Let Us Give Thanks

Let Us Give Thanks

HHM Pastor Jim Parisi 11-23-02

With Thanksgiving coming up this week and the Holidays approaching.

It would be a time for us reflect on How blessed we are as a people.

Especially in S. Calif. and here at Harvest House

Blessed first, because we are saved and are now able to have a personal relationship with the Lord.

Think about it… A personal relationship... One on One… with the creator of the universe.

Not one of acquaintance… not an outsider looking in…. but one who has been given the title of a Son or Daughter… sitting at the masters table

Ro 8:15 - For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

The Spirit of adoption has made us His child …His Heirs……

Only sons and daughters can cry out Father

He is our benefactor and provider. Talk about a sound future... That’s Stock in Heaven to me

Ever see those old commercials where the man says you’re in good hands with Allstate… Or Prudential … you got a piece of the Rock.

Forget that.. That’s mans comprehension… and understanding

Mans thinking always falls short of God’s Magnificence and Splendor

Who wants to settle for a piece of Gods best….please raise your hand.....?

I have the whole Pie… not a piece… living in me now. Yes the Whole Spirit of the Living God inside of me.

Helping ….Guiding….Teaching…. Correcting me….

Someone should be shouting here today because you are so blessed.

Pure gratitude should be driving you to witness the Gospel… to all the people you can touch...

Just because you realize what a gift it is... What He has given us … NO Charge … free … gradas

It makes me laugh because we all do this… I’m about to speak on

What’s the first thing you do when you get a new car or a great gift?

You call... tell or drive that baby up to your friends homes... to show them “LOOK what I just got”

We stand like proud conquerors. Taking photos with our latest acquisition.

Telling the tail of our great negotiation skills…. in the battle of options and price...

And this is proper …. It’s OK to have fruits from your labor … you work hard for these blessings.

What I’m trying to make a point about here is ….

Church then how much more should we be proud about the precious gifts the Lord gives us? Priceless ones

The world needs a Reality Check people... If you get that excited about a car and jump out of your skin…

What about eternal Life? How excited and thankful should we be about that?

Psalm 103 1-5 1 A Psalm of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The psalmist says…. Who... Forgives all your iniquities. Not some... but all

We should be like the Christians of old... A people with passion and a fire in their bellies.

Ready to explode... to cover every inch of a town, county, nation, a world

Willing to go and give their lives if needed… to see this Gospel….

The Gospel of Jesus Christ furthered in the earth...

Maybe even willing to give our lives at one point if need be.

I’m not only talking about the giving of our natural presence ... life as we know cease to exist here on this plant

But of spirit, time and resources… the other life we live, the one of ME… this is mine and I will not share it …

It came to me one day how can you be selfish knowing there is a need out there………….. Maybe because I had been already given the gift….

Remember Marie Antoinette? The last Queen of France.

The old wives tale goes like this…

The people were asking for bread they were hungry and dying...

In here narcissistic, self-absorbed state she quickly answered ….

What no bread … let them eat cake

The truth is she was selfish when the people of France were hungry… she wouldn’t change from here extravagant privileged life style… cut back

She was so caught up in her lifestyle….. She didn’t know? or care that others were starving outside her walls because SHE HAD HER”S

The people were Angry …HUNGRY, STARVING and then…… a mob formed against her. Why should the mob be sensitive to her?? She Wasn’t to them?