WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:19.719 This morning, as I was teaching Sunday school, Joe Halsey said to me, I think Pastor Thanksgiving 00:00:19.719 --> 00:00:27.560 ! And then he amended that to say, I'm not sure, I think maybe every Sunday is your favorite 00:00:27.560 --> 00:00:29.980 ! The truth of the matter is, I remember that I remember 00:00:29.980 --> 00:00:36.259 I rejoice every time we are together as God's people. I am thankful for the blessing of being 00:00:36.259 --> 00:00:44.179 among you, and I am so very thankful for the gospel that we enjoy together that has bound us 00:00:44.179 --> 00:00:53.740 together in this great confidence in a messy world. Am I right? I want you to turn in your Bibles this 00:00:53.740 --> 00:01:05.079 morning to a convicting, challenging, demanding passage. And I have to confess that years ago, 00:01:05.159 --> 00:01:11.219 when I was in college, I was in a Bible class, and they said, you have to memorize something like 00:01:11.219 --> 00:01:22.799 15, 20 verses. Any verses in the Bible. This was one of them. Turn in your Bible to 1 Corinthians, 00:01:23.039 --> 00:01:27.680 or 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, and if you wanted to know what I memorized, it was from verse 12 00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:32.439 to 28. Does anybody want to guess why I memorized those verses in particular? 00:01:32.439 --> 00:01:41.939 The truth of the matter is, they were relatively short. But that does not mean that they are 00:01:41.939 --> 00:01:51.099 insignificant. And when we look at verse 18 in particular, I want to read that passage, 00:01:51.620 --> 00:01:56.840 and we are going to begin here and then look at the matter of Thanksgiving in a larger setting. 00:01:56.840 --> 00:02:07.060 We recognize that this command is one that is more challenging than we may think at a first reading. 00:02:07.719 --> 00:02:11.900 Let me read it to you, and we'll pray together, and then step into the text. 00:02:13.420 --> 00:02:22.879 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Let's pray. 00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:36.280 Our Father, for us this morning to pray, as we take up your word in hand, is not a habit, 00:02:37.759 --> 00:02:48.859 but a very real confession of our absolute dependence upon you to work in us, to allow the word of God 00:02:48.860 --> 00:03:03.440 to have free course, to have the word convict, shape our thinking, govern our behavior, control our tongues, 00:03:05.440 --> 00:03:14.040 direct our eyes, be the genesis of our affections and interests. 00:03:14.039 --> 00:03:25.259 And so this morning as we pray, I pray and I ask your people to be faithful in praying for me as I preach, 00:03:26.259 --> 00:03:36.699 that you would work to lift up Jesus and the glory of the cross, that we as your people might rejoice afresh 00:03:36.699 --> 00:03:40.939 in your goodness and your salvation. 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:45.199 We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:03:46.339 --> 00:03:50.639 We're going to look at this passage this morning, 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 18, 00:03:50.639 --> 00:03:55.000 and as we look at it, I want to begin by actually doing a little bit of background work. 00:03:55.120 --> 00:03:58.419 I want you to think with me about the subject of thanksgiving, 00:03:58.599 --> 00:04:00.939 and let's think a little bit about the nature of it. 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:04.919 What is it? It says here that we are to be thankful, we're to give thanks, 00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:10.799 and for some of us, that may be something that is a little atypical. 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:14.779 I don't know if you ever frown at yourself in the mirrors. 00:04:14.839 --> 00:04:15.819 How many of you practice that? 00:04:17.779 --> 00:04:18.479 Frowning, frowning. 00:04:18.539 --> 00:04:19.939 I mean, you know, it's kind of looking at yourself and like, 00:04:20.199 --> 00:04:23.620 go ahead and give a grumpy face, you know, in the morning. 00:04:23.620 --> 00:04:26.000 You know, it's like, you probably don't think about it, 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:36.680 but the truth of the matter is, is that thankful spirit is not something that really is part and parcel with our nature. 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:40.160 It's something that comes as a result of some other things. 00:04:40.339 --> 00:04:42.660 And so let me remind you that, first of all, 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:47.819 giving thanks is something that usually happens because someone else has done something for us. 00:04:47.819 --> 00:04:54.219 We say thank you when someone does something that we didn't have a right to deserve, 00:04:54.459 --> 00:05:00.279 or when someone has served us or cared for something that really we had an appreciative heart for. 00:05:02.459 --> 00:05:07.180 We do understand that often we give thanks because we're taught to. 00:05:08.339 --> 00:05:12.819 And I hate to use the Mahaffey family as an illustration, but they were up here, 00:05:12.899 --> 00:05:13.740 so they're an illustration. 00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:17.680 And it goes with singing, you know, there you are. 00:05:18.060 --> 00:05:22.740 And I'm going to venture to say that probably the six little children, 00:05:23.560 --> 00:05:25.240 how many of you noticed Morgan wasn't singing? 00:05:25.339 --> 00:05:26.980 Anybody else notice that Morgan wasn't singing? 00:05:28.719 --> 00:05:30.639 Just bringing it up for you to think about. 00:05:33.180 --> 00:05:37.879 Anybody want to send him an email letting him know that he's expected on special music in the future, you know? 00:05:38.740 --> 00:05:42.199 Elliot, everybody else got to vote on singing except for Morgan, am I right? 00:05:42.600 --> 00:05:43.100 Your dad? 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:44.000 Okay. 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:49.639 But anyway, I'm going to venture to guess that of these children, 00:05:50.060 --> 00:05:52.720 not one of them came into the world and just said, 00:05:53.019 --> 00:05:53.579 Thank you, Mom. 00:05:53.800 --> 00:05:54.980 I'm glad you did that. 00:05:55.839 --> 00:05:59.540 And, you know, with the first couple diaper changes and all that kind of thing, 00:05:59.680 --> 00:06:00.379 thank you, Mom. 00:06:00.379 --> 00:06:07.839 Kids have to be trained just over and over and over and over and over and what? 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:10.680 Over again to say thank you. 00:06:10.759 --> 00:06:11.699 It has to be learned. 