WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.720 Well, friends, as I mentioned earlier, today's a little bit of a different day, and we're 00:00:13.720 --> 00:00:17.019 going to have some time of sharing testimonies. 00:00:17.320 --> 00:00:21.660 You know, testimony is something that the Christian church throughout the ages has done, 00:00:21.920 --> 00:00:27.160 going all the way back to as Jesus ascended into heaven at the beginning of the book of 00:00:27.160 --> 00:00:33.920 Acts. He told His disciples that they would be witnesses, that they would bear witness to Him 00:00:33.920 --> 00:00:40.219 and to His work in the world and in their lives. And this is what the Christian church has done 00:00:40.219 --> 00:00:48.120 throughout the ages, is to bear witness to what God has done in our lives in various ways. And so, 00:00:48.120 --> 00:00:54.859 this morning, the elders have asked a handful of congregants to come and share, share their 00:00:54.859 --> 00:01:01.019 testimonies of thanksgiving. Thanks for what God has done in their lives. Thanks for how they have 00:01:01.019 --> 00:01:06.700 seen God at work in their lives. And our prayer and hope is that it will be an encouragement. 00:01:07.180 --> 00:01:11.480 For those of you who came in late with children, we will dismiss the children after the first 00:01:11.480 --> 00:01:18.200 two testimonies. But the first two are John and Slavik are going to share. So, John, 00:01:18.200 --> 00:01:24.200 Katie's going to give you a microphone. And why don't we go ahead and... 00:01:26.780 --> 00:01:34.260 Well, good morning, Trinity. What a joy it is to come and celebrate the Lord Jesus with all of you. 00:01:35.700 --> 00:01:43.060 One of the... It is the high point, I think, of our week. And thank you for allowing me to share. 00:01:43.060 --> 00:01:53.980 Over the past years, I have learned a lot from God, particularly as he led me through some challenging 00:01:53.980 --> 00:02:01.520 losses. These were caused by what has been diagnosed as a progressive neurologic condition. 00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:11.800 It started six or seven years ago with difficulty placing my feet and has slowly progressed to where 00:02:11.800 --> 00:02:22.640 I had a series of falls. Now, in the past year, I had to stop driving, get around mostly by wheelchair or walker. 00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:42.639 And... Excuse me. One of the really difficult losses was... 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:53.639 Not being able to pick up those two little guys who were... 00:02:53.639 --> 00:03:01.639 Thanks, Mel. Those two little guys who were trying to greet me. 00:03:01.639 --> 00:03:17.819 Here. These have all been difficult adjustments, but God has proven faithful. He has been molding my 00:03:17.819 --> 00:03:26.319 character and teaching me long overdue lessons in humility. He has allowed me to appreciate Dorothy's 00:03:26.319 --> 00:03:34.060 loving care more than ever before. But most of all, God has taught me more about himself. 00:03:35.019 --> 00:03:44.340 Two passages I would like to share. First, from Habakkuk 3, 17 to 18. Should be familiar with all who have 00:03:44.340 --> 00:03:49.780 been with us at Trinity over the fall. But here, the prophet writes, 00:03:49.780 --> 00:03:58.439 Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit beyond the vines. The produce of the olive fail, 00:03:59.240 --> 00:04:08.120 and the fields yield no food. The flock be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls. 00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:17.959 Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord. I will take joy in the God of my salvation. 00:04:19.779 --> 00:04:27.179 My joy and satisfaction do not depend on my abilities to accomplish things. 00:04:28.239 --> 00:04:36.819 I do not need to lead seminars, write books, or practice medicine. But I, like Habakkuk, 00:04:37.239 --> 00:04:46.639 can rejoice in the Lord. The next passage is Psalm 73, 25 to 26. 00:04:46.639 --> 00:04:52.680 God speaks to the questioning Esau, who looks at his life and asks, 00:04:53.240 --> 00:05:01.199 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire beside you. 00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:12.680 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:24.960 Therefore, my thanksgiving testimony is simply that God is enough. I don't need anything else. 00:05:25.620 --> 00:05:34.240 No matter what challenges or losses I or you are facing, I trust you will find true joy 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:41.400 and fulfillment in Him. He is truly enough and all you need. 00:05:41.399 --> 00:05:45.399 applause 00:05:45.399 --> 00:05:46.399 applause 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:47.399 applause 00:05:47.399 --> 00:05:48.399 applause 00:05:48.399 --> 00:06:05.399 Good morning, everyone. 00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:09.199 My name is Slavik Litvinenko, 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:13.199 and I'm here with my wife, Oksana. 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:17.199 We came to New Haven last March, 00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:24.199 and I work here as a visiting scholar at Yale University. 00:06:24.199 --> 00:06:27.199 For the last 12 years, 00:06:27.199 --> 00:06:31.199 our home has been in Prague, Czech Republic, 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:35.199 but we are Ukrainians by nationality, 00:06:35.199 --> 00:06:39.199 and so during the last two years, 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:41.199 almost two years, 00:06:41.199 --> 00:06:45.199 we have experienced both difficult times 00:06:45.199 --> 00:06:49.199 and the times of thanks and appreciation. 00:06:49.199 --> 00:06:57.199 Of course, the war in Ukraine has been a real tragedy for us. 00:06:57.199 --> 00:07:01.199 We lost several of our family members. 00:07:01.199 --> 00:07:07.199 A lot of us are scattered in different countries today. 00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:11.199 Our home church back in Ukraine is half ruined. 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:15.199 So is the school where I studied, 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:19.199 and the university where I used to teach in East Ukraine 00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:23.199 is turned into a military base. 00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:31.199 So as the war goes on, we constantly hear all kinds of appalling statistics. 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:35.199 Here are the figures that I found. 00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:39.199 More than 8,000 people have been killed. 00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:45.199 Over 5. million Ukrainians are internally displaced. 00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:51.199 Missile strikes damaged about 50% of Ukrainian power grid, 00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:56.199 and 16 million people are without access to clean water. 00:07:56.199 --> 00:08:03.199 But what am I thankful for in the midst of all that trouble? 00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:05.199 Well, a couple of things. 00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:13.199 First, I'm thankful for the major thing that I've learned, 00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:19.199 and that is that despite all the trouble, 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:25.199 God is in control even when it seems like he isn't. 