1 00:00:30,179 --> 00:00:36,379 What a blessing that was worth coming tonight. Amen. Amen. What 2 00:00:36,379 --> 00:00:38,859 a wonderful blessing. Turn if you wouldn't your Bibles to first 3 00:00:38,859 --> 00:00:43,019 Thessalonians chapter five tonight. Just want to thank you, 4 00:00:43,019 --> 00:00:54,179 Lord. I remember when our kids used to sing that song. Anyway, We 5 00:00:54,179 --> 00:01:02,069 have so much to be thankful for. Thanksgiving time set aside 6 00:01:02,709 --> 00:01:08,589 back to time set aside by the plymouth Colony in 1621 after a bad 7 00:01:08,589 --> 00:01:12,749 first winter to thank God for the blessings he had bestowed upon 8 00:01:12,749 --> 00:01:21,029 them. And if you'll remember, for every hut they built, they buried 9 00:01:21,029 --> 00:01:26,579 seven people. And yet they still set aside time to thank God 10 00:01:26,979 --> 00:01:30,619 for the blessings he had bestowed upon them. George Washington 11 00:01:30,619 --> 00:01:34,899 in 1789 also made the proclamation that the nation should 12 00:01:35,379 --> 00:01:39,219 thank God for its many blessings. Abraham Lincoln again 13 00:01:39,219 --> 00:01:43,899 made that same proclamation in 1863. And finally Congress got on 14 00:01:43,899 --> 00:01:50,639 board. 1941 made Thanksgiving a national holiday to be thankful 15 00:01:50,639 --> 00:01:57,319 to God for His blessings upon our nation. And so that's our politicians 16 00:01:57,319 --> 00:02:01,279 would do good to remember what Thanksgiving was originally set aside 17 00:02:01,279 --> 00:02:07,439 for. It wasn't just to thank and be blessed or thank us for our 18 00:02:07,439 --> 00:02:11,439 blessings, but thank God for our blessings. Thank God for what 19 00:02:11,439 --> 00:02:16,949 he's done for our nation. We are so blessed. Look at 1 Thessalonians 20 00:02:16,949 --> 00:02:21,829 chapter 4 and we'll begin reading verse 17, you'll know the 21 00:02:21,829 --> 00:02:27,669 two verses. Pray without ceasing. Very long verse. Pray without 22 00:02:27,669 --> 00:02:30,149 ceasing. In other words, we ought to always be in the attitude 23 00:02:30,149 --> 00:02:35,309 of prayer, always understanding and knowing that God 24 00:02:35,629 --> 00:02:43,179 is available and his door is never shut. You ever go into a building, 25 00:02:43,259 --> 00:02:49,419 an office building, and some crazy person has put a big old huge 26 00:02:49,419 --> 00:02:54,779 window in the offices, in the wall of the offices of that building. 27 00:02:55,259 --> 00:02:59,979 Like you walk down the hallway and instead of having some privacy, 28 00:03:00,139 --> 00:03:06,699 every office has a big old window in it. That's crazy. That 29 00:03:06,699 --> 00:03:09,459 just says if I look in there and I see you're not doing, I can 30 00:03:09,459 --> 00:03:13,789 just walk in, right? Do that to our banker too. Big old window 31 00:03:15,069 --> 00:03:19,909 means the door's always open. I'm thankful God's door is always 32 00:03:19,909 --> 00:03:25,429 open. He's always on the line. His line is never busy. He's always 33 00:03:25,429 --> 00:03:30,429 there. Now verse 18 in everything give thanks. For this 34 00:03:30,429 --> 00:03:35,309 is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you in everything 35 00:03:35,549 --> 00:03:38,689 giving thanks. Let me pray again. Heavenly Father, bless the 36 00:03:38,689 --> 00:03:41,769 time we've had. We have here together for just the next few minutes. 37 00:03:42,249 --> 00:03:46,089 Lord, may we again see the importance of being a thankful people. 38 00:03:46,489 --> 00:03:53,969 In Jesus name, Amen. We in America are so, so blessed. So blessed 39 00:03:53,969 --> 00:03:59,809 by God. And then we've had the opportunity as many of you to go 40 00:03:59,809 --> 00:04:04,949 to some other countries, especially those who are in developing 41 00:04:04,949 --> 00:04:08,629 countries. We used to call them third world countries. You can't 42 00:04:08,629 --> 00:04:11,789 do that anymore, these developing countries. And you go 43 00:04:11,789 --> 00:04:17,269 there and you see things that you just never thought you'd see, 44 00:04:19,829 --> 00:04:23,669 learn of things you never thought were still possible in the 45 00:04:24,069 --> 00:04:32,319 modern era. How someone. Our people could not afford to get glasses. 