THANKSGIVING’S TOP TEN
Psalms 103:1-5, 22
INTRODUCTION
A. THANKSGIVING HUMOR
1. Did you hear about the Redneck who called Butterball’s Thanksgiving Turkey Talk-Line to tell the operator he’d cut his turkey in half with a chain saw and wanted to know if the oil from the chain would adversely affect the turkey.
2. A disappointed woman called Butterball’s Thanksgiving Turkey Talk-Line wondering why her turkey had no breast meat. After a conversation with an operator, it became apparent that the woman’s turkey was lying on the table upside down.
3. A toll booth operator answered the phone one Thanksgiving Day. The woman on the line wanted to know the road conditions on the turnpike. After the operator said everything was A-okay, she told him that a friend was coming for dinner. Then came the stumper. “If my friend just left from exit twelve,” she asked, “what time should I put the turkey in?” (Turkey Timer!)
4. “Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie.”—Jim Davis.
B. TEXT
1 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! 22 Bless the LORD, all His works, in all places of His dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!
C. THESIS
1. Why are we commanded not to forget all his benefits? Because we are prone to do just that – we often forget all His benefits that He has bestowed upon us!
2. I spent some time this week thinking about some of those benefits that God has given us – and I want to share my “top ten” list with you.
X. GOD’S MERCIES ARE NEW EVERY MORNING
A. SCRIPTURE
Lam. 3:22-25 22 Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.
B. GLORY OF A NEW DAY
1. Haven’t you ever had the experience of going to bed at the end of a long, difficult, day – just glad to have it over. And then to wake up the next day and realize that the past is gone and you have a new day to start!
2. His faithfulness is great! It is never failing! His mercy toward those who seek Him is without end!
IX. I DON’T NEED TO EARN GOD’S LOVE
A. SCRIPTURE
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Rom. 5:7-8.
B. “JUST AS I AM”
1. Many people are “people pleasers”. They worry about what people think of them and whether other people really like them. They try to earn people’s love and acceptance by trying to “perform” for them.
2. But it never works – when we approach relationships like this, they’re built on a faulty foundation and lack the genuine candidness and freedom necessary for deep relationships.
3. I’m so glad that when I come before God I can come just as I am. He created me and loves me. He knows my weaknesses and my failures as well as my strengths and my victories.
4. But he does not despise me for my weaknesses or love me because of my strengths. He just loves me, and I can go to him to find rest.
5. “Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matt. 11:28-30.
VIII. I LIVE IN A FREE PROSPEROUS COUNTRY
A. OUR GREAT OPPORTUNITIES
1. All over the world right now, millions of people are wondering where their next meal will come from.
2. Millions have never had the opportunity to travel more than a few miles from their home.
3. Millions have never had running water, or access to health care, or the ability to go out to dinner at a restaurant.
4. Millions have only the clothes on their back – and have never owned a pair of shoes. I could go on and on.
B. THE DANGER OF COMPARISONS
1. We have so much. But sometimes we get in the dangerous game of comparing ourselves to others around us who have more – and we can become unhappy that we only have 2 cars when someone we know has 3. We can become unhappy with 3 bedrooms when someone we know has 4.
2. May we never become so spoiled that we take for granted all the simple luxuries we enjoy every day.
VII. I’M THANKFUL FOR OUR CHURCH
A. VALUE OF THE CHURCH
1. A place I can raise my family, that assists me in giving direction to them for their lives.
2. It’s a place where every Christian can receive spiritual training so that they can grow in their relationship with God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
3. In a world with massive deception and brain washing, the Church is a place where we can be with people who share the same faith and values that we have.
B. JESUS THOUGHT IT WAS VALUABLE
1. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” Eph. 5:25.
2. If Jesus had this view of the church, we should too!
VI. THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME
A. THE WORLD IS A BAD PLACE, SOMETIMES
1. Sometimes I get overwhelmed – thinking about how much suffering there is and how much hopelessness there is for many millions.
2. The news is almost always depressing. And even though my life here in the good ol’ USA is very easy, I do get troubled by the amount of problems and brokenness I see around me.
