Thanksgiving In Three Tenses

THANKSGIVING IN THREE TENSES

Ps. 30:1-12

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. THANKSGIVING ON THE RUN.

a. Two men were walking through a field one day when they spotted an enraged bull. Instantly they darted toward the nearest fence. The storming bull followed in hot pursuit, and it was soon apparent they wouldn't make it.

b. Terrified, the one shouted to the other, "Put up a prayer, John. We're in for it!" John answered, "I can't. I've never made a public prayer in my life." "But you must!" implored his companion. "The bull is catching up to us."

c. "All right," panted John, "I'll say the only prayer I know, the one my father used to repeat at the table: 'O Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful.'" Source Unknown.

2. COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING

I am Thankful that we only elect presidents once every four years. I am Thankful that teenagers will grow up and that one day they will have children that will become teenagers of their own. I am Thankful that I am not a turkey this week. I am Thankful that the space available for messages on T-shirts and bumpers is limited. I am Thankful that hugs and kisses do not add weight or cause cancer. I am Thankful that TVs, Radios, & CD players can be turned off. I am Thankful that God’s love never fails. I am Thankful that we can come together this evening in unity. SOURCE: R Duane Gryder.

B. TEXT

1I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my foes rejoice over me. 2O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me. 3O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. 4Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. 5For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. 6Now in my prosperity I said,“I shall never be moved.” 7LORD, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face, and I was troubled. 8I cried out to You, O LORD; And to the LORD I made supplication: 9“What profit is there in my blood, When I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth?10Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me; LORD, be my helper!” 11You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

C. THESIS

During this Psalm David thanks God for His help in the three different tenses: the past, the present, and in the future. We ought to give thanks to the Lord for all His help to us too!

I. THANK YOU, LORD, FOR YESTERDAY

A. EARTHLY THINGS DAVID WAS THANKFUL FOR

1. DEFEAT OF HIS ENEMIES(1).

a. God had delivered David from such great threats as Goliath and his relative, Ishbe-benob, and many other threats during his lifetime. David saw these as part of God’s salvation for him.

b. Just like David, God has delivered us from our spiritual enemies, the devil and his fallen angels. Christians can thank God for the great events that have brought us hope in this life and for eternity – the coming of Christ, the Cross, the Resurrection, and the great affirmations such as, “God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19). Praise God for His glorious deliverance!

2. DIVINE HEALING(2)

a. David says that God also healed him. On other occasions David alluded to some sort of a bodily sickness(Ps. 38:7; 41:8 KJV) that he had. But God delivered him from it! What God did for him, He will do for us.

b. This reminds us that Jesus also delivered us – He “bore our sicknesses and carried our diseases” and “was wounded with our transgressions, bruised with our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with His stripes we are healed!” (Isaiah 53:4-5).

c. Can you remember a time when God healed your body? Thanksgiving is a great time to go back to the foot of the cross and tell Jesus ‘thank you’ for the healings He’s provided for you.

3. A NEAR-BRUSH WITH DEATH(3)

a. The Bible recounts several times that David was nearly killed; fighting lions barehanded, King Saul throwing a spear at him, a giant about to pin him to the ground, a hostile army chasing after him, and when he had to act insane so the Philistines wouldn’t kill him.