16.520 You know, because Thanksgiving for a believer ought not to be something that just happens once a year. 00:02:16.520 --> 00:02:19.340 It ought not to happen on a set day. 00:02:19.340 --> 00:02:20.680 It ought to happen each day. 00:02:21.340 --> 00:02:25.040 Because it considers how our heart is before God. 00:02:25.340 --> 00:02:31.300 Because it's a habit of a heart that's thankful for God and what He's done for us. 00:02:31.760 --> 00:02:38.760 And when we remember, it's important that we do that because we understand and all know that we ought to be thankful. 00:02:38.759 --> 00:02:43.539 But knowing it and living it are not the same thing. 00:02:44.459 --> 00:02:45.199 You know, you think about it. 00:02:45.199 --> 00:02:50.519 We know that thankfulness is important because parents will spend a lot of time teaching their kids to say thank you. 00:02:51.679 --> 00:02:53.060 You know, tell them thank you. 00:02:53.179 --> 00:02:53.840 Tell them thank you. 00:02:53.919 --> 00:02:54.579 Tell them thank you. 00:02:54.659 --> 00:02:57.019 You know, we spend time doing that. 00:02:57.419 --> 00:03:01.159 Yet as adults, we often forget to say it. 00:03:01.159 --> 00:03:09.359 And we often forget to say it to the one to whom we live, what we move, and have our being. 00:03:10.120 --> 00:03:13.319 You know, the Scripture doesn't present thankfulness as an option. 00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:18.780 You know, for those that feel blessed, you know, it's a command. 00:03:19.579 --> 00:03:21.479 So we're going to look at these things here. 00:03:21.560 --> 00:03:24.120 We're going to talk today about be thankful. 00:03:24.759 --> 00:03:28.979 We're going to talk about giving thanks always and in everything give thanks. 00:03:28.979 --> 00:03:34.679 You know, because thankfulness is not just a thought and it's not just words. 00:03:34.780 --> 00:03:38.599 It's a consideration of all that happens in our life. 00:03:38.899 --> 00:03:41.319 All that God has provided for us. 00:03:41.699 --> 00:03:49.899 The challenges, the good things, the wonderful blessings, the great things that you didn't see coming that are a challenge. 00:03:50.120 --> 00:03:54.239 We understand those things, but God says we should still be thankful. 00:03:55.419 --> 00:03:58.039 Because thankfulness will show up in how you live. 00:03:58.979 --> 00:04:03.959 You know, this morning in our text, we're going to find a very simple instruction from the Lord. 00:04:04.039 --> 00:04:04.919 A simple command. 00:04:05.659 --> 00:04:07.839 Be thankful unto Him. 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:11.579 So if you found Psalm 100, let's stand together this morning. 00:04:12.120 --> 00:04:14.879 And we'll read responsibly here today. 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:16.300 I'll read verse 1. 00:04:16.360 --> 00:04:17.680 You guys will read verse... 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:19.980 Oh, you guys are sharp this morning. 00:04:21.819 --> 00:04:23.839 I'll read verse 3 and then you'll read what? 00:04:24.579 --> 00:04:25.099 Verse... 00:04:25.099 --> 00:04:26.139 Alright, man. 00:04:26.139 --> 00:04:28.519 I'm looking forward to this, man. 00:04:28.579 --> 00:04:30.740 The crowd is on top of things today. 00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:32.180 So let's read this together here. 00:04:32.199 --> 00:04:35.879 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 00:04:36.620 --> 00:04:38.519 Serve the Lord with gladness. 00:04:38.879 --> 00:04:41.159 Come before His presence with singing. 00:04:41.819 --> 00:04:44.459 Know ye that the Lord, He is God. 00:04:44.919 --> 00:04:48.079 And it is He that hath made us. 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:52.740 And not we ourselves, for we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 00:04:52.740 --> 00:04:58.819 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. 00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:02.719 Be thankful unto Him and bless His name. 00:05:03.219 --> 00:05:12.180 For the Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endureth to all generations. 00:05:12.180 --> 00:05:12.860 Let's pray. 00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:19.400 Heavenly Fathers, we take a few moments this morning to consider our need to be thankful. 00:05:20.040 --> 00:05:27.720 Lord, I pray that You'd just help each of us to really not just walk away today thinking on just the message, 00:05:27.900 --> 00:05:31.639 but Lord, that it might become part of how we live and what we do. 00:05:31.740 --> 00:05:35.360 Lord, as we understand those things of thankfulness. 00:05:35.360 --> 00:05:40.220 Lord, that we need to be consistent, and it affects what we do. 00:05:40.340 --> 00:05:42.600 It affects our conviction of things. 00:05:42.720 --> 00:05:50.340 And Lord, we pray that You just would help us today to understand this command to be thankful. 00:05:51.720 --> 00:05:57.620 The attitude that will help us walk through this life, keeping our focus upon You. 00:05:58.280 --> 00:05:59.860 And Lord, we just love You and thank You. 00:05:59.900 --> 00:06:01.960 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:06:02.160 --> 00:06:02.740 You may be seated. 00:06:02.740 --> 00:06:08.259 You know, Psalm 100, we find, is one of the shortest psalms in the Bible. 00:06:09.360 --> 00:06:14.019 And the heading reads, A Psalm of Praise. 00:06:14.680 --> 00:06:20.400 Now, just for a little Bible information, when you read those headings in the book of Psalms, 00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:23.300 they're actually part of the text, okay? 00:06:23.819 --> 00:06:28.060 In other words, those little headings in Psalms were not added by somebody. 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:31.540 They were actually part of the Scripture. 00:06:31.540 --> 00:06:41.080 And it's a heading given for a reason, because David here is writing this, and he's telling us it's a psalm of praise. 00:06:41.439 --> 00:06:43.720 That praise is important. 00:06:44.140 --> 00:06:47.360 And the word praise here is the same word for thanksgiving. 00:06:48.080 --> 00:06:53.020 You know, it's the same word that was used in Leviticus chapter 7 in verse 12, 00:06:53.019 --> 00:06:57.659 when God instructed Israel about bringing offerings unto him. 00:06:57.659 --> 00:07:04.439 He says this, if he offer it for thanksgiving, he shall offer it with the sacrifice of thanksgiving. 00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:09.299 That word thanksgiving in the Hebrew is the same term that David uses here for praise. 00:07:10.680 --> 00:07:12.000 It's the same thing. 00:07:12.539 --> 00:07:17.139 Praise and thankfulness are interconnected. 00:07:17.139 --> 00:07:22.959 To praise the Lord and to be thankful are connected. 00:07:23.539 --> 00:07:25.680 There's no separation between them. 00:07:26.300 --> 00:07:31.800 And when we understand that picture, because it was written for God's people here, 00:07:31.919 --> 00:07:33.240 David writes a psalm. 00:07:33.319 --> 00:07:36.139 You know, psalms were the Jewish hymn book. 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:41.659 They would actually sing these when they would enter in. 00:07:41.660 --> 00:07:46.900 This is one of the psalms that they said people would sing as they came to worship. 00:07:47.520 --> 00:07:50.640 And while we understand it was written first to Israel, 00:07:50.920 --> 00:07:55.900 the instruction goes out, because notice at the end of verse 1, it says what? 00:07:56.260 --> 00:07:59.600 Pray, make a joyful noise unto the Lord, who? 00:08:00.120 --> 00:08:02.379 All ye lands. 