Let Us Be Thankful
(Psalms 100)
Dr. Bob Jones Sr. said, "The lonliest flower that blooms in the garden of the heart is the flower of gratitude; and when gratitude dies on the altar of a man's heart, he is well nigh gone!"
Romans 1:21-28 "...When they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were they thankful: but became vain in their imaginations...and even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not convenient."
This all started when they became unthankful.
Psalms 100 was written to be sung at the time of sacrifice when thanksgiving offerings were offered to God on the altar of sacrifice (Lev. 7:12)
As Christians in America, we ought to be the most thankful for the the things that we possess not only materially, but spiritually. Let us take a moment and look into this Psalm and find out what we truly should be thanful for as children of God.
I. WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR SALVATION
Why should we be thankful for our salvation?
1. Because of our past
"For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and ency, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our saviour toward men appeared. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost: which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our saviour, that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
-Titus 3:3
Sam Jones, one of the most fearless, sin-fighting preachers of all time, joined the church when he was 17, but he did not get saved. He began to live a life of drunkedness. He studied law and was married, but this still did not keep him from drinking whiskey. One day at his dying Father's bedside, Jones began to get under conviction of the Holy Spirit. He promised his godly dad he would stop drinking. Jones kept his promise and went to church. The invitation was given and Jones was afraid to go forward. By the third verse Jones said to himself, "I can but perish if I go, I am resolved to try; For if I stay away I know, I must forever die."
Jones said later on, "And I want to tell you, my neighbor, whatever else may be said, living or dying, I was reformed, reborn and changed from that hour."
We need to rejoice in our salvation because of what we were in the past!
2. We need to rejoice in salvation because of present possession
We are seated in heavenly places at this moment if we know Christ. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessee us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world"...
John 3:16 speaks of salvation as a present possession for those who believe. "hath" everlasting life.
A clock maker placed in his window a sign which read, "CLOCKS CONVERTED TO CHIMING" We as believers have been converted to chime for God. "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, come before his presence with singing."
3. We need to rejoice in our salvation because of future prospect in heaven!
Think about it! Streets of gold! Gates of pearl! Walls of Jasper! No sickness, disease or pain! A family reunion with our loved ones, and most of all getting to see Jesus! We can rejoice in salvation when we consider our future prospect!
Not only that, but consider what we have missed by being saved. We have missed a firey, devils hell where "The fire is not quenched and the worm dies not."
"I once was an out cast, stranger on earth, a sinner by choice and an alien by birth; but I've been adopted, my names written down, an heir to a mansion a robe and a crown. I'm a child of the King, a child of the King, with Jesus my saviour, I'm a child of the King."
II. WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR SERVICE
The same sweet singer of Israel cried here in the Psalms, "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise." He also said here in our passage, "Serve the Lord with gladness."
The Psalmist also said, "I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, htan to dwell in tents of wickedness."
1. The privilege of being a servant. WE ARE SAVED TO SERVE! We must serve the Lord with gladness!
Greatness is in being a servant.
2. The product of service- Joy, gladness, singing. A serving people is a happy people. There is no sweeter joy than to lead one soul to Christ. The old hymn aptly puts the truth of joy in service into prospective. "And He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own, and the joy we share, as we tarry there, none other is ever known."
3. The power in service. We gain power through service!
"And with great power gave the Apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all." (Acts 4:33)
III. WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD
..."Know ye the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us."
1. He is a mighty God. He created us. He sustains us. He is active in our lives. There is not one thing that is not under his control. He is present looking after every need.
"Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, htou art there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea: Even there shall thy hand lead me"...
2. He is a mindful God. He thinks of us. "What is man that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visiteth him?...O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!"
"Who am I that a King should bleed and die for? Who am I that he should say, not mine but thine for? The answer I may never know? Even why he loved me so...that to an old rugged cross he would go...oh who am I?"- By Rusty Goodman
I stand amazed in the presence of a mighty God!
How long has it been since you have taken the time to just thank Him and praise Him for his mighty works to we who are sinners?
IV LET US BE THANKFUL FOR CHRIST'S SACRIFICE
Notice the scripture says, "It is He that hath redeemed us, and not we ourselves."
God allowed his only begotten Son to come to this old earth and be placed into the hands of wicked men. And they mocked him, and beat Him and finally placed upon an old cruel cross where he hung in agony and pain, suffering for your sins and mine. We need to be eternally grateful and thankful for the sacrifice of Jesus!
"Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow."
Let me ask you my friend? Do you know Christ? He paid it all for you? Oh Christian friend, do you not owe Christ everything? The very least you can do is serve Him.
