DON’T BE A TURKEY THIS THANKSGIVING
Phip. 2:14
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. The day before Thanksgiving, an elderly man in Phoenix called his son in New York and said to him,
2."I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing. 45 years of misery is enough. We're sick of each other, and so you can call your sister in Chicago and tell her."
3. Frantic, the son called his sister, who exploded on the phone, "Like heck they're divorcing," she shouted, "I'll take care of this!" She immediately called Phoenix and said to her father...
4. "You’re NOT getting divorced! Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing. DO YOU HEAR ME?"
5. The Dad hung up his phone and turned to his wife, "Okay, honey. The kids are coming for Thanksgiving and paying for their own flights."
6. That made mom and dad happy!
B. EVERYONE SHOULD BE HAPPY
1. Thanksgiving is a wonderful time: that's when we do the four “F’s”: Family, Food, Football and Fun.
2. Everyone should be happy on Thanksgiving. Can you think of anyone who's not happy about Thanksgiving? Yes -- the Turkey!
3. But not all turkeys are birds; sometimes people are turkeys too:
a. party pooper's, unpleasant to be around.
b. Those trying to pull a fast one on us.
c. Those who aren't thankful for their blessings!
4. So "Don't Be A Turkey on Thanksgiving!"
C. EVERYONE SHOULD BE THANKFUL
1. "The natural impulse of most people is to be ungrateful, discontented, unappreciative and thankless."
2. Look at the 10 lepers that Jesus healed; only one returned to say "Thank You" to Jesus.
3. Knowing our condition, God has commanded, "Do all things without grumbling... and complaining." Phip. 2:14, Amp. and, "Thank [God] in everything -- no matter what the circumstances may be... for this is the will of God for you." 1 Thess. 5:18, Amp.
4. So I want to give you four reasons to be thankful this Thanksgiving:
I. THANKFUL YOU’RE A CHRISTIAN
"Pastor, do you really have to put this one on the list? We already are glad we’re Christians." No, we will not fully comprehend how fortunate we are until after the rapture, at the Judgment Seat, and during all eternity.
A. FORTUNATE TO BE A CHRISTIAN
1. “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it” Mt. 13:16-17.
2. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” Mt. 7:13-14.
3. “Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: ‘Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved’” Rom. 9:27.
4. Out of the hundreds of billions who have lived and died on planet Earth, you are one of the few chosen by God to live with Him in glory and bliss for all eternity.
B. CHRISTIANITY – THE RELIGION OF THANKSGIVING
1. Gratitude develops when a person receives a gift we couldn't possibly afford. We feel a debt of gratitude toward the giver.
2. God gave the priceless gift of His Son so heaven wouldn't have a price tag to us.
3. All other religions are based on works. Their followers don't have to be thankful, for they earn their own way to heaven.
4. But Christianity tells us the truth that we can't get there on our own, because we're not good enough.
5. It's by God's grace that we’re saved, that's why only Christians celebrate Thanksgiving! Only three countries celebrate it as a national holiday: the United States, Canada, and the Philippines!
II. THANKFUL THAT YOU’RE AN AMERICAN
A. GOD PUT YOU HERE
1. “From one man He made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us” Acts 17:26-27.
2. It's not accidental that you and I were born here. We could have been born in many other places and times. But God caused us to be born in the Head of the Nations during its hour of glory. With this privilege comes responsibility (like Babylon/ Rome).
B. THE PROSPERITY OF AMERICA
1. Only 5% of the world’s population receives 60-70% of its resources.
2. The 3 richest men in the world have more wealth than the 48 poorest countries! There’s responsibility with having wealth.
III. THANKFUL THAT YOU’RE PROSPEROUS
“But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today” Deut. 8:18.
A. PERSPECTIVE IS EVERYTHING
1. “Me? Prosperous?” “No, I have many hard times, trials, problems, etc.” We need perspective.
