Thanksgiving 2006: Are you truly Thankful?
By: Pastor Clinton Browning
Illustration: My daughter has often been caught doing something she not supposed to be doing. Now once confronted with the fact that she is wrong she is generally quick to admit when she is wrong. She is very apologetic and strives to correct the disappointment of her mother or I. Amy’s response a lot of the time is “Are you sorry for what you did or are you sorry you got caught?”
My question this morning is ‘are you truly repentful and ready to turn from your wicked ways?’ ‘Or are you sorry you got caught and you know in your heart you are going to return to what ever sin has truly given you grief this year?’
Now let’s face it this is not your typical Pre-Thanksgiving Sermon, Yes, I agree but you’ll agree that I’m not typical ether so hang on with me.
Turn with me to Luke18: 9 – 14
Some may read The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, or The Pharisee and the Publican. Ether way it is the same a Publican is a tax collector from roman times.
The point of the scripture is repentance, without it you don’t have a chance. There is no way to be truly repentful while bragging to God about all you have done. In this instance the Tax Collector has humbled himself and come before the Lord expressing the fact that he is unworthy to come before the Lord. He truly is repenting for the sins he has committed and is truly thankful for the Grace and Forgiveness he has received. He understands that he has done nothing worthy of the Love and Compassion Christ Showed for us by taking our sins. The Tax Collector is the symbol of the Truly Thankful Christian.
The Pharisee on the other hand, thanking God he is not like everyone else, and then goes on to brag about all he has done for God. This is the non-repentant person that at times we may all have been. Sorry you got caught but glad your sin where not as bad as someone else’s.
Were told in Matthew 6: 5 – 6
5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
The reward we seek is forgiveness, answers to prayer, rest, healing, etc.
The reward the Pharisee seeks is self gratification. Now I’ll admit that I have asked God in the past for a pat on the back and he does so from time to time. But when I stand before him in the setting we find our scripture today, we find the Pharisee looking to justify his sin because at least he is not as bad as the next guy.
We’ve heard this same comment every time we hear someone remark with “It’s not like I killed someone,” or “There’s worse things I could have done.”
That being said I want you to take a minute to contemplate the things we should be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I came up with a list of my items:
• I’m thankful that even though I have been working non stop for the last three weeks, even though I don’t get Thanksgiving off this year and I’m on duty, even though I have felt bad this last week. At least I have a well respected, decent paying job.
• I’m thankful that I have a house to live in, I have been in many a run down shack by America’s standards, And thought “And I complain because the carpet it’s just like I like it or what ever”
• I’m thankful my children are healthy, I’ve seen so many ill and injured children over the years. I can’t imagine the mothers and fathers trying to face their first Thanksgiving after their child has died from I can’t imagine the mothers and fathers trying to face their first Thanksgiving after their child has died from You fill in the blank disease.
• I’m thankful that both of my parents are alive, still married to each other, not living with me. Close enough to visit, like my wife and kids, the list goes on and on.
• I’m thankful I can attend a church where I have friends that take me in no matter what.
• I’m thankful that God has allowed me to serve as a pastor.
• I’m thankful that God Has allowed me to serve he in Staples Baptist Church.
• Finally, I’m thankful for a Wife that accepts me with the faults that she didn’t know I had when we first met. I thankful that we have survived the 16 plus years we have been together. I thankful that we have the communication that we have. I’m thankful that she is here with me this morning and that she takes part in the church.
I ask you now to think of those things you are thankful for. As you do so listen to the letter Paul wrote to the Ephesians…
Ephesians 1:4-2:22
4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he[a] predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9And he[b] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
11In him we were also chosen,[c] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
15For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[d] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Have you considered thanking God for choosing you before you were born?
Have you considered thanking God for not only getting you through this last year but for being there for us for eternity?
Have you considered thanking God for you friends, family, and various acquaintances and that their pardon has already been written, it’s our job simply to make sure they know about it.
Have you considered that if they are still alive we still have a chance to pray for them and tell them about Jesus.
I currently have a family member that is in prison, he will be away from us this Thanksgiving. While it is said that we are separated, I am thankful that he knows Christ and is getting his life back together. It won’t be long until we are reunited. I know he will hit the streets praising God for keeping him safe and carrying him through this time. If nothing else he has been forced to slow down and given plenty of time to pray and think. How many family members are living with the knowledge that they didn’t tell their loved ones about God before they where killed by their lifestyle and now no longer have the chance to tell them.
I’ve said before if you don’t take the time to honor God, he may slow you down to do so. Maybe it will take prison from some, illness for others, a handicap, or loss of job, etc.
Now what are some of the things you are thankful for?
LIST: (Blank Page)
PRAYER LIST: (Read the Salvation List)
Thank God there is still time for some, let us also ask for forgiveness for those that where lost this year that we didn’t reach. Thank God for the opportunity to plant seeds.
Remember 1 Corinthians 3:6
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.
We may never see the harvest, but we are to keep planting and let other farmers water, but leave the harvest to God.
And keep thanking God for opportunity to be a part of the plan.
LET’S PRAY:
