Bible verses mentioned in today’s message
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Hebrews 13:15
Jeremiah 2:32
Acts2:1-4
Romans 12:2
Proverbs 14:12
Matthew 5:21-44
Philippians 4:4-7
1Th 5:16 Be joyful always;
1Th 5:17 pray continually;
1Th 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Sometimes it is hard to be optimistic.
Gladys Thornapple was fixing lunch when in walks her son, Wilberforce, all decked out in his baseball outfit. Mom asks, "How did Little League go?"
Wilberforce growls, "Terrible, I struck out three times."
Trying to console her son, Mom says, "That’s all part of the game, honey."
Wilberforce exploded with exasperation, "Mom, its T-ball!"
When faced with times of trouble it is hard to be thankful, but it is possible. It is impossible for the world to maintain an attitude of thankfulness, but the follower of Jesus Christ can. It is an attitude of gratitude that leads us into god’s presence.
Heb. 13:15 says: Our priestly sacrifices are not lambs and goats; pigeons and turtledoves, But the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Many of God’s people have lost the sense of the presence of God in their lives; they have lost their joy and peace. There is no sense of victory in them, it seems that the glory of God has departed from them; they feel like victims of everything life throws at them and it all starts with denying God’s word. God’s word that instructs us to be joyful, be prayerful and be thankful, because this is God’s will for every one of us.
I am reading from the Literary Digest dated Sept. 1923, "History knows no disaster which parallels the earthquake and fire that visited Japan this month and laid waste the capital city and the chief seaport."
The New York Tribune called this earthquake “undoubtedly the greatest disaster in recorded time.” The New York Times described the havoc as covering about 45,000 square miles which contained five big cities and a population of 7,000,000. Other dispatches reported that virtually every building in Yokohama was destroyed. Perhaps three-fourths of Tokyo was burned and the entire city with its 5,000,000 inhabitants was shattered by the earthquake.
A joint survey made by Herbert Hoover and the Red Cross estimated the dead at almost 300,000 with 2,500,000 people homeless. Disease and despair rode throughout the island empire.
Then help came! Help from America for helpless Japan! Food, clothing, medical supplies, and volunteer workers came by the shipload. The American Red Cross collected ten million dollars from people of the United States for the suffering and homeless.
It seemed those who lived through the awful earth tremors, the gigantic waves, and the tongues of fire must perish, from starvation or disease. But they didn’t. Why? Because America remembered—remembered their need, their suffering, and their hunger.
The Nipponese were grateful. They even put their appreciation in writing. Walter Kiernan, correspondent for the International News Service, recalls their words: “Japan will never forget!” END QUOTE
However, Japan did forget! 22 years, 3 months and 7 days later Japan sent warplanes to attack Pearl Harbor—and they proclaimed that America, brought to her knees, would beg for mercy.
But Japan is not the only one who has ever forgotten. Wedding vows are forgotten, commitments to God, promises made to children or parents are forgotten and the lists go on. Long ago the Lord said of Israel, “My people have forgotten me days without number” (Jer 2:32).
SOURCE: R. G. Lee as quoted in Ted Sutherland’s Sermon The Thanksgiving Catalogue. http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=41026&ContributorID=5301
So how do we make this change? How do we go from forgetfulness to remembering? How can we move from ungratefulness to gratitude or from apathy to interested? First, we face the fact that we need help, Divine help.
Ac 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
Ac 2:2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Ac 2:3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
Ac 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
I will get into trouble if I say that every believer must be filled with the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues. But if I qualify the statement by saying the every believer must receive the Holy Spirit and speak with a new tongue, a tongue that is transformed in the way it speaks. The Christian’s language changes, it becomes new. Crudeness changes to politeness, curses to blessings, doubt to faith, skepticism to encouragement, vengeance to mercy, blame to forgiveness, doom to possibilities.
Romans 12:2 reads, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Pr 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
There is a way that the world thinks, but it is not the way of the Christian.
A number of years ago Orel Hirscheiser was a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. They had just won the World Series, & Orel had been named “The Most Valuable Player of the series.”
One of the TV shows showed him in the dugout just before the 9th inning started. He was leaning against the wall and his lips were moving. It was obvious that he was saying something to himself.
Later, when he was a guest on the Tonight Show, Johnny Carson asked him what he had been saying. “I wasn’t saying anything,” Orel responded. “Well, then, tell us what you were doing.” Finally Orel replied, “I was singing.”
“You were singing?” Johnny said. “I didn’t know you were a singer.” “Aw,” Orel said, “I’m not.” Johnny persisted, “What were you singing? Sing it for us now.” “Nah, I don’t want to sing.” By that time the audience was chiming in with “C’mon, sing it, sing it to us!”
Finally, Orel Hirschheiser started to sing what he had been singing in the dugout during the world series, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below.” And Johnny Carson was speechless. The whole audience was dead silent. Then one person started clapping and soon the whole audience joined in applause.
Jesus taught us that as Christians we need to think in a new way.
Mt 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’
Mt 5:22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.
Mt 5:27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’
Mt 5:28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Jesus is teaching that a Christian must structure their actions to coincide with their thoughts. Why? Because murder destroys a life, adultery a relationship and the way to curtail bad behavior is to change our thoughts.
Mt 5:31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’
Mt 5:32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.
Mt 5:33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ . . . [then Jesus clarifies in verse 37]
Mt 5:37 Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Mt 5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’
Mt 5:39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Why are all these changes in how we think necessary? Because we cannot let other people control us and we cannot let their actions force our actions. This may seem too tall of an order but we are people who serve and follow God. Christians are people who have direct access to God’s will for our lives and are recipients of His promise of eternal life. It is God’s instruction, criticisms and exhortation alone that move us to action; we serve only the Lord, no one else, not even in our thoughts.
Matt 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
Mt 5:44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Why? Because life on this planet is not all the life there is. An eternal life has been promised to those who receive Jesus Christ. So be joyful, be prayerful and be thankful, because this is God’s will for every one of us.
Be joyful and keep focused on the joy that your sins are forgiven and you have been redeemed to God.
Be prayerful: pray for guidance, direction, vision and intervention.
Be thankful for your joy, for God’s action in your life, be thankful that you are heard and not alone.
Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Phil 4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Phil 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
With God’s help we can do it.
