right now because people are already getting into the Christmas mood and it's still 28 days away.
How many of you put up a Christmas tree or some decorations this weekend already? Raise your hand.
A lot of people. I've been married for 38 years now and just as sure as Thursday is Thanksgiving
Day, Saturday after Thanksgiving is when we put up our tree. I don't have a choice. That's what
Elisa wants to do and that's what we do. We put up that tree Saturday after Thanksgiving
always. If holidays were people, Christmas would just be smiling. But if holidays were people,
Thanksgiving would be hurt, even depressed right now. That's because most people it seems only
to give passing notice to Thanksgiving. A lot of people this past Thursday didn't really
think a whole lot about Thanksgiving. They ate their turkey and dressing and planned their
Black Friday shopping or their football watching schedule for this weekend. Thanksgiving would
also be angry because more and more people have elevated Halloween to holiday status and put
less emphasis on Thanksgiving. But think about that. Halloween is basically a pagan notion.
But Thanksgiving is the national holiday created to express heartfelt gratitude to God for the
way he has blessed us in this country. Even though we are three days removed from Thanksgiving Day,
I want us to give our attention to this forgotten holiday this morning, Thanksgiving. But more importantly,
I want us to see how giving thanks to God is found throughout the Bible as an ever-present attitude
among God's people. What I want us to do is answer four questions this morning related to thanks,
thanksgiving. First, are you a thankful person? Are you a thankful person? Some people really are not.
In fact, there's a lot of people, they think more along the lines of being entitled.
A lot of people. I want you to check yourself. Do you believe that you deserve special treatment? At least
from certain people in your life. Do you think that I'm entitled to this or that from my parents or from my
teachers or from my employer? Do you even really expect to be blessed by God?
A lot of people have this entitlement mentality today. But that is contrary to what the Bible teaches
about us, about who we are and really what we should suspect. The Bible is very clear and we've talked
about it a lot over the years and we will always talk about it. The Bible talks about us being sinners by
nature and by choice. And the only thing that we really and truly deserve is death and hell.
The Bible says it like this in Romans chapter 3,
None is righteous. None is righteous. No, not one. No one understands. No one seeks for God. All have turned aside.
Together they have become worthless. No one does good, not even one.
Now as Paul is quoting from the Old Testament, he is not saying that every person is as bad as they can possibly be.
But he is saying that before God, we are rebels. We are lawbreakers. We are not in any way as we stand before God,
right with Him. We're self-centered people, not God-centered as we should be if He is our Creator.
He really is Almighty God. Paul goes on in Romans chapter 3 to say,
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
And then in Romans 6, 23, For the wages of sin is death.
Here's the point.
To think that you are entitled
to God's blessings
is contrary to every single thing
the Bible teaches
about what we truly deserve
from God.
You know, we should never
we should never stop thinking about
the fact that
we don't deserve God's blessings.
We really and truly
it should never become just
old news to us
that we are sinners
separated from God by our sin.
In fact,
if we really know ourselves
we know this is true.
I mean, if you know yourself
you know what's
in your mind sometimes.
You know what's really
some of the desires that you have at times.
We know
from experience
not just from what
the Scripture says
that we really are
sinners by nature.
as well as by choice.
We need to learn
to think of all the good things
that we experience in life
as being gifts
of God's grace.
Just like Richard was singing about
a moment ago.
That means they are totally
undeserved
and they're unearned.
You know,
Paul contrasted
what we deserve
with what God has graciously
given us
through faith in Jesus
in two of those passages
that you see on the screen there.
Let's expand the first one.
Romans 3.23
to include verse 24.
He said,
For all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God
and are justified
declared righteous
declared right with Him
by His grace
as a gift
through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus.
While we've all sinned
and come short of the glory of God,
we who are truly believers in Jesus,
through faith in Him,
God declares,
You're right with me
because Jesus has paid the penalty
for our sins.
This is a gift
from God
through Jesus Christ.
And then the next one.
Romans 6.23
The full verse says this,
For the wages of sin is death,
but the free gift of God
is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We've got a lot to be thankful for
every day of our lives.
You know, a lot of times
we spend our time
thinking about what we don't have,
complaining about what's wrong
in our life.