46 00:04:34,959 --> 00:04:40,599 Our poorest people in America are rich. Go do the stats, you'll 47 00:04:40,599 --> 00:04:46,679 find out that the 1%, that's a farce. Nearly every American is in 48 00:04:46,679 --> 00:04:56,479 the 1%. If you go by what the world has proven. Our poorest people 49 00:04:56,479 --> 00:05:00,189 are rich compared to many people in the world. In fact, compared 50 00:05:00,189 --> 00:05:04,989 to most people in the world. We are blessed beyond measure. We're 51 00:05:04,989 --> 00:05:11,509 blessed not only with, you know, finances and the ability to 52 00:05:11,509 --> 00:05:18,669 have food on our table. God's been so good to us, our freedoms, 53 00:05:20,029 --> 00:05:22,989 our family. I mean, we could just go down the list, couldn't we? 54 00:05:24,369 --> 00:05:28,689 In Psalm 104, the Bible says, enter into his gates with thanksgiving 55 00:05:28,689 --> 00:05:31,849 and into his courts with praise. Be thankful unto him and 56 00:05:31,849 --> 00:05:37,809 bless his name. Be thankful unto him. But what does it mean to 57 00:05:37,809 --> 00:05:40,169 bless his name? It means we ought to do it with our lips. Bless 58 00:05:40,169 --> 00:05:46,769 his name with our lips. I mentioned Sunday about those who 59 00:05:48,859 --> 00:05:52,619 denigrate the name of God and take the name of God in vain. And 60 00:05:52,939 --> 00:05:55,659 it happened to me just a few days ago. I'm like, why would you, 61 00:05:55,659 --> 00:05:58,339 why would you need to say those words? Why would you do those 62 00:05:58,339 --> 00:06:05,299 things? We need to be thankful to God, thankful to him. And the 63 00:06:05,299 --> 00:06:08,499 negative part of this, and we do this every Thanksgiving. And it 64 00:06:08,499 --> 00:06:11,259 needs, we need to be reminded of this too, that the majority of 65 00:06:11,259 --> 00:06:16,909 people today are unthankful, that those of us who I believe hopefully 66 00:06:16,909 --> 00:06:23,229 in this room are thankful, that we sit in the minority. We live 67 00:06:23,229 --> 00:06:26,869 in a generation, we live in a day and age in which people are ungrateful, 68 00:06:27,109 --> 00:06:31,829 especially in the United States of America. We know this is 69 00:06:31,829 --> 00:06:35,509 part of prophecy. That's why I mention it. Second Timothy, chapter 70 00:06:35,509 --> 00:06:41,039 three. Know this, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 71 00:06:42,319 --> 00:06:45,119 Goes on to give you a list. People will be lovers of themselves, 72 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:54,079 covetous, proud, high minded. And in that same list, it says unthankful. 73 00:06:55,519 --> 00:06:59,719 It just amazes me that in all of this big list of just terrible 74 00:06:59,719 --> 00:07:04,959 things, lovers of their own self, covetous, proud, unthankful. 75 00:07:05,769 --> 00:07:08,649 It's kind of like when you read Romans chapter one and you're 76 00:07:08,649 --> 00:07:15,089 reading down through there and Paul says the invisible things that 77 00:07:15,089 --> 00:07:19,049 we do not see conclude. We conclude that there is a God. And 78 00:07:19,049 --> 00:07:22,489 that those who conclude there's not a God are without excuse 79 00:07:23,129 --> 00:07:26,529 because again, what he's saying there is that creation tells 80 00:07:26,529 --> 00:07:33,779 us that there is a God. He, he said, but they have willfully denied 81 00:07:33,779 --> 00:07:41,659 God. I'm summarizing. And because of that, ungrateful, unthankful 82 00:07:41,659 --> 00:07:45,379 to God. And then the next verse it says, and he gave them up 83 00:07:47,059 --> 00:07:52,779 to a reprobate mind. So in that list, and I didn't, I'm not 84 00:07:52,779 --> 00:07:55,379 going to go read it, but there's a bunch of bad stuff in there 85 00:07:55,539 --> 00:08:02,249 and right in the middle of it, unthankful. I believe that God puts 86 00:08:02,249 --> 00:08:09,169 a lot of stock in those individuals who are thankful and 87 00:08:09,169 --> 00:08:16,369 that those who are unthankful, he. How do I put this nicely? They 88 00:08:16,369 --> 00:08:22,129 don't like it. And there are repercussions for that. And many 89 00:08:22,129 --> 00:08:26,579 people today are