Always Give Thanks
This week our nation gives thanks for all our bountiful blessings
This year, some will find it hard to give thank in the midst of such tragedies
In a time of war and acts of terrorism, some would say that it is not a time to give thanks
But I say that everyday of our lives, regardless of the circumstances around us, is a time to give thanks
Psa 118:
1. Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
Thank God, He has not and will not change!
God is good all the time
He is Holy, Righteous, Merciful and Loving
His mercy shall endure forever (we all need it)
The same mercy God had on Noah and his family,
When Israel was in bondage in Egypt
That led Joshua into many victories
That restored David after he fell into sin
That rescued Daniel in lion pit
That set Peter free when he was imprisoned
That set Paul and Silas free & shook the walls of the prison like an earthquake
On that Day (Judgement) on those who have called upon His name.
Heb 13:1 He is the same yesterday, today…
2. Let Israel now say, "His mercy endures forever."
We are grafted in that tree – let us say...
3. Let the house of Aaron now say, "His mercy endures forever."
4. Let those who fear the Lord now say, "His mercy endures forever."
Not only those born a Jew, Not just the order of priests, but ALL who fear the Lord
By living in the reverential fear of the Lord, you can have a confidence that his mercy is upon you
And we are to declare this to our generation
5. I called on the Lord in distress; The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
Another tremendous reason for giving thanks - We have a God who hears our prayers!
He hears them AND He is moved by them
When trials come upon us, we can call upon God
“In distress” – (out of my anguish), in your pain, when you have nothing left
When you call upon Him in the good times, it will be a natural reaction to call upon Him in hard times
“a broad place” – (a well watered plain), from a confined place to a place of liberty
His voice still & small but the answer is HUGE
His voice is simple but the revelation is profound
6. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
I am thankful that I do not have to live in fear
Rom 8:31 “…If God be for us, who can be against us?”
So many people are worried about so many things
What can man do to you?
Phl 4:21 “For to me, to live is Christ but to die is gain”
Be thankful… we win either way – we have ‘no fear’
7. The Lord is for me among those who help me; Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.
Give thanks that God is a jealous God
He loves His people, He is partial to His people
8. It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man.
I am so thankful that I also stress free
Faith will make you worry free (Tis so sweet…)
I do not have to depend on anyone but God
Man will let you down – God will never let you down
He is El Shaddai – the All Sufficient One
Give thanks that we can have total confidence in Him
9. It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in princes.
Managers, CEOs, Generals, Presidents, Kings – all have “an authority” but hold no candle to the One who has all authority, who establishes the authorities
All others will pass away, they are fallible, they will fail you, they will disappoint you
10. All nations surrounded me, But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
I am thankful that I have victory over the enemy
Luke 10:19 “I have given you authority...”
11. They surrounded me, Yes, they surrounded me; But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
12. They surrounded me like bees; They were quenched like a fire of thorns; For in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
13. You pushed me violently, that I might fall, But the Lord helped me.
14. The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.
I am thankful that when the enemy surrounds me with a yoke of bondage – the Holy Spirit breaks it!
The enemy can swarm on me but will not overtake me – I am more than a conqueror Rom 8:37
1 Cor 15:57 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
15. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
16. The right hand of the Lord is exalted; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
I am thankful that my job is praising Him for all He does
The victory is mine when the battle is His
My job is just giving Him the praise
17. I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the Lord.
Is anyone thankful that they are alive today to declare the works of the Lord?
18. The Lord has chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death.
Thank God, He chastens me, so I know that He loves me (Heb 12:6)
I will take chastening anytime instead of being given over to death – thank God he doesn’t give up!
19. Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, And I will praise the Lord.
20. This is the gate of the Lord, Through which the righteous shall enter.
21. I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation.
22. The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.
These 4 verses are speaking of the coming Messiah
I thank God that He has provided me a way of salvation
Jesus Christ is the stone the builders rejected
He is the Cornerstone
He is the Gate, through which the righteous enter
He is the Way, the Truth and the Life
23. This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
24. This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
25. Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity.
I thank God that every day is a day of blessing, a day of salvation, a day of prosperity, a day of opportunity
I will rejoice and be glad in it!
26. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.
27. God is the Lord, And He has given us light; Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28. You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You.
29. Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
We must give thanks in the good times and the bad
We must give thanks because God always has a plan, He knows the end from the beginning
Job said, “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?"
In the time of increase give thanks for He is the God of increase
In a time of little give thanks because when we are faithful with a little He will give us much
In a time of need give thanks because He supplies all our needs according to His riches…
In the times of joy give thanks for He rejoices with us
In the times of sadness give thanks because He is the lifter of our countenance
In the time of strength give thanks because He has made us strong
In the time of sickness give thanks because He is our healer
It is always a time to give thanks
