Tremendous Things For Which To Be Thankful

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.”