00:08:03.240 --> 00:08:05.020 You know, what's he talking about there? 00:08:05.019 --> 00:08:14.000 He says, everybody, no matter where you are, who you are, what you think you are, 00:08:14.099 --> 00:08:15.240 you ought to be thankful. 00:08:16.180 --> 00:08:18.839 To understand all the land. 00:08:18.939 --> 00:08:21.339 And it carries even on to us today. 00:08:22.039 --> 00:08:26.139 You know, thankfulness is not a holiday to observe. 00:08:26.359 --> 00:08:27.719 It's a command to obey. 00:08:28.819 --> 00:08:31.219 It's an instruction God gives us. 00:08:31.699 --> 00:08:34.639 So let's take a moment and look at the command that's given to us. 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:37.620 Notice how David starts the psalm here. 00:08:37.740 --> 00:08:42.939 He says, make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 00:08:43.240 --> 00:08:45.299 Serve the Lord with gladness. 00:08:45.860 --> 00:08:48.639 Come before his presence with singing. 00:08:49.419 --> 00:08:52.340 You know, notice who's called, all ye lands. 00:08:52.580 --> 00:08:55.080 Thankfulness is just that. 00:08:55.319 --> 00:08:57.439 It's for the time of David. 00:08:57.639 --> 00:08:59.559 It's for the time in between. 00:08:59.779 --> 00:09:01.039 And it's for us today. 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:07.059 It includes us right here this morning to be thankful. 00:09:07.559 --> 00:09:10.639 Because if God made you, you owe him thanks. 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:12.480 We'll look at this in just a moment. 00:09:12.559 --> 00:09:13.779 But look down in verse 3. 00:09:14.099 --> 00:09:17.939 It tells us here, it is he that hath what? 00:09:18.659 --> 00:09:19.559 Made us. 00:09:20.759 --> 00:09:21.240 Wow. 00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:23.000 You know, think about that. 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:25.220 We exist because God. 00:09:26.620 --> 00:09:31.600 You exist because God spoke creation. 00:09:32.100 --> 00:09:37.639 Because God formed Adam out of the dust of the ground and breathed into him the breath of lives. 00:09:37.980 --> 00:09:39.759 We are a descendant of Adam. 00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:43.279 We are the reality of God's creation. 00:09:43.720 --> 00:09:44.720 He made us. 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:52.700 And when we count these commands in the first four verses, you know, think as we look down through here. 00:09:52.800 --> 00:09:57.300 Notice it says, make a joyful noise unto the Lord. 00:09:57.399 --> 00:09:59.080 Verse 2, serve the Lord. 00:10:00.060 --> 00:10:04.420 3, know ye that the Lord, he is God. 00:10:04.920 --> 00:10:07.180 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving. 00:10:07.540 --> 00:10:09.100 And then be thankful. 00:10:09.500 --> 00:10:10.660 And then bless. 00:10:10.659 --> 00:10:16.419 You know, when we understand those pictures, these commands that God gives to us, 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:19.159 God doesn't say to be thankful if you feel like it. 00:10:20.939 --> 00:10:23.980 You know, oftentimes we operate by how we feel. 00:10:24.519 --> 00:10:30.500 Now, understand your feelings are inputs, but it ought not to command your outputs. 00:10:31.639 --> 00:10:34.779 How you respond should not be based on your feeling. 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:38.600 Feelings will lead you astray. 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:41.420 We need to understand that. 00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:42.440 We live in a generation. 00:10:42.659 --> 00:10:44.779 People want to live by their feelings. 00:10:45.300 --> 00:10:47.340 But thankfulness is not a feeling. 00:10:47.779 --> 00:10:54.159 It's a thought process and a way that we perceive the world around us and perceive the Lord. 00:10:54.980 --> 00:10:58.460 It's not something that we can say, well, I feel thankful. 00:10:58.980 --> 00:11:00.980 Thankfulness is a matter of obedience. 00:11:02.660 --> 00:11:03.899 You know, think what it tells us here. 00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:06.440 The first one here, to make a joyful noise. 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:12.440 You know, I believe if you're saved, you ought to be easy to open your mouth and thank the Lord. 00:11:16.440 --> 00:11:18.880 Think about what he's done for you at salvation. 00:11:20.940 --> 00:11:29.380 The reality of him taking his sin upon you and offering that paid in full for your sin. 00:11:29.780 --> 00:11:32.780 When you consider what he does, it's something you ought to be thankful for. 00:11:32.779 --> 00:11:35.439 It changes your destination. 00:11:35.439 --> 00:11:36.839 It changes your eternity. 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:38.980 It changes your present. 00:11:39.980 --> 00:11:43.039 Because salvation isn't just about now. 00:11:43.199 --> 00:11:44.019 It's about eternity. 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:46.759 It's the reality of eternity. 00:11:47.419 --> 00:11:49.819 And we notice here that joyful noise. 00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:54.819 The word here is to all this make a joyful noise is one word in the Hebrew. 00:11:54.820 --> 00:11:57.520 It's this. 00:11:57.820 --> 00:11:59.360 Shout so others know. 00:11:59.660 --> 00:12:00.040 Shout. 00:12:00.460 --> 00:12:04.140 Now the word here in the scriptures used many different ways. 00:12:04.260 --> 00:12:05.740 But what the emphasis of it is? 00:12:05.800 --> 00:12:10.540 Because it's used in places for a call to notice a battle. 00:12:11.480 --> 00:12:13.300 It's used to just notify. 00:12:14.020 --> 00:12:17.100 That word shout means others to know. 00:12:17.100 --> 00:12:22.480 To understand who and what's going on. 00:12:22.860 --> 00:12:25.019 You know, just like it's a blast of a trumpet. 00:12:25.159 --> 00:12:29.920 It's not a quiet whisper, but a hearty shout that everyone can hear. 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:33.820 You know, when we understand the word goes from battle to praise. 00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:36.440 It's just making sure everybody knows. 00:12:36.860 --> 00:12:39.200 You know, people ought not to have to guess if you're thankful. 00:12:39.700 --> 00:12:43.019 Now we've probably all met people you say, that's a pretty unthankful person. 00:12:43.019 --> 00:12:46.579 Then you've got some people that, well, I'm not sure. 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:52.679 Then you'll come across some people that's like, you know, that person is genuinely thankful. 00:12:53.220 --> 00:12:54.000 How do you tell that? 00:12:54.039 --> 00:12:57.019 It's by what they do and how they respond. 00:12:57.919 --> 00:13:02.079 That dynamic is important as we look here in this. 00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:04.799 Because notice that manner of service. 00:13:05.139 --> 00:13:08.259 Because we're to serve the Lord with gladness. 00:13:08.679 --> 00:13:10.740 Serving the Lord is a matter of obedience. 00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:15.440 But God is also concerned with the attitude of your heart when we serve. 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:19.600 You know, if you serve with gladness, you're serving with thankfulness. 00:13:20.299 --> 00:13:23.539 You're serving, understanding what God has done. 00:13:23.639 --> 00:13:27.580 What God has accomplished for you and what you're doing it for. 00:13:28.019 --> 00:13:31.220 Because God doesn't just want outward actions. 