Don’t Be A Turkey This Thanksgiving

DON’T BE A TURKEY THIS THANKSGIVING

Phip. 2:14

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. The day before Thanksgiving, an elderly man in Phoenix called his son in New York and said to him,

2."I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing. 45 years of misery is enough. We're sick of each other, and so you can call your sister in Chicago and tell her."

3. Frantic, the son called his sister, who exploded on the phone, "Like heck they're divorcing," she shouted, "I'll take care of this!" She immediately called Phoenix and said to her father...

4. "You’re NOT getting divorced! Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing. DO YOU HEAR ME?"

5. The Dad hung up his phone and turned to his wife, "Okay, honey. The kids are coming for Thanksgiving and paying for their own flights."

6. That made mom and dad happy!

B. EVERYONE SHOULD BE HAPPY

1. Thanksgiving is a wonderful time: that's when we do the four “F’s”: Family, Food, Football and Fun.

2. Everyone should be happy on Thanksgiving. Can you think of anyone who's not happy about Thanksgiving? Yes -- the Turkey!

3. But not all turkeys are birds; sometimes people are turkeys too:

a. party pooper's, unpleasant to be around.

b. Those trying to pull a fast one on us.

c. Those who aren't thankful for their blessings!

4. So "Don't Be A Turkey on Thanksgiving!"

C. EVERYONE SHOULD BE THANKFUL

1. "The natural impulse of most people is to be ungrateful, discontented, unappreciative and thankless."

2. Look at the 10 lepers that Jesus healed; only one returned to say "Thank You" to Jesus.

3. Knowing our condition, God has commanded, "Do all things without grumbling... and complaining." Phip. 2:14, Amp. and, "Thank [God] in everything -- no matter what the circumstances may be... for this is the will of God for you." 1 Thess. 5:18, Amp.

4. So I want to give you four reasons to be thankful this Thanksgiving:

I. THANKFUL YOU’RE A CHRISTIAN

"Pastor, do you really have to put this one on the list? We already are glad we’re Christians." No, we will not fully comprehend how fortunate we are until after the rapture, at the Judgment Seat, and during all eternity.

A. FORTUNATE TO BE A CHRISTIAN

1. “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it” Mt. 13:16-17.

2. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” Mt. 7:13-14.

3. “Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: ‘Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved’” Rom. 9:27.

4. Out of the hundreds of billions who have lived and died on planet Earth, you are one of the few chosen by God to live with Him in glory and bliss for all eternity.

B. CHRISTIANITY – THE RELIGION OF THANKSGIVING

1. Gratitude develops when a person receives a gift we couldn't possibly afford. We feel a debt of gratitude toward the giver.

2. God gave the priceless gift of His Son so heaven wouldn't have a price tag to us.

3. All other religions are based on works. Their followers don't have to be thankful, for they earn their own way to heaven.

4. But Christianity tells us the truth that we can't get there on our own, because we're not good enough.

5. It's by God's grace that we’re saved, that's why only Christians celebrate Thanksgiving! Only three countries celebrate it as a national holiday: the United States, Canada, and the Philippines!

II. THANKFUL THAT YOU’RE AN AMERICAN

A. GOD PUT YOU HERE

1. “From one man He made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us” Acts 17:26-27.

2. It's not accidental that you and I were born here. We could have been born in many other places and times. But God caused us to be born in the Head of the Nations during its hour of glory. With this privilege comes responsibility (like Babylon/ Rome).