Don't Overlook Thanksgiving

right now because people are already getting into the Christmas mood and it's still 28 days away.

How many of you put up a Christmas tree or some decorations this weekend already? Raise your hand.

A lot of people. I've been married for 38 years now and just as sure as Thursday is Thanksgiving

Day, Saturday after Thanksgiving is when we put up our tree. I don't have a choice. That's what

Elisa wants to do and that's what we do. We put up that tree Saturday after Thanksgiving

always. If holidays were people, Christmas would just be smiling. But if holidays were people,

Thanksgiving would be hurt, even depressed right now. That's because most people it seems only

to give passing notice to Thanksgiving. A lot of people this past Thursday didn't really

think a whole lot about Thanksgiving. They ate their turkey and dressing and planned their

Black Friday shopping or their football watching schedule for this weekend. Thanksgiving would

also be angry because more and more people have elevated Halloween to holiday status and put

less emphasis on Thanksgiving. But think about that. Halloween is basically a pagan notion.

But Thanksgiving is the national holiday created to express heartfelt gratitude to God for the

way he has blessed us in this country. Even though we are three days removed from Thanksgiving Day,

I want us to give our attention to this forgotten holiday this morning, Thanksgiving. But more importantly,

I want us to see how giving thanks to God is found throughout the Bible as an ever-present attitude

among God's people. What I want us to do is answer four questions this morning related to thanks,

thanksgiving. First, are you a thankful person? Are you a thankful person? Some people really are not.

In fact, there's a lot of people, they think more along the lines of being entitled.

A lot of people. I want you to check yourself. Do you believe that you deserve special treatment? At least

from certain people in your life. Do you think that I'm entitled to this or that from my parents or from my

teachers or from my employer? Do you even really expect to be blessed by God?

A lot of people have this entitlement mentality today. But that is contrary to what the Bible teaches

about us, about who we are and really what we should suspect. The Bible is very clear and we've talked

about it a lot over the years and we will always talk about it. The Bible talks about us being sinners by

nature and by choice. And the only thing that we really and truly deserve is death and hell.

The Bible says it like this in Romans chapter 3,

Romans 3 · chapter mention

None is righteous. None is righteous. No, not one. No one understands. No one seeks for God. All have turned aside.

Together they have become worthless. No one does good, not even one.

Now as Paul is quoting from the Old Testament, he is not saying that every person is as bad as they can possibly be.

But he is saying that before God, we are rebels. We are lawbreakers. We are not in any way as we stand before God,

right with Him. We're self-centered people, not God-centered as we should be if He is our Creator.

He really is Almighty God. Paul goes on in Romans chapter 3 to say,

Romans 3 · chapter mention

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

And then in Romans 6, 23, For the wages of sin is death.

Here's the point.

To think that you are entitled

to God's blessings

is contrary to every single thing

the Bible teaches

about what we truly deserve

from God.

You know, we should never

we should never stop thinking about

the fact that

we don't deserve God's blessings.

We really and truly

it should never become just

old news to us

that we are sinners

separated from God by our sin.

In fact,

if we really know ourselves

we know this is true.

I mean, if you know yourself

you know what's

in your mind sometimes.

You know what's really

some of the desires that you have at times.

We know

from experience

not just from what

the Scripture says

that we really are

sinners by nature.

as well as by choice.

We need to learn

to think of all the good things

that we experience in life

as being gifts

of God's grace.

Just like Richard was singing about

a moment ago.

That means they are totally

undeserved

and they're unearned.

You know,

Paul contrasted

what we deserve

with what God has graciously

given us

through faith in Jesus

in two of those passages

that you see on the screen there.

Let's expand the first one.

Romans 3.23

to include verse 24.

He said,

For all have sinned

and fall short of the glory of God

and are justified

declared righteous

declared right with Him

by His grace

as a gift

through the redemption

that is in Christ Jesus.

While we've all sinned

and come short of the glory of God,

we who are truly believers in Jesus,

through faith in Him,

God declares,

You're right with me

because Jesus has paid the penalty

for our sins.

This is a gift

from God

through Jesus Christ.

And then the next one.

Romans 6.23

The full verse says this,

For the wages of sin is death,

but the free gift of God

is eternal life

in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We've got a lot to be thankful for

every day of our lives.

