From Good Sense to Turkey
Show the video “The First Thanksgiving”
Poor Larry! However, I found some interesting facts about turkeys this week.
Not only are do turkeys meet their fate by the axe, but they have been known to have heart attacks. When the Air Force was conducting test runs and breaking the sound barrier, fields of turkeys would drop dead. In addition, turkeys can drown if they look up when it is raining.
It would seem that turkeys have eyes in the back of their heads. Their range of vision is about 270 degrees. Add that to their keen sense of hearing, one can see they continue to elude some hunters.
A scared turkey can run at speeds up to 20 miles per hour. They can also burst into flight approaching speeds between 50-55 mph in a matter of seconds.
Benjamin Franklin wanted to designate the turkey as our National Bird instead of the eagle. Imagine going to war with the symbols of turkeys on our weapons. In addition, what would we eat for Thanksgiving?
Because, like poor Larry, 45 million turkeys will die for our pleasure. Do not misunderstand me. I do not want to kill them but I am thankful that someone will because I love turkey.
So today, we will discover seven blessings that will lead to a thankful heart to God.
1) Be thankful you are a slave. Romans 6:15-18:“Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.”
Slaves were a possession. It was illegal to take them. However, there was a provision made for slaves who sought freedom from a cruel master.
“If slaves should escape from their masters and take refuge with you, you must not hand them over to their masters.” (Deut 23:15)
This slave was not set free but rather became a slave to a new master.
We are a slave to what ever type of lifestyle we choose by how we obey the rules of that lifestyle. When our lifestyle reflects sinful living then we are a slave to that sinful living. When we were born, we were born into that sinful lifestyle. However, God created a way for us to escape from our cruel, sin-filled taskmaster and seek refuge with him by living a righteous lifestyle. In addition, He is bound by his own word that He will not hand us back over to our wicked taskmaster.
We are slaves to something. Therefore, this Thanksgiving let us be thankful that we are a slave to God.
2) Be thankful for your misery. Romans 7:21-25
“I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.”
Now we must face a terrible truth. While we are no longer a slave to sin, we constantly choose to make ourselves slave repeatedly. There is a battle that wages between our mind and our flesh. We know what we should and should not be doing, yet we constantly give in to those fleshly desires. In addition, it makes us miserable. However, it is in this misery that we seek the only one who can free us. And that one is Jesus Christ our Lord. We cannot overcome sin on our own. We need the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. If we did not feel miserable about our mistakes, we would not seek him or repent.
3) Be thankful for the oppressing law.
1 Corinthians 15:56-57 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The law was given to the nation of Israel to show them how truly sinful they were. It exposed their sin. Paul wrote, “Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.” However, sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power. At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life, and I died. So I discovered that the law’s commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead. Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me. But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good.” (Romans 7:7-12)
Therefore, the law reveals our sinful nature and empowers sin to rule over us. That sin then stings us like a scorpion and results in our spiritual death. Without the law we would not have known sin, therefore it would have no power over us and could not leave to our spiritual death.
In addition, we would have been deprived with a relationship with God that came through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We would have been deprived over the feeling of victory over sin and death.
4) Be thankful that you smell
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 “But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?”
We are his slaves. We are his captives in the battle against sin. We march with Jesus through life in victory. But goodness, do we smell.
To God and to those whom He is pursuing we are a sweet fragrance. Just like a pleasant after-shave or perfume, people take a deep breath and ask, “What are you wearing?” And our answer is “I have put on Christ” (Gal 3:27)
However, just as if some people find your after-shave or perfume too strong, they find you offensive. People are often offended by the truth but that does not change it.
In addition, the Holy Spirit empowers us to so that we will be adequate for such a task.
5) Be thankful that your church family gives.
2 Corinthians 9:13-15 “ As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!”
Look at the person nearest to you, shake their hand, and say “Thank you for giving.” Financial giving to this church is a gift from God too wonderful for words.
Without this gift, we would have nowhere to meet. Without this gift, we would have no worship band. Without this gift, there would be no True Identity. If that person whose hand you shook did not have that sense of necessity to give, our bills would not be paid.
I shared with some leaders of our church Tuesday night an amazing fact. When I became pastor 2 ½ years ago we had $3000 in the bank, enough to operate on for 3 months. In those three years, our numbers have remained steady at 20 to 25 people. They seem to leave as fast as others come. However, when people are here they support this ministry financially. As of this date we have $9990.84 in the bank. We have purchased signs and ads. We have promoted “gimmicks” and sermon series. We financed the recording of the CD for True Identity. Truthfully, sometimes I feel I wasted some of those funds. But God reminds me by your faithful support that we are indeed walking the pathway that He has laid before us.
6) Be thankful for good sense 1 Samuel 25:33a Thank God for your good sense! Enjoy your Thanksgiving meal this week but don’t overeat. The average person will consume 3000 calories and 229 grams of fat from their Thanksgiving Day meal. And if you have snacked all day it could jump to as much as 4,500 calories.
If you overeat I want to give you 4 options. 1) Run for 4 hours to burn off the calories. 2) Swim for 5 hours. 3) Walk for 30 miles. 4) Do what I am going to do. I am going to unfasten my belt, sit in my chair, and watch me some football.
7) Be thankful you are an eagle and not a turkey. Isaiah 40:31 But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
When you are weary, trust in the Lord. When you can’t take another step, trust in the Lord. When you feel like giving up, trust in the Lord. He’s called you to be strong like an eagle and not just another turkey in the world.
And lastly as a personal note, whitestone ministry has a special reason to be thankful.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 “Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing.”
When you share your testimony of faith with me and when I see you loving each other every Sunday, I thank God for each and every one of you. Because you make my faith grow and love me in return so much. Thank you guys. I love you.