00:06:11.699 --> 00:06:15.019 And it's really not part of our nature. 00:06:16.519 --> 00:06:21.120 Probably a proof of that would be over in Romans 1, verse 21. 00:06:21.259 --> 00:06:26.159 And I want you just to take a look at that passage, kind of frame it in your life, in your heart. 00:06:26.219 --> 00:06:26.639 It says this, 00:06:26.719 --> 00:06:28.959 Although they knew God, Romans 1, 21. 00:06:29.399 --> 00:06:34.399 Although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him. 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:38.159 That's one of the characteristics of the unbeliever. 00:06:38.519 --> 00:06:44.899 As a general rule, the unbeliever does not have a thankful heart. 00:06:47.959 --> 00:06:55.099 We do need to recognize that while we are indeed thankful for things we haven't deserved 00:06:55.099 --> 00:07:00.679 and we are trained to be that way, being thankful runs contrary to our nature. 00:07:00.680 --> 00:07:06.500 And left to our own devices, allowed to kind of just do our own thing, 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:13.639 we probably have to say that thankfulness would not be even a blip on our radar screen most of the time. 00:07:14.980 --> 00:07:19.680 We come into the world kind of thinking that everything revolves around us 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:23.340 and actually the things that we receive are things that were due to us. 00:07:23.460 --> 00:07:25.120 And so why say thank you? 00:07:25.220 --> 00:07:30.139 How many of you actually go out of your way and say thank you for the check you get week after week? 00:07:30.680 --> 00:07:33.019 It just kind of plays on and happens. 00:07:34.840 --> 00:07:43.860 And just watch children who have been allowed to get their way incessantly at home 00:07:43.860 --> 00:07:49.220 when they are in a place like Walmart or Meijer and they don't get their way. 00:07:50.139 --> 00:07:51.939 What is their first response? 00:07:53.139 --> 00:07:54.920 They have an emotional meltdown. 00:07:55.040 --> 00:07:59.620 It's not like, you know, thank you, Mom, for helping me learn that the world doesn't revolve around me. 00:07:59.620 --> 00:08:00.740 No, that's not what happens. 00:08:01.699 --> 00:08:07.180 Or when the government suggests that they're going to cut one of the many subsidies with which they bought your votes, 00:08:07.579 --> 00:08:09.360 I mean, everybody says, well, that's a good idea. 00:08:09.500 --> 00:08:11.180 We need more of that. 00:08:11.420 --> 00:08:12.879 No, that's not what happens. 00:08:14.300 --> 00:08:20.819 I do want you to understand that Thanksgiving is really rooted in our view of God and His undeserved kindness. 00:08:20.819 --> 00:08:25.420 And I want you to have that fixed in your mind because the truth of the matter is, 00:08:25.439 --> 00:08:28.659 is as we come to grips with the issue, and I got to tell you, 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:37.419 the spirit of thankfulness that we have is something that is a very winsome part of our witness. 00:08:37.419 --> 00:08:47.419 It's what unbelievers notice about us and ends up being attractive to them and causes them to ask, 00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:49.719 what's the reason for the hope that lies within you? 00:08:49.899 --> 00:08:51.919 I notice a different spirit in you. 00:08:54.099 --> 00:09:00.860 So when you stop and think about this issue of thankfulness and recognize that it's something that's rooted in our life, 00:09:00.860 --> 00:09:07.659 you understand that the starting point as we looked at Romans 1, verse 21 is that when people don't know God, 00:09:07.980 --> 00:09:13.279 their hearts are characteristically hardened towards the reasons that they ought to be thankful. 00:09:14.019 --> 00:09:15.820 They never stop and think about it. 00:09:17.320 --> 00:09:22.300 Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity of sharing the gospel with an individual, 00:09:22.759 --> 00:09:28.600 and in the course of conversation, they comment on the fact that God had been, 00:09:28.600 --> 00:09:33.139 they kind of recognized that God had been awfully patient with them. 00:09:34.360 --> 00:09:38.420 I thought that was a very interesting comment to come out of the lips of an unbeliever. 00:09:39.700 --> 00:09:42.639 And I said, well, you ought to be very thankful for that. 00:09:43.720 --> 00:09:44.580 Well, why? 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:49.820 I said, because if God had not been patient with you, time's up. 00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:54.100 Guess what the consequences would be of God being impatient with you? 00:09:54.100 --> 00:10:01.279 You would be enduring the consequence of your willful rejection of the sweetness of the gospel for all of eternity. 00:10:02.840 --> 00:10:06.360 Stop and thought about that, and, well, I see your point. 00:10:06.560 --> 00:10:08.639 But was he thankful and drawn to the cross? 00:10:08.700 --> 00:10:09.519 Not in that case. 00:10:10.139 --> 00:10:16.460 You recognize that this issue of thankfulness is something that really reflects the heart that we have and where we are. 00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:19.860 Let me have you turn to a different passage to kind of frame this. 00:10:19.860 --> 00:10:22.740 Turn to Ephesians 5, verse 20. 00:10:23.200 --> 00:10:29.639 We're thinking about the matter of thankfulness and just kind of identify what Ephesians has to say in relationship to this, 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:35.159 marking the fact that when a believer is filled with the Spirit, 00:10:35.899 --> 00:10:43.820 one of the things that comes out of that believer is the fruit from inside in relationship to thankfulness. 00:10:44.180 --> 00:10:45.539 Verse 18, what's it say? 00:10:45.539 --> 00:10:49.439 Don't be drunk with wine, for that's debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit. 00:10:50.599 --> 00:10:52.620 And what happens when we're filled with the Spirit? 00:10:53.439 --> 00:11:00.579 Giving thanks always and for everything to God, the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:11:01.439 --> 00:11:11.339 Show me a person who is persistently thankful and who is not walking around with a semi-permanent pout, 00:11:11.340 --> 00:11:18.540 and I'll show you a person that has the Lord Jesus Christ in their life and is evidently aware of His presence 00:11:18.540 --> 00:11:21.540 and the unbelievable blessings that we have in Christ. 00:11:22.800 --> 00:11:26.220 So the practical question to ask yourself at this point is this, 00:11:26.620 --> 00:11:31.780 is thanksgiving a characteristic of your lifestyle and something that you're known for? 00:11:31.920 --> 00:11:32.860 And here's the question. 