00:13:31.379 --> 00:13:33.840 He wants your heart, not just your duty. 00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:39.159 You know, sometimes people as believers will do things out of duty. 00:13:39.159 --> 00:13:40.679 It's what's expected. 00:13:42.579 --> 00:13:45.079 Now, I want you to understand, duty is important. 00:13:45.819 --> 00:13:48.959 Because sometimes to get our minds straight, we have to do duty. 00:13:50.339 --> 00:13:53.899 You have to do it because you need to do it because it's going to benefit me. 00:13:54.959 --> 00:13:58.179 You know, when you come to church, it's a duty that's going to benefit you. 00:13:58.179 --> 00:14:03.000 The Bible tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. 00:14:03.599 --> 00:14:06.659 When we understand why is that, because we need one another. 00:14:06.779 --> 00:14:09.479 We need the preaching and teaching of the Word of God. 00:14:09.559 --> 00:14:13.439 We need to come together in that central focus of who God is. 00:14:13.699 --> 00:14:15.559 It's that attitude in our heart. 00:14:15.959 --> 00:14:18.279 And a thankful heart serves gladly. 00:14:20.219 --> 00:14:23.599 An unthankful heart serves grudgingly. 00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:26.000 You know, sometimes, well, I've got to go do this. 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:32.580 Instead of saying, it's my privilege and thankful that God has allowed me to do this. 00:14:33.659 --> 00:14:35.639 You know, God allowed you to wake up this morning. 00:14:37.259 --> 00:14:39.259 To be able to come and to be a part. 00:14:40.680 --> 00:14:41.920 He wants your heart. 00:14:42.040 --> 00:14:45.460 You know, the Lord even dealt with this with Israel. 00:14:45.580 --> 00:14:48.019 I want you to understand, this is not our generational problem. 00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:49.460 It's a people problem. 00:14:49.460 --> 00:14:52.000 It's a person problem. 00:14:52.420 --> 00:14:56.180 Because in Deuteronomy chapter 28, the scripture says this. 00:14:56.300 --> 00:15:01.759 It says, because thou servest not the Lord thy God with joyfulness and with gladness of heart 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:04.240 for the abundance of all things. 00:15:05.040 --> 00:15:11.639 You know, here the Lord is correcting Israel because they served not with gladness. 00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:15.259 They were not thankful for the abundance God had given to them. 00:15:15.259 --> 00:15:19.600 We are directed to serve and we are charged to be glad about it. 00:15:20.980 --> 00:15:24.360 You know, this is not just an Old Testament principle, but a New Testament principle. 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:26.200 Think about Colossians chapter 3. 00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:28.080 Paul tells them here and he says, 00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:31.539 Whatsoever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord and not unto men. 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:38.000 You know, our attitude of what we do is built on how thankful we are. 00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:41.919 Are we thankful for what God has given to us? 00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:45.439 But let me point something out. 00:15:45.500 --> 00:15:47.139 What happens to unthankful people? 00:15:47.939 --> 00:15:52.759 Unthankfulness is a hinge point that leads a direction. 00:15:53.299 --> 00:15:55.199 Look over to Romans chapter 1 for a moment. 00:15:57.079 --> 00:15:59.759 Romans chapter 1, look down here in verse 21. 00:16:02.039 --> 00:16:03.599 Notice what it tells us here. 00:16:03.599 --> 00:16:10.360 Because, because, now, because has that cause and effect thing. 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:14.259 This happens, so therefore this. 00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:14.759 Notice what? 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:20.980 Because that when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were what? 00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:22.940 Thankful. 00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:25.700 Now, notice the contrast, but became what? 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:28.259 Vain in their what? 00:16:28.940 --> 00:16:29.460 Imaginations. 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:34.340 In other words, what they were thinking, it changes the way you perceive. 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:38.240 When you're unthankful to God, it changes the way you see the world. 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:45.139 You know, I believe we're seeing the dynamics and the effects of an unthankful people. 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:47.360 Because you know what happens when you're unthankful? 00:16:47.399 --> 00:16:48.299 You become selfish. 00:16:48.899 --> 00:16:53.840 Instead of it being about God and others, it becomes solely about you. 00:16:55.039 --> 00:16:56.060 What's in it for me? 00:16:56.120 --> 00:16:57.080 How do I gain? 00:16:57.379 --> 00:16:58.460 What's my benefit? 00:16:58.980 --> 00:17:03.700 When we understand, it says, became vain in their imaginations. 00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:04.359 Now, look at this. 00:17:04.359 --> 00:17:07.939 And their foolish heart was darkened. 00:17:08.719 --> 00:17:14.019 Unthankfulness is the beginning stages of creating a dark heart. 00:17:14.379 --> 00:17:16.659 You know, we live in a generation that's pretty dark. 00:17:18.619 --> 00:17:20.879 They refuse to acknowledge God. 00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:27.559 You know, why do you think they go from a holiday of spiritual darkness like Halloween, 00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:33.859 and they can jump with no problem to a holiday that celebrates a spiritual light? 00:17:34.299 --> 00:17:36.399 Because both has something for them to gain. 00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:39.980 You know, the one thing I've learned over the years, it's hard to market thankfulness. 00:17:40.319 --> 00:17:42.899 The profit margin on thankfulness is pretty slim. 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:46.919 I want you to understand, thankfulness doesn't create something in your pocket, 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:49.039 but thankfulness creates something in your heart. 00:17:49.460 --> 00:17:51.579 Something that's tangible to you. 00:17:52.740 --> 00:17:53.839 Beneficial for you. 00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:59.079 Because God instructs us to understand, because it changes our perspective. 00:17:59.699 --> 00:18:02.419 Because ingratitude is not a small matter. 00:18:02.959 --> 00:18:06.959 You know, Romans 1 is one of the first steps away from God. 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:09.819 When the heart starts giving thanks, it becomes darkened. 00:18:10.099 --> 00:18:11.619 And we see this today. 00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:16.679 As a society turns away from God, it turns away from giving thanks. 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:20.059 You cannot thank the one that you refuse to acknowledge. 00:18:20.059 --> 00:18:26.200 You know, I think people have trouble being thankful because they can't acknowledge the one that they've got to give thanks to. 00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:30.279 To understand God is the one that does all those things. 00:18:30.639 --> 00:18:30.980 Excuse me. 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:34.259 But the day in which we live, we shouldn't be surprised. 