PSALM

THOUGHTS FOR THANKSGIVING
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.

LET US COME BEFORE HIS PRESENCE WITH THANKSGIVING

PSALM 95

Introduction:

This week we will observe Thanksgiving Day. Most folks will set down with family and friends to enjoy a great meal and never give one thought to the God of Heaven that made it all possible. To most is just another holiday that they do can use for their own pleasure.

I hope that this week will be a time to remember to be thankful to God for all of His blessings in your life. Let reflect on these things in the message of God today.

I. LET US COME BEFORE HIS FACE

A. With Praise, Psalm 100:4, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”

1. With a joyful noise, v. 1, “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.”

2. With singing, Psalm 105:2, “Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.”

B. With Glory, Psalm 105:3, “Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.”

1. Glory in His Holy Name, Galatians 6:14, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

2. Let the heart rejoice that seeks the Lord, Psalm 34:2, “My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.”

a. For the LORD is a great God, Psalm 86:8, “Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.”

b. No one does what he does, Psalm 136:3, “O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. 4To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.”

II. LET US WORSHIP AND BOW DOWN BEFORE HIM

A. To worship God is to received Jesus Christ as Saviour, Philippians 2:10, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;”

B. To worship God is to know the price that He paid to save your soul, 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

1. The price was very high, Galatians 3:13, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:”

2. The price was the shedding of His Own Blood, Hebrews 9:12, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. “

III. LET BE THANKFUL FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT
2 Corinthians 9:15, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”

A. Be thankful that God has blessed you so that you could hear the gospel of Christ.

1. For it is the power of God unto salvation, Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

2. For it is the LIGHT of the Gospel that will open your eyes to the truth, 2 Corinthians 4:4, In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

B. Be thankful that God has blessed you with the opportunity to become a son of God, which is His unspeakable gift.

1. The opportunity to receive Jesus as your Saviour, John 1:12, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

2. He is God’s gift to us when we trust Him by faith, Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

3. It is God’s will that you trust Jesus Christ as your Saviour, John 6:40, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

CONCLUSION

For well over 44 years I have had the privilege of giving thanks to my Lord for saving my soul. It has been the greatest experience of my life. If that was the only blessing that I ever received, it would be sufficient to cause great joy. Instead my trusting Christ as Saviour opened up the windows of Heaven and God has poured out many blessings during my life.

God stands ready to bless you if you will come and trust Jesus Christ as your Saviour right now. Please do not wait, for the Bible says, “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

WILT THOU NOT REVIVE US AGAIN?

PSALM 85:1-13

Introduction:

Here in the Psalms we see a parallel in history. Israel had been unfaithful and disobedient refusing the grace of God. However, God does not give up on us easily. The Psalmist expresses his desire for repentance and the favor of God on behalf of the people. Let us consider what he is saying to us in our day that is so needful.

I. Turn us, vs. 4-6

A. Revive us again, v. 6.

1. Cause thy face to shine on us, Psalm 80:3, “Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.”

2. Grace has been given for a moment, Ezra 9:8, “And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.”

B. “Turn thou me, and I shall be turned,” Jeremiah 31:18-19, “I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God. 19-Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.”

1. “Surely after that I was turned, I repented,” Ezekiel 36:26, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”

2. “After that I was instructed,.. I was ashamed,” Jeremiah 3:25, “We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.”

II. Shew us thy mercy, vs. 7-10

A. He will show mercy to cause you to return, Jeremiah 42:12, “And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land.”

B. The King will speak peace to the heathen, v. 8; Zechariah 9:9-10, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. 10-And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.

1. Hear when He speaks of peace, Hebrews 3:7-8, “Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, 8-Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:”

2. “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh,” Hebrews 12:25, “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:”

C. His salvation is near, v. 9; Romans 13:11, “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”

1. Mercy and truth are met together, v. 10; John 1:17, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

2. “Righteousness and peace have kissed each other,” v. 10; Romans 3:25-26, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26-To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

a. “Righteousness shall go before him,” v. 13; Isaiah 58:8, “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.” {rearguard}

b. “And shall set us in the way of his steps,” v. 13; Ephesians 5:1-2, “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2-And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”

CONCLUSION

“Revive us again” is a hymn that we sing often without hearing the words. We desperately need revival in our lives. We need the grace of God is our lives in order to serve the Lord.

The love of many has waxed cold and they have filled their lives with the things of this world. We have shut our ears to His call to peace and salvation, to His call to service and satisfaction, and hear only the desires of our flesh and selfishness. God help us to repent and return to Godly living.