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:32.200 He helped us when we were evacuating family and friends, 00:08:32.200 --> 00:08:38.200 and he took care of things that are just too numerous to count. 00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:46.200 The scripture verse that has really helped me this year is Psalm 46.1. 00:08:46.200 --> 00:08:49.200 God is a refuge in strength. 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:53.200 He is a very present help in trouble. 00:08:53.200 --> 00:08:56.200 I like the way it sounds in English. 00:08:56.200 --> 00:09:03.200 Another thing I'm thankful for is that despite all the devastating trouble, 00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:06.200 the churches in Ukraine are booming. 00:09:06.200 --> 00:09:15.200 In fact, we have never seen a bigger thirst for God than right now. 00:09:15.200 --> 00:09:22.200 Nor have we seen churches being as full as they are today. 00:09:22.200 --> 00:09:39.200 A friend of mine who is a dean of a seminary in Lviv, western Ukraine, told me that they had 300 students in 2021, 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:42.200 just before the war began in Ukraine. 00:09:42.200 --> 00:09:48.200 And right now they have 1,200 students. 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:50.200 So we're thankful. 00:09:50.200 --> 00:09:59.200 And one last thing I'm thankful for is actually you are our new family church, 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:10.200 and I should hurry and add that we didn't spend much time finding this church because we happened to meet this man, 00:10:10.200 --> 00:10:16.200 John Hinkson, who I figured everyone knows here. 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:20.200 And we met him at the gym and sauna. 00:10:20.200 --> 00:10:28.200 But that's a separate story for which I'm thankful for. 00:10:28.200 --> 00:10:33.200 And if you want to know about it, ask me or my wife and we'll tell you. 00:10:33.200 --> 00:10:35.200 Thank you. 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:48.200 Yet another fruit of the John Hinkson sauna ministry. 00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:56.200 I started recycling with another man last fall who was similarly touched by John. 00:10:56.200 --> 00:10:59.200 So I just want to pray for a minute in response. 00:10:59.200 --> 00:11:01.200 Will you pray with me? 00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:05.200 Lord Jesus, we come and we thank you for these men. 00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:10.200 Lord, we thank you that in the midst of the trials that they have faced, 00:11:10.200 --> 00:11:17.200 the difficulties and the hardships that they not only have faced but are walking in even now. 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:19.200 Lord, thank you. 00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:23.200 Thank you for the ways that you have enabled them to say thanks. 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:26.200 Where they have seen your faithfulness. 00:11:26.200 --> 00:11:29.200 Where they have seen your character at work. 00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:40.200 Lord, where they have seen you doing things that are beyond what might be imaginable. 00:11:40.200 --> 00:11:48.200 Lord, in the midst of hardship, you often show the power and glory of your work even more brightly. 00:11:48.200 --> 00:11:52.200 Lord, we do also want to pray particularly for Ukraine this morning. 00:11:52.200 --> 00:11:57.200 Lord, we pray for the end of the war for a restoration of justice and peace. 00:11:57.200 --> 00:12:03.200 We pray for the church in Ukraine and in Russia. 00:12:03.200 --> 00:12:07.200 That the church would glorify Jesus Christ. 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:14.200 And that through the church you would bring renewal and draw many to yourself through Jesus. 00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:17.200 Lord, have mercy, we pray. 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:21.200 And you would pray for the Lord. 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:24.200 Lord, have mercy, we pray for the Lord. 00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:25.200 And that through the church, we pray for the Lord. 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:30.200 As we've already seen, Thanksgiving is something that we're able to give in all circumstances. 00:12:30.200 --> 00:12:36.200 And in just a minute, I'm going to invite Bonnie to come up and share a little bit of her story. 00:12:36.200 --> 00:12:39.200 And after her, Ruth and then Luke will come. 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:48.200 But before I invite up Bonnie to share, she's going to share some about God's meeting her and Alex through her pregnancy. 00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:54.200 And God's work in preserving and delivering Ruthie to them in a lovely way. 00:12:54.200 --> 00:12:57.200 And so we want to rejoice and give thanks. 00:12:57.200 --> 00:13:09.200 But we also want to acknowledge that we have another couple, sorry, in our midst who is right in the middle. 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:15.200 Landon and Kayla's baby Evangeline was born at the end of last week. 00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:17.200 And no, beginning of this week. 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:20.200 Beginning of, it's been a long week. 00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:25.200 And ended up having to have emergency heart surgery. 00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:29.200 And she is in critical condition still in the hospital. 00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:34.200 And so we had asked Bonnie to share weeks before. 00:13:34.200 --> 00:13:39.200 We knew this would be part of our church family life right now. 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:42.200 And we still want to hear her story of God's goodness to them. 00:13:42.200 --> 00:13:48.200 But we want to acknowledge that God's goodness doesn't always look the same in every circumstance. 00:13:48.200 --> 00:13:53.200 And so before we invite Bonnie up to share, I want to pray for the butler. 00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:55.200 So we pray with me. 00:13:55.200 --> 00:14:03.200 Lord, our hearts are heavy this morning for the trial that Landon and Kayla, Beth and Evie are going through. 00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:05.200 Lord, we bring them to you this morning. 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:08.200 Lord, we pray that you will heal Evie. 00:14:08.200 --> 00:14:13.200 Whether by medicine or by the work of your spirit, that you will strengthen her heart. 00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:19.200 Will you establish her bodily systems so that they become strong and self-sufficient. 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:23.200 Lord, we pray for the doctors and nurses who are caring for her. 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:28.200 That you will give them wisdom and skill and insight as they treat and care for her. 00:14:28.200 --> 00:14:34.200 And for Landon and Kayla, Beth, oh Lord, may they know your presence and comfort to be with them. 00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:37.200 Be for them a refuge and a strong tower. 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:45.200 Help them to know that you are God who weeps with them in sorrow and comforts them in hope. 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:52.200 A loving Heavenly Father who knows the pain if seeing even his very own son suffer and die. 