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:37.119 You know, as a believer, there are certain things that shouldn't surprise us. 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:42.899 Because if you read your Bible, you'll find out, you know, it always amazes me. 00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:45.319 Well, we're going to make the world better and better and better. 00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:47.139 You know what the Bible tells us? 00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:49.839 The world's going to wax worse and worse and worse. 00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:56.079 As people forget God, as they remove God from their memory, they want to step away from Him. 00:18:56.159 --> 00:18:58.139 Think about 2 Timothy chapter 3. 00:18:58.379 --> 00:19:01.679 When Paul is charging young Timothy here, he says, 00:19:01.859 --> 00:19:03.460 Timothy, keep this in mind. 00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:04.539 He says this, 00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:34.519 He says, 00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:37.920 It's not that they don't know there's a God, it's they refuse to acknowledge Him. 00:19:38.359 --> 00:19:44.000 When we understand that picture, because it involves a conviction that is there. 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:45.460 Look at verse 3 this morning. 00:19:45.859 --> 00:19:48.799 Know ye that the Lord, He is God. 00:19:49.159 --> 00:19:52.139 It is He that has made us, and not we ourselves. 00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:55.079 We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:57.000 You know, notice this. 00:19:57.339 --> 00:19:59.240 Thankfulness begins with knowing. 00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:00.420 Know ye. 00:20:00.420 --> 00:20:03.559 You cannot truly thank someone you do not know. 00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:07.019 You know, there's three things it points out here that we know. 00:20:07.379 --> 00:20:08.940 Number one is He is God. 00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:15.179 You know, one of the key things to understand there is a God, and we can know who He is. 00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:18.579 God is not unknowable. 00:20:18.579 --> 00:20:22.119 He has revealed Himself to us. 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:24.839 He's revealed Himself for us. 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:27.179 He's revealed because He loves us. 00:20:27.399 --> 00:20:34.740 He's not a distant power that is up there and just kind of separated from us. 00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:42.640 God wants us to know Him, to know His promises, and to know not only His promises, but to know that He keeps them. 00:20:43.019 --> 00:20:44.920 You know, that's an important thing to understand. 00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:57.039 When we understand who God is, we understand His promises, it makes a difference when we understand that He doesn't give empty promises, but that He keeps them. 00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:58.639 That we can trust Him. 00:21:00.159 --> 00:21:01.599 You know, this is pretty practical. 00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:06.059 You know, if somebody that you know always keeps their promise, how much trust do you have in them? 00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:13.680 You know, we all have friends that make a lot of wild promises, and sometimes they don't keep them. 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:16.879 You know, and we can be guilty of it too. 00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:22.780 I don't think anybody in here is exempt from having a promise of good intention and not able to keep it. 00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:28.600 You know, the difference is God is not just giving good intentions. 00:21:29.260 --> 00:21:34.900 God has the authority and the power to keep every promise, and He reveals that through the Scripture. 00:21:35.720 --> 00:21:37.980 That He keeps His promises. 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:41.640 He will uphold His covenant. 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:43.640 We see that He is God. 00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:45.740 This term here, we notice Lord. 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:53.420 Whenever you see the name Lord in Scripture, when it's all capitalized like that, it's signaling something very important. 00:21:53.740 --> 00:21:59.600 It's the covenant name of God that He says, I have a covenant available to you. 00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:01.360 I've made a covenant with the earth. 00:22:01.820 --> 00:22:04.340 Do you realize we're still living under one of the covenants? 00:22:05.520 --> 00:22:08.460 The covenant He made with Noah, we still enjoy today. 00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:11.940 But it doesn't remove the fact He's not going to come and judge. 00:22:13.640 --> 00:22:16.060 But that covenant He has made. 00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:17.540 Now notice He made us. 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:19.620 And not we ourselves. 00:22:19.880 --> 00:22:22.480 Boy, now that changes your attitude of thankfulness. 00:22:23.800 --> 00:22:26.800 Because you know, sometimes we can think pretty highly of ourselves. 00:22:27.780 --> 00:22:29.680 We can be caught up in ourselves. 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:33.100 When we're caught up in ourselves, it's we're not thankful. 00:22:33.620 --> 00:22:34.980 We want to consume. 00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:46.539 When we forget who He is, everything we have, our breath that we have, our health, our minds, and even our ability to work come from His hand. 00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:53.519 You know, one of the worst dynamics we can have, there's a self-made man. 00:22:53.620 --> 00:22:54.000 You know what? 00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:58.279 They might have put some effort in, but it's because God allowed them to do it. 00:22:58.799 --> 00:23:00.160 God's hand was with them. 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:05.340 You'll find that in Scripture, it wasn't that they did it themselves. 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:06.340 Think about Joseph. 00:23:08.120 --> 00:23:11.300 One of the things you'll find about Joseph, it says God was with him. 00:23:13.400 --> 00:23:17.820 Joseph didn't go from a slave to second in Egypt because of who he is. 00:23:18.800 --> 00:23:21.259 He was there because God was with him. 00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:25.040 God put him through those things on purpose. 00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:26.940 He didn't do it himself. 00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:32.380 He wasn't self-sufficient because when we understand, look over to James chapter 1. 