Sunday, November 20, 2011

Intentional Thanksgiving

It's a privilege to give thanks!  That's what this week is about.  We are blessed beyond measure!  One of those blessings is the freedom to experience the blessings of our Christian faith.  The writer of Scripture said, this is the victory that has overcome the world....even our faith!  In that frame of mind, I offer up the sermon manuscript from today's sermon @ Bethel.


STAGES OF THANKSGIVING
Psalm 105:1–3 (ESV)
INTRODUCTION: 1 Oh give thanks to the Lord-The Decision
Thanksgiving is upon us and we should run to it with all we have.  Let’s bless His Name!  Thanksgiving is conveyed when we live out our thankful nature before others. This morning we are reflecting on some phrases found not only in the passage we are looking at, but throughout the Bible.  Call it Stages of Thanksgiving........ First, as part of our introduction, is the decision to give Thanks
106 iPraise the Lord!  jOh give thanks to the Lord, kfor he is good,  lfor his steadfast love endures forever!  
Psalm 106:1
34  Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;  for his steadfast love endures forever!  
1 Chronicles 16:34
I will be glad and do something about it!
  1. Call on His Name- Praying
Praying and calling to God started all the way back with the first family....
26 To lSeth also a son was born, and he called his name mEnosh. At that time people began nto call upon the name of the Lord.  
Genesis 4:26
 Isa. 12:4;  see 1 Chr. 16:8–22 
King David used this same outline in 1 Chronicles 16!
David’s Song of Thanks fOh give thanks to the Lord; gcall upon his name;  hmake known his deeds among the peoples!  Sing to him, sing praises to him;  tell of all his wondrous works!  10  Glory in his holy name;  let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!  1 Chronicles 16:8–22
u Ps. 99:6; 116:13, 17; [Gen. 4:26] 
Psalm 99:6 retells of His faithfulness in the History of Israel....
fMoses and Aaron were among his gpriests,  Samuel also was among those who hcalled upon his name.  They icalled to the Lord, and he answered them.  
Psalm 99:6
13  I will lift up rthe cup of salvation  and scall on the name of the Lord,  
Psalm 116:13
17  I will zoffer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving  and scall on the name of the Lord.  
Psalm 116:17
w Ps. 77:12 
12  I will ponder all your rwork,  and meditate on your smighty deeds.  
Psalm 77:12
And then Isaiah, looking through a glass darkly declared the future of the Church!
yAnd you will say in that day:  z“Give thanks to the Lord,  call upon his name,  amake known his deeds among the peoples,  proclaim bthat his name is exalted.  
Isaiah 12:4
3. Make Known His Deeds Among the Peoples-Ministry
v Ps. 145:4, 5, 11, 12 
oOne generation shall commend your works to another,  and shall declare your mighty acts.  
Psalm 145:4
On pthe glorious splendor of your majesty,  and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.  
Psalm 145:5
11  They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom  and tell of your power,  
Psalm 145:11
12  to wmake known to the children of man your1 xmighty deeds,  and ythe glorious splendor of your kingdom.  
Psalm 145:12
The declaring, the telling, the sharing is born out of an encounter with Almighty God!!!!
On the day of Pentecost, when the disciples had followed the instructions of Jesus, the Holy Spirit fell on ALL who were there and they began to speak in tongues.....It wasn’t just the marvel of the tongues event, however, that drew their attention, it was the translation of what the onlookers heard when they said:
both Jews and 
proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.
4 2 Sing to him, sing praises to him-Praise
we understand that one.
  1. tell of all his wondrous works!-Evangelism 
Thank you Jesus, you came from heaven to earth to show the way...
Thank you for the healing, for walking with me in the trial and delivering me from it!
O Mighty Deliverer are YOU!!!!
Thank you....1, 2, 3, 4, 5.....How many blessings?  Too many to number....as the Psalmist said were I to number them they would outnumber the grains of sand...
He lifted me Out!!!! of the deep miry clay 
And planted my feet, on the King’s highway
And that is the reason!  I sing and I shout!!!!
For Jesus came down
And He lifted me out!!!!


Would you bow for prayer.....Jesus can lift you out of that situation you are in.  You don’t have to stay in the depression or the guilt.  Jesus said I stand at the door and knock, if any man or woman open the door I will come in 
He also said come unto me, all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.
First....Do you know Christ?  Have you met the one who can turn your sorrow into Joy?
He’s holding out hope for you this morning.
Second...have you been laboring under a burden and its time to turn it over to Jesus?  The songwriter said “I must tell Jesus, all of my sorrows, He is a kind and compassionate friend...In my distress He quickly will help me, make of my troubles swiftly an end.
CONCLUSION-Benediction
3 Glory in his holy name; 
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!

May the Lord help us to have an attitude of Thanksgiving and Rejoice!!! 

Happy Thanksgiving

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