Thanksgiving
Griffith Baptist Church – 11/18/07
A.M. Service
Text: Psalm 100
Key Verse: Psalm 100:4
Purpose: To communicate the true motivation for thankfulness to God.
The Introduction
Two men were walking through a field one day when they spotted an enraged bull. Instantly they darted toward the nearest fence. The storming bull followed in hot pursuit, and it was soon apparent they wouldn’t make it. Terrified, the one shouted to the other, "Put up a prayer, John. We’re in for it!" John answered, "I can’t. I’ve never made a public prayer in my life." "But you must!" implored his companion. "The bull is catching up to us." "All right," panted John, "I’ll say the only prayer I know, the one my father used to repeat at the table: ’O Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful.’"
In a few days we will sit around a table full of good food and a time with family. We will stuff ourselves silly and watch a football game or just talk and have a good time.
What motivates us to be thankful?
What makes you a thankful person?
1. The Invitation to Thanksgiving – 4 [God gives us an invitation]
A. We are invited into the presence of God (gates and courts)
i. What is the presence of God?
a. It is inescapable - Psalms 139:7 – Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
b. It is Jesus with us - Matthew 28:20 – I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
c. It is the Holy Spirit indwelling us - John 14:16-17 - 16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
d. It is Holy - Isaiah 6:1-4 - 1In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
ii. What do some do with the presence of God?
a. They mock it
b. They laugh at it
c. They disregard it
d. Someday they will be subdued before him – Psalms 72:9 - They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. (Phil. 2:10-11; Romans 14:11-12)
B. What do you do with the presence of God in your life now?
i. Is it a daily experience or every once in a while?
ii. Does He take your breath away or is the effort too much?
iii. Have you drawn closer to Him or do you find yourself fleeing from His presence?
2. The How of Thanksgiving – 1-3 [God also tells us how to be thankful]
A. Joyful – 1 (make a joyful noise)
i. In church one Sunday there was noted a small child who was turning around smiling at everyone. He wasn’t gurgling, spitting, humming, tearing the hymnbooks apart, or rummaging through his mother’s purse. He was just smiling. Suddenly his mother jerked him around, and in a staged whisper that everyone could hear, said, "Stop grinning. You’re in church." With that she gave him a slap on his hindside, and as the tears rolled down his cheeks she added, "That’s better," and returned to her prayers. If you can’t grin in church, where can you be happy?
ii. We are too quiet, to anemic.
iii. Joyful noise is not unnecessary shouting but an excited and happy sound
iv. Are you joyful so that others around you believe it or is it an act?
B. Glad service – 2a (serve the Lord with gladness)
i. Philippians 4:4 - Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
ii. There is joy in serving Jesus. This is how we show thanks in service, with joy.
iii. Too many down in the mouth workers for Jesus
iv. The ones that should be depressed are the ones doing nothing.
v. If your attitude is right about serving God you will have joy in your serving God.
C. Singing – 2b (come before His presence with singing)
i. Everyone should have a song in their heart
ii. You may not be able to carry a tune but you can lift up your voice with some kind of praise.
iii. Does your song amount to a funeral dirge or an anthem of praise?
D. Worshipful – 3a (Know ye that the Lord He is God . . .)
i. To worship is to ascribe worth to another
ii. What is God worth to you?
iii. Psalms 95:6 - O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
E. Humble – 3b (we are His people and the sheep of His pasture)
i. Psalms 95:6 - O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
ii. Humility recognizes the value of others before or as much as self
iii. We are HIS people – chosen, forgiven and justified
iv. We are HIS sheep – less than the shepherd, needing His guidance and feeding in HIS pasture.
3. The Motivation for Thanksgiving – 5 [Here is what should motivate us to be thankful]
A. His goodness
i. He is good because that is His nature (kindness, generous, patient, loving)
ii. He is good because He saves
iii. He is good because He keeps
B. His mercy
i. So long as we are receivers of mercy we must be givers of thanks. (Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David)
ii. His mercy extends to humanity
iii. His mercy is evidenced in salvation
iv. His mercy is seen in our daily lives
C. His truth
i. Truth is an indispensable attribute of God
ii. His Word is truth (unchanging fact)
iii. His truth never ends and can always be counted on
iv. The greatest truth is found in Jesus Christ – John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Conclusion:
What will you share this Thanksgiving about God and His goodness, mercy and truth?
Will we be a people that expresses thanks to Him on a daily basis or occasion