2. THE COLLEGE GIRL’S NEWS: A young woman wrote her mother from college:
a. "Dear Mom: Sorry I haven't written sooner. My arm really has been broken. I broke it and my left leg too when I jumped from the second floor of my dormitory... when we had the fire. We were lucky.
b. A young service station attendant saw the blaze and called the Fire Department. They were there in minutes. I was in the hospital for a few days.
c. Paul, the service station attendant, came to see me every day. And because it was taking so long to get our dormitory livable again, I moved in with him. He has been so nice. I must admit that I am pregnant.
d. Paul and I plan to get married, just as soon as he can get a divorce. I hope things are fine at home. I'm doing fine, and will write more when I get the chance. Love, Your daughter, Susie.”
e. PS: Mom, none of the above is true. But I did get a “C” in Sociology and flunked Chemistry. I just wanted you to receive this news in its "Proper Perspective!"
3. Dr. Dale Robbins, “I used to think people complained because they had lots of problems. But I’ve come to realize that they have problems, because they complain.”
B. HOW PROSPEROUS ARE WE?
1. A MAN FROM THAILAND
a. Dr. Robert Hill, author of over 40 books, tells of visiting Bangkok Thailand, where he was invited to a special celebration given by the King and Queen.
b. His Thai guide, a young man named Joseph, asked several questions as he drove them to the Pavilion. He knew a little English and was delighted to carry on a conversation.
c. When he asked where the Hills lived, they told him Richmond, Virginia. "Oh, you are a rich man?” asked the boy. Bob laughed and told him he wasn't rich.
d. Bob recalled, "Then he asked if we owned an automobile and I told him we had two cars in our family. His next question was about the house where we lived. I told him it was a rather simple house with 10 rooms.
e. He was amazed at its size, especially when he related that he and his family lived in just two small rooms. "Then he asked about our family.
f. We told him we had four healthy children, two in college and two still at home. Joseph was silent for a moment or so, then he replied, "You ARE a rich man."
g. We laughed, but deep in our hearts, we knew he was right, though we had never thought of it in those terms. We were rich. But were we thankful?"
2. Happiness is really determined by our perspective in life, not by circumstances.
3. If we learn to be grateful in spite of our circumstances, that will greatly increase our happiness.
4. “I remember an elderly lady testifying that she had only two teeth left in her mouth (top and bottom), and she was ‘rejoicing’ because ‘they hit’" Sherwood Eliot Wirt.
5. "You never know how much you have to be thankful for until you pay taxes on it" Rev. Danny J. Drake.
IV. THANKFUL FOR YOUR FAMILY
A. BLESSED TO BE SET IN FAMILIES
1. “God sets the lonely in families” Ps. 68:6. God determined which family we’d be born into.
2. Most of us are blessed to have our families help us, comfort us, and grow old with us.
B. TAKING FOR GRANTED
1. How many husbands take their wives for granted – neat houses, clean beds, tasty meals (even if it’s carry-out), steadfast love.
2. How many wives take their husbands for granted – sober, hard-working, clean living, good fathers.
3. Children take their kind & generous parents for granted.
4. THINGS HOUSEWIVES ARE THANKFUL FOR:
a. For automatic dishwashers because that make it possible for us to get out of the kitchen before the family comes back in for their after-dinner snacks.
b. For husbands who attack smaller repair jobs around the house because they usually make them big enough to call in the professionals.
c. For children who put away their things and clean up after themselves. They're such a joy you hate to see them go home to their own parents.
d. For teenagers because they give parents an opportunity to learn a second language.
e. For smoke alarms because they let you know when the turkey is done.
CONCLUSION
A. HOW BLESSED ARE WE?
1. I read recently that if you own one Bible, you are abundantly blessed, because a third of the people in this world don’t have access to a Bible.
2. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than 1 million people who will not survive the week.
3. If you have never experienced the danger of war, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation you are more fortunate than 500 million people on earth.
4. If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, $20 in your pocket and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of the world.
5. Oh God, forgive me when I whine!
B. DON’T BE A TURKEY THIS THANKSGIVING
1. Let’s not be ungrateful.
2. Count your blessings, name them one by one.
3. Have you taken _______ for granted?
a. Your salvation;
b. Your country & prosperity;
c. Your family?
4. Have you taken the Lord for granted? Your husband, wife, parents?
C. THE CALL
1. How many have something/one you’ve taken for granted? Raise hands.
2. Would you like to renew your gratefulness to God? Come stand at the altar.
3. Do you need forgiveness? Come join us up front.
4. Find a place to pray in the altars and let’s talk to God about these.