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:55.200 Lord, we pray this would not be the outcome for Evie. 00:14:55.200 --> 00:14:59.200 But Lord, may they know fellowship with you in the midst of this. 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:02.200 We lift them up to you in Jesus name. 00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:03.200 Amen. 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:05.200 All right, Bonnie, come and share. 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:14.200 Good morning, church. 00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:20.200 A year ago on Thanksgiving, my husband Alex and I found out that we were expecting. 00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:22.200 It was our first child. 00:15:22.200 --> 00:15:26.200 We were very thrilled to be on this journey of parenthood. 00:15:26.200 --> 00:15:32.200 And on March 1st, we had our anatomy scan, sort of the big ultrasound. 00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:35.200 We were excited mainly to find out if we were having a boy or a girl. 00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:39.200 And we didn't know what to expect, so the first half went well. 00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:45.200 But then the doctor came in and told us that our daughter was severely anemic, 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:48.200 which was restricting oxygen to her brain. 00:15:48.200 --> 00:15:52.200 And she had a severe case of what's called fetal high drops. 00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:57.200 So it's where fluid builds up in the abdomen and it's very, very serious. 00:15:57.200 --> 00:16:02.200 And so they sent us to the hospital immediately for more tests. 00:16:02.200 --> 00:16:07.200 And we were given the news that there would be no chance that our baby would survive. 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:13.200 That if by some miracle she were born alive, that it would be a very short and painful life. 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:18.200 And so they recommended then that we terminate the pregnancy. 00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:21.200 And as you can imagine, we were devastated. 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:27.200 We decided to just continue and let nature take its course. 00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:30.200 So they scheduled us for two ultrasounds a week. 00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:39.200 So just so we could get to see the baby more and monitor her heart as we just waited for it to stop beating so we could deliver. 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:44.200 And those moments were really agonizing, just not knowing if she was okay, 00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:48.200 not knowing what we were going to learn at each ultrasound. 00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:55.200 And that was definitely a season of mourning for us where it was very difficult to be comforted. 00:16:55.200 --> 00:17:02.200 But the one thing that brought both my husband and I a lot of comfort in this time was scripture. 00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:06.200 And one of the scriptures that comforted me was Psalm 23. 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:09.200 It's a classic if you're familiar with it. 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:12.200 Begins, the Lord is my shepherd and ends with, 00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:17.200 surely his goodness and love follows me all the days of my life. 00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:26.200 And this has been a psalm that I've returned to over and over again throughout my 20s and now in my 30s. 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:34.200 And in various seasons, I found it really difficult to believe that these words could be true for me in the moment. 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:40.200 And so I developed this practice of reading this psalm in past tense. 00:17:40.200 --> 00:17:48.200 So kind of imagining myself towards the end of my life, removed from whatever difficulty I'm struggling with at the moment, 00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:52.200 and recognizing, ah, yes, all of these words were true. 00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:55.200 So let me read it really quick in past tense. 00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:57.200 This is a Bonnie paraphrase. 00:17:57.200 --> 00:17:59.200 But it says, 00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:01.200 The Lord has been my shepherd. 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:03.200 I have never lacked anything. 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:06.200 He has made me lie down in green pastures. 00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:09.200 He has led me besides quiet waters. 00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:11.200 He's restored my soul. 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:13.200 He's guided me along the right path. 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:16.200 And even though I've walked through many darkest valleys, 00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:20.200 I had nothing to fear for he was always with me. 00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:23.200 His rod and his staff comforted me. 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:27.200 He prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:31.200 He anointed me, and my cup has always overflowed. 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:36.200 His goodness and love has surely followed me all the days of my life. 00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:39.200 And now I will dwell with him forever. 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:43.200 So that line in verse 6, knowing that I would be able to say, 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:45.200 even though I couldn't see it in the moment, 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:50.200 that surely his goodness and love has followed me all the days of my life, 00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:54.200 really sustained me in those weeks that we were just waiting, 00:18:54.200 --> 00:18:57.200 waiting for her to pass. 00:18:57.200 --> 00:19:01.200 And then three weeks later, we had our normally scheduled ultrasound, 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:09.200 and the doctors were shocked to discover that the anemia and the high drops was completely gone. 00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:14.200 They had no words for it in our medical records. 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:17.200 It's listed as a spontaneous resolution of unknown origin. 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:22.200 Which I was going to chuckle at. 00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:26.200 Some of the doctors called it a miracle. 00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:32.200 And, you know, to be honest, neither my husband or I were quick to believe in the past that, 00:19:32.200 --> 00:19:34.200 like, oh, yes, Jesus can bring about healing. 