You know, a lot of times

we spend our time

thinking about what we don't have,

complaining about what's wrong

in our life.

We need to spend more time

thinking about

how we have been blessed

and thinking about

what is right

in our life

and really thinking about

how we don't,

a lot of times,

we don't get what we deserve.

Our salvation is a gift

of God's grace.

You didn't deserve it.

Our salvation is God's free gift

that you could never earn.

That leads to the next question.

What are you thankful for?

What are you,

right now,

thankful for?

If we're Christians,

we need to be

the most thankful people

on earth,

not just on Thanksgiving Day,

but every day

because of what God

has done for us

in Christ.

Calling us to Himself

through faith in Jesus,

forgiving us,

making us His child.

That's at the top of the list.

But what else

are you thankful for?

What are you thankful for

right now?

We really need to

give thanks

for all that we have

because it has been

given to us

by God.

I want you to look

at something that Paul

said to the people

in the church at Corinth.

1 Corinthians chapter 4

1 Corinthians 4 · chapter mention

and verse 7.

They were having

problems in the church.

There was divisions.

There was a lot of pride

over being a part

of this group

or that group

following this leader

or that leader.

And the way Paul

sought to combat that

is to remind them

it's all,

whatever you have,

whoever you are,

it's a gift from God.

Look at it.

1 Corinthians 4 verse 7.

1 Corinthians 4:7

What do you have

that you did not receive?

If you received it,

why do you boast

as if you did not receive it?

When I read that first statement,

what do you have

that you did not receive?

That's one of the most

humbling statements

found in the Bible.

Paul was trying to put

these people in their place.

He was trying to tell them,

you have no reason

to be proud.

You have no reason

to elevate certain leaders

and think that

because you're a part

of their group,

you're someone special.

Everything that we are,

everything that you are,

that you're glad

that you are,

as well as everything

that you have,

comes from God.

Our abilities,

our talents,

our gifts,

our opportunities,

our blessings,

they've all been given

to us by God.

I want you to think about that.

Every one of us,

there's something in your life

that you're extremely proud of.

I can look around,

some of you men,

you greatly

outmarried yourself.

Some of you who,

that I know

are going to get married,

you're engaged,

you're close to it.

You really outpunted

your coverage, boy.

One in particular

I'm looking at right there.

You need to understand,

it's not because

you're so good looking.

Maybe because she's blind.

But it may be,

it's not because

you're good looking,

not because of

this or that.

In the big scheme of things,

God has blessed you

that way.

If you've got a job

that you just

are thrilled to have,

thank God

for the ability

that you have,

for the opportunity,

for whatever it is

that He worked out

to put you there.

Thank Him.

Paul is asking

this question

with the obvious answer.

What do you have

that you did not receive?

Obviously nothing.

If you received it,

why do you boast

as if you did not receive it?

If we'll think deeply

about this.

I mean,

let it really sink in.

This will help us

to avoid being arrogant,

being prideful.

It will also help us

to really and truly

be thankful

for whatever it is

that we have

because it's a gift

from God.

That's how God

wants us to think.

He wants us

to be thankful

for all of life's

good gifts,

which leads us

to the third question

this morning.

Who are you thankful to?

Who are you thankful to?

Now here's where

we come to the real difference

between Christians

and unbelievers.

There's a lot of people

in the world

who would consider themselves

to be atheists

or agnostics,

but they're thankful

to someone.

They're thankful

for certain things.

We who are Christians,

we need to learn

at the top of the list

to be thankful to God

because He really is

the source of all the good

that we experience in life.

Look at it as James tells us

in chapter 1, verse 17.

Every good gift

and every perfect gift

is from above

coming down

from the Father of lights

with whom there is

no variation or shadow

due to change.

The Father of lights.

He's talking about how

the heavenly bodies,

the sun, the moon,

they change.

At least we perceive change.

The sun rises and sets.

The moon goes

through different phases.

But God is constant.

God does not change.

We can count on Him

because of who He is

and what He does.

God is good

in terms of who He is.

In James chapter 1

James 1 · chapter mention

in verse 13,

prior to talking about

how every good and gift

comes from God,

James had tried

to help these people

understand you never

blame God for evil.

God is not the source

of temptation in your life.

Here's how He says it

in James 1.13.

Let no one say

when he is tempted,

I am being tempted

by God.