00:11:33.280 --> 00:11:34.540 Go ahead and nudge your wife. 00:11:34.620 --> 00:11:35.840 You're sitting close enough to her. 00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:41.700 Kind of nudge her and just say, hey, honey, don't tell me now because pastor will call me out publicly. 00:11:42.220 --> 00:11:44.480 But, you know, kind of ask me later. 00:11:47.240 --> 00:11:48.780 Let's talk about thankfulness. 00:11:48.840 --> 00:11:50.280 And a fair question would be this. 00:11:50.759 --> 00:11:55.420 Is thankfulness a general characteristic of your life? 00:11:55.660 --> 00:12:02.080 If we are conscious and sensitive to the presence of the Spirit of God in our life, 00:12:02.180 --> 00:12:03.500 we're going to be thankful people. 00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:10.820 Or is this something that we probably need to work at and learn to be prompted to do a little bit like children? 00:12:12.179 --> 00:12:18.899 Well, I do want you to take the time with me this morning to kind of think about some of the things that give us reason to be thankful. 00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:24.600 We understand that having a thankful spirit is something that God has to do in our lives. 00:12:25.860 --> 00:12:29.019 Let's think about reasons to be thankful. 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:31.460 So let's look at some Bible examples for that. 00:12:31.460 --> 00:12:36.800 And I want you to notice, first of all, in the passage that we looked at, go there if you would, 00:12:37.220 --> 00:12:39.519 the 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 18. 00:12:39.700 --> 00:12:45.560 And here's the apostle giving his concluding instructions to the church at Thessalonica. 00:12:46.180 --> 00:12:51.980 And in relationship to that, he makes this little statement that I want you to focus on 00:12:51.980 --> 00:12:55.320 and allow to kind of govern your life moving forward. 00:12:55.320 --> 00:13:09.900 Now, I want you to notice that it doesn't say give thanks for all circumstances. 00:13:10.600 --> 00:13:13.660 It says give thanks in all circumstances. 00:13:13.659 --> 00:13:22.899 And every one of the circumstances that we fall into is a circumstance that is granted and directed by the sovereign Lord of this universe, 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:29.939 who we know from the Scriptures is doing what on our behalf, having saved us and drawn us to himself. 00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:33.600 He is working all things together for our good. 00:13:34.199 --> 00:13:34.899 He's at work. 00:13:34.899 --> 00:13:39.240 He's actively engaged in taking care of things for our good. 00:13:39.319 --> 00:13:46.220 And so I want you to mark that this issue of being thankful in every circumstance is his instruction to us. 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:50.199 A little note that I picked up from one Bible teacher was this, 00:13:50.259 --> 00:13:57.240 is that he said that a spirit of thankfulness is a thermometer to your spiritual health. 00:13:57.679 --> 00:13:58.659 I want you to think about that. 00:13:58.659 --> 00:14:05.100 The spirit of thankfulness is a thermometer of your spiritual health. 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:10.500 The spirit of thankfulness is a thermometer of your spiritual health. 00:14:10.579 --> 00:14:16.019 How many of you on occasion have kind of felt like you're not doing very well? 00:14:16.439 --> 00:14:18.719 You know, my wife is homesick today. 00:14:19.740 --> 00:14:21.919 And she is, I mean, I know she's sick. 00:14:22.019 --> 00:14:25.379 She's hacking and you don't want to know all the biology that went into this. 00:14:25.379 --> 00:14:29.360 It's like, had a half a bowl of soup and then we had a half a bowl of soup. 00:14:29.439 --> 00:14:30.399 So it's real. 00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:37.000 And when you really want to kind of check into all these details, you do what with a thermometer, right? 00:14:38.139 --> 00:14:39.460 Stick it in there and check it. 00:14:39.860 --> 00:14:45.679 Well, a spiritual check would be this. 00:14:45.899 --> 00:14:49.840 So how am I in the area of thankfulness? 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:55.840 Does my life register on a consistent basis a spirit of thankfulness? 00:14:56.519 --> 00:14:57.860 I want you to notice this as well. 00:14:58.440 --> 00:15:04.220 Our thankfulness in this passage is inseparable from our relationship and union in Christ. 00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:07.480 You look there towards the end of the verse, it says, for this is the will of God. 00:15:07.540 --> 00:15:08.660 That's what he wants from us. 00:15:09.259 --> 00:15:10.160 Hey, stop just for a minute. 00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:10.820 Everybody look up. 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:13.300 Are you a Christian? 00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:16.259 No, I'm not talking about one of those. 00:15:16.460 --> 00:15:17.320 I know the vocabulary. 00:15:17.320 --> 00:15:22.180 I'm talking about, are you really a believer who God has the authority and right to tell you how to behave? 00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:23.720 I don't know about it. 00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:26.080 No, I'm talking to you. 00:15:27.060 --> 00:15:28.320 He says, be thankful. 00:15:29.460 --> 00:15:30.720 I got it, right? 00:15:30.940 --> 00:15:31.580 Be thankful. 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:33.120 Is that the way you are? 00:15:34.780 --> 00:15:46.960 Well, recognize that this business of thankfulness that we're instructed to engage in is something that is to be connected to and with our relationship in Christ. 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:50.840 It says, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus. 00:15:52.340 --> 00:15:58.220 The word in sets the boundaries of where and why we are to be thankful. 00:15:58.600 --> 00:16:04.620 I mean, the word in makes a world of difference if you say, go swimming in the pool, right? 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:08.259 I mean, if you're trying to swim and you're not in the pool, what happens? 00:16:09.259 --> 00:16:10.180 It's pretty ugly. 00:16:10.179 --> 00:16:14.099 And people are wondering, what are you doing flopping around on the ground like that? 00:16:14.439 --> 00:16:15.239 In is critical. 00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:17.959 Be thankful in Christ Jesus. 