00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:37.200 And that also wasn't what we were personally praying for. 00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:42.200 Honestly, we were praying that she would be able to pass before she felt any pain. 00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:48.200 But even before we knew that she was going to be better, we had decided to name her Ruth, 00:19:48.200 --> 00:19:56.200 after Ruth in Scripture, just a vulnerable girl for whom the Lord would provide a redeemer for. 00:19:56.200 --> 00:20:02.200 And, like I said, we named her that before we knew how true that would be. 00:20:02.200 --> 00:20:07.200 And so I want to encourage us today, the Lord is steadfast. 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:08.200 I am not. 00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:13.200 So, to be honest, even though the Lord has done this amazing miracle in our life, 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:18.200 I still have to really fight anxious thoughts that the other shoe is going to drop. 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:20.200 That maybe she's not perfectly healthy. 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:23.200 Maybe something's going to happen. 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:25.200 Maybe this is too good to be true. 00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:33.200 And so I have to return to this psalm regularly and believe its words are true all over again. 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:40.200 So I just want to encourage you, if you're here today, and you're not sure if you believe that these words are true, 00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:43.200 I get that, and I've been there. 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:51.200 But I want to remind you that in every circumstance that you could face, the Lord's goodness and love follows you. 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:56.200 When you're in your 20s and maybe you're single and lonely, the Lord's goodness and love follows you. 00:20:56.200 --> 00:21:05.200 When you're in the doctor's office and you're getting some of the worst news that you've gotten, the Lord's goodness and love follows you there. 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:10.200 When your life feels unmanageable, the Lord's goodness and love follows you. 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:16.200 And also when you're nearing the end of your race, the Lord's goodness and love is with you there. 00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:19.200 And you will dwell in his presence forever. 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:20.200 So thank you. 00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:28.200 And also just thank you during that season for praying for us and praying for things that we weren't even brave enough to pray for ourselves. 00:21:28.200 --> 00:21:29.200 So thank you, church. 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:43.200 Good morning, church family. 00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:44.200 My name is Ruth. 00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:52.200 I've been attending Trinity for two years, and I've experienced God's love and transformative measures during my time in New Haven. 00:21:52.200 --> 00:22:01.200 Born into strong Hindu families in India, my parents were first generation Christians, and my dad was disowned by his family for his faith. 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:09.200 My parents served in pastoral ministry, and they raised my brother and I with strong Christian values and beliefs. 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:15.200 Growing up, I was showered with love by my family, friends, relatives, and church members. 00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:22.200 I was an active member in the church, and I always believed that I'm a Christian who loves God. 00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:30.200 However, in October 2020, my dad had a heart attack that completely shattered my belief system. 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:34.200 I didn't want to live in a world where there is no dad. 00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:38.200 Slowly, he recovered, but his health was never the same. 00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:46.200 And due to family circumstances, I made the difficult decision to pursue a master's in the U.S. 00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:48.200 I did not want to leave. 00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:55.200 I come from a culture where people live and die in the same place where family relations mean everything. 00:22:55.200 --> 00:23:02.200 Wrestling with my decision, I found peace reading the word of God, and I continued reading for the next several months. 00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:14.200 For the first time, I saw the person in the Bible who stood right with all God's standards, Jesus, who revealed how broken, fake, and self-righteous I was. 00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:21.200 All my life, I looked at my Hindu friends and said, oh, they need Christ, and she needs Christ. 00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:24.200 Now I realized that I am no different. 00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:27.200 I'm a sinner who desperately needs Christ. 00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:38.200 All this time, my motivation behind my moralistic Christian life was devotion to my parents and the presumption that I could earn a peaceful and successful life. 00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:40.200 But it was never the love of Christ. 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:45.200 I realized that I had idolized my parents and many good things. 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:48.200 I never had the desire for God. 00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:50.200 I was in need of a savior. 00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:57.200 When I meditated on the cross, I understood the love of Christ and the freedom that comes through the cross. 00:23:57.200 --> 00:24:04.200 In those eight months of reading the Bible, God changed my heart to the point that I could live in any part of the world just with him. 00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:11.200 I knew no one in the United States, and I didn't know why I was going, but I believed Christ prepared me for this journey. 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:15.200 From that day forth, Christ became my everything. 00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:19.200 I moved to New Haven from India in August 2021. 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:26.200 On my first Sunday here while walking to Elm City Market, I saw Trinity Baptist Church and just walked in. 00:24:26.200 --> 00:24:27.200 So much was new. 00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:30.200 A new country, a new school, new people. 00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:36.200 During my first semester, I battled loneliness and wrestled with all the change. 00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:43.200 I had a clear struggle for joy, but God was teaching me to be content just in him. 00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:51.200 Since I had just two classes in a week and I was not authorized to work, I had a lot of free time, which made me feel even more lonely. 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:57.200 The mornings were the hardest, but my Lord didn't leave me there alone. 00:24:57.200 --> 00:25:00.200 He spoke to me through different verses. 