For God cannot be tempted

with evil

and He Himself

tempts no one.

God cannot be tempted

by evil

and He cannot tempt

anyone with evil

because it's just contrary

to who He is.

It's contrary to His nature.

God is holy.

He is above sin.

He is immune

to sin.

And so evil

is present in this world

but we can't say

this comes from God.

He's to blame for it.

God is good

in terms of who He is

and God is good

in terms of what He gives.

He's never the source of evil,

verse 13,

and He only gives good gifts,

verse 17,

that you see.

Because God is good like this,

we can trust Him.

He can be trusted

as our Heavenly Father.

We can have confidence in Him.

He's for us

as His children.

That brings up a question,

doesn't it?

It makes me think as well,

what about all the things

that happen in our lives

that are not good?

There is plenty of evil

in this world

and you cannot deny it.

Christians,

a lot of times,

suffer,

experience all kinds of pain.

Well, Paul answers the question,

what about all these kind of things

in relation to God being good?

Paul answers that question

in various ways

throughout his writings

as well as the whole Bible.

But Paul answers that question

in the context

in 1 Thessalonians 5

of telling us to be thankful.

I want you to look at it.

1 Thessalonians 5, 18,

give thanks in all circumstances.

Paul, as he's winding down

that letter to that church,

he tells them certain things

they need to be doing,

issues certain little short,

brief commands.

And one of them is,

give thanks in all circumstances.

That does not mean, though,

to thank God for evil.

It does not mean

that you thank God

for things that are

obviously contrary to

His will,

His design.

Suffering comes into our lives.

We are touched by evil.

Paul wants us to think

when those times come,

you don't thank God

for the evil.

You don't thank God

for the sinful things

that people do.

But you do thank God

that He is sovereign.

You do thank Him

that He is good

and that He is going

to work everything out

for His glory

and ultimate good.

And I hope that brings

to your mind,

Romans 8, 28,

one of the most comforting

words from God

in all the Bible.

And we know that

in all things,

God works for the good

of those who love Him,

who've been called

according to His purpose.

All things are not good.

There's a lot of terrible things,

a lot of suffering and pain

even Christians experience.

We don't know why

God allows these things.

We don't see all

that He actually does

in bringing about

ultimate good even.

But one of the ways

that Romans 29

is talking about

how God works

everything for good,

it goes on in verse 29

to talk about

how God is working

in our lives

to conform us

to the image of His Son.

God is working in evil.

He's working in pain

and suffering

to perfect us,

our character,

to make us more like

His Son Jesus.

And so,

in all of our circumstances,

we can trust God

that He is sovereign,

He is in control,

He is good,

and He is powerfully

working out good

in our lives,

if nothing else,

but developing

our Christ-like character.

But He's also working out

things for ultimate good

that we may not even see

until heaven one day.

But we can trust

that in all things,

God is at work

and He's working everything

for His glory.

There's meaning,

there is purpose,

even in our sufferings.

You know,

one of the best examples

of how we are to thank God

for all things

is found in the way

that Paul thanked God

for everything,

including the good

that He saw

in people's lives.

I want you to look with me

at Romans chapter 1

Romans 1 · chapter mention

in verse 8.

Romans is the first letter

in the New Testament

that the Apostle Paul wrote.

If you open your New Testament,

you'll see Matthew, Mark, Luke,

John, Acts,

then Romans.

Beginning with Romans,

you're going to go

through Paul's letters.

in most of those letters,

in the majority

of those letters,

he's going to begin

by thanking God

and then thank God

for what he's doing

in the lives

of those people.

Let's look at two examples.

Romans 1.8.

First,

I thank my God

through Jesus Christ

for all of you

because your faith

is proclaimed

in all the world.

First,

I thank my God

through Jesus Christ

for all of you.

I'm thanking God.

I'm thanking God

for you

and I'm thanking God

for how you're living,

how you're actually

putting the gospel

into practice,

how you're living

like Christians

because your faith

is proclaimed

in all the world.

People are talking

about you

and they're talking

about you good.

You know,

none of us really

want people

to talk about us

but they're going to.

All of us

are going to be talked

about sooner or later,

more or less.

It's okay

if they talk about us

the good

that God's doing

in us and through us.

Another example,

1 Thessalonians chapter 1

1 Thessalonians 1:2

verses 2 and 3.