00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:22.040 I couldn't help but think Friday. 00:16:22.040 --> 00:16:29.440 I think many of you know that I finish the preparation for the sermon and it goes to print and then to Connie on Thursday. 00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:35.300 And I got a call and Cassandra asked me, said, 00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:41.639 And Grahams has heard some pretty sobering news about the brevity of the remaining part of her life. 00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:47.939 They've encouraged her to go into hospice and Grahams would love for you to come over and talk with her. 00:16:48.959 --> 00:16:49.959 And so I came over. 00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:52.839 I came over Friday at noon and we're sitting there. 00:16:53.359 --> 00:16:57.839 And here is a lady who about a year and a half ago, prior to this, did not know Christ. 00:16:57.839 --> 00:17:02.719 She's 64 now and she is, according to the doctor, some weeks away from eternity. 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:05.180 And now what does a pastor do? 00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:06.759 Come in and say, it's going to be all right. 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:08.480 You know, you're going to live forever. 00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:09.980 I said, hey, listen. 00:17:11.360 --> 00:17:15.160 Against the backdrop of that pretty sobering news that you've heard from the doctor, 00:17:15.600 --> 00:17:21.019 let me have you think about things that you can be unbelievably confident in. 00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:23.680 Do you know what? 00:17:24.940 --> 00:17:31.579 Her spirit was lifted as she stopped and realized what it was to have slipped from darkness about a year and a half ago 00:17:31.579 --> 00:17:35.779 into salvation and to know Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. 00:17:35.919 --> 00:17:41.039 And I've got to tell you, I see that lady's face light up in the face of the imminency of death. 00:17:41.419 --> 00:17:43.199 And she had confidence as she looked. 00:17:43.419 --> 00:17:47.679 Now she's in a riverside, OSU, two different hospitals. 00:17:48.399 --> 00:17:49.059 Mark, forgive me. 00:17:50.139 --> 00:17:51.339 You know, it's like, there you go. 00:17:51.339 --> 00:17:59.639 And she, I said to Cassandra this morning, I said, aren't you thankful for salvation? 00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:00.959 That's what I said today. 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:03.839 I said, aren't you thankful for salvation? 00:18:04.959 --> 00:18:09.839 Aren't you thankful that as Grams is there in the ER, 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:17.459 that you know and she knows beyond a shadow of a doubt what her eternal destiny is? 00:18:18.099 --> 00:18:19.139 Aren't you thankful for that? 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:25.419 And I want to encourage you as you stop and think this morning about the issue of thankfulness, 00:18:25.619 --> 00:18:32.679 that you stop and understand that God's expectation for you is that you as a believer 00:18:32.680 --> 00:18:39.860 who once used to be the miserable slave of sin, delivered by His grace, made His child, 00:18:40.220 --> 00:18:43.480 given all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:46.900 He has told you, live thankfully. 00:18:48.120 --> 00:18:52.440 And by the way, living thankfully is not just kind of, all right, I'm supposed to do it. 00:18:53.299 --> 00:18:55.560 How many of you have been around people that are faking it? 00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:58.340 I mean, case in point. 00:18:58.339 --> 00:19:04.919 You go to the restaurant and up comes the, and by the way, you saw the waitress kind of being surly 00:19:04.919 --> 00:19:09.679 over at the serving table with a couple other waitresses, but she scampers up to your table 00:19:09.679 --> 00:19:10.740 and what does she act like? 00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:13.799 Hey, it's so nice to see you. 00:19:14.039 --> 00:19:16.740 You know, I just saw you over there being grumpy. 00:19:16.939 --> 00:19:21.639 And now you walk over here, you know, 30 steps away and it's like, wow. 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:28.019 And the one that gets me the most, I mean, I just, I have to kind of stifle myself not to go off on it. 00:19:28.019 --> 00:19:30.960 It's when you make a choice and they say, excellent choice. 00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:33.920 It's like, you got to be kidding. 00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:37.460 You know, when I, Capsidia is a place I like to go. 00:19:37.539 --> 00:19:41.339 I actually say I'd like liver and onions because I do like liver and onions. 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:42.900 Excellent choice. 00:19:43.079 --> 00:19:45.960 You know, my wife is going, you know. 00:19:48.619 --> 00:19:50.799 Faking it's not what we're talking about here. 00:19:50.799 --> 00:20:00.940 It's a call, it's a command by God to be genuinely thankful because of your relationship in Christ Jesus. 00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:10.039 And by the way, our relationship with Christ Jesus and our union in Him is not something that kind of comes and goes. 00:20:10.139 --> 00:20:11.119 Aren't you thankful for that? 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:15.279 Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever. 00:20:15.719 --> 00:20:18.719 And I am rooted and anchored in my relationship with Him. 00:20:19.059 --> 00:20:26.219 And because of that relationship, I am to be a person who is thankful in all circumstances. 00:20:27.679 --> 00:20:32.419 Second, we are to be thankful for our gospel companions. 00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:38.759 I want you to turn from 1 Thessalonians back for a moment to the book of 1 Corinthians. 00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:40.400 1 Corinthians chapter 1. 00:20:41.620 --> 00:20:44.440 Now, let me give you a little bit of background on the church at Corinth. 00:20:45.660 --> 00:20:49.120 Church at Corinth was probably a great deal like the church at Columbus. 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:50.960 What do I mean by that? 00:20:51.779 --> 00:20:58.480 I mean it was filled with people who, if you read 1 Corinthians chapter 6, it says, 00:20:58.480 --> 00:21:00.180 and such were some of you. 00:21:01.140 --> 00:21:01.420 Right? 