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:05.200 I slowly started my day waiting for him to meet me and speak to me. 00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:12.200 I clearly remember how when Hannah cries for a baby in 1 Samuel, how her husband Elkanah asked her, 00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:15.200 Am I not more to you than ten sons? 00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:23.200 It encouraged me to ponder and proclaim how Christ is worth more than ten times of anything I am yearning for. 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:26.200 He quiets my heart with his love. 00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:27.200 Sometimes it's a verse. 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:29.200 Sometimes it's a song. 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:32.200 Sometimes it's a word of encouragement from a friend. 00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:34.200 Sometimes it's a Sunday sermon. 00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:37.200 Sometimes it's a hug of a kid. 00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:40.200 Sometimes it's a dinner with the church family. 00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:42.200 Oh, how my Lord took care of me. 00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:46.200 As a student, even financially, I was struggling without work. 00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:49.200 But God graciously provided. 00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:54.200 As Hagar in the wilderness says, you are a God of seeing. 00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:57.200 Truly, I have seen him who looks after me. 00:25:57.200 --> 00:26:00.200 Truly, I have seen him and grown to know him. 00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:06.200 Coming from a predominantly Hindu country, I didn't have many mature believers who I could look to. 00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:18.200 After coming here, I saw God's loving hand in bringing people into my life who really know the worth of Christ and live out their faith, who stir me to run the race with endurance. 00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:27.200 As a new Christian, I had so much of pride thinking that I chose Christ while many of my people didn't make a wise decision. 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:34.200 When I met people during Bible studies and fellowship time, their humility exposed my pride to me. 00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:37.200 I felt like I was missing a major piece of the gospel. 00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:46.200 Hearing the gospel day in and day out through the body of Christ, I encountered the truth of salvation by grace alone. 00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:56.200 I started wrestling with this truth as I couldn't accept that I didn't contribute anything to my salvation and that God owes mercy to none. 00:26:56.200 --> 00:27:01.200 When the truth came home to me, it was the sweetest and most joyous moment. 00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:07.200 When there was all the reason for my Lord to pass by, He chose to stay. 00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:09.200 And He has provided for my needs. 00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:17.200 After my graduation, due to my visa situation, I either needed to find a job within three months or go back to India. 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:20.200 I also needed a new place to live. 00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:28.200 After one month of praying, waiting, and applying, I got a job as an information processor at Cornel Scott Community Health Center. 00:27:28.200 --> 00:27:35.200 I struggled with the job initially as I couldn't use any of the public health knowledge that I gained through my master's program. 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:44.200 But I could sense God humbling me and teaching me to find my identity in Him and utterly in Him. 00:27:44.200 --> 00:27:50.200 After three months of working, I was promoted to a higher position during my probationary period. 00:27:50.200 --> 00:27:58.200 It was such an encouragement to experience God's love and favor through the love and appreciation my coworkers showed to me. 00:27:58.200 --> 00:28:05.200 Even with the housing situation, a sister from church and I found a house and were looking for a third roommate for one month. 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:09.200 And the third roommate showed up on the day of signing lease from Arkansas. 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:13.200 I was stunned to see God's timing and His provision. 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:15.200 Where would I be without you, Lord? 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:17.200 You are my home. 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:23.200 This summer, I was wrestling with the word home, reading through the book of John. 00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:30.200 In John chapter 14, verses 1 to 3, Christ encourages His disciples before heading to the crucifixion. 00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:33.200 Let not your hearts be troubled. 00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:34.200 Believe in God. 00:28:34.200 --> 00:28:36.200 Believe also in me. 00:28:36.200 --> 00:28:38.200 In my Father's house are many rooms. 00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:43.200 If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:50.200 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am. 00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:52.200 You may be also. 00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:55.200 Home is where Christ dwells. 00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:58.200 He promised I will take you to myself. 00:28:58.200 --> 00:29:04.200 My Lord didn't just rescue me from hell, but He made me His own daughter. 00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:10.200 And He said not to be troubled and to trust in His word that one day He will come. 00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:13.200 My Lord will come and take me home. 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:32.200 Last and least, my name is Luke Batty. 00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:38.200 My wife and I moved to New Haven in 2017 so I could attend graduate school. 00:29:38.200 --> 00:29:40.200 And our life was pretty great. 00:29:40.200 --> 00:29:42.200 My wife was pregnant with our first child. 00:29:42.200 --> 00:29:45.200 I was back in classes and I was excited to start my research. 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:48.200 And for a few years, this was unequivocally true. 00:29:48.200 --> 00:29:53.200 In the middle of 2019, however, graduate school and life became very tough. 00:29:53.200 --> 00:30:04.200 After being scooped in my project, contaminated, shut down due to the pandemic, I found myself a crusty old fifth year whose project was still in its infancy. 00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:11.200 During the first year of the pandemic, my wife lost her job and our second child was born. 00:30:11.200 --> 00:30:20.200 On top of all that, I was diagnosed with a heart defect that required surgery in October 2021 while my wife was fit to birth with our third child in November. 00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:24.200 All that to say, I was incredibly stressed. 00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:26.200 But it wasn't a stress I had ever encountered before. 00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:28.200 This was existential stress. 