THOUGHTS FOR THANKSGIVING
PSALM 100:1-5
PSALM 100:1-5
Introduction:
What would stir your to give thanks. The following thoughts are meant to stir us to thanksgiving. They are given to bring to memory all of God’s blessings in the various areas mentioned.
We Americans are among the most blessed people of our world. In no other country has the gospel been preached as in this country. God’s blessings are abundantly seen here even though the people of this country do not see His hand in these blessings.
I. LOOKING AROUND US WILL MOVE US TO THANKSGIVING
A. Looking at the glory of the land that God has given us, Psalm 147:7-8, “Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: 8-Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.”
1. No land upon this globe has more beauty nor has been blessed more than ours, Ecclesiastes 3:11, “He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”
2. No people have been blessed more than the American people have, Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”
B. Looking at other people will cause to be thankful for God’s blessings, Psalm 1:1, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”
C. Looking at God’s bountiful supply will make us thankful, Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
II. LOOKING WITHIN WILL MOVE US TO THANKSGIVING
A. We have salvation by faith in Christ, Ephesians 2:1, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;”
B. We have His Promises, 2 Peter 1:4, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
1. That He is preparing a place for us, John 14:1-2, “1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
2. That He is coming to take us home to be with Him. John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
III. LOOKING UP WILL MOVE US TO THANKSGIVING
A. Looking toward Heaven will stir us to thanksgiving, 1 Corinthians 2:9, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
1. We are thankful that the Lord has made a place for us there, John 17:24, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”
2. We are thankful that He has promised to come again, Acts 1:11, “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”
B. Looking to the Resurrected Savior will move us to thanksgiving, Romans 6:5, “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:”
1. Jesus is the first to be resurrected, 1 Corinthians 15:20, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept”
2. Because of His resurrection, we have the promise of our resurrection as well, 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22-For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
C. Looking to Jesus, our Advocate, will stir us to thanksgiving, 1 John 2:1, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”
1. We have a lawyer that gives us access to God throne, Ephesians 2:18, “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”
2. Through Him we can come bold to God’s throne, Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
3. He intercedes for us, Romans 8:34, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”
4. He is there for us because He loves us, Psalm 34:1-3, “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2- My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3- O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.”
CONCLUSION
If we are not thankful, it is because we are blind. Blind to the truth that God has blessed us even in these confused times while there is little or no discipline in our society.
There is little thanksgiving today because many have chosen to leave God out of their lives. That is the reason we have so many domestic and family problems such as divorce and child abuse. That is why crime is so rampant in our land today.
Are we thankful? I trust you are because of what the Lord has reminded you through this message.