00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:04.380 Now, how many of you know what the sum of you is talking about? 00:21:04.700 --> 00:21:06.640 Nod your head if you know who the sum of you were. 00:21:07.420 --> 00:21:07.539 Okay? 00:21:08.100 --> 00:21:13.840 It says, basically, Paul says, there are a bunch of skunks in that church. 00:21:14.019 --> 00:21:17.420 And, you know, it says, your pasts are pretty sullied. 00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:18.660 You know, they're not all that good. 00:21:18.700 --> 00:21:20.360 And he says, yeah, you're like that. 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:24.220 And I got to have you look, if you will, at verse 4. 00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:30.420 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus. 00:21:31.420 --> 00:21:31.980 Whoa! 00:21:33.100 --> 00:21:33.460 Stop. 00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:40.279 I heard a, I read an interesting article. 00:21:40.500 --> 00:21:45.480 It was a little note, actually, that I think it was John Piper was talking about the difference between Islam and Christianity. 00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:48.660 By the way, did you know that Islam is kind of a big thing right now? 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:50.259 And you hear it on the news and things like that. 00:21:50.900 --> 00:21:53.680 He was talking about the difference between Islam and Christianity. 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:55.440 One of the differences, everybody smile. 00:21:56.860 --> 00:21:57.740 Can you, come on. 00:21:58.759 --> 00:21:59.720 Go for it. 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:02.759 Some of you need more muscle help. 00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:04.100 Truth on. 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:06.140 I'm talking to you. 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:06.320 Yeah. 00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:06.799 Okay. 00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:12.320 But anyway, the difference between Islam and Christianity, one of the differences is the concept of the church. 00:22:13.580 --> 00:22:14.500 The church. 00:22:15.620 --> 00:22:16.900 By the way, do you know what a church is? 00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:18.660 It's a family. 00:22:18.660 --> 00:22:18.720 It's a family. 00:22:19.820 --> 00:22:20.680 It's a family. 00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:32.539 And I want you to think with me a little bit about the fact that we're to have a thankful spirit for the family members we have. 00:22:33.940 --> 00:22:37.480 Now, stop just for a minute, and I want you to think in the dark part of your heart. 00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:42.140 Some of you know each other well enough that sometimes you really don't like each other. 00:22:42.840 --> 00:22:43.860 Hard to believe that. 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:44.259 I know. 00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:49.759 But one of the things that goes with being a pastor is that I know people's hearts after 29 years. 00:22:50.680 --> 00:22:55.059 And every now and then, people get kind of south of the border on their attitudes towards each other, right? 00:22:55.720 --> 00:23:03.359 I remember when we would have Wednesday night prayer time, and I remember where I'd watch people walk past rooms where other people were in, 00:23:03.400 --> 00:23:05.019 and I knew why they were walking past rooms. 00:23:05.099 --> 00:23:06.039 They didn't want to go in that room. 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:06.500 Do you know why? 00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:08.500 I'm not going to pray in that room. 00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:11.579 I know so-and-so is in there, and we're not getting along right now. 00:23:11.940 --> 00:23:13.039 You've got to be kidding me. 00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:15.099 Here's Paul. 00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:21.859 By the way, what really makes a difference in our thankful hearts, it is our attitude and relationship with Christ. 00:23:22.140 --> 00:23:22.440 Right? 00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:23.660 Right? 00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:26.539 Our attitude and relationship with Christ. 00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:34.839 And when our attitude and relationship with Christ is where it needs to be, we are going to be thankful for our gospel companions. 00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:37.079 And here is Paul. 00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:41.879 In that nasty, low-life church in Corinth, he says this in verse 4, 00:23:41.880 --> 00:23:50.120 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus. 00:23:50.600 --> 00:23:56.180 Now, some of you are thinking, well, I wish those people would move on up the ladder in progressive sanctification. 00:23:56.180 --> 00:24:02.259 I mean, God has been too patient with them. 00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:04.259 Here's the deal. 00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:07.640 By the way, you don't know where they started. 00:24:09.560 --> 00:24:12.680 And you're forgetting how patient he has been with you. 00:24:12.680 --> 00:24:19.860 When I was a little younger, I used to find myself pretty irritated with other people. 00:24:19.859 --> 00:24:29.779 And as I've slowly grown, slowly, operative word, slowly grown, I've found that often in my prayer life, 00:24:29.859 --> 00:24:36.939 when I'm finding myself a little challenged by saints, my prayers are now colored by this thought. 00:24:37.479 --> 00:24:37.719 Listen. 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:42.259 Lord, be as patient with them as you've been with me. 00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:44.519 Do you follow that? 00:24:44.519 --> 00:24:49.680 Be as patient with them as you've been with me. 00:24:50.879 --> 00:24:52.019 Here's the apostle. 00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:55.859 He's thinking about fellow believers there at the church in Corinth. 00:24:55.960 --> 00:24:56.639 And he says, listen. 00:24:57.039 --> 00:25:05.480 He says, I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus. 00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:09.000 I'm thankful for you. 00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:11.619 I'm thankful for you. 00:25:11.619 --> 00:25:20.439 And I'm thankful for you in principle because of what Jesus has done for me that has knit me together with you. 00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:32.200 This morning as I came in early to listen to our team practicing for our morning worship, 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:35.519 someone said to me, how are you doing? 