00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:34.820 James chapter 1 and verse 17, it says, 00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:40.720 Every good and perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights, 00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:45.299 with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 00:23:46.100 --> 00:23:48.920 When we understand our need to be thankful, 00:23:49.080 --> 00:23:53.340 when we understand that it's not about you and me. 00:23:53.339 --> 00:23:57.279 When we forget about God, it becomes about us instead of about him. 00:23:59.019 --> 00:24:02.500 When we understand what he has done for us, 00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:04.079 because notice here it says, 00:24:04.659 --> 00:24:08.279 We are his people, his people and the sheep of his pasture. 00:24:08.859 --> 00:24:13.439 Now I want to make a note here that's important because in Scripture, context is important. 00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:17.279 Because remember, who's this being written to? 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:17.960 To Israel. 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:20.119 To Israel. 00:24:20.879 --> 00:24:23.720 It's being written to the people of Israel. 00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:25.299 The people of God. 00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:27.579 Not everyone is his sheep. 00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:28.759 You know, it's one of the problems today. 00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:31.160 Well, everybody's God's child. 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:32.240 Or everybody's, you know. 00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:34.700 That's a lie of the devil. 00:24:34.859 --> 00:24:35.980 Jesus never said that. 00:24:36.420 --> 00:24:40.000 Because you have to become part of his family by salvation. 00:24:41.099 --> 00:24:43.599 You're born again into his family. 00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:52.379 But we understand that not everyone is called to recognize the Lord as God is actually his. 00:24:52.919 --> 00:24:55.359 You know, a sheep cannot take care of itself. 00:24:55.579 --> 00:24:57.379 Because God reminds us here. 00:24:57.439 --> 00:24:59.099 He says, We are the sheep of his pasture. 00:24:59.399 --> 00:25:02.699 If you're saved this morning, you are his sheep. 00:25:02.879 --> 00:25:04.199 His provider. 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:05.279 Protector. 00:25:05.679 --> 00:25:08.480 You know, sheep don't do a very good job of taking care of themselves. 00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:11.219 Sheep need somebody to watch out for them. 00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:13.359 That's the reason that picture's used. 00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:14.979 You know, that's used negatively. 00:25:15.179 --> 00:25:16.059 Or they're just a sheep. 00:25:16.199 --> 00:25:17.659 You know, I want you to understand. 00:25:18.740 --> 00:25:20.539 What you, everybody's following something. 00:25:20.659 --> 00:25:22.259 The question is, what are you following? 00:25:23.439 --> 00:25:24.559 Who are you following? 00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:30.919 When we understand that dynamic, we ought to desire to be his sheep. 00:25:30.979 --> 00:25:33.679 Because Jesus is the good shepherd. 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:37.000 John chapter 10 tells us, I am the good shepherd. 00:25:37.099 --> 00:25:40.079 The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:43.500 You know, he proved that reality at the cross. 00:25:43.899 --> 00:25:47.740 But being provided for is not the same as belonging to him. 00:25:48.159 --> 00:25:50.619 God provides even for those who oppose him. 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:54.460 Do you realize that God gives to everybody? 00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:57.559 Acts 14 verse 17 tells us this. 00:25:57.639 --> 00:26:00.480 Nevertheless, he left not himself without witness. 00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:08.799 In that he did good and gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:12.360 You know, the Bible also tells us it rains on the just and unjust alike. 00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:17.620 You know, there are certain things that God just reveals himself. 00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:19.440 He says, I am good. 00:26:19.579 --> 00:26:22.559 And you need to know who I am and what I've done for you. 00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:25.700 His provision doesn't mean that you are his. 00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:27.900 It should direct you to the Savior. 00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:30.940 You know, look over to Romans chapter 2 for a moment. 00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:33.720 Romans chapter 2 tells us this. 00:26:33.840 --> 00:26:39.220 It says, or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering. 00:26:39.620 --> 00:26:44.160 You know, when we realize what God has done for you, it ought to change how you perceive him. 00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:49.080 That God gives to you when you come with a thankful heart. 00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:52.220 It changes your perception of who he is. 00:26:52.220 --> 00:26:53.460 But notice this. 00:26:53.779 --> 00:26:57.839 Not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance. 00:26:58.500 --> 00:27:02.059 The blessings we have in life ought to direct us back to God. 00:27:03.100 --> 00:27:08.920 If you're lost, if you don't know the Savior, the goodness of God, the fact that it rains. 00:27:10.500 --> 00:27:12.440 The fact that the sun comes out. 00:27:13.079 --> 00:27:15.920 The fact that food grows that you can consume. 00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:17.420 This is his creation. 00:27:17.579 --> 00:27:19.940 He's the one that's given this to us. 00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:24.600 The goodness of God ought to lead thee to repentance. 00:27:25.820 --> 00:27:30.820 Lead you to understand who he is, who you are, and what he's done to take care of the problem. 00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:37.279 Because Jesus Christ, he made that provision for us that we might be saved. 00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:40.380 Thankfulness involves humility. 00:27:40.620 --> 00:27:43.160 It says, everything I have, I have received. 00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:45.539 That perspective is important. 00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:48.879 You know, look down at verse 4 this morning. 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:55.559 Because remember, this is David talking about them going in to praise the Lord. 00:27:55.899 --> 00:27:58.619 And they say that they would sing this song. 00:27:58.920 --> 00:28:01.720 You know, make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:03.519 Serve the Lord with gladness. 00:28:03.639 --> 00:28:05.599 Come into his presence with what? 00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:07.200 Singing. 00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:07.359 Singing. 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:07.959 Singing. 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:12.740 You know, singing sets an atmosphere of how you're thinking. 00:28:14.719 --> 00:28:16.740 Music is a critical thing. 00:28:17.619 --> 00:28:19.939 We're not going to get rabbit trailed on that this morning, though. 00:28:21.059 --> 00:28:22.299 But I just want you to understand. 00:28:22.399 --> 00:28:23.119 God understands. 00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:25.939 God designed music, and music impacts you. 00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:30.360 What you listen to will impact you. 