experiencing those repercussions because they 90 00:08:26,579 --> 00:08:31,819 are, again, unthankful. We have raised a couple of generations 91 00:08:33,339 --> 00:08:37,499 of those individuals who are in America especially unthankful, 92 00:08:39,339 --> 00:08:47,699 Very unthankful. From kids to adults. Have you ever seen, ever 93 00:08:47,699 --> 00:08:52,519 been a time in your life where you've seen such a large group of 94 00:08:52,519 --> 00:08:57,599 people with a sense of entitlement? That's because they 95 00:08:57,599 --> 00:09:02,359 all receive participation trophies and they think everybody 96 00:09:02,359 --> 00:09:07,638 ought to get one. I know we make fun of that, but it really is 97 00:09:07,638 --> 00:09:14,479 some of the problem. Kids didn't learn how to lose. Sometimes 98 00:09:14,479 --> 00:09:19,869 you lose, sometimes you don't get the job, sometimes you don't 99 00:09:19,869 --> 00:09:25,629 get the raise. You're not entitled to the raise. You're not 100 00:09:25,629 --> 00:09:31,269 entitled to health insurance. Oh, man, sorry, I got off on that. 101 00:09:36,069 --> 00:09:44,629 You're not entitled. None of us deserve it, man. It's amazing, 102 00:09:44,629 --> 00:09:51,959 isn't it? Several generations with a lack of wisdom. A lot of people 103 00:09:51,959 --> 00:09:57,079 with no common sense. I promise I'm going to get off the 104 00:09:57,079 --> 00:09:59,959 negative in a minute, brother Billy, but it's good for us, you 105 00:09:59,959 --> 00:10:05,159 know. Hey, it's true. We can't just bury our head in the sand and 106 00:10:05,159 --> 00:10:12,199 just. I'll just ignore it. Those 35 year olds living in their 107 00:10:12,199 --> 00:10:18,189 mom and daddy's basement, that's a problem. Can I tell you, 108 00:10:18,189 --> 00:10:23,269 a lot of the problem is with the parents. And I know I'm preaching 109 00:10:23,269 --> 00:10:29,509 to the choir tonight and you guys are teaching your children correctly. 110 00:10:31,349 --> 00:10:38,869 At least I hope you are. But there are a lot of people today who 111 00:10:38,869 --> 00:10:43,899 have a lack of understanding in finances. There's a lot of people 112 00:10:43,899 --> 00:10:48,099 who just lack common sense in math. I think two plus two equals 113 00:10:48,099 --> 00:10:50,699 five. Because they've been, if they put that down. They haven't 114 00:10:50,699 --> 00:10:54,539 been marked wrong. So I'm glad. In Texas, for the most part, 115 00:10:55,259 --> 00:10:59,899 the teacher will mark them wrong. Unless you're in Dallas, probably, 116 00:11:03,179 --> 00:11:11,229 or Fort Worth. I should go on. And I don't. Where does stuff come 117 00:11:11,229 --> 00:11:16,549 from? Where does stuff come from? When your kids are little, 118 00:11:16,549 --> 00:11:19,549 did you ever ask them, you know, hey, they're eating a hot dog 119 00:11:19,549 --> 00:11:23,989 or they're eating a hamburger, maybe, whatever the case is. And 120 00:11:24,229 --> 00:11:27,029 as they're eating it, there's some question comes up, and you. 121 00:11:27,029 --> 00:11:31,189 And you're having to answer where that thing. And you say, well, 122 00:11:31,189 --> 00:11:38,479 that came from a cow or that came from a pig. And they finally 123 00:11:38,479 --> 00:11:41,959 get to the age where they sort of understand, and it just clicks 124 00:11:41,959 --> 00:11:46,799 for them for a little bit, and they go, that's good. At least that's 125 00:11:46,799 --> 00:11:50,239 the guys anyway, right? The boys. That's good stuff. But they 126 00:11:50,239 --> 00:11:55,279 finally figured out, you know, the egg didn't just magically appear. 127 00:11:55,359 --> 00:12:01,009 It has to come from somewhere. If the government's going to give 128 00:12:01,009 --> 00:12:05,689 away money, it has to come from somewhere. You wouldn't go over 129 00:12:05,689 --> 00:12:10,249 and grab your neighbor's wallet, take money out of it and 130 00:12:10,249 --> 00:12:14,009 go over and say, well, I'm entitled to it, but the government 131 00:12:14,088 --> 00:12:22,089 does it. And people have that sense of entitlement. A generation, 132 00:12:22,169 --> 00:12:30,219 two generations, slightly three generations. Where does stuff 133 00:12:30,219 --> 00:12:35,779 come from? Where's the food on our table come