00:25:35.860 --> 00:25:37.600 Now, it's a standard civil greeting. 00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:38.180 It's appropriate. 00:25:38.620 --> 00:25:39.960 And my answer was this. 00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:40.660 Here's what I said. 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:42.240 I said, I dwell among my own people. 00:25:44.940 --> 00:25:45.980 Do you know what I was saying? 00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:49.539 It doesn't get any better than being with God's people. 00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:50.980 It doesn't. 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:58.019 A couple weeks ago, I had a young man that we were in the process of considering for pastoral ministry here 00:25:58.019 --> 00:26:00.920 ask me, so when you retire, are you leaving? 00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:04.259 And I said, well, why do you ask? 00:26:04.299 --> 00:26:10.620 He said, because I've heard that it's really hard to pastor when the retired pastors in the congregation. 00:26:10.619 --> 00:26:13.279 And I said, well, I said, these are my people. 00:26:14.099 --> 00:26:15.219 This is my family. 00:26:16.419 --> 00:26:21.539 And I said, I got to tell you, I will not misbehave among God's people because I'm not going to harm the bride. 00:26:22.419 --> 00:26:25.959 And if I do go left of center, there are people in this church who will get their arm around me 00:26:25.959 --> 00:26:30.119 and get a hold of my ear and give me a little gentle tug and we'll get it all right. 00:26:31.579 --> 00:26:32.959 But I dwell among my people. 00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:36.579 And so I want to challenge you this morning. 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:37.380 Do you want to be thankful? 00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:43.400 Think about that guy that you wish Jesus would take home that's part of the family of God 00:26:43.400 --> 00:26:45.200 and say, I need to change my attitude. 00:26:45.360 --> 00:26:46.120 I am thankful. 00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:47.460 I am thankful. 00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:51.819 I am thankful that he's part of the family of God 00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:57.680 and I am not going to let that sorry spirit from Satan interfere with the fellowship I have. 00:26:57.680 --> 00:27:07.240 Third, we are thankful when we comprehend the gospel ministry that we have. 00:27:07.320 --> 00:27:08.340 Why are we thankful? 00:27:08.880 --> 00:27:10.560 Turn in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians. 00:27:10.840 --> 00:27:14.779 And I recognize that there are so many different things we could touch on. 00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:17.200 But I want you to turn to 2 Corinthians 2. 00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:19.420 What are you all about? 00:27:20.820 --> 00:27:24.320 What is the thing that really characterizes the life that you live? 00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:28.359 Is it your work? 00:27:30.439 --> 00:27:34.559 If that's what you're thinking, you need a retake on that subject. 00:27:35.679 --> 00:27:43.159 The thing that is to characterize your life is your comprehension of the purpose for which you exist 00:27:43.159 --> 00:27:46.000 and why you abide here rather than in heaven. 00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:49.960 Can I tell you, when I say to people, and it's always unnerving, 00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:52.960 I did earlier last week, you know, how are you doing? 00:27:53.099 --> 00:27:54.139 Well, any better than I'd be dead. 00:27:54.140 --> 00:27:56.480 It just throws people way off. 00:27:57.560 --> 00:28:02.440 I have been counseled more often about not, you know, oh, it can't be that bad. 00:28:02.900 --> 00:28:04.020 You're not getting it. 00:28:05.100 --> 00:28:07.600 When I leave here, I'm going up there. 00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:08.600 And how about you? 00:28:09.640 --> 00:28:11.320 And see, here's the deal. 00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:20.879 I am so very thankful for the fact that at the very heart of why I draw breath today is the sake of the gospel ministry that I've been given. 00:28:20.879 --> 00:28:27.679 Not because I'm a pastor, but because I'm a living, breathing child of God who's been drawn from darkness into light. 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:29.060 Listen to what it says. 00:28:29.060 --> 00:28:31.140 2 Corinthians chapter 2. 00:28:31.140 --> 00:28:32.140 I'm thankful. 00:28:32.140 --> 00:28:42.880 But thanks be to God who in Christ Jesus always leads us in triumphal procession and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 00:28:42.880 --> 00:28:46.880 I'm thankful. 00:28:46.880 --> 00:28:47.140 I'm thankful. 00:28:47.140 --> 00:29:07.000 Because by his grace, I was drawn out of darkness and I have been given a mission that in every step of my life is to draw distinction and difference to what he has done in my life in comparison with the darkness of the world around me. 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:07.400 Why? 00:29:07.400 --> 00:29:07.640 Why? 00:29:07.640 --> 00:29:07.680 Why? 00:29:07.799 --> 00:29:10.019 For the sake of the gospel ministry. 00:29:11.539 --> 00:29:13.859 I should be marching to a different drum. 00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:29.099 Not one that is arrogant and harsh, but one by its deliberate tread identifies me as a member of the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ whose life belongs to him. 00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:35.079 And here is the apostle saying, hey, we are in this triumphal procession. 00:29:35.079 --> 00:29:46.059 I would encourage you to stop and think whether or not your life represents that kind of process. 00:29:47.000 --> 00:30:01.779 The imagery that Paul is relying on when he writes to this church in Corinth is that of the Roman legion marching into town after they've had one of their stellar victories and absolutely destroyed their enemy. 00:30:01.779 --> 00:30:07.279 They would come marching into town in all their military glory. 00:30:07.639 --> 00:30:08.519 And I got to tell you something. 