THANKSGIVING IS A CHOICE…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Give thanks is in the O.T. 102 times, 72 times in the N.T. God loves a grateful heart! Do we have an attitude of gratitude?
1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Have you ever seen how many acorns fall around the old oak tree? Seems like millions? Have you ever seen how many deer eat for hours, they never look up? Have you ever seen how pigs gather around the oak tree and eat and eat the acorns? They too never look up? Pigs never give thanks. Pigs just expect more and more.
THANKFUL? PAST TENSE? WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT HINDERED YOU? DID YOU NOT HEAR WHAT JESUS TAUGHT?
There has been a wonderful historic event. Jesus had been crucified and in the grave 3 days… Then Jesus appeared too many different people. The reports were amazing… many reports over a 40 day period of time. Jesus is ALIVE AND WELL.
Two men were walking down the road all depressed and DISCOURAGED. Their dreams were crushed.
THEY HAD TRUSTED THAT JESUS WAS GOD’S SON… HAVEN’T YOU HEARD, JESUS IS DEAD? ALL OUR DREAMS AND HOPES ARE DEAD… WE HAD TRUST IN JESUS, WE HAVE A NEGATIVITY BIAS.
E-D --- ON THE END OF THE VERB MEANS PAST TENSE. We were thankful but now JESUS is dead.
We TRUSTED… WE HAD HOPE… WE WERE THANKFUL… WE HAD CONFIDENCE…
Luke 24:21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
HOW MANY OF US CHRISTIANS WERE THANKFUL WHEN WE VOTED… WE TRUST THE SYSTEM? ALL OF A SUDDEN WE ARE SURROUNDED BY MEDIA AND MASS CONFUSION?
My Dad is Church of God. He has pastored since 1955, 65 years. I am Assemblies of God. I have pastored 40 years. My older brother was many years in the Disciples of Christ, then later in the Methodist church for 26 years in the pastoral ministry before he passed away.
Someone asked Dad: Why aren’t you all in the same kind of church? Dad answered: WE DID NOT WANT TO PUT ALL OUR EGGS IN THE SAME BASKET?
SEEMS WE ARE WALKING IN A DAY OF MASS CONFUSION AND THE STRESS AND STRAIN OF THE CURRENT EVENTS ARE CRUSHING THE DREAMS OF GOD’S PEOPLE… WE DO NOT GIVE THANKS?
Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
THANKFULNESS AND PRAISE ARE CHOICES WE DAILY MAKE? WHY CAN WE NOT UNDERSTAND: WE ARE A PRODUCT OF OUR DAILY MENIAL CHOICES? We are content to stand and wait doing nothing but COMPLAINING and FUSSING… We are waiting in the valley of decision. Jesus is coming soon. JUDGMENT DAY WILL SOON BE ON US? Hear the cries of the crowds.
WE DEMAND MORE AND MORE FREE STUFF. We are standing in THE VALLEY OF DECISION? Will we cry all night and complain all day? Where is the DIVINE PEACE AND JOY…
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
WHY DID GOD MAKE TODAY AND GIVE YOU THIS 24 HOURS, 1440 MINUTES? ARE WE GOING TO BE SO DISCOURAGED THAT WE LOSE OUT TRUSTING GOD’S PLAN AND PURPOSE AND NOT BE THANKFUL?
Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Will we waste today fault-finding, griping, complaining, murmuring,
Jude 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
John 6:43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
WHY ARE YOU JUST STANDING HERE? I BELIEVE THAT THE TRUMPET IS GOING TO SOUND SO LOUD THAT THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE. IN THE TWINKLING OF THE EYE…
Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Zechariah 9:12 Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;
Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
CONCLUSION: YOU CAN MAKE A LASTING DIFFERENCE BY MAKING THE CHOICE TO GIVE THANKS WITH A GRATEFUL HEART... WILL WE PRAISE GOD? ARE WE GRASSHOPPERS? ARE WE VICTORIOUS CHILDREN OF A MIGHTY GOD?
Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Come with me and GIVE THANKS and PRAISE even in seasons of pain, struggles, anxiety, trials and troubles. In a day of great confusion. Listen to the negative bombardment … walk in the valley of decision. TODAY WILL I PRAISE GOD…
A young boy was flying his kite. It was so high you could not see it. A man asked how do you know the kite is still up there? The boy said that is easy, can you feel the tug of the string? If the kite was gone the string would fall to the earth.
A great evangelist was traveling to a mission field around the coast of South Africa. All of a sudden the wind was blowing into dangerous water where cannibals lived. The captain of the ship ran to the preacher and said pray, pray hard. We will all be boiling tonight. The preacher said: WHY STAND THERE, GO CHANGE THE SAILS IMMEDIATELY. While the preacher prayed God changed the wind and away they sailed. GIVE THANKS.
Are we in a boat being driven by a CONTRARY WIND? A pessimist will complain about the wind. An optimist will expect the wind to change. A REALIST WILL ADJUST THE SAIL. PRAISE GOD! GIVE THANKS…
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