00:30:28.200 --> 00:30:30.200 Who was I going to be? 00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:32.200 What was my life going to look like? 00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:34.200 Would I be able to provide for my family? 00:30:34.200 --> 00:30:36.200 Would I even graduate? 00:30:36.200 --> 00:30:42.200 For the first time in my life, I could actually identify with the psalmist when he wrote in Psalm 69, 00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:46.200 Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. 00:30:46.200 --> 00:30:49.200 I sink in deep mire where there is no foothold. 00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:53.200 I have come into deep waters and the flood sweeps over me. 00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:55.200 I am weary with crying out. 00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:57.200 My throat is parched. 00:30:57.200 --> 00:31:01.200 My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God. 00:31:01.200 --> 00:31:06.200 In my weakness, I returned to an old sin that I thought I had overcome. 00:31:06.200 --> 00:31:09.200 I began to view pornography again. 00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:12.200 You see, I was exposed to it when I was very young. 00:31:12.200 --> 00:31:15.200 And by the time I hit adolescence, I was an unwilling addict. 00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:18.200 I had been brought up in a good Christian home. 00:31:18.200 --> 00:31:20.200 I knew that viewing pornography was wrong. 00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:29.200 But despite my heartfelt attempts to avoid it, limit it, punish myself, or just be a better person, I failed. 00:31:29.200 --> 00:31:35.200 In my youth, it was this experience of depravity that taught me viscerally of my need for the grace of God. 00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:39.200 When I met my wife, I was able to reject porn for five years with only one lapse. 00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:44.200 However, the stress of graduate school brought that progress crumbling down. 00:31:44.200 --> 00:31:49.200 Eventually, the Holy Spirit convicted me to the point of desperation. 00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:53.200 My conscience was so burdened by my sin that I could hardly look at my wife. 00:31:53.200 --> 00:31:58.200 For over two years in our marriage, we had shared unbroken honesty and intimacy. 00:31:58.200 --> 00:32:03.200 And somehow, in another two years, I had built a wedge of sin to keep us apart. 00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:09.200 It had been over two months since my last relapse, and I desired more than anything to just have honesty with my wife. 00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:12.200 I tried to split the baby. 00:32:12.200 --> 00:32:16.200 I told her that I would appreciate prayer because the desire to view porn was still with me, 00:32:16.200 --> 00:32:18.200 and I didn't think it was ever going to go away. 00:32:18.200 --> 00:32:24.200 For some reason, it didn't occur to me that she would immediately follow up that declaration with an obvious question. 00:32:24.200 --> 00:32:26.200 Had I given in? 00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:29.200 Sometimes the Spirit works through stupidity. 00:32:29.200 --> 00:32:37.200 At that moment, I had the opportunity to choose lies and comfort or honesty and destruction. 00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:41.200 Like I was watching from the outside, I saw myself choose destruction. 00:32:41.200 --> 00:32:43.200 And it was destruction. 00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:47.200 I saw the entire history of our marriage crumble in my wife's eyes. 00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:50.200 It was completely unfair. 00:32:50.200 --> 00:32:57.200 I had the assuaged conscience of finally being honest, like a suffocating blanket had been taken off and I could breathe fresh air again. 00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:59.200 But my wife was now choking. 00:32:59.200 --> 00:33:04.200 That was probably the hardest few months of my life, but it was definitely the hardest of my wife's. 00:33:04.200 --> 00:33:11.200 We celebrated our ninth dating anniversary a few weeks later, and it was like trying to drive a car with four flat tires. 00:33:11.200 --> 00:33:13.200 What could I do? 00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:19.200 All I could do was commit to being perfectly honest with my wife and to take the consequences. 00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:23.200 We did marriage counseling, regular counseling, and nightly discussions. 00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:27.200 And over time, I started to see my wife again through the tears. 00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:31.200 Through a miracle of the Holy Spirit, God repaired my marriage. 00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:40.200 In our restoration and recovery, I came to a greater understanding of myself as a porn addict, as a man, as a husband, and as a believer. 00:33:40.200 --> 00:33:46.200 I could now pray to God knowing exactly who I was and in every day mourning his grace. 00:33:46.200 --> 00:33:51.200 By God's providence, around this time, a recovery group opened in my church, the Freedom Group. 00:33:51.200 --> 00:34:00.200 This is a place where I can meet with other members of Trinity and learn strategies for recovery, the process of deconstructing porn addiction. 00:34:00.200 --> 00:34:04.200 I'm learning to bear another's burden and to allow my burden to be carried by others. 00:34:04.200 --> 00:34:16.199 If you're sitting here today, harboring porn addiction or some other sexual sin and desire to have relief, please don't allow another week to pass before reaching out to me, Steve, or Corbin. 00:34:16.199 --> 00:34:19.199 Trinity has a resource for you in the Freedom Group. 00:34:19.199 --> 00:34:22.199 You can experience relief and freedom. 00:34:22.199 --> 00:34:28.199 Following these events, God decided to put my newfound commitment to recovery to the test. 00:34:28.199 --> 00:34:37.199 Only a few days before my final committee meeting, where they would decide whether I could graduate, I had a stroke that left me paralyzed on the right side of my body for a minute. 00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:42.199 For 60 seconds, I believed that I would be partially paralyzed for the rest of my life. 00:34:42.199 --> 00:34:47.199 Graciously, God granted me mercy that day, and the effects of the stroke quickly subsided. 00:34:47.199 --> 00:34:53.199 The next 10 weeks were spent constantly writing and working to prepare for my dissertation. 00:34:53.199 --> 00:34:58.199 However, the week that my thesis was due for submission, I suffered a second stroke. 00:34:58.199 --> 00:35:06.199 I feverishly attempted to finish my dissertation in my hospital gown and turned in my finished thesis only hours before the deadline. 00:35:06.199 --> 00:35:10.199 Is this a Thanksgiving testimony? 00:35:10.199 --> 00:35:13.199 How can I give thanks to God throughout these trials? 00:35:13.199 --> 00:35:24.199 It is true that God deserves the glory in all things, in good times and bad, but isn't it also true that God is especially loud in our times of trial and tribulation? 00:35:24.199 --> 00:35:32.199 C.S. Lewis in The Problem of Pain comments that we can ignore pleasure, but pain insists upon being attended to. 00:35:32.199 --> 00:35:38.199 God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. 