00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:12.259 The military does a good job of putting on a parade. 00:30:12.359 --> 00:30:13.160 How many of you understand that? 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:15.299 I mean, it is snappy. 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:18.639 It kind of makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. 00:30:18.700 --> 00:30:20.099 It's like, it's phenomenal. 00:30:20.099 --> 00:30:24.579 And Paul says, hey, listen. 00:30:26.119 --> 00:30:31.119 Christ leads us in this triumphal procession. 00:30:32.199 --> 00:30:38.379 And through us, spread the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 00:30:38.380 --> 00:30:46.740 We are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 00:30:47.820 --> 00:30:51.340 To one, the fragrance of death. 00:30:52.200 --> 00:31:00.340 Have you ever been struck by the fact that as kind and as sweet as you sincerely strive to be as a believer, 00:31:00.860 --> 00:31:07.660 people who are offended by the call of the gospel end up thinking what you have to say really does stink? 00:31:07.660 --> 00:31:13.880 I mean, hey, I think we ought to go out of our way not to be offensive. 00:31:15.100 --> 00:31:16.259 We really should. 00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:24.480 But at the end of the day, when you tell people that they can't get to heaven by being moderately good, 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:28.000 it irritates the dickens out of them because it's offensive. 00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:30.400 What do you mean I can't do that? 00:31:30.860 --> 00:31:36.480 You mean somebody else is in charge and somebody else made the rules and I'm not the center of the universe? 00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:41.839 It's a very ugly truth in the nursery and it's very ugly for everybody else too. 00:31:42.259 --> 00:31:43.599 Don't be surprised. 00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:46.779 Paul says, hey, listen, look at it. 00:31:48.059 --> 00:31:51.500 To one, a fragrance of death to death. 00:31:52.779 --> 00:31:53.640 Guess what? 00:31:53.640 --> 00:31:58.380 You're not getting to heaven just being the way you are. 00:32:00.180 --> 00:32:04.000 Classic illustration last week of making it clear, saying to you know, 00:32:04.360 --> 00:32:09.720 the idea that you can get to heaven by being good actually means that if that is true, 00:32:09.820 --> 00:32:13.640 that God wasted his son by having him die on the cross. 00:32:13.640 --> 00:32:20.520 Why in the world would Jesus die on the cross if you just given a moderate stab at it would kind of make the pass? 00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:26.160 To one, we are the fragrance of death to death. 00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:27.680 I understand. 00:32:28.580 --> 00:32:29.820 I understand that. 00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:34.759 But on the other hand, it says, and to the other, the fragrance of life to life. 00:32:34.759 --> 00:32:47.740 I can't help but think about the smile that came over Cassandra's grandmother's face when we started talking about the fact of her salvation. 00:32:50.099 --> 00:32:52.000 Child of the 60s, she'd tell you that. 00:32:52.000 --> 00:33:04.960 A year and a half ago, actually about two years ago, Cassandra and Melissa walked right down that aisle and stood here in the front and said, 00:33:05.140 --> 00:33:07.019 I need Jesus. 00:33:07.220 --> 00:33:07.819 That's what she said. 00:33:08.579 --> 00:33:09.480 Do you know why they did that? 00:33:10.599 --> 00:33:18.539 Because Caleb Gibbs worked with Cassandra at Battelle, and Cassandra saw Caleb's life was different. 00:33:18.539 --> 00:33:25.539 And one day she says, you've got to talk to me about what's different in your life. 00:33:25.659 --> 00:33:27.980 And he said, well, you need Jesus. 00:33:30.159 --> 00:33:31.000 Now listen to me. 00:33:32.940 --> 00:33:35.819 There are people that are watching you every day. 00:33:37.700 --> 00:33:38.359 Every day. 00:33:40.119 --> 00:33:45.220 To see whether or not you are the illustration and representation of Jesus Christ. 00:33:45.220 --> 00:33:49.460 I got a call Friday. 00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:53.380 Someone that's worked for us on our house. 00:33:55.279 --> 00:33:55.740 Hey, Tim. 00:33:57.920 --> 00:33:59.220 Patrick has a brain tumor. 00:34:01.019 --> 00:34:01.880 He's dying. 00:34:03.640 --> 00:34:05.019 You need to call him. 00:34:09.019 --> 00:34:10.920 Nobody in that circle knows Jesus. 00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:17.599 But when they called me and said, you need to call them, do you know what I thought? 00:34:20.659 --> 00:34:23.059 I said, well, you know, I'm a pastor. 00:34:23.900 --> 00:34:24.539 I know. 00:34:27.960 --> 00:34:30.900 When it comes to dying, people want some comfort, don't they? 00:34:30.900 --> 00:34:38.400 And I will not be able to say to my dear friend, it's all right. 00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:41.079 You're going to be fine. 00:34:41.559 --> 00:34:41.880 No. 00:34:42.840 --> 00:34:50.180 But I have the privilege of lifting up the glory of the cross and saying, listen, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief. 00:34:50.179 --> 00:34:57.379 And if he can take care of me and he can take care of the thief on the cross, he can do you too. 00:35:02.179 --> 00:35:12.659 If you don't understand that that's part of your commission and your call, and you're a person who knows Jesus, there's something that you need to reconnect. 00:35:14.679 --> 00:35:15.399 Today's the day. 00:35:16.359 --> 00:35:16.699 Finally. 00:35:17.899 --> 00:35:19.259 Can't help but get to this one, right? 00:35:19.260 --> 00:35:22.880 We are thankful in Jesus Christ our Savior. 00:35:23.000 --> 00:35:25.140 Look at 2 Corinthians 9, verse 15. 00:35:27.800 --> 00:35:36.700 Two chapters that the apostle really spends dealing with the subject matter of generosity and giving. 00:35:38.240 --> 00:35:39.800 And how does he end it up? 00:35:41.240 --> 00:35:42.160 Look at this one. 00:35:42.760 --> 00:35:47.720 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift. 00:35:49.260 --> 00:35:54.700 What's he talking about? 00:35:56.600 --> 00:35:57.560 What's he talking about? 00:35:58.180 --> 00:35:59.220 He's talking about Jesus. 00:35:59.960 --> 00:36:00.880 That's what he's talking about. 00:36:02.240 --> 00:36:06.380 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift. 00:36:06.380 --> 00:36:12.940 I wonder this morning whether or not you've had those moments. 00:36:13.340 --> 00:36:13.740 Today. 