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:36.180 The things you choose to put in in music makes a difference. 00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:41.480 But notice here, it says, enter into his gates with thanksgiving, into his courts with praise. 00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:44.860 Be thankful unto him and bless his name. 00:28:45.360 --> 00:28:45.980 Notice this. 00:28:46.460 --> 00:28:48.220 Thanksgiving at the gate. 00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:49.940 Praise in the courts. 00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:52.240 Thanksgiving is how we enter. 00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:58.000 Before we ask anything of the Lord, before we sing, before we begin to be thankful, 00:28:59.620 --> 00:29:02.759 we ought to be thankful in what we do. 00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:06.319 Thankfulness is to be expressed, not just felt. 00:29:06.819 --> 00:29:09.420 Notice what it tells us here in this. 00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:12.500 It says at the end of verse 4, bless his name. 00:29:12.839 --> 00:29:13.599 Bless his name. 00:29:14.099 --> 00:29:16.839 You know, think on that thought for a moment. 00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:18.859 What does it mean to bless his name? 00:29:18.859 --> 00:29:21.359 It's simply this, is to speak well of. 00:29:21.719 --> 00:29:24.139 To speak well of God. 00:29:24.539 --> 00:29:27.679 You know, we can be thankful for what God has done in our life. 00:29:28.119 --> 00:29:31.939 We can be thankful, and we're going to look, because sometimes it involves being thankful 00:29:31.939 --> 00:29:37.619 when we have to live in a world that's fallen and cursed because of sin, 00:29:37.719 --> 00:29:40.859 and we have to deal with the consequences of sin. 00:29:41.419 --> 00:29:45.019 You know, even if you're saved, there's still consequences of sin in this world. 00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:51.079 Sickness, disease, death is a consequence of sin. 00:29:53.160 --> 00:29:55.480 We're dealing with it all the time. 00:29:55.700 --> 00:30:01.799 A thankful heart that never says so is not really thankful. 00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:04.960 You know, you can think something, you can feel something, 00:30:05.180 --> 00:30:07.200 but it makes a big difference when you say something. 00:30:07.619 --> 00:30:11.500 When we understand that picture that he gives to us, you know, 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:13.460 think about Luke chapter 17. 00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:18.240 Luke 17 is where Jesus met 10 men with leprosy. 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:21.039 Now, if you remember there, all 10 got healed. 00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:24.880 10 of them got healed. 00:30:25.940 --> 00:30:29.079 And Jesus told them, he says, go show yourself to the priest, 00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:33.259 and you need to understand Jewish, what God had instructed them, 00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:35.200 because if they had leprosy and they were healed, 00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:38.799 they were supposed to go show themselves to the priest to be declared clean. 00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:43.159 So Jesus would say, hey, go do what you don't, you're supposed to do, 00:30:43.379 --> 00:30:47.079 what I've instructed you to do, to follow the scripture. 00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:50.299 You know, Jesus never superseded what he already said. 00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:55.059 He was the fulfillment of the law. 00:30:55.139 --> 00:30:58.379 He was the fulfillment of all those things in the Old Testament. 00:30:58.659 --> 00:31:00.200 But we notice something here. 00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:02.500 One returned to give thanks. 00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:06.500 And we see here in Luke 17, verse 17, says this, 00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:10.880 And Jesus answering said, were there not 10 cleansed? 00:31:11.000 --> 00:31:12.680 But where are the nine? 00:31:13.039 --> 00:31:17.099 They were not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 00:31:17.859 --> 00:31:19.980 You know, Jesus gave it as an illustration. 00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:23.359 He says, I healed 10, but only one. 00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:29.000 As they went on their way, it dawned on them, I need to be thankful. 00:31:31.379 --> 00:31:34.899 You know, for us today, leprosy is kind of an abstract thing. 00:31:37.179 --> 00:31:41.240 But for somebody that had leprosy was to be removed from society, 00:31:42.679 --> 00:31:44.379 separated from your family, 00:31:45.500 --> 00:31:48.099 to be segregated, to be amongst other lepers. 00:31:48.639 --> 00:31:51.839 When Jesus cleansed them of leprosy, you know what it did? 00:31:51.839 --> 00:31:53.000 It put them back in. 00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:55.599 Their life changed completely. 00:31:58.019 --> 00:32:00.559 It transformed their place in society. 00:32:00.740 --> 00:32:02.699 It transformed, you know, nine of them just went, 00:32:02.779 --> 00:32:04.019 Hey, man, look at me. 00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:06.240 But Jesus makes note of the one. 00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:10.619 Because I want you, if you read that story, it's interesting. 00:32:10.759 --> 00:32:13.659 They all depart, and one turns around and comes back. 00:32:14.139 --> 00:32:16.500 I think that's because sometimes it takes us a little while to process. 00:32:19.079 --> 00:32:21.619 I think as he went and he realized he was cleansed, 00:32:21.619 --> 00:32:23.979 he's like, I need to go tell him thank you. 00:32:24.339 --> 00:32:25.339 The same with us. 00:32:25.399 --> 00:32:28.879 Sometimes we need to process, but we need to come to the point where we say, 00:32:29.199 --> 00:32:30.359 Thank you, Lord. 00:32:32.179 --> 00:32:32.779 Thank you. 00:32:33.459 --> 00:32:35.779 To keep our mind upon the right things. 00:32:36.359 --> 00:32:38.899 You know, the same command continues. 00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:42.779 Even here today, we understand Ephesians tells, 00:32:42.779 --> 00:32:45.680 giving thanks always in all things unto God and the Father, 00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:47.519 in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:51.119 The believers at Thessalonica were challenged in everything. 00:32:51.700 --> 00:32:56.220 Give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 00:32:57.000 --> 00:32:59.879 Always for all things in everything. 00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:03.319 You know, we're going to look at some of that in the weeks to come here, 00:33:03.319 --> 00:33:05.779 as we lead up into Thanksgiving. 00:33:05.779 --> 00:33:10.200 Because I want you to understand the purpose of this series of messages 00:33:10.200 --> 00:33:12.099 isn't just to prepare us for Thanksgiving, 00:33:12.379 --> 00:33:13.559 it's to prepare us for next year. 00:33:14.019 --> 00:33:16.839 Because Thanksgiving doesn't end in November. 00:33:17.420 --> 00:33:21.920 Thanksgiving ought to continue to December and January and February and March. 00:33:22.279 --> 00:33:24.759 We need to understand that thinking correctly. 