Sermon Central
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How Could You Be Thankful? Series
Contributed by Shawn Drake on Dec 30, 2014 (message contributor)
Summary: This is the 1st sermon in the Christmas Series, "Out Of Your Mind". This sermon ask how we can be thankful even when things are not going well.
Series: Out Of Your Mind [#1]
HOW COULD YOU BE THANKFUL?
Introduction:
As a parent, I get to observe my children do things that make be absolutely crazy. I have said to each of them more than once, “You must be out of your mind”? As I think of the many decisions that I have had to make through the years; I realized that when I make Christ like decisions that the world looks at me and says, “You must be out of your mind”.
With Thanksgiving days away, there are many who wonder if there is anything in their life to be thankful for. We are told to be thankful in all circumstances; but that just seems crazy. I know that each of you face times in which you ask the question, “How can I be thankful during a time like this”?
You can be thankful because…
1. Jesus left Heaven for you.
I don’t think that we realize what Jesus actually gave up. In order for Jesus to come to this earth and save us, He had to take on the form of a man. Not only did He have to take on the form of man; but He had to leave Heaven. He gave up things like being omnipresent. Jesus knew at the very beginning that He was going to have to pay our price. Jesus knew that the world was dark and evil; and we all needed Light. Jesus came to bring Light and Life to the world.
Christians, you have much to be thankful for. The Son of God loves you so much that He became sin for you and died for you.
You can be thankful because…
2. God can use you.
In Matthew 1:1-17, we find the genealogy of Jesus from His Mother’s side of the family. While we’re not going to read each name, there are some names in this genealogy that I want to look at. There are 5 women listed in this genealogy and each of them have issues.
Tamar.
Tamar was Judah’s daughter-in-law. Tamar’s 1st husband, Er was evil and God killed him. Tamar’s 2nd husband, Onan was evil and God killed him. Judah told Tamar that she would have to wait for his youngest son Shelah to be older. After some time went by, it was obvious to Tamar that Judah was not going to give her Shelah as her husband and she was going to never have children, so she invented a plan. She pretended to be a prostitute and slept with her Father-in-law Judah.
Rahab.
Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho. She hid 2 Israelite spies and her and her family were spared. She was a foreigner and a prostitute and God used her.
Ruth.
Ruth was a Moabite woman whose husband died. Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi and Ruth’s sister-in-law Orpah’s husbands also died. The 3 women were headed to Naomi’s hometown Bethlehem. Naomi released both of them to go back to their hometowns; but Ruth stuck by her. God worked things out and Boaz redeemed Ruth and they were married.
Bathsheba.
Bathsheba was the wife Uriah. It is interesting here that her name is not listed. King David went out on the roof and saw Bathsheba bathing. He had her brought over and they had an affair. When David learned that she was pregnant he sent Uriah to the front line of the battle and had him killed.
Mary.
Mary the mother of Jesus was a pregnant teenager who was a virgin. You can imagine what was said about her. God used her to be the mother of the Savior of the World.
The main point I want you to get from this is that God can use anybody. He placed a conniving woman; a prostitute; a foreigner; an adulteress; and a teenage virgin in the line of His only begotten Son. God puts us in places and in situations that He uses us in for His glory and honor. No matter who we are, God can use us. It doesn’t matter about our past mistakes or where we are born. It doesn’t matter if we are rich or poor- God can use you.
You can be thankful because…
3. Jesus gives you victory.
Jesus is the Light and He came to this earth to give us light. He came to this earth so that we could be children of God. There is no Easter without Christmas.
Conclusion:
You may have many problems and troubles in your life; but if you have Jesus Christ as your Savior you can be thankful. When people look at your life and ask, “How can you be thankful”; simply tell them, “Jesus”.