We need to spend more time
thinking about
how we have been blessed
and thinking about
what is right
in our life
and really thinking about
how we don't,
a lot of times,
we don't get what we deserve.
Our salvation is a gift
of God's grace.
You didn't deserve it.
Our salvation is God's free gift
that you could never earn.
That leads to the next question.
What are you thankful for?
What are you,
right now,
thankful for?
If we're Christians,
we need to be
the most thankful people
on earth,
not just on Thanksgiving Day,
but every day
because of what God
has done for us
in Christ.
Calling us to Himself
through faith in Jesus,
forgiving us,
making us His child.
That's at the top of the list.
But what else
are you thankful for?
What are you thankful for
right now?
We really need to
give thanks
for all that we have
because it has been
given to us
by God.
I want you to look
at something that Paul
said to the people
in the church at Corinth.
1 Corinthians chapter 4
and verse 7.
They were having
problems in the church.
There was divisions.
There was a lot of pride
over being a part
of this group
or that group
following this leader
or that leader.
And the way Paul
sought to combat that
is to remind them
it's all,
whatever you have,
whoever you are,
it's a gift from God.
Look at it.
1 Corinthians 4 verse 7.
What do you have
that you did not receive?
If you received it,
why do you boast
as if you did not receive it?
When I read that first statement,
what do you have
that you did not receive?
That's one of the most
humbling statements
found in the Bible.
Paul was trying to put
these people in their place.
He was trying to tell them,
you have no reason
to be proud.
You have no reason
to elevate certain leaders
and think that
because you're a part
of their group,
you're someone special.
Everything that we are,
everything that you are,
that you're glad
that you are,
as well as everything
that you have,
comes from God.
Our abilities,
our talents,
our gifts,
our opportunities,
our blessings,
they've all been given
to us by God.
I want you to think about that.
Every one of us,
there's something in your life
that you're extremely proud of.
I can look around,
some of you men,
you greatly
outmarried yourself.
Some of you who,
that I know
are going to get married,
you're engaged,
you're close to it.
You really outpunted
your coverage, boy.
One in particular
I'm looking at right there.
You need to understand,
it's not because
you're so good looking.
Maybe because she's blind.
But it may be,
it's not because
you're good looking,
not because of
this or that.
In the big scheme of things,
God has blessed you
that way.
If you've got a job
that you just
are thrilled to have,
thank God
for the ability
that you have,
for the opportunity,
for whatever it is
that He worked out
to put you there.
Thank Him.
Paul is asking
this question
with the obvious answer.
What do you have
that you did not receive?
Obviously nothing.
If you received it,
why do you boast
as if you did not receive it?
If we'll think deeply
about this.
I mean,
let it really sink in.
This will help us
to avoid being arrogant,
being prideful.
It will also help us
to really and truly
be thankful
for whatever it is
that we have
because it's a gift
from God.
That's how God
wants us to think.
He wants us
to be thankful
for all of life's
good gifts,
which leads us
to the third question
this morning.
Who are you thankful to?
Now here's where
we come to the real difference
between Christians
and unbelievers.
There's a lot of people
in the world
who would consider themselves
to be atheists
or agnostics,
but they're thankful
to someone.
They're thankful
for certain things.
We who are Christians,
we need to learn
at the top of the list
to be thankful to God
because He really is
the source of all the good
that we experience in life.
Look at it as James tells us
in chapter 1, verse 17.
Every good gift
and every perfect gift
is from above
coming down
from the Father of lights
with whom there is
no variation or shadow
due to change.
The Father of lights.
He's talking about how
the heavenly bodies,
the sun, the moon,
they change.
At least we perceive change.
The sun rises and sets.
The moon goes
through different phases.
But God is constant.
God does not change.
We can count on Him
because of who He is
and what He does.
God is good
in terms of who He is.
In James chapter 1
in verse 13,
prior to talking about
how every good and gift
comes from God,
James had tried
to help these people
understand you never
blame God for evil.
God is not the source
of temptation in your life.
Here's how He says it
in James 1.13.
Let no one say
when he is tempted,
I am being tempted
by God.
For God cannot be tempted
with evil
and He Himself
tempts no one.
God cannot be tempted
by evil
and He cannot tempt
anyone with evil
because it's just contrary
to who He is.