00:33:24.759 --> 00:33:27.480 But notice here in verse 5, 00:33:27.859 --> 00:33:31.779 the consistency of God, 00:33:31.859 --> 00:33:33.519 the consistency that we see. 00:33:33.859 --> 00:33:34.759 Notice verse 5, 00:33:34.839 --> 00:33:37.420 For the Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting, 00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:40.500 and His truth endureth all generations. 00:33:42.379 --> 00:33:45.819 The constancy that we find with God. 00:33:45.920 --> 00:33:47.500 God is constant. 00:33:48.099 --> 00:33:49.480 He does not change. 00:33:49.559 --> 00:33:50.680 He does not vary. 00:33:50.680 --> 00:33:55.840 There's a constant nature of God. 00:33:57.279 --> 00:33:59.000 Notice here in verse 5, 00:33:59.400 --> 00:34:01.580 For the Lord. 00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:04.840 For here is the reason we are to be thankful, 00:34:05.340 --> 00:34:08.079 because of who He is. 00:34:08.519 --> 00:34:10.539 He does not change. 00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:12.539 Because of who God is, 00:34:12.599 --> 00:34:14.099 He's worthy to be praised. 00:34:15.720 --> 00:34:16.820 He's good. 00:34:17.300 --> 00:34:18.139 Now I want you to understand, 00:34:18.139 --> 00:34:21.779 God is good even when things don't go your way. 00:34:22.099 --> 00:34:23.000 God's still good. 00:34:23.639 --> 00:34:25.559 You know, how we consider those things, 00:34:25.659 --> 00:34:27.019 those challenges of life, 00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:28.679 how we perceive God. 00:34:30.019 --> 00:34:31.619 You know how easy it is to say, 00:34:31.719 --> 00:34:34.139 well, I don't think God's good because I didn't get what I want. 00:34:34.599 --> 00:34:37.199 God's not good because my health isn't what I want. 00:34:37.679 --> 00:34:38.980 I didn't get what I want, 00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:40.420 therefore God must not be good. 00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:40.739 You know what? 00:34:40.799 --> 00:34:41.879 God is still good. 00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:44.039 You have to learn to think 00:34:44.039 --> 00:34:46.440 and to understand who God is. 00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:48.400 Why is God good? 00:34:48.760 --> 00:34:50.099 Because notice here, 00:34:50.240 --> 00:34:51.559 in the next part of this verse, 00:34:51.679 --> 00:34:53.900 His mercy is everlasting. 00:34:54.659 --> 00:34:57.260 So God's mercy to us does not stop. 00:34:57.760 --> 00:35:01.220 His mercy towards us helps us to walk through the challenges. 00:35:01.800 --> 00:35:04.559 God knows He cares about you. 00:35:04.880 --> 00:35:07.200 The Bible tells us and reminds us. 00:35:07.599 --> 00:35:09.260 You know, even in Lamentations, 00:35:09.659 --> 00:35:11.280 Jeremiah, when he was writing, 00:35:11.380 --> 00:35:12.300 he was discouraged, 00:35:12.300 --> 00:35:14.440 and he came to the realization 00:35:14.440 --> 00:35:17.440 in Lamentations chapter 3, 00:35:17.680 --> 00:35:18.360 where it says, 00:35:18.539 --> 00:35:21.100 it is the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed 00:35:21.100 --> 00:35:23.600 because His compassions fail not. 00:35:23.960 --> 00:35:25.480 They are new every morning. 00:35:25.660 --> 00:35:27.900 Great is thy faithfulness. 00:35:28.240 --> 00:35:29.320 When life is great, 00:35:30.340 --> 00:35:30.960 God's faithful. 00:35:32.840 --> 00:35:34.440 When life is crumbling, 00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:36.700 God's faithful. 00:35:36.699 --> 00:35:40.899 When we understand it changes those things, 00:35:42.379 --> 00:35:46.279 when we understand God is good, 00:35:46.679 --> 00:35:49.579 not only when things go our way, 00:35:49.819 --> 00:35:50.899 but it's His nature. 00:35:51.019 --> 00:35:52.579 His mercy is everlasting. 00:35:53.019 --> 00:35:54.279 It doesn't run out. 00:35:54.559 --> 00:35:57.079 His truth endureth to all generations. 00:35:57.799 --> 00:35:59.559 As I was thinking on that statement, 00:35:59.699 --> 00:36:00.839 His truth endureth. 00:36:01.259 --> 00:36:03.219 I simply came to this conclusion, 00:36:03.379 --> 00:36:04.699 what He says He means. 00:36:04.699 --> 00:36:06.239 I want you to understand, 00:36:06.359 --> 00:36:07.619 when His truth endureth, 00:36:07.679 --> 00:36:08.980 what it says God was, 00:36:09.960 --> 00:36:11.139 what He said here, 00:36:11.719 --> 00:36:14.960 before you were even known or existed, 00:36:15.919 --> 00:36:18.779 is going to be the same after you're gone. 00:36:19.339 --> 00:36:20.139 It doesn't change. 00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:22.379 He is the same. 00:36:23.539 --> 00:36:26.480 His truth endureth to all generations. 00:36:27.119 --> 00:36:29.299 Our circumstances change quickly. 00:36:30.839 --> 00:36:33.460 You know, some years we have much to be thankful for, 00:36:33.460 --> 00:36:34.920 and some years we say, 00:36:35.000 --> 00:36:37.179 Lord, it's hard to find something to be thankful. 00:36:37.880 --> 00:36:38.539 You know why that is? 00:36:38.559 --> 00:36:39.599 We're looking at the wrong things. 00:36:39.659 --> 00:36:41.039 We're looking at circumstances 00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:44.320 instead of who He is. 00:36:46.400 --> 00:36:48.880 As God walks us through the challenges, 00:36:49.619 --> 00:36:51.340 I think it's easier to understand 00:36:51.340 --> 00:36:53.159 who God is in the midst of challenge 00:36:53.159 --> 00:36:54.940 than in the midst of blessing. 00:36:55.599 --> 00:36:57.840 In blessing, it's real easy to look past 00:36:57.840 --> 00:36:58.920 and say, it's me. 00:36:58.920 --> 00:37:02.260 When God walks with you in the midst of challenge, 00:37:03.079 --> 00:37:04.500 and He's there, 00:37:04.619 --> 00:37:06.539 and His mercies are new every morning 00:37:06.539 --> 00:37:07.380 as you walk through, 00:37:09.380 --> 00:37:12.420 it changes our perspective and our thought 00:37:12.420 --> 00:37:14.159 about who God is, 00:37:14.460 --> 00:37:16.200 about what He's done. 00:37:16.780 --> 00:37:18.740 You know, no matter what's taken place, 00:37:19.180 --> 00:37:21.139 God doesn't ask you to pretend. 00:37:21.460 --> 00:37:24.099 He gives you something solid to stand on. 00:37:24.099 --> 00:37:24.819 He says, 00:37:25.360 --> 00:37:26.880 He is good. 00:37:27.159 --> 00:37:29.099 His mercy doesn't fail. 00:37:29.380 --> 00:37:31.519 His word does not change. 00:37:31.759 --> 00:37:33.659 Our hope is not in this life anyways. 00:37:34.319 --> 00:37:36.239 Your hope is solely in this life. 00:37:37.619 --> 00:37:40.099 You miss reality. 00:37:40.819 --> 00:37:43.199 My hope isn't just about today. 00:37:45.119 --> 00:37:47.519 Your hope ought not to be just about today. 00:37:47.519 --> 00:37:51.780 It ought to be about the promise God gives 00:37:51.780 --> 00:37:56.000 that one day we will walk with Him in paradise. 00:37:56.440 --> 00:37:58.000 We will be there. 00:37:58.199 --> 00:38:00.139 We'll have a new heaven and a new earth. 00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:01.719 Sin will go away. 00:38:02.179 --> 00:38:04.219 We won't be crying about things 00:38:04.219 --> 00:38:05.780 because of what's happened. 00:38:06.460 --> 00:38:07.739 I want you to understand 00:38:07.739 --> 00:38:09.519 thankfulness that rests upon circumstances 00:38:10.280 --> 00:38:11.380 is going to come and go. 00:38:11.380 --> 00:38:16.340 But thankfulness that rests upon who God is 00:38:16.340 --> 00:38:17.680 will stand. 00:38:18.880 --> 00:38:21.039 When we keep our eyes upon Him, 00:38:21.380 --> 00:38:23.980 the greatest proof of His goodness and mercy 00:38:23.980 --> 00:38:25.280 is the cross. 