00:36:15.300 --> 00:36:17.960 By the way, how many of you know that I'm a moderately emotional person? 00:36:18.079 --> 00:36:19.500 I mean, it's like, it's there. 00:36:20.800 --> 00:36:24.539 I'm sitting right there and we're singing and I love listening to you sing. 00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:27.400 And I'm getting cold chills on the back of my neck. 00:36:27.460 --> 00:36:28.840 How many of you are cold chill people? 00:36:29.660 --> 00:36:31.579 I mean, it's like over the top, you know. 00:36:32.039 --> 00:36:33.280 I'm getting that just kind of. 00:36:34.280 --> 00:36:35.460 And here's what I was doing. 00:36:35.600 --> 00:36:36.600 As we were singing. 00:36:36.740 --> 00:36:37.880 How many of you can multitask? 00:36:37.980 --> 00:36:41.059 I was singing and thinking of reasons to thank Christ. 00:36:41.240 --> 00:36:42.039 That's what I was doing. 00:36:42.740 --> 00:36:43.700 It was overwhelming me. 00:36:43.780 --> 00:36:45.160 And I had to stop. 00:36:45.280 --> 00:36:45.760 That's what it is. 00:36:45.760 --> 00:36:52.980 It won't come out, right? 00:36:54.140 --> 00:36:54.980 That's what it's saying. 00:36:56.920 --> 00:36:59.180 When was the last time you thought about Jesus? 00:37:01.400 --> 00:37:07.380 And were so affected by the sweetness of that emotion that you just couldn't get on top of it. 00:37:08.660 --> 00:37:08.800 Huh? 00:37:10.340 --> 00:37:11.240 I don't know. 00:37:12.920 --> 00:37:14.780 I've never had that. 00:37:15.760 --> 00:37:21.280 There might be a reason for that. 00:37:24.300 --> 00:37:27.180 It might be that you are here and the truth of the matter is, 00:37:27.240 --> 00:37:33.400 is you have never come to know the sweetness of complete forgiveness in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:37:36.160 --> 00:37:40.200 There are some of you that spend your entire life living under the cloud 00:37:40.200 --> 00:37:44.180 and you think the cloud is really caused by other people. 00:37:45.760 --> 00:37:46.740 It's not. 00:37:52.780 --> 00:37:54.300 Here's what it says in the Bible. 00:37:54.300 --> 00:38:00.360 It says the way of the transgressor is hard. 00:38:00.360 --> 00:38:05.320 Isaiah on three different times specifically says this, 00:38:05.740 --> 00:38:08.320 there is no rest for the wicked. 00:38:08.320 --> 00:38:19.240 Come unto me, all you who are labored and burdened heavy, and I'll give you rest. 00:38:19.239 --> 00:38:25.159 I love the sweetness of the gospel that allows me to say without hesitation, 00:38:26.839 --> 00:38:31.159 Jesus stands ready to hear your cry, 00:38:32.159 --> 00:38:35.739 to forgive you for all of your sins, 00:38:36.239 --> 00:38:40.599 to grant you eternity in his presence, 00:38:40.599 --> 00:38:43.480 to make you his child, 00:38:43.480 --> 00:38:48.199 to care for every detail of your life, 00:38:49.139 --> 00:38:52.579 to welcome you home with open arms. 00:38:54.639 --> 00:38:59.599 But there has to be the moment where you and your brokenness realize that sin 00:38:59.599 --> 00:39:04.659 stands between you and God. 00:39:04.659 --> 00:39:10.119 And God in his holiness must judge that sin. 00:39:11.980 --> 00:39:15.279 But he sent Jesus Christ into the world to be the Savior, 00:39:16.519 --> 00:39:18.299 to pay the penalty for that sin. 00:39:19.299 --> 00:39:20.379 And the Bible says, 00:39:20.639 --> 00:39:23.359 and whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord, 00:39:23.639 --> 00:39:24.440 what, what, 00:39:25.019 --> 00:39:25.899 shall be saved. 00:39:26.699 --> 00:39:28.539 Can it get any simpler than that? 00:39:28.599 --> 00:39:29.259 What's the answer? 00:39:29.960 --> 00:39:30.239 No. 00:39:30.239 --> 00:39:34.099 And so, 00:39:34.659 --> 00:39:36.259 are you a Christian? 00:39:37.859 --> 00:39:38.619 You bet. 00:39:40.979 --> 00:39:43.479 Do I have a command to be thankful? 00:39:46.059 --> 00:39:46.500 Yes. 00:39:49.699 --> 00:39:50.559 And by the way, 00:39:50.619 --> 00:39:52.179 and how in the world am I going to pull it off? 00:39:52.239 --> 00:39:54.799 Because I'm a moody, grumpy person by nature. 00:39:55.659 --> 00:39:55.939 Oh, 00:39:56.319 --> 00:39:59.399 I have the abiding ministry of the Holy Spirit 00:39:59.400 --> 00:40:01.639 who comes within me at the moment of salvation, 00:40:01.639 --> 00:40:05.079 and I have no excuse for staying the way I am. 00:40:05.900 --> 00:40:06.139 Yeah, 00:40:06.260 --> 00:40:07.000 I like that one. 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:10.500 I can change through his power. 00:40:13.039 --> 00:40:14.039 Let's close in prayer. 00:40:16.440 --> 00:40:17.260 Our Father God, 00:40:17.300 --> 00:40:18.920 this morning as we think about the word, 00:40:19.579 --> 00:40:21.619 we're mindful that you have given to us 00:40:21.619 --> 00:40:24.539 every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. 00:40:24.539 --> 00:40:27.180 We are blessed beyond imagination, 00:40:27.179 --> 00:40:29.759 and you who abide in heaven 00:40:29.759 --> 00:40:31.779 have called us to worship, 00:40:32.639 --> 00:40:36.039 and worship and thanksgiving are inseparable. 00:40:38.179 --> 00:40:40.019 We want to be a thankful people. 00:40:41.460 --> 00:40:44.000 We want thanksgiving to be the thing 00:40:44.000 --> 00:40:47.219 that distinguishes us from the unbelieving world. 00:40:47.559 --> 00:40:47.759 I mean, 00:40:47.819 --> 00:40:48.440 here today, 00:40:48.599 --> 00:40:50.679 there's all kinds of reasons to not be thankful. 00:40:50.679 --> 00:40:53.259 And we, 00:40:53.919 --> 00:40:56.440 who have received complete forgiveness 00:40:56.440 --> 00:40:57.739 for all of our sins, 00:40:58.419 --> 00:41:00.539 who have heaven as our home, 00:41:01.819 --> 00:41:04.879 who have the joy of knowing God is our Father, 00:41:06.679 --> 00:41:07.859 and we as his children, 00:41:08.699 --> 00:41:11.579 are thankful because of what you've done. 00:41:11.579 --> 00:41:14.599 And so we ask this morning 00:41:14.599 --> 00:41:16.000 that as we 00:41:16.000 --> 00:41:18.039 attend to the word 00:41:18.039 --> 00:41:19.639 and allow it to speak to our hearts, 00:41:19.679 --> 00:41:21.360 as we respond in obedience 00:41:21.360 --> 00:41:24.639 to the convicting power of the Spirit, 00:41:25.639 --> 00:41:27.759 we ask that we would grow in grace 00:41:27.759 --> 00:41:29.420 for the glory of Christ. 00:41:30.599 --> 00:41:31.779 And those who are here 00:41:31.779 --> 00:41:33.420 that are not your children, 00:41:33.559 --> 00:41:34.819 we be drawn to the cross 00:41:34.819 --> 00:41:38.139 to confess and forsake their sins 00:41:38.139 --> 00:41:39.599 and repent and believe on Jesus. 00:41:39.599 --> 00:41:42.119 We ask this in Jesus' name. 00:41:42.179 --> 00:41:42.360 Amen.