He's writing

to this group

of Christians.

We give thanks

to God always

for all of you,

constantly mentioning

you in our prayers.

remembering before

our God and Father

your work of faith

and labor of love

and steadfastness

of hope

in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul thanked God

for what he had done

in these people's lives

to save them,

change them,

and enable them

to actually live

like Christians

in the midst

of a tough world

where most people

were not Christians.

What Paul is doing,

he's complimenting them.

You see,

Paul is writing

this letter.

He's not just

praying to God

privately

where nobody will hear.

He's not just

writing a personal letter

that only one person

is going to read.

Paul is writing

a letter

that was to be read

to the entire church

and would be circulated

among other

Christian churches.

And so what he's doing

is he is publicly

complimenting them.

How they've responded,

how they've developed

a powerful testimony

as God's people.

Paul said things like this,

to praise God,

give public thanks to God,

but also to publicly

affirm them,

to encourage them,

and yes,

to thank them

for their faithfulness.

Another example

we see real clear,

2 Thessalonians 1,

2 Thessalonians 1:3

verse 3.

He says,

We are always to give

thanks to God

for you, brothers,

as is right,

because your faith

is growing abundantly

and the love

of every one of you

for one another

is increasing.

What I want us to see

is that this is

a good example

of how we ought

to express gratitude

to God,

but also

to others.

You and I,

we need to do more

than just be thankful

to God.

We need to thank God

for people in our lives

who are meaningful to us,

but we need to learn

to thank people.

expressing gratitude

to people

is something

most of us

need to put more

emphasis on.

Do you do that

as a matter of habit

in your home,

for example?

You who are living

at home with your parents,

they do a lot for you.

You may not acknowledge it,

you may not appreciate

it sometimes,

but they do a lot

for you.

If nothing else,

they're letting you live there.

Probably not charging you

a dime,

and you cost something,

you know?

You're expensive.

But what I want you

to think about is,

do you tell them,

boys and girls,

young people,

young adults,

do you take the time

to express thanks,

appreciation,

those people who are

providing for most

of your needs,

and do you do it

with sincerity?

You know,

one reason

we ought to do this

is because it's just

the right thing to do.

But also,

expressing gratitude

helps us to develop

better relationships.

It really does.

It makes us

more appreciative

of the person

who blesses us

if we'll take time

to think about

just what all

they've done for us.

It will make us

more appreciative

if we'll just

stop and think

of what the person

who's helping us,

taking care of us,

doing stuff for us.

If we'll just stop

and think

what it is they're doing,

what it costs them

to do it.

Maybe in terms of time,

maybe in terms of energy,

not necessarily monetarily.

Do you know

that it's really

a reward

for you to take time

to give thanks

to somebody

who is investing

in you?

It's not just

among family members,

but all of us.

Have you ever had

somebody to

give you something?

Maybe it was a gift,

maybe it was their time,

they just gave you

something,

and you thought

to yourself,

it is important.

They've really

given of themselves,

and you may think

under some of those

circumstances,

I want to pay them back.

If somebody

has given you

something because

they just love you,

and they wanted

to give it to you,

they don't want

to be paid back.

You'll insult them

if you talk about

paying them back.

You know what

would be

their greatest

reward?

For you to look

them in the eye

and smile

and express

genuine appreciation,

thanks,

hug them,

touch them,

do it from the heart,

do it with all

sincerity.

That will reward

them more than

you would ever

imagine.

that's really

a lot of times.

You think about

when you give

to someone

you really care

about,

you're not

expecting

anything in return,

but it makes

it all worthwhile

when they look

at you

and that smile

or that touch

and they express

gratitude

for what you've

done.

Let's conclude

with one final

question.

why do you

thank God?

Why do you

thank God

assuming that

we all in here

do?

If you give

someone a gift

at Christmas

or you just

do something

for someone,

period,

would you be

satisfied if

that person

just only

gave you

an obliging

word of

thanks

but didn't

show any

interest

or affection

to you

as a

person?

You do

something,

you give

something

and someone

doesn't really,

they don't really

acknowledge you.

They may

acknowledge your

gift,

but they don't

acknowledge you.

Sometimes

it makes you

feel hurt,

doesn't it?

In some

situations

you can feel

insulted

or you

can just

feel

used.

