5 Reasons To Give Thanks

INTRODUCTION

• PC VIDEO

• SLIDE #1

• It is so easy to forget the small things in life; it is easy to forget the BIG things also.

• Milk, a washer and dryer, a TV remote, the and most tragic loss of all, it looks like his iPad disappeared!

• During the course of life, we get too busy to take a moment to pause and give thanks.

• Think about all the simple things in life we can be thankful for. I am thankful for so much, life could have turned out so much worse, I could have been born into poverty in some other country with no way to escape it.

• When the Pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving in the autumn of 1621, only 53 of the original 102 passengers who left on the Mayflower of September of 1620 we still alive to celebrate.

• SLIDES 2,3,4

• Here is a copy of an original passenger list written by Governor Bradford that he compiled up to 1651.

• It is also easy to forget things we do not see. God has done so much in our lives that we do not see, hear, or smell; nonetheless, He has done some great things for us.

• Those without Jesus right now need to understand that these gifts are meant for them too, if they will give their lives to Jesus Christ.

• Today we will explore Psalm 103:1-5 together. This Psalm is attributed to David, the timing of the Psalm is not easy to nail down, but it is probably penned later in his life; suffice to say that David was full of joy during the writing of this Psalm.

• When you look at the previous Psalm, Psalm 102, this one stands in stark contrast to the depressing Psalm 102.

• Psalm 103 starts out…

• SLIDE #5

• Psalm 103:1–2 (HCSB) — My soul, praise Yahweh, and all that is within me, praise His holy name. My soul, praise the Lord, and do not forget all His benefits.

• David says he is going to praise the Lord with all that is in him!

• His praise is in response of the awe for God, as he reflects on the great things God had done for His people throughout history.

• He reminds us in verse 2 not to forget God’s BENEFITS.

• This word BENEFITS denotes something that aids or promotes one’s well-being.

• We need to remember that what God has done for us is because He cares about out well-being. He wants us to be with him for eternity!

• Let’s begin this morning by looking at Psalm 103:3.

• SLIDE #6

• Psalm 103:3 (HCSB) He forgives all your sin; He heals all your diseases.

• SLIDE #7

SERMON

I. God forgives your sins.

• Forgiveness of sins is not that flashy sports car, nor is it that fat bank account we all desire. Nevertheless, having one’s sins forgiven by God is the key opening the door to all the other rich blessings God has in store for us.

• Have you ever done something to another person who you cared about, yet they would not forgive you?

• Does it feel great to know that you are sorry for something, yet here you stand unforgiven.

• Now imagine that person comes to you one day and forgives you. How would that feel?

• God created us with freewill, we can choose to do good or evil. God gives us the freedom to do what we want; however, once we commit our first sin, that sin separates us from God.

• We will remain eternally separated until our sins are forgiven by God.

• Many folks want to dream up their own way to be forgiven, but we know in the real world that does not work.

• If you wrong someone, and you desire forgiveness, you cannot dictate to that person HOW they will forgive you, you must accept their terms to be forgiven.

• God is the same way. If you want to enjoy forgiveness, you need follow God’s terms, and not dictate to God HOW He will forgive you!

• God tells us that we are to put our faith in Him, that we are to confess Him as our Lord, we are to repent, and that we are to be baptized into Him!

• SLIDE #8

• Acts 2:38 (HCSB) “Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

• Colossians 1:14 reminds us that we have FORGIVENESS in Jesus! John 1:29 tells us that Jesus came to take away our sins!

• God does not hold forgiven sins over your head, later on in the chapter we are told…