3. So I take heart in the fact that this world is not my home. Oh – it is for now – but I won’t be here forever!
B. SCRIPTURAL HOPE
1. Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” Jn. 14:1-3.
2. We can give thanks that Jesus is waiting to welcome all those who love Him with their lives into a much better place!
V. I CAN READ THE BIBLE ANYTIME I WANT
A. WE CAN READ!
1. First of all, it’s privilege to be able to read. Millions are illiterate!
2. I recently heard of a Bible where the N.T. is almost completely in picture form. The native pastors lined up to get copies for their villages, because a majority of people there can’t read
B. THE AVAILABILITY OF THE WORD OF GOD
1. But beyond that, I am thankful that I live where Bibles are plentiful and easy to come by. Had we been born in West Africa, we most likely would never have had a Bible in my hands.
2. Even if I was a Christian in China today, I would be lucky to be able to have a Bible all to myself. What a privilege we have to be able to turn to God’s word for information and inspiration for life.
IV. JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME, YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER
A. RAPID, CONTINUAL CHANGE
1. Everything in this world changes so fast. Relationships seem to come and go. Promises made by government officials seem to go unfulfilled time and again. But there is One in whom I can always depend; Jesus Christ.
2. Heb. 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
B. THE SOLID ROCK OF OUR LIVES
1. Jesus hasn’t changed His mind about what’s right or wrong; nor have His promises changed. He’s still our Healer, our Savior, our Provider, our Guide, our Friend, etc.
2. His promises to us haven’t changed! What He did for others, He’ll do for us. What He did 2,000 years ago, He’ll do for us tonight!
III. WE HAVE BEEN INDWELT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
A. THE WONDER OF GOD’S CHOICE
1. The wonderful truth is that God has chosen NOT to dwell in Temples made with hands, but to take up His residence in the throne room of our hearts.
2. It was wonderful that God was ‘made flesh and dwelt among us,’ that is, came into this world. It was wonderful when Jesus walked among people on the shores of Galilee and stayed at the homes of Peter, Zachaeus, Mary & Martha, and Simon the Leper.
3. But it is exceedingly more wonderful that God chose to make His home in our hearts. How could God get any closer than dwelling in our hearts?
B. REVOLUTION FROM THE INSIDE
1. Not only does He know our thoughts -- but a great benefit to us is that because of the indwelling, WE KNOW HIS THOUGHTS!
2. Another benefit is that we don’t have to work at being like Jesus, the Holy Spirit works in me to help me act and think like Jesus. The revolution starts on the inside of us – at our very heart – and works its way out. Thank God for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit!
II. WE HAVE ACCESS TO GOD THROUGH PRAYER AND PRAISE
A. ONCE A VERY LIMITED ACCESS
1. Job tried to speak to God, but couldn’t figure out how to get an audience. He prayed that God would appoint an Advocate for man. That’s just what God did when He sent His Son Jesus Christ!
2. We now have access to God through Jesus Christ. No veil stands between; there is no requirement of perfection, no demand of earthly lineage, like the Levitical priesthood. Now we are all Sons of God and kings and priests unto our God!
B. NOW THERE’S POWER IN PRAYER
1. Because of this the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man or woman "avails much." God is the God who "hears all prayer."
2. We can come boldly to the throne of grace and receive help in time of need. God's ears and eyes are open to our petitions and Christ Jesus is still interceding for us.
3. Prayer has worked from the time of Adam until this evening, and is in no danger of failing. The only failure is our lack of praying through. Will we pray superficially or get to God?
4. All things are possible, only believe!
I. JESUS DIED FOR ME!
A. SCRIPTURES
1. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” Gal. 2:20.
2. Without Jesus’ death and his sacrifice in my place – I really wouldn’t have anything else to give thanks for. And neither would you.
B. HE DIED IN SPITE OF WHAT HE KNEW
1. I am so thankful that even though he knew everything about me he still died in my place, opening up the way to eternal life for me.
2. I am so thankful that he accepts my gift to Him of myself in exchange for an abundant life on earth and eternal life in the future.
CONCLUSION
A. LORD’S SUPPER
B. CLOSE IN PRAYER
[This is a rewrite of Don Jaques’ “Thanksgiving Top Ten List”]