Hearing

words of

thanks

don't mean

anything

unless they

include

your

genuine

personal

interest

that you

express

somehow

as you

give that

word of

thanks.

God

feels the

same

way

when we

are more

interested

in His

gifts

than we

are in

Him.

Are you

thankful to

God

not just

for the

things

or the

people He

puts into

your life?

Are you

truly

thankful

to God

God?

God

because you

love Him

and you

want to

express

gratitude

to Him

just because

you love

Him.

You want

Him to

know that

you are

thankful for

that special

person,

for that

job,

for that

gift,

whatever it

may be.

True

gratitude to

God can

only be

expressed from

someone who

has a heart

for God.

and that

heart for

God has

to be

developed in

the context

of a loving

relationship

with Him.

We cannot

truly thank

God if we

don't know

Him, if we

don't have a

relationship with

Him through

Jesus Christ.

So I want to

ask you now,

do you have

such a

relationship

with God?

Do you want

one if you

don't?

You can have

such a

relationship,

it can

begin today

by admitting

to God,

just like we

said at the

beginning,

that I am

a sinner.

And I know

that I have

come short

of your

expectations.

I know

that I have

failed you.

I know

that I have

been more

self-centered

than God-centered.

Admit your

sin.

Express your

sorrow to

God for

having

dishonored

Him,

ignored Him,

and sinned

against Him

like this.

Turn from

your sin.

Change your

mind about it.

Put your

faith in

Jesus,

that when

He died

on the

cross,

He actually

paid the

penalty for

your sin.

Call upon

Him to

save you,

forgive you,

make you a

child of God.

Do that

now.

You can

begin a

relationship

with Him.

for some

people in

this room,

the question

is this.

Did you

once have

a relationship

with God

that was

close?

It was

loving.

It was

real.

It was

personal.

But now,

it's just

distant.

It's just

not really

personal

anymore.

Maybe you're

even reading

the Bible

regularly.

Maybe your

relationship

with God

is more

along the

lines of

being academic

rather than

anything else.

My question

is, do you

want to come

back to Him?

Do you want

Him to restore

for you the

joy of your

salvation?

If you know

why there's

separation,

why there's

distance,

confess that to

God, you

repent of

it.

And the

Scripture says

if we confess

our sins, He

is faithful and

just to forgive

us and to

cleanse us.

He'll give us a

fresh start.

He'll welcome

you back.

Could be that

you would say

that I don't

really know

why.

It's just

happened over

time or

something, but

I just don't

have the close

personal

relationship with

the Lord that

I once had.

Just tell Him

that.

You don't have

to know why.

Just come back

to Him.

Scripture says

if we will

draw near to

God, He'll

draw near to

us.

Ask God to

show you what

the problem is.

To show you

what the solution

is.

But the

beginning part of

that solution

is to come

back to Him.

Humble

yourself.

Seek Him.

Commit

yourself and

you are

fresh to Him.

I want to

end this

message with

the words from

Psalm 100.

The only

psalm that

is entitled

is a psalm

of thanksgiving.

It's actually

entitled a

psalm for

giving thanks.

The last two

verses are

this.

Enter His

gates with

thanksgiving and

His courts with

praise.

Give thanks to

Him and bless

praise His name.

For the Lord is

good and His

love endures

forever.

His faithfulness

continues through

all generations.

Thank God and

praise Him because

of who He is.

Because He is our

good God who

will love us

forever and who

will be faithful

to us forever

and ever.

would you pray

with me?

Father,

Father,

Father,

show us how

we should

respond

so that we

can leave here

today as people

who are truly

thankful.

We're thankful

to You for

who You are,

how You are,

and what You do.

But Lord,

help us to also

leave here as

people who are

thankful for the

people You've put

in our life who

bless us, who

help us.

Help us,

Father, to be

thankful for the

gifts, the

talents, the

opportunities, the

things that we

have and enjoy.

Lord,

help us,

Father, to be

thankful even in

the tough times,

the hard times,

because we know

You are sovereign

and You are

good and You're

working in all

those tough times

for Your glory

and our good.

Father, show us

how we should

respond.

Help us to do

that now and

leave here as

Your thankful

people.

Let's just

continue in an

attitude of

prayer and you

respond to the

Lord as He

speaks.

If I could help

you, pray with

you, I'll be

here at the

front and be

happy to do

that.