Thank You Lord Series

Thanksgiving 2006

Sermon # 3 0f 3

Nov. 26th 2006 AM

Most of us know the story of the first Thanksgiving—at least, we know the Pilgrim version. But how many of us know the Indian viewpoint? No, I’m not talking about some revisionist, p.c. version of history. I’m talking about the amazing story of the way God used an Indian named Squanto as a special instrument of His providence.

Historical accounts of Squanto’s life vary, but historians believe that around 1608—more than a decade before the Pilgrims landed in the New World—a group of English traders, led by a Captain Hunt, sailed to what is today Plymouth, Massachusetts. When the trusting Wampanoag Indians came out to trade, Hunt took them prisoner, transported them to Spain, and sold them into slavery.

But God had an amazing plan for one of the captured Indians—a boy named Squanto.

Squanto was bought by a well-meaning Spanish monk, who treated him well and taught him the Christian faith. Squanto eventually made his way to England and worked in the stable of a man named John Slaney. Slaney sympathized with Squanto’s desire to return home, and he promised to put the Indian on the first vessel bound for America. It wasn’t until 1619—ten years after Squanto was first kidnapped—that a ship was found. Finally, after a decade of exile and heartbreak, Squanto was on his way home.

But when he arrived in Massachusetts, more heartbreak awaited him. An epidemic had wiped out Squanto’s entire village. We can only imagine what must have gone through Squanto’s mind. Why had God allowed him to return home, against all odds, only to find his loved ones dead? A year later, the answer came. A shipload of English families arrived and settled on the very land once occupied by Squanto’s people. Squanto went to meet them, greeting the startled Pilgrims in English. According to the diary of Pilgrim Governor William Bradford, Squanto “became a special instrument sent of God for [our] good . . . He showed [us] how to plant [our] corn, where to take fish and to procure other commodities . . . and was also [our] pilot to bring [us] to unknown places for [our] profit, and never left [us] till he died.” When Squanto lay dying of a fever, Bradford wrote that their Indian friend “desir[ed] the Governor to pray for him, that he might go to the Englishmen’s God in heaven.” Squanto bequeathed his possessions to his English friends “as remembrances of his love.” Who but God could so miraculously weave together the lives of a lonely Indian and a struggling band of Englishmen? ( Charles Colson, BreakPoint Commentary, November 25, 1998, (c) 1998 Prison Fellowship Ministries)

God is in control of all circumstances, both the good and the bad. As we learned last Sun night the 50/20 principle taken from Genesis 50and verse 20 where Joseph said to his brothers “But as for you, ye thought it evil against me; but God meant it unto good.” Did you take time this Thanksgiving weekend, to give thanks to God for the way he works in your life? Two weeks

ago, we examined an attitude of praise. For thanks comes from the heart steming from an attitude of Praise. Last week , We looked at the importance of giving thanks through the the parable of the 10 lepers recorded for us in Luke 17. This morning we will Conclude our mini- series by look at giving Thanks to God. We will look at Several scripture passages this morning and discover some specfic things we can thank God for. PRAY

I. THANK YOU ,LORD GOD FOR YOUR WORD- I Thess 2:12,13; Col 3:16

II. THANK YOU ,LORD GOD FOR YOUR GIFT OF SALVATION- II Corinthians 9:15,

III. THANK YOU, LORD GOD FOR GIVING US THE VICTORY - I Cor. 15:57, II Cor 2:14-16

I. THANK YOU ,LORD GOD FOR YOUR WORD- I Thess 2:12,13; Col 3:16

The apostle Paul was a Prayer warrior. In just about all the NT Books He wrote, he would start the letter thanking God for the individual or group of individuals that he was addressing, The Church at Thessalonia was no exception, in faith, Paul reminds them several times in both epistles that he is thanking the Lord on their behalf. Notice I Thessalonians 1:2:

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.

Keep your finger there, Turn (or go across the page to I Thess 2:13,14:

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. For ye, brethren became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews.