NORTH YORK CHURCH OF CHRIST

Pastor Roger C. Marcos
October 9, 2016

Thanksgiving Day in Canada-

Thanksgiving Day in Canada has been a holiday on the second Monday of October since 1957. It is a chance for people to give thanks for a good harvest and other fortunes in the past year.

What Do People Do?

Many people have a day off work on the second Monday of October. They often use the three-day Thanksgiving weekend to visit family or friends who live far away, or to receive them in their own homes. Many people also prepare a special meal to eat at some point during the long weekend.

Illustration:

There was a story on Seminary students living on the dormitory with a deal turns preparing the meals, which usually consisted of canned vegetables, baked potato, and was barely edible. No matter how poor the meal was, Joe always said, THAT WAS A MIGHTY DINNER. One evening the meal was worse than usual, and Joe made his regular comment. One said, WHY DO YOU ALWAYS SAY THAT WHEN THIS WAS HARDLY FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION?

Joe, answered, “I come from a family of 11 children. My mother would spend all day long on the kitchen preparing dinner for the 11 mouth. Can you imagine a sacrifice of the mother doing all of this then the family enjoyed the good prepared food! One night when she called us to the table, there was only a plate and spoon on each plate. My father looked at it and asked, "What is this spoon doing on my plate?" Mother said, "Oh! You noticed. This is the first time you have given any indication that you noticed what was on your plate." Joe then said, "I vowed that I would always express my appreciation to the person who had prepared my meal." From "Dear Abby" 11/21/96

Sons and daughter plus husband- When you are in the meal table what did you notice the spoon or the food? Thanks the one who prepare you every day needs.

Good morning, glory always be given to the One who gave the 23, 000.00 breath each day that we enjoy. Amen!

Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with a great heart.

TEXT: 1 Thes. 5:18 ¹⁸ In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. KJV

¹⁸ be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus. GNT.

Eph. 5:20 ²⁰ Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

There are so many things to be thankful in life but we often take for granted things for which we should be thankful to God. What are the causes?

I. Barrier #1 - Thought-less-ness. (NOUN)

To always give thanks to God for all things, we must be filled with the Holy Spirit. How? Is to be under the Spirit’s control. But talking about thoughtlessness one of the biggest problem we become careless on away not it should be.

A. It's interesting that "Think" and "Thank" come from the same Anglo-Saxon root word.

1. Often we are not grateful because we just don't think.
2. We don't think of what God has done for us.
3. We don't think of God's love and care for us.

Many are like hogs feeding at the trough, eating, and never looking up to see where their food is coming from.

The noun THOUGHTLESSNESS has 2 senses:

1. The quality of failing to be considerate of others.
2. The trait of not thinking carefully before acting.

Thoughtless:

• Not showing concern for the needs or feelings of other people.
• Inconsiderate of the feelings of others: a thoughtless remark.

B. Many of the Psalms are beautiful songs of thanksgiving.

Psalm 103:1-5 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. ² Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits ³ who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, ⁴ who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, ⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Ps.105:1-3 ¹ Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. ² Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. ³ Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

Ps. 106:1-3 Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. ² Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord or fully declare his praise? ³ Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right.

The blessings of the Psalmist enumerates the ways in which he has been blessed. The command given: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

In What Ways Are We Blessed?

• We need to give thanks to GOD, building we meet in, our Sunday school teachers, praise team, church leaders, and our fellow church members.
• We need to give thanks for forgiveness, redemption, knowledge of truth, and God's mercy and grace.
• We might give thanks for the big things, but often forget the small things.

II. Barrier #2 - Faithlessness.

Not true to duty or obligation; disloyal or unfaithful. The best illustration I get is the parable of the talents in the book of Matthew 25 and even the ten virgins.

Faithless:

• Not able to be trusted.
• Not to be relied on.

Matthew 25:14-30= Well done, good and faithful servant

A. Giving thanks is in the heart of those who have a genuine faith in God.

B. People who refuse to believe can never really be thankful. Rom. 1:20-21 NIV

²⁰ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

²¹ For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

GNT: ²⁰ Ever since God created the world, his invisible qualities, both his eternal power and his divine nature, have been clearly seen; they are perceived in the things that God has made. So those people have no excuse at all! ²¹ They know God, but they do not give him the honor that belongs to him, nor do they thank him. Instead, their thoughts have become complete nonsense, and their empty minds are filled with darkness.

The only reason why we have a poor response to God is due to a poor faith in God. Whether we like it or not we lack faith. So please be thankful not to be faithless.

III. Barrier #3 - Discontentment.

GIVE THANKS FOR A LITTLE AND YOU WILL FIND A LOT. If you are grateful for everything, then whatever you have is enough.

A. We Must Develop Contentment. Phil. 4:11-12; NIV 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

1 Tim. 6:6-8 NIV - 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

Too many suffer from the "thanks...but" Syndrome. a disease or disorder that involves a particular group of signs and symptoms

1. They are grateful, but are not satisfied.
2. They say "thanks," but ask, "how can I receive more?"
3. They say "thanks," but ask "why didn't I receive something else?"

Lesson: Those who have been blessed by God must learn to be a blessing.

Conclusion:

A. In Africa there is a fruit called the "taste berry." It is so called because it changes a person's taste so that everything eaten tastes sweet and pleasant. Sour fruit, even if eaten several hours after the taste berry, becomes sweet and delicious.

1. Thanksgiving is the "taste berry" of Christianity. When our hearts are filled with gratitude & thankfulness nothing seems to be that unpleasant. or overbearing.

2. Sorrowing heart, sweeten your grief with gratitude.

QUESTION IS: Have we shown our appreciation to God for what He has done for us?

Can One be Saved Outside Christ?

I need to ask if you have discovered God's plan for your life? Obey His word and make a reality in your life journey.

Jesus said: JOHN 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.