TREMENDOUS THINGS FOR WHICH TO BE THANKFUL
Text: Ps.136: 1-3, 26
Intro: Society as a whole, finds it rather easy to take, but terribly difficult to give thanks. As a matter of fact, Paul the apostle said that an unthankful attitude would be one of the characteristics of the “last days.” Paul said,
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,” (II Tim.3: 1, 2).
Though none of us are as thankful as we should be, the Word of God tells us that, “…he (God) is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil” (Luke 6: 35b). If there is any one thing for which we should be thankful today, it is the fact that God, in His mercy, is kind to the unthankful.
Perhaps it is man’s tendency to be unthankful that prompted the writers of scripture to so often encourage us to give thanks to God. The Scriptures tell us:
“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:” (Ps.92: 1).
“Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good…” (Ps.106: 1a).
“O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever” (Ps.107: 1).
These are just a few of many verses in the Bible that exhort us to be thankful unto the Lord. However, today I want to focus on some specific things about God for which we should be thankful. It certainly behooves us to get specific when it comes to giving thanks.
Theme: Let us give thanks to God today, because:
I. HE IS FAITHFUL
A. Faithfulness Is Part Of God’s Character.
Deut.7: 9 “Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;”
Rev.19: 11 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.”
NOTE: [1] The word, “faithfulness” implies that one is trustworthy, loyal, reliable, and dependable. It refers to one who can be counted upon.
[2] The faithfulness of God is the basis of our faith in God. Men may fail you, but God never will. Faithfulness is an inherent part of who He is.
1. God has never broken a promise; He is totally reliable.
I Kings 8: 56 “Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.”
2. The faithfulness of God should give us confidence in prayer.
Jer.33: 3 “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
NOTE: It was May 7, and Roger Simms was hitchhiking his way home, having been discharged from the Army. He flashed his hitchhiking sign at a car, but almost lost hope for a ride when he noticed it was a black, sleek, new Cadillac. To his amazement the car stopped. As Roger entered the car from the passenger’s side, he notice that the driver was a handsome, well-dressed man, who appeared to be in his fifties.
“Going home for keeps?” asked the driver.
“Sure am,” Roger said.
As the two conversed, Roger was able to find out that the driver’s name was Hanover. Mr. Hanover owned and operated a business in Chicago—a rather successful business at that. The longer Roger talked to Mr. Hanover, the more impressed he felt to witness to him about Christ. Finally, when they were only thirty minutes away from Roger’s home, he got up the nerve to share Christ with Mr. Hanover, eventually asking him if he would like to receive Christ as his personal Savior. To Roger’s amazement, the gentleman immediately pulled the Cadillac to the side of the road, bowed his head and received Christ. Mr. Hanover thanked Roger, and said, “This is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.”
Five years later, Roger had married and was the proud father of a two-year-old son, and even had a business of his own. While packing for a business trip to Chicago, Roger found Mr. Hanover’s business card, given to him five years earlier. He decided he would look him up while in Chicago.
After arriving in Chicago, Roger looked up Hanover Enterprises. The receptionist there told him that it would be impossible to see Mr. Hanover, but that he could see Mrs. Hanover if he wished. He was ushered into a beautiful office where a keen-eyed woman greeted him. She extended her hand and said, “I understand you knew my husband.” “Yes. I was hitchhiking home after the war, and he gave me a lift.”
“When was that?” Mrs. Hanover asked. “It was May 7, the day I was discharged from the Army,” Roger said. “Was there anything special about that day,” asked the lady. Roger hesitated for a moment. “Yes ma’am. I shared the Gospel with Mr. Hanover. He pulled over to the side of the road and leaned over the steering wheel and wept. He gave his heart to Christ that day.”
With that, Mrs. Hanover suddenly began to weep. She wept so hard her whole body shook. When she regained her composure, she said, “I had prayed for my husband’s salvation for years. I believed God would save him.” “And where is Mr. Hanover now,” asked Roger. “He’s dead,” the lady said, struggling to speak. “He was killed in a car crash right after he dropped you off. He never got home.”
Barely able to speak through her sobs, Mrs. Hanover then said, “You see—I thought God had not kept His promise. I stopped living for God five years ago because I thought He had not kept His word!”
J. Kirk Johnson, Why Christians Sin: Discovery House, 1992, pgs. 39-41.
B. God Is Faithful Even In Our Calamities.
Ps.119: 75 “I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.”
NOTE: It’s terribly easy, in times of trouble and turmoil, to think that God has suddenly turned on us. But the psalmist realized that even when God allows affliction to come our way, He does so out of love and loyalty to us. The things that God often permits to happen in our lives are not always good. However, they work together for our ultimate good (Rom.8: 28).
C. God’s Faithfulness Is Continual.
Ps.119: 90a “Thy faithfulness is unto all generations…”
Mal.3: 6a “For I am the Lord, I change not…”
Heb.13: 8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”
NOTE: No one will ever be able to rightly accuse God of not being faithful; for there will never be a time when God is unreliable or undependable. He will always keep His Word.
D. God’s Faithfulness Stems From His Compassion.
Lam.3: 22 “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
NOTE: God’s faithfulness comes out of His merciful loving kindness. If it were not for the love of God’s heart, the law of His holiness would demand and execute our judgment. As a matter of fact, Jesus’ death on Calvary for the sins of mankind satisfied the demands of God’s love, as well as His holiness.
II. HE IS FORGIVING
A. Our Forgiveness Is Only Through Christ.
Acts 4: 12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
I John 2: 2 “And he (Jesus) is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
B. Our Forgiveness Is One Of Completeness.
Col.2: 13 “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;”
I John 1: 7b “…the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
NOTE: One rainy day a young mother and her seven-year-old boy were driving through one of the main streets of their town. Little Matthew seemed to be pondering something as he stared at the windshield wipers doing their repetitious work. “Mom,” Matthew said. “I’ve been thinking about something.” “What’s that?” his mom asked. “The rain is like sin. And the windshield wipers are like God, wiping our sins away.” After the chill bumps stopped running up and down her arms, she said, “That’s really good, Matthew. Do you notice how the rain keeps on coming? What does that tell you?” Without any hesitation Matthew said, “WE KEEP ON SINNING AND GOD JUST KEEPS ON FORGIVING US”
Taken from http://www.good4asmile.com/heartsoul/windshield_wipers.htm.
C. Our Forgiveness Released Us From Sin’s Consequences.
Rom.5: 8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
Rom.8: 1a “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…”
I Thess.1: 10b “…Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”
III. HE IS OUR FATHER
A. We Are Addressed As His Children.
Rom.8: 16 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”
I John 3: 2a “Behold, now are we the sons of God…”
B. We Are Assured Of His Care.
1. We are highly valued by our heavenly Father.
Luke 12: 6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
2. God cares for us so much that He directs and disciplines us.
Heb.12: 5 “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”
3. God cares for us so much that He is concerned about everything that concerns us.
I Pet.5: 7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
C. We Are Accompanied By His Companionship.
Isa.43: 1b “…Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
Heb.13: 5b “…I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Theme: Let us give thanks to God today, because:
I. HE IS FAITHFUL
II. HE IS FORGIVING
III. HE IS OUR FATHER
Check out the author’s book, "Meditations of the Heart: Thoughts on the Christian Life" at:
http://www.amazon.com/Meditations-Heart-Thoughts-Christian-Life/dp/1453739238
