Sermon: Happy Thanksgiving - A Season To Be Grateful

Sermon: Happy Thanksgiving - A Season to Be Grateful

Scripture: Psalms 100: 1-5 “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations.”

Psalms 103:1-5 “Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Introduction: This is the season to be thankful! These psalms of praise encourage the reader to bless the Lord for his compassion, which is described as forgiving sins, healing diseases, redeeming life, and showering his people with loving-kindness and tender mercies. It emphasizes God's mercy and goodness and concludes by calling on all of creation to join in praising him. Greetings, This is the season to be thankful. This has been a wonderful year of ministry. I served as guest presenters for 80 in-person events and over a hundred virtual events in several states. I shared ministry with so many Friends in the AME Zion Connection and several other denominations. Then on a special note Barbara and I were blessed to see God’s healing hand move in our family and in my life personally. Every day, I am blessed with new mercies and abundant grace. God has been moving mightily and I give thanks with a grateful heart. We had friends that have supported us and prayed for us along the way. Thank you all so much.

Today’s message is entitled: Happy Thanksgiving - A Season to Be Grateful

Psalms 100: 1-5 “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

Introduction: Psalm 100 was likely written and sang during the reign of King David. It was liturgical song for worshippers to sing as they were approaching the sanctuary for worship. It served as a processional hymn during festivals and was intended as a thanksgiving offerings, with a call for all people to enter the temple courts with praise. The language and themes of this psalm reflect the broader context of Israelite worship, emphasizing Yahweh's kingship and His enduring faithfulness.

The people were to "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise" design to honor both God and His holy temple. Holy reverence should still be a part of our worship experience. The people dressed for worship and made themselves ready to stand in the presence of God. This worship song called on people to "serve the LORD with gladness", they were to reflect joy and gladness on their faces and in their singing.

In Exodus 23:14-17, the people were instructed to appear before God three times each year, listen, “Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year. Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:) And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field. Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord God.”

Every male was required to appear before the Lord God for the feast of unleavened bread, the feast of harvest and the feast of ingathering and none were to come without an offering. This psalm provided lyrics for the Levites as they stood every morning to thank and praise the LORD. as recorded in 1 Chronicles 23:30–31.

1Chronicles 23:30–31 describes the daily duties of the Levites in David's time: to stand every morning and evening to give thanks and praise the Lord. They were also assigned to offer all burnt sacrifices on Sabbaths, new moons, and all appointed festivals, following the prescribed number for each service. This psalms provide the lyrics for the Levites and the response for the congregation. The people responded that "we are His; we are His people." The congregation or choir responding to the lead singers, a practice that continues in many traditions today.