00:35:38.199 --> 00:35:42.199 It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world. 00:35:42.199 --> 00:35:45.199 God was graciously shouting to me in these trials. 00:35:45.199 --> 00:35:49.199 He taught me through my difficult years in graduate school to rely on Him. 00:35:49.199 --> 00:35:56.199 I had to return to porn and almost ruin my marriage before I was willing to see that I didn't trust God with my circumstances. 00:35:56.199 --> 00:36:01.199 But in His mercy, He resurrected my marriage to where it is stronger than it ever was. 00:36:01.199 --> 00:36:08.199 He taught me to trust Him to provide for my needs through my health problems, both surgery and strokes. 00:36:08.199 --> 00:36:13.199 I learned firsthand what it meant to be weak and needy and what it meant to suffer. 00:36:13.199 --> 00:36:24.199 But the reliance He engendered in me and my family is a lesson worth any cost, and through it He gave me and my family an appreciation for health and blood thinners. 00:36:24.199 --> 00:36:29.199 And finally, He exposed me to the sweet aroma of unmerited love. 00:36:29.199 --> 00:36:34.199 He did this through the everyday acts of kindness from this church, the meals and the childcare, 00:36:34.199 --> 00:36:41.199 through the fellowship I found in the Freedom Group where we can work through the difficulties in our lives without resorting to a vicious crutch, 00:36:41.199 --> 00:36:46.199 and through the opportunities you've all provided to receive our service in turn. 00:36:46.199 --> 00:36:49.199 For all these things and more, I am thankful. 00:36:49.199 --> 00:36:54.199 I mentioned the psalmist's lament in Psalm 69. 00:36:54.199 --> 00:36:59.199 I can now also honestly proclaim the word that end that psalm. 00:36:59.199 --> 00:37:02.199 I will praise the name of God with a song. 00:37:02.199 --> 00:37:04.199 I will magnify Him with thanksgiving. 00:37:04.199 --> 00:37:09.199 This will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. 00:37:09.199 --> 00:37:11.199 When the humble see it, they will be glad. 00:37:11.199 --> 00:37:14.199 You who seek God, let your hearts revive. 00:37:14.199 --> 00:37:18.199 For the Lord hears the needy and does not despise His own people who are prisoners. 00:37:18.199 --> 00:37:23.199 Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them. 00:37:23.199 --> 00:37:25.199 Thank you. 00:37:25.199 --> 00:37:47.199 I hope you know one of the greatest privileges it is as a pastor is to look out and see faces and to know stories. 00:37:47.199 --> 00:37:58.199 I want you to know I didn't know all the details that were shared when we asked the five of you to share. 00:37:58.199 --> 00:38:05.199 And I look around and I think there are so many others who we could have asked instead, but it is a privilege. 00:38:05.199 --> 00:38:07.199 What I'd like to do now is go to prayer. 00:38:07.199 --> 00:38:10.199 So will you join me in prayer? 00:38:10.199 --> 00:38:17.199 Oh Lord Jesus, we thank you. 00:38:17.199 --> 00:38:31.199 Lord, that through the various trials that these brothers and sisters and many others among us have faced various shapes, various forms. 00:38:31.199 --> 00:38:38.199 Lord, you have not abandoned us, but you have drawn us near to you. 00:38:38.199 --> 00:38:42.199 And Lord, we confess that there are times that we doubt that you are near. 00:38:42.199 --> 00:38:45.199 There are times when we don't feel your presence. 00:38:45.199 --> 00:38:50.199 Lord, we thank you for the enduring testimony. 00:38:50.199 --> 00:38:54.199 Lord, the testimony of your people. 00:38:54.199 --> 00:39:00.199 Lord, that you are God, that you are real, that you are with us. 00:39:00.199 --> 00:39:03.199 And we give thanks to you. 00:39:03.199 --> 00:39:12.199 Lord, we give thanks for your sovereign power, that there is nothing, nothing that is outside of your control. 00:39:12.199 --> 00:39:21.199 That there is nothing that stands against us that you are not able to work on and to accomplish your will. 00:39:21.199 --> 00:39:29.199 Lord, we give you thanks for your power, that you are always working for the good of those who love you. 00:39:29.199 --> 00:39:32.199 We thank you for your holiness. 00:39:32.199 --> 00:39:37.199 Lord, that you hate what is evil and love what is good. 00:39:37.199 --> 00:39:46.199 Lord, we thank you for your mercy and grace that you do not treat us as our sins deserve, but you have forgiven us in Jesus. 00:39:46.199 --> 00:39:49.199 We thank you for your provision. 00:39:49.199 --> 00:39:57.199 That you are a heavenly father who knows what we need even before we ask and that you delight to provide for us. 00:39:57.199 --> 00:40:01.199 Lord, we thank you for trials and hardships. 00:40:01.199 --> 00:40:06.199 For the ways that you teach us. 00:40:06.199 --> 00:40:10.199 Lord, we thank you for your spirit. 00:40:10.199 --> 00:40:14.199 That you have come and dwelt within us. 00:40:14.199 --> 00:40:17.199 Lord, to seal us for the day of redemption. 00:40:17.199 --> 00:40:21.199 To empower us to walk by faith and not by sight. 00:40:21.199 --> 00:40:25.199 To remind us of the truth when we have lost sight of it. 00:40:25.199 --> 00:40:29.199 To fill our hearts with joy and thanksgiving even through tears. 00:40:29.199 --> 00:40:34.199 Thank you, Lord, for your spirit. 00:40:34.199 --> 00:40:37.199 And Lord, we thank you for our church. 00:40:37.199 --> 00:40:39.199 For the work that you have done among us. 00:40:39.199 --> 00:40:46.199 For their faithfulness that you have shown year after year in so many different circumstances. 00:40:46.199 --> 00:40:53.199 Oh, Lord, may we be a church that gives praise and thanks to you. 00:40:53.199 --> 00:40:56.199 I pray this in Jesus' name. 00:40:56.199 --> 00:40:57.199 Amen. 00:40:57.199 --> 00:41:02.199 It wouldn't be a Trinity service if we didn't open the Bible and look at it for a few minutes. 00:41:02.199 --> 00:41:04.199 So, we're going to do that now. 00:41:04.199 --> 00:41:07.199 But before I do that, not before that. 00:41:07.199 --> 00:41:13.199 As an introduction, I want to say that this week has not been what I expected it to be. 00:41:13.199 --> 00:41:16.199 And the message that I bring comes from my heart. 00:41:16.199 --> 00:41:21.199 And one of the things that has struck me is that with Christmas around the corner, 00:41:21.199 --> 00:41:27.199 I think of the words of John that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. 00:41:27.199 --> 00:41:46.199 And one of the patterns that seems to be true in Scripture and in God's sovereign overseeing of the world is that his goodness, his faithfulness, and his work often shines more brightly in the midst of trial and hardship. 00:41:46.199 --> 00:41:58.199 And I also want to make sure that we acknowledge that as we think about the theme of thanksgiving and giving thanks to God for what he's done, God doesn't always deliver us. 00:41:58.199 --> 00:42:02.199 God doesn't always restore our marriage. 00:42:02.199 --> 00:42:08.199 Sometimes he sustains us through the broken wreckage of a marriage that won't be restored. 00:42:08.199 --> 00:42:11.199 He doesn't always heal us of disease. 00:42:11.199 --> 00:42:17.199 He doesn't always renew relationships that have been broken. 00:42:17.199 --> 00:42:30.199 There are times when we will see the consequences of sin and fallenness in the world and know that the hope and the ultimate resolution of those things will not be in this life, but will be in eternity. 