00:38:26.400 --> 00:38:28.700 When He came and He died for us, 00:38:29.059 --> 00:38:30.220 you know, Romans tells us, 00:38:30.360 --> 00:38:32.400 but God commendeth His love toward us 00:38:32.400 --> 00:38:35.860 in while we were yet sinners, 00:38:36.099 --> 00:38:38.340 Christ died for us. 00:38:38.900 --> 00:38:40.519 This morning I want you to consider 00:38:40.519 --> 00:38:43.480 as a world forgets to give thanks, 00:38:44.360 --> 00:38:47.599 will the people of God forget to give thanks? 00:38:48.340 --> 00:38:48.759 You're saved. 00:38:48.840 --> 00:38:50.259 You ought to be a primary person 00:38:50.259 --> 00:38:51.619 to say, I want to be thankful. 00:38:52.599 --> 00:38:55.380 I want to have the right attitude towards God. 00:38:55.460 --> 00:38:56.800 I want to obey. 00:38:56.980 --> 00:38:57.320 Why? 00:38:57.500 --> 00:38:59.480 It is I need this. 00:38:59.559 --> 00:39:01.880 Because this morning is thankfulness. 00:39:01.940 --> 00:39:03.000 What is it in your life? 00:39:03.059 --> 00:39:04.440 Is it a habit in your life 00:39:04.440 --> 00:39:05.500 or is it only a holiday? 00:39:06.360 --> 00:39:09.019 Know the one that you are to be thanking? 00:39:09.019 --> 00:39:12.579 The question today can go back right to Luke 17. 00:39:13.400 --> 00:39:14.539 Who are you going to be? 00:39:14.639 --> 00:39:15.759 Are you going to be the nine 00:39:15.759 --> 00:39:16.599 or are you going to be the one? 00:39:17.199 --> 00:39:18.699 The world's full of the nine. 00:39:19.440 --> 00:39:22.219 Be the one that comes and thanks the Lord. 00:39:23.659 --> 00:39:25.019 You can thank Him 00:39:25.019 --> 00:39:27.840 for all the things 00:39:27.840 --> 00:39:31.619 that God has given to you. 00:39:31.619 --> 00:39:34.019 You can thank Him 00:39:34.019 --> 00:39:34.980 for who He is 00:39:34.980 --> 00:39:35.960 even when you cannot 00:39:35.960 --> 00:39:36.559 thank Him 00:39:36.559 --> 00:39:38.099 for what's happening. 00:39:38.759 --> 00:39:38.920 You know, 00:39:39.239 --> 00:39:40.619 tell it not to be thankful 00:39:40.619 --> 00:39:41.460 for the challenges 00:39:41.460 --> 00:39:43.039 but be thankful in the challenges. 00:39:44.900 --> 00:39:46.859 That spirit of thankfulness. 00:39:48.259 --> 00:39:48.480 You know, 00:39:48.519 --> 00:39:49.819 maybe you're here this morning 00:39:49.819 --> 00:39:51.400 and you've never thanked God 00:39:51.400 --> 00:39:52.980 for the greatest gift of all. 00:39:53.699 --> 00:39:55.199 You've never come to the place 00:39:55.199 --> 00:39:56.440 where you know you're a sinner 00:39:56.440 --> 00:39:58.219 and you've never trusted 00:39:58.219 --> 00:40:00.119 in what He has done for you, 00:40:00.119 --> 00:40:02.059 the death that took your sin, 00:40:02.339 --> 00:40:03.859 the resurrection that offers 00:40:03.859 --> 00:40:04.819 a new life 00:40:04.819 --> 00:40:06.639 and victory in Christ. 00:40:07.079 --> 00:40:07.279 You know, 00:40:07.420 --> 00:40:08.759 when He saves you, 00:40:08.980 --> 00:40:10.799 He saves you to the uttermost. 00:40:11.099 --> 00:40:12.639 A thankful heart begins 00:40:12.639 --> 00:40:14.239 with knowing who God is. 00:40:14.839 --> 00:40:16.219 Know that He is the Lord. 00:40:18.519 --> 00:40:19.940 Will you call upon Him? 00:40:21.339 --> 00:40:21.579 You know, 00:40:21.599 --> 00:40:22.659 the Bible makes it clear, 00:40:22.839 --> 00:40:24.159 for whosoever shall call upon 00:40:24.159 --> 00:40:25.059 the name of the Lord 00:40:25.059 --> 00:40:27.099 shall be saved. 00:40:27.099 --> 00:40:28.179 This morning, 00:40:28.239 --> 00:40:29.259 maybe you need to come 00:40:29.259 --> 00:40:31.679 and just spend a few moments 00:40:31.679 --> 00:40:32.039 and say, 00:40:32.119 --> 00:40:32.380 Lord, 00:40:32.460 --> 00:40:33.519 I've been unthankful. 00:40:34.559 --> 00:40:35.000 Change. 00:40:35.559 --> 00:40:36.739 I'm thanking my heart 00:40:36.739 --> 00:40:37.579 but I need to change 00:40:37.579 --> 00:40:39.159 what I think 00:40:39.159 --> 00:40:40.179 in concerning you. 00:40:40.880 --> 00:40:41.960 What about you this morning? 00:40:44.299 --> 00:40:45.059 Which group 00:40:45.059 --> 00:40:45.880 are you going to be in? 00:40:46.619 --> 00:40:46.960 The line 00:40:46.960 --> 00:40:48.860 or the one? 00:40:49.980 --> 00:40:51.019 As heads are bowed 00:40:51.019 --> 00:40:51.799 and eyes are closed 00:40:51.799 --> 00:40:52.279 this morning, 00:40:53.000 --> 00:40:53.779 it's you today. 00:40:54.579 --> 00:40:55.380 Take a moment 00:40:55.380 --> 00:40:57.340 consider who God is. 00:40:58.980 --> 00:41:00.260 What He's done for you. 00:41:02.119 --> 00:41:03.220 If you're not sure 00:41:03.220 --> 00:41:04.039 100% 00:41:04.039 --> 00:41:04.800 where you stand 00:41:04.800 --> 00:41:05.320 with the Lord, 00:41:05.400 --> 00:41:06.519 I encourage you today 00:41:06.519 --> 00:41:07.860 ask. 00:41:10.119 --> 00:41:10.579 We can help 00:41:10.579 --> 00:41:11.559 have somebody show you 00:41:11.559 --> 00:41:12.380 not from what 00:41:12.380 --> 00:41:13.980 somebody said 00:41:13.980 --> 00:41:15.119 but from what God said 00:41:15.119 --> 00:41:16.119 how you can be saved. 00:41:16.920 --> 00:41:17.680 Important decision, 00:41:17.840 --> 00:41:18.500 a first step 00:41:18.500 --> 00:41:19.380 of being thankful 00:41:19.380 --> 00:41:20.599 for what He did for you. 00:41:21.740 --> 00:41:22.400 But maybe you're here 00:41:22.400 --> 00:41:22.980 this morning 00:41:22.980 --> 00:41:23.559 and God 00:41:23.559 --> 00:41:25.619 has saved you. 00:41:26.179 --> 00:41:26.980 There's been that moment 00:41:26.980 --> 00:41:27.500 in time 00:41:27.500 --> 00:41:28.539 when you've called upon 00:41:28.539 --> 00:41:29.380 Him as Savior. 00:41:31.460 --> 00:41:32.719 Maybe you've lost sight 00:41:32.719 --> 00:41:33.440 of the need 00:41:33.440 --> 00:41:34.900 to be thankful. 00:41:37.280 --> 00:41:38.539 What about you today 00:41:38.539 --> 00:41:39.539 as the piano plays? 00:41:39.619 --> 00:41:40.300 What about you? 00:41:40.300 --> 00:41:42.380 What about you? 00:41:42.420 --> 00:41:43.039 What about you? 00:41:43.039 --> 00:41:43.560 What about you? 00:41:43.580 --> 00:41:44.019 What about you? 00:41:44.019 --> 00:41:44.700 What about you? 00:41:44.700 --> 00:41:45.140 What about you? 00:41:45.140 --> 00:41:45.600 What about you? 00:41:45.600 --> 00:41:45.900 What about you? 00:41:45.900 --> 00:41:46.140 What about you? 00:41:46.140 --> 00:41:46.600 What about you? 00:41:46.600 --> 00:41:47.000 What about you? 00:41:47.000 --> 00:41:47.260 What about you? 00:41:47.260 --> 00:41:47.720 What about you? 00:41:47.720 --> 00:41:48.080 What about you? 00:41:48.080 --> 00:41:48.640 What about you? 00:41:48.640 --> 00:41:49.060 What about you? 00:41:49.060 --> 00:41:49.400 What about you? 00:41:49.400 --> 00:41:49.740 What about you? 00:41:49.740 --> 00:41:50.080 What about you? 00:41:50.080 --> 00:41:50.580 What about you? 00:41:50.580 --> 00:41:51.080 What about you? 00:41:51.080 --> 00:41:51.580 What about you? 00:41:51.580 --> 00:41:52.080 What about you? 00:41:52.080 --> 00:41:52.680 What about you? 00:41:52.680 --> 00:41:53.080 What about you? 00:41:53.080 --> 00:41:53.539 What about you? 00:41:53.539 --> 00:41:53.960 What about you? 00:41:53.960 --> 00:41:54.420 What about you? 00:41:54.420 --> 00:41:54.980 What about you? 00:41:54.980 --> 00:41:55.500 What about you? 00:41:55.500 --> 00:41:56.060 What about you? 00:41:56.060 --> 00:41:56.560 What about you? 00:41:56.560 --> 00:41:57.019 What about you? 00:41:57.019 --> 00:41:57.460 What about you? 00:41:57.460 --> 00:41:58.060 What about you? 00:41:58.060 --> 00:41:58.720 What about you? 00:41:58.720 --> 00:41:59.140 What about you?