Sermons

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Series: General
Date:
Additional file: 2014-12-28 Thanksgiving to God - Alan Yeater.pdf


S. R. John 1:1-5

Introduction

  1. What Helen Johnson needed – Five eggs. Amidst the darkness in the world
    1. John the Apostle opens his Gospel with timeless words of hope regarding the Word of God: “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome (overpower, comprehend) it.” (John 1:1-5)
    2. Earlier this month, in Tarrant, Alabama, the beautiful light of hope shined into one woman’s family. Let me tell you their story.
    3. As reported at AL.com, Helen Johnson stood in the store aisle in despair. She and her two daughters, a niece and two grandchildren, had not eaten for two days and now she was 50 cents short for the dozen eggs she was hoping to buy. Out of hope, Helen stuffed five of the eggs in her pocket and tried to walk out. Fortunately, as it turns out, they broke. “I'm not a good thief at all,” she said.
    4. When confronted by store employees, she admitted her crime and waited for police. Yet, when Officer William Stacy got there, the story didn’t go as she expected. Instead of escorting her to the back of his squad car, Officer Stacy bought the dozen eggs for her and let her know the store was not pressing charges. When asked how she could repay him, Stacy told her not to shoplift again.
    5. But Helen Johnson’s story did not end there. A man filmed the incident at the store and posted it online. The video went viral and offers of help began pouring in. Three days later, police officers were helping Mrs. Johnson. Officers returned with two truckloads of food. For a family with virtually nothing, a stocked pantry was unbelievable. “My heart is wide open right now,” she said.
    6. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” This, as much as any other, is the message that gives us hope.
    7. Most of us may never know what it’s like to be 50 cents short of providing a meal for hungry children. But our Lord does: He came to serve the poor and the wretched, the downcast among us. (Matthew 11:2-5)
    8. God’s ongoing blessing to us, if we choose to receive it, is to share His works of mercy in the world. “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” Jesus said, “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” And blessed are the rest of us, who’ve been given opportunities to serve them.
  2. Personal Reflections:
    1. Am I grateful, generous and thankful
    2. Am I content with the provision of God?
      1. Heart of Provision is Vision (Stu Webber)
      2. God Knows and Cares (lilies and sparrows)
      3. Proverbs 30:8-9 “8Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 9Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” (NIV)
    3. Have I communicated thankfulness to God?
    4. Have I communicated thankfulness to you?
  3. If I have failed in this endeavor it is time to change.

Outline

  1. Giving Thanks to God
    1. God’s Provision for all
      1. God sends his rain on the just and unjust. (Matthew 5:45)
      2. Failure to give thanks leads to all kind of evil conditions (Romans 1:18-21)
      3. Deuteronomy 8:11-19 “11Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. 16He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. 17You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." 18But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. 19If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed.”
    2. When I look at the cross how can I not be thankful?
      1. Romans 5:6-11 “6For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”
    3. When I look honestly at myself and then look at God’s abundant grace how can I not praise him?
      1. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.
      2. 2 Corinthians 9:13-15 “13Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, 14while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. 15Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”
    4. When I see what I deserve – wrath – how can I not bow before God and accept His mercy?
      1.  Romans 2:4-11 “4Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? 5But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: 7to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. 9There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, 10but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11For there is no partiality with God.”
  2. Giving Thanks for God’s Grace in Changing Lives
    1. Do you remember where you were five years ago (2009) at this time?
      1. Some of us were in dark and self – destructive places.
        1. Rebellion and drugs of various sorts were destroying our bodies, minds and souls.
        2. Some of us were racked with the pain of dysfunctional family relationships.
      2. Some of us were arrogant and proud of our “self – righteous” accomplishments.
    2. Spiros Zhodiates once said – I am not yet what I should be, but thanks be to God I am not what I was.
      1. Am I more kind, gentle, and compassionate?
      2. Life has a way of humbling us if we let it.
      3. The pressing reality of a declining physical tabernacle seeks for answers beyond the grave. (2 Corinthians 5)
    3. We serve a resurrected Lord and King who rules in us.
      1. Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ…”
  3. Thanks be to God for the People of God.
    1. Whole church – all of God’s people everywhere – Roxie from Romania
      1. Philippi – joy and crown (Philippians 4:1)
        1. Philippians 1:3-11 “3I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. 6For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 7For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. 8For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
        2. Philippians 4:10-19 “10But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. 11Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. 14Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. 15You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; 16for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. 17Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. 18But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. 19And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
      2. Thessalonica – Paul is thankful and grateful for them
        1. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-8 “2We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;3constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, 4knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; 5for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.”
        2. Although many Jews in Thessalonica were not “noble minded” as were some Bereans (Acts 17:10-13); others did experience God’s kingdom.
    2. Women who give themselves and their children to the Lord
      1. (2 Timothy 1:5) 2 Timothy 3:15-17 “15And how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (NIV)
      2. First century ladies for the Lord:
        1. Lydia (Acts 16:15, 40); If you judged me to be faithful to the Lord?
        2. Priscilla (Acts 18) taught Apollos more accurately
        3. Phoebe (Romans 16:1-2) a servant of the church at Cenchrea
      3. Ladies, thank you for reaching out with the good news.
      4. Thanks to mothers who devote themselves to teaching their children.
      5. Thanks to those who do not have children at home who are reaching the lost.
    3. Men who work hard to provide for your family.
      1. Provide for physical needs. (1 Timothy 5:8) If any will not provide for his own
      2. Give careful attention to spiritual instruction of self, spouse and children.
      3. Men who exercise self-control and discipline themselves to godliness.
      4. Men whose priority is God and it shows in the choices they make for themselves and for their family.
        1. When the people of God are in assembly we are going to be there.
        2. Great blessing to children to not question where will we be on Sunday night and Wed. night.
        3. That decision was made a long time ago. “Stepping Up”
      5. “The heart of provision is vision” – “As for me and my house…” Joshua
    4. Thanks for men who shepherd, feed and watch in behalf of our souls.
      1. Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”
    5. Thanks to all the men and women who serve as teachers of our children and ourselves.
    6. Thanks for those who “take care of” widows, and various material duties that are only noticed if they “don’t get done.”
  4. Conclusion
    1. (Colossians 3:12-15) God called us to allow Christ to rule in our hearts.
      1. “12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
    2. We become the people of by God’s powerful work.
      1. Colossians 2:9-13 “9For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; 11and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,”
      2. God only cuts sufficiently for health and healing. Is your heart been cut by God?
      3. Will we live a life of thankful praise in obedience to our great God?