CAN GOD FURNISH A TABLE IN THE WILDERNESS?

PSALM 78:14-42

Introduction:

The Lord did marvelous things for Israel when He led them out of Egypt. They had seen Him bring 10 plagues upon Pharaoh and his people because of the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart.

Now Israel had entered into the journey to the Promised Land, but where was their faith? When things became difficult they blamed Moses and Aaron. So what about the question above? The Lord did it then, but CAN HE FURNISH A TABLE NOW?

I. WATER FROM THE ROCK

A. The need for water, Exodus 17:2-3, “Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD? 3- And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?”

1. The Israelites were complainers, Exodus 16:3, “And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

2. They had no faith that God would provide their needs, Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

2. They learned what is really necessary to survive, Deuteronomy 8:3, “And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.”

B. The Water of Life, Exodus 17:5-6, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. 6- Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.”

1. That Rock was Christ, 1 Corinthians 10:4, “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”

2. He gave water from the rock; can He give bread also? Psalm 78:15, 20, “He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths. 20- Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? Can he provide flesh for his people?”

II. ANGEL FOOD CAKE

A. Manna from heaven, Exodus 16:15, “And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.”

1. Israel continued to complain FAITHLESSLY until God gave them bread, Deuteronomy 8:16, “Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;”

2. Still they DID NOT TRUST the Lord, Nehemiah 9:16, “But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,”

B. The True Bread from heaven, John 6:32, “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.”

1. The manna of the Old Testament POINTED TO the True Bread, John 6:33, “For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.”

2. The True Bread is Jesus Christ who came down from Heaven, John 6:48-50, “I am that bread of life. 49- Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50- This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.”

III. QUAIL FOR DINNER

A. Quail to fill their need of flesh, Exodus 16:12-13, “I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God. 13- And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host.”

B. The body and blood of the Savior, John 6:54, “Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

IV. COME AND DINE

John 21:12, “Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.”

A. Come eat His flesh of Christ and drink His blood, John 6:53, “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.”

B. Come partake of the Bread of Life, John 6:35, “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

C. Come drink of the Water of Life, John 7:37-38, “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

CONCLUSION:

Jesus offers you life today. Don’t turn it down.

THE CUP IN THE HAND OF GOD
PSALM 75:1-10

Key verse: v. 8, “For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.”

Introduction:

There are various cups mentioned in the Scriptures. Below is a list of these cups, some of which deal with blessings while others deal with God’s wrath and judgement. Make no mistake man does not control his destiny as many think. His very life is in the hand of God and depends on what he does with the truth presented to him in the Word of God.

I. THE CUP OF SALVATION

Psalm 116:13, “I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.”

A. The cup of His suffering, Matthew 26:39, “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

B. Jesus determination to drink of that cup, John 18:11, “Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?”

1. Jesus knew that His death would bring much fruit to God’s kingdom, John 12:23-24, “And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24- Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”

2. Finishing the work that God gave Him to do was foremost in His mind, John 17:4, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”

C. The cup of His suffering on the cross, Matthew 27:34, “They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.”

1. A drink given to dull the senses and make the pain of crucifixion somewhat easier to bear.

2. It was a diluted wine containing stupefying drugs, Mark 15:23, “And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.

3. This was prophesied many years before, Psalm 69:21, “They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”

II. THE CUP OF THE AFFLICTION OF GOD’S PEOPLE

A. There are mixtures of mercy and grace in the cup of affliction, 1 Peter 1:7, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

1. God’s mercy, Psalm 33:18, “Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;”

2. His grace, Ephesians 1:6-7, “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7- In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

B. Enduring the cup of affliction brings reward, James 1:12, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

1. He who endures is happy, James 5:11, “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”

2. It perfects the believer, 1 Peter 5:10, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

3. He is rewarded, Matthew 25:34, “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:”

III. THE CUP OF GOD’S FURY

Isaiah 51:17, “Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.”

A. The portion of the cup of the wicked, Psalm 11:6, “Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.”

1. Hell is their final end, Psalm 9:17, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”

2. The cup of the rebellious is a cup of astonishment, Psalm 60:3, “Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.” [Trembling because of defeat.]

B. When the cup of HIs wrath is kindled but a little, Psalm 2:12, “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”

C. It is dangerous to reject the One who holds the keys of death and hell, Revelation 1:18, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

D. It is smart to respond to the One who knocks at the door, Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

CONCLUSION

The cups mentioned above are all very real and the Lord continues to exercise His authority over this world. Many have pushed the Lord aside in their lives, but He continues to work in the hearts of men through His Word.