00:42:30.199 --> 00:42:36.199 And when Jesus comes to make all things new. 00:42:36.199 --> 00:42:42.199 This is what Paul reminds us when he talks about when he says something in Romans 5 about this. 00:42:42.199 --> 00:42:50.199 He says, not only this, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that sufferings produce endurance and endurance produce character and character produces hope. 00:42:50.199 --> 00:43:00.199 And hope does not put us to shame because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 00:43:00.199 --> 00:43:07.199 You see, the sufferings that we endure, the greatest thing we want from God to do is to resolve them. 00:43:07.199 --> 00:43:11.199 But sometimes God is doing other things in the midst of them. 00:43:11.199 --> 00:43:19.199 But having said that, it is also important for us as a people to give thanks to God. 00:43:19.199 --> 00:43:26.199 So, my text this morning is from the beginning of the book of Romans, chapter 1, verses 8 through 12. 00:43:26.199 --> 00:43:27.199 And I'm just going to make two. 00:43:27.199 --> 00:43:29.199 This is not truly expositional. 00:43:29.199 --> 00:43:33.199 I'm going to make two observations about Thanksgiving briefly. 00:43:33.199 --> 00:43:38.199 This is what Paul writes when he writes to the church in Rome. 00:43:38.199 --> 00:43:47.199 He says, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 00:43:47.199 --> 00:44:02.199 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 00:44:02.199 --> 00:44:09.199 For I long to see you that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you. 00:44:09.199 --> 00:44:17.199 That is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. 00:44:17.199 --> 00:44:19.199 Now, there's a lot in this passage. 00:44:19.199 --> 00:44:21.199 It's a beautiful passage. 00:44:21.199 --> 00:44:25.199 But I want to make two observations about Thanksgiving this morning. 00:44:25.199 --> 00:44:31.199 The first one is that when he says, I give thanks, it is not to the ether. 00:44:31.199 --> 00:44:33.199 It is not to nobody. 00:44:33.199 --> 00:44:34.199 It has a direction. 00:44:34.199 --> 00:44:38.199 I thank God. 00:44:38.199 --> 00:44:48.199 I thank God for all the things I see that are good in the world. 00:44:48.199 --> 00:44:57.259 And particularly here, he says, I thank God because of you, because your faith is being 00:44:57.259 --> 00:45:03.079 proclaimed everywhere. For all the things that he could have praised God for, for all the ways that 00:45:03.079 --> 00:45:11.899 he's seen God provide, rescue, deliver from hardships and trials, what Paul was most especially 00:45:11.900 --> 00:45:20.660 thankful for in this passage is, I thank God for you because of your faith. And so, thanksgiving for 00:45:20.660 --> 00:45:27.680 a Christian needs to start here with a recognition that everything we have is from God, and most 00:45:27.680 --> 00:45:35.740 importantly, what we have is the faith to know him, because in that faith we have salvation 00:45:35.739 --> 00:45:45.659 and eternal life and hope that is indestructible and love that is unshakable. And this is the great 00:45:45.659 --> 00:45:55.059 joy. And it's remarkable that he says this because he could have said other things. He could have said 00:45:55.059 --> 00:46:00.879 things like, and this might happen in our culture today, I'm thankful that you are so wise that you 00:46:00.880 --> 00:46:07.619 chose the right God to believe in, and that you found it reasonable enough for you to think that 00:46:07.619 --> 00:46:14.480 maybe Jesus was worth your time and your energy. But he doesn't say that. He doesn't say, I'm thankful 00:46:14.480 --> 00:46:21.960 that you're such wonderful people. He says, I thank God because you have faith in Jesus and because God 00:46:21.960 --> 00:46:33.559 has worked that in you. And that is the focus of Paul's thanksgiving is to look to God. And so, as we 00:46:33.559 --> 00:46:39.880 go into this season where our culture celebrates thanksgiving, we have all the more reason to be 00:46:39.880 --> 00:46:47.099 thankful, but particularly we have a reason to be thankful in a direction, thankful to God for all of 00:46:47.099 --> 00:46:54.279 these things. The second thing that I see in this passage regarding thanksgiving is what we see in 00:46:54.279 --> 00:47:00.699 verses 11 and 12. Paul's saying, what I really long to see happen, what I'm really, what I've been 00:47:00.699 --> 00:47:08.940 praying for is that God would allow me to be with you so that we might be mutually encouraged by one 00:47:08.940 --> 00:47:17.139 another's faith. And it strikes me that this is what we do when we gather as believers, whether it's 00:47:17.139 --> 00:47:26.240 on Sunday morning or in small groups or over text messages or coffee in the morning or whatever it is, 00:47:26.360 --> 00:47:34.500 the ways when we gather together, God has a purpose that's related to thanksgiving. Because Paul has just 00:47:34.500 --> 00:47:40.119 said, I'm thankful for your faith. And then he says, what I long for is so that we might be together 00:47:40.119 --> 00:47:48.519 so that we can together give thanks for what God has done in our lives. We can share, bear testimony 00:47:48.519 --> 00:47:56.900 to what God has done in each other's lives so that we might give thanks and be strengthened in our faith. 00:47:57.960 --> 00:48:04.179 So striking, Paul says, that we may be mutually encouraged by our faith, yours and mine. We always 00:48:04.179 --> 00:48:14.879 think of Paul as some super saint, right, who didn't need that. And yet he's writing to this 00:48:14.879 --> 00:48:19.919 church that surely has young believers who barely know anything, but once I was blind and now I'm 00:48:19.919 --> 00:48:26.559 seeing, now I can see. And he says, I'm so thankful because I long to see you so that we may be mutually 00:48:26.559 --> 00:48:34.039 encouraged. And from that then, we're about to go and have a meal together. 00:48:34.179 --> 00:48:40.819 And I want to give you an application. As we sit around our tables, as we talk, you don't have to 00:48:40.819 --> 00:48:47.219 talk about this the whole time, but what a great question it would be to say, hey, what are you 00:48:47.219 --> 00:48:57.039 thankful for? What have you seen God doing in your life? So that we might be mutually encouraged 00:48:57.039 --> 00:49:03.820 in our faith and give thanks to God, not only for what we see in our lives, but what we see 00:49:03.820 --> 00:49:10.219 in each other's lives. And so that together we may be strengthened in our walk with him. 00:49:11.900 --> 00:49:17.460 And at the end of the day, the one thing you may be here this morning and feel like, 00:49:17.460 --> 00:49:22.260 I have very little to be thankful for. My life is falling apart. I have nothing. 00:49:24.960 --> 00:49:31.199 But remember, Paul started by saying, I give thanks to God for you because your faith 00:49:31.199 --> 00:49:39.440 is real. And this is the thing we can always give thanks to God for, that Jesus Christ came 00:49:39.440 --> 00:49:46.320 and in love. He offered himself up for us to die on the cross for our sins, to rise from the dead, 00:49:46.659 --> 00:49:54.260 the good news of the gospel, and that this is ours. And friends, if we have nothing else to thank God 00:49:54.260 --> 00:50:03.059 for today, we have that. And let us give thanks for that this morning. Let's pray. 00:50:03.059 --> 00:50:14.940 Lord, we do give you thanks and praise for your goodness. And thank you for this time when we've 00:50:14.940 --> 00:50:22.019 been able to listen to our brothers and sisters share and be strengthened by their testimony, 00:50:23.000 --> 00:50:31.900 be encouraged by what you have done in their lives. Lord, we give you thanks because we know that 00:50:31.900 --> 00:50:38.139 you are the one in whom all things hold together. Lord, in you we live and move and have our being. 00:50:39.660 --> 00:50:44.380 Lord, from you, every good and perfect gift in heaven comes. 00:50:46.320 --> 00:50:54.460 Oh, Lord, we pray you would make us thankful people, not only thankful, but thankful most of all 00:50:54.460 --> 00:50:57.000 for the gospel and for Jesus.