It's contrary to His nature.
God is holy.
He is above sin.
He is immune
to sin.
And so evil
is present in this world
but we can't say
this comes from God.
He's to blame for it.
God is good
in terms of who He is
and God is good
in terms of what He gives.
He's never the source of evil,
verse 13,
and He only gives good gifts,
verse 17,
that you see.
Because God is good like this,
we can trust Him.
He can be trusted
as our Heavenly Father.
We can have confidence in Him.
He's for us
as His children.
That brings up a question,
doesn't it?
It makes me think as well,
what about all the things
that happen in our lives
that are not good?
There is plenty of evil
in this world
and you cannot deny it.
Christians,
a lot of times,
suffer,
experience all kinds of pain.
Well, Paul answers the question,
what about all these kind of things
in relation to God being good?
Paul answers that question
in various ways
throughout his writings
as well as the whole Bible.
But Paul answers that question
in the context
in 1 Thessalonians 5
of telling us to be thankful.
I want you to look at it.
1 Thessalonians 5, 18,
give thanks in all circumstances.
Paul, as he's winding down
that letter to that church,
he tells them certain things
they need to be doing,
issues certain little short,
brief commands.
And one of them is,
give thanks in all circumstances.
That does not mean, though,
to thank God for evil.
It does not mean
that you thank God
for things that are
obviously contrary to
His will,
His design.
Suffering comes into our lives.
We are touched by evil.
Paul wants us to think
when those times come,
you don't thank God
for the evil.
You don't thank God
for the sinful things
that people do.
But you do thank God
that He is sovereign.
You do thank Him
that He is good
and that He is going
to work everything out
for His glory
and ultimate good.
And I hope that brings
to your mind,
Romans 8, 28,
one of the most comforting
words from God
in all the Bible.
And we know that
in all things,
God works for the good
of those who love Him,
who've been called
according to His purpose.
All things are not good.
There's a lot of terrible things,
a lot of suffering and pain
even Christians experience.
We don't know why
God allows these things.
We don't see all
that He actually does
in bringing about
ultimate good even.
But one of the ways
that Romans 29
is talking about
how God works
everything for good,
it goes on in verse 29
to talk about
how God is working
in our lives
to conform us
to the image of His Son.
God is working in evil.
He's working in pain
and suffering
to perfect us,
our character,
to make us more like
His Son Jesus.
And so,
in all of our circumstances,
we can trust God
that He is sovereign,
He is in control,
He is good,
and He is powerfully
working out good
in our lives,
if nothing else,
but developing
our Christ-like character.
But He's also working out
things for ultimate good
that we may not even see
until heaven one day.
But we can trust
that in all things,
God is at work
and He's working everything
for His glory.
There's meaning,
there is purpose,
even in our sufferings.
You know,
one of the best examples
of how we are to thank God
for all things
is found in the way
that Paul thanked God
for everything,
including the good
that He saw
in people's lives.
I want you to look with me
at Romans chapter 1
in verse 8.
Romans is the first letter
in the New Testament
that the Apostle Paul wrote.
If you open your New Testament,
you'll see Matthew, Mark, Luke,
John, Acts,
then Romans.
Beginning with Romans,
you're going to go
through Paul's letters.
in most of those letters,
in the majority
of those letters,
he's going to begin
by thanking God
and then thank God
for what he's doing
in the lives
of those people.
Let's look at two examples.
Romans 1.8.
First,
I thank my God
through Jesus Christ
for all of you
because your faith
is proclaimed
in all the world.
First,
I thank my God
through Jesus Christ
for all of you.
I'm thanking God.
I'm thanking God
for you
and I'm thanking God
for how you're living,
how you're actually
putting the gospel
into practice,
how you're living
like Christians
because your faith
is proclaimed
in all the world.
People are talking
about you
and they're talking
about you good.
You know,
none of us really
want people
to talk about us
but they're going to.
All of us
are going to be talked
about sooner or later,
more or less.
It's okay
if they talk about us
the good
that God's doing
in us and through us.
Another example,
1 Thessalonians chapter 1
verses 2 and 3.
He's writing
to this group
of Christians.
We give thanks
to God always
for all of you,
constantly mentioning
you in our prayers.
remembering before
our God and Father
your work of faith
and labor of love
and steadfastness
of hope
in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul thanked God
for what he had done
in these people's lives
to save them,
change them,
and enable them
to actually live
like Christians
in the midst
of a tough world
where most people
were not Christians.
What Paul is doing,
he's complimenting them.
You see,
Paul is writing
this letter.
He's not just
praying to God
privately
where nobody will hear.
He's not just
writing a personal letter
that only one person
is going to read.
Paul is writing
a letter
that was to be read
to the entire church
and would be circulated
among other
Christian churches.
And so what he's doing
is he is publicly
complimenting them.
How they've responded,
how they've developed
a powerful testimony
as God's people.
Paul said things like this,
to praise God,
give public thanks to God,
but also to publicly
affirm them,
to encourage them,
and yes,
to thank them
for their faithfulness.
Another example
we see real clear,
2 Thessalonians 1,
verse 3.
He says,
We are always to give
thanks to God
for you, brothers,
as is right,
because your faith
is growing abundantly
and the love
of every one of you
for one another
is increasing.
What I want us to see
is that this is
a good example
of how we ought
to express gratitude
to God,
but also
to others.
You and I,
we need to do more
than just be thankful
to God.
We need to thank God
for people in our lives
who are meaningful to us,
but we need to learn
to thank people.
expressing gratitude
to people
is something
most of us
need to put more
emphasis on.
Do you do that
as a matter of habit
in your home,
for example?
You who are living
at home with your parents,
they do a lot for you.
You may not acknowledge it,
you may not appreciate
it sometimes,
but they do a lot
for you.
If nothing else,
they're letting you live there.
Probably not charging you
a dime,
and you cost something,
you know?
You're expensive.
But what I want you
to think about is,
do you tell them,
boys and girls,
young people,
young adults,
do you take the time
to express thanks,
appreciation,
those people who are
providing for most
of your needs,
and do you do it
with sincerity?
You know,
one reason
we ought to do this
is because it's just
the right thing to do.
But also,
expressing gratitude
helps us to develop
better relationships.
It really does.
It makes us
more appreciative
of the person
who blesses us
if we'll take time
to think about
just what all
they've done for us.
It will make us
more appreciative
if we'll just
stop and think
of what the person
who's helping us,
taking care of us,
doing stuff for us.
If we'll just stop
and think
what it is they're doing,
what it costs them
to do it.
Maybe in terms of time,
maybe in terms of energy,
not necessarily monetarily.
Do you know
that it's really
a reward
for you to take time
to give thanks
to somebody
who is investing
in you?
It's not just
among family members,
but all of us.
Have you ever had
somebody to
give you something?
Maybe it was a gift,
maybe it was their time,
they just gave you
something,
and you thought
to yourself,
it is important.
They've really
given of themselves,
and you may think
under some of those
circumstances,
I want to pay them back.
If somebody
has given you
something because
they just love you,
and they wanted
to give it to you,
they don't want
to be paid back.
You'll insult them
if you talk about
paying them back.
You know what
would be
their greatest
reward?
For you to look
them in the eye
and smile
and express
genuine appreciation,
thanks,
hug them,
touch them,
do it from the heart,
do it with all
sincerity.
That will reward
them more than
you would ever
imagine.
that's really
a lot of times.
You think about
when you give
to someone
you really care
about,
you're not
expecting
anything in return,
but it makes
it all worthwhile
when they look
at you
and that smile
or that touch
and they express
gratitude
for what you've
done.
Let's conclude
with one final
question.
why do you
thank God?
Why do you
thank God
assuming that
we all in here
do?
If you give
someone a gift
at Christmas
or you just
do something
for someone,
period,
would you be
satisfied if
that person
just only
gave you
an obliging
word of
thanks
but didn't
show any
interest
or affection
to you
as a
person?
You do
something,
you give
something
and someone
doesn't really,
they don't really
acknowledge you.
They may
acknowledge your
gift,
but they don't
acknowledge you.
Sometimes
it makes you
feel hurt,
doesn't it?
In some
situations
you can feel
insulted
or you
can just
feel
used.
Hearing
words of
thanks
don't mean
anything
unless they
include
your
genuine
personal
interest
that you
express
somehow
as you
give that
word of
thanks.
God
feels the
same
way
when we
are more
interested
in His
gifts
than we
are in
Him.
Are you
thankful to
God
not just
for the
things
or the
people He
puts into
your life?
Are you
truly
thankful
to God
God?
God
because you
love Him
and you
want to
express
gratitude
to Him
just because
you love
Him.
You want
Him to
know that
you are
thankful for
that special
person,
for that
job,
for that
gift,
whatever it
may be.
True
gratitude to
God can
only be
expressed from
someone who
has a heart
for God.
and that
heart for
God has
to be
developed in
the context
of a loving
relationship
with Him.
We cannot
truly thank
God if we
don't know
Him, if we
don't have a
relationship with
Him through
Jesus Christ.
So I want to
ask you now,
do you have
such a
relationship
with God?
Do you want
one if you
don't?
You can have
such a
relationship,
it can
begin today
by admitting
to God,
just like we
said at the
beginning,
that I am
a sinner.
And I know
that I have
come short
of your
expectations.
I know
that I have
failed you.
I know
that I have
been more
self-centered
than God-centered.
Admit your
sin.
Express your
sorrow to
God for
having
dishonored
Him,
ignored Him,
and sinned
against Him
like this.
Turn from
your sin.
Change your
mind about it.
Put your
faith in
Jesus,
that when
He died
on the
cross,
He actually
paid the
penalty for
your sin.
Call upon
Him to
save you,
forgive you,
make you a
child of God.
Do that
now.
You can
begin a
relationship
with Him.
for some
people in
this room,
the question
is this.
Did you
once have
a relationship
with God
that was
close?
It was
loving.
It was
real.
It was
personal.
But now,
it's just
distant.
It's just
not really
personal
anymore.
Maybe you're
even reading
the Bible
regularly.
Maybe your
relationship
with God
is more
along the
lines of
being academic
rather than
anything else.
My question
is, do you
want to come
back to Him?
Do you want
Him to restore
for you the
joy of your
salvation?
If you know
why there's
separation,
why there's
distance,
confess that to
God, you
repent of
it.
And the
Scripture says
if we confess
our sins, He
is faithful and
just to forgive
us and to
cleanse us.
He'll give us a
fresh start.
He'll welcome
you back.
Could be that
you would say
that I don't
really know
why.
It's just
happened over
time or
something, but
I just don't
have the close
personal
relationship with
the Lord that
I once had.
Just tell Him
that.
You don't have
to know why.
Just come back
to Him.
Scripture says
if we will
draw near to
God, He'll
draw near to
us.
Ask God to
show you what
the problem is.
To show you
what the solution
is.
But the
beginning part of
that solution
is to come
back to Him.
Humble
yourself.
Seek Him.
Commit
yourself and
you are
fresh to Him.
I want to
end this
message with
the words from
Psalm 100.
The only
psalm that
is entitled
is a psalm
of thanksgiving.
It's actually
entitled a
psalm for
giving thanks.
The last two
verses are
this.
Enter His
gates with
thanksgiving and
His courts with
praise.
Give thanks to
Him and bless
praise His name.
For the Lord is
good and His
love endures
forever.
His faithfulness
continues through
all generations.
Thank God and
praise Him because
of who He is.
Because He is our
good God who
will love us
forever and who
will be faithful
to us forever
and ever.
would you pray
with me?
Father,
show us how
we should
respond
so that we
can leave here
today as people
who are truly
thankful.
We're thankful
to You for
who You are,
how You are,
and what You do.
But Lord,
help us to also
leave here as
people who are
thankful for the
people You've put
in our life who
bless us, who
help us.
Help us,
Father, to be
thankful for the
gifts, the
talents, the
opportunities, the
things that we
have and enjoy.
Lord,
help us,
Father, to be
thankful even in
the tough times,
the hard times,
because we know
You are sovereign
and You are
good and You're
working in all
those tough times
for Your glory
and our good.
Father, show us
how we should
respond.
Help us to do
that now and
leave here as
Your thankful
people.
Let's just
continue in an
attitude of
prayer and you
respond to the
Lord as He
speaks.
If I could help
you, pray with
you, I'll be
here at the
front and be
happy to do
that.