from? I think it's 134 00:12:35,779 --> 00:12:40,859 good to teach our kids. Hey. And I had this conversation up when 135 00:12:40,859 --> 00:12:44,779 I was at Brother Glenn's place in North Carolina, of course, was 136 00:12:44,779 --> 00:12:49,419 picking on a kid, and he was giving kind of blabbing at his mom 137 00:12:49,419 --> 00:12:52,939 a little bit. So I just simply said, you know, who put the roof 138 00:12:52,939 --> 00:12:55,459 over your head? Who puts the roof over your head? And he said, 139 00:12:55,459 --> 00:12:58,779 my mama does. Oh, he had a really good, strong accent. My mama 140 00:12:58,779 --> 00:13:05,339 does. He's a good boy. He's 11 or 12 years old. Mama was sitting 141 00:13:05,339 --> 00:13:08,659 right there. You better believe I do. Who puts the food on 142 00:13:08,659 --> 00:13:13,579 your table? Mama does. All right, then I think it's reasonable 143 00:13:13,979 --> 00:13:18,219 that you should mind her. As you know, I've told this story a 144 00:13:18,219 --> 00:13:21,779 thousand times. I used to tell our boys, that door on Your room 145 00:13:21,779 --> 00:13:27,459 cost $35. You never shut the door on me because I'll come right 146 00:13:27,459 --> 00:13:31,579 through it. I paid for that door. It's kind of like that old 147 00:13:31,579 --> 00:13:33,979 saying, I brought you in this world, I can take you out, right? 148 00:13:34,699 --> 00:13:41,659 Where does stuff come from, ultimately? From God. Everything 149 00:13:41,899 --> 00:13:46,319 comes from him. Everything we have comes from him. I don't have 150 00:13:46,319 --> 00:13:50,359 no stuff. I have Nothing. I hope Brother House is able to make 151 00:13:50,359 --> 00:13:53,239 it this Sunday. Pray for him that he's able to be here Sunday 152 00:13:53,239 --> 00:13:56,999 morning. I don't have any stuff God's given me. Everything 153 00:13:56,999 --> 00:14:00,319 comes down from the Father of Lights. By the way, that verse says 154 00:14:00,319 --> 00:14:03,719 for us to enjoy. Absolutely. God gives us these things for us 155 00:14:03,719 --> 00:14:08,119 to enjoy. Can you imagine if all food was made to taste the same? 156 00:14:08,119 --> 00:14:12,139 But it wasn't and it isn't. Hallelujah. But God could have made 157 00:14:12,139 --> 00:14:15,459 it all taste the same. God could have made everything black 158 00:14:15,459 --> 00:14:20,339 and white. God's so good to us. God is so gracious. We are the 159 00:14:20,339 --> 00:14:23,619 center of his creation. We are the pinnacle, if you would, of his 160 00:14:23,619 --> 00:14:28,419 creation. He loves us and has given us this earth to enjoy and 161 00:14:28,419 --> 00:14:33,179 the things of this earth to enjoy. God is so good, and all things 162 00:14:33,259 --> 00:14:37,319 come ultimately from Him. And we need to be thankful. We need to 163 00:14:37,319 --> 00:14:41,519 be thankful. Not just say it, but also show it and practice it 164 00:14:41,519 --> 00:14:45,119 in front of our children to teach our kids. I know small things, 165 00:14:45,119 --> 00:14:48,079 but we say this every year around Thanksgiving to teach our 166 00:14:48,079 --> 00:14:52,158 kids to say thank you. I know I'm preaching to the choir again, 167 00:14:52,158 --> 00:14:55,559 but maybe somebody's listening online. Every parent ought to be 168 00:14:55,559 --> 00:14:59,519 teaching their kid to say thank you as they get older. You 169 00:14:59,519 --> 00:15:04,129 give them something, Johnny, say thank you. Somebody else gives 170 00:15:04,129 --> 00:15:06,729 them something and they don't say thank you. You take it away and 171 00:15:06,729 --> 00:15:11,289 you give it back to the person who gave it to them. Amen. Say thank 172 00:15:11,289 --> 00:15:18,049 you. Say thank you. Let's go ahead and just say, yes, sir. No, 173 00:15:18,049 --> 00:15:20,649 sir. Yes, ma', am. No, ma'. Am. I love some of the memes and 174 00:15:20,649 --> 00:15:25,729 some of the reels on social media. Southerners. Northerners. 175 00:15:25,729 --> 00:15:29,259 Make some Northerners. Not all. You know, I pick on you Northerners 176 00:15:29,259 --> 00:15:33,339 all the time. Let me clarify. Some Northerners have an issue. They 177 00:15:33,339 --> 00:15:36,539 don't. They weren't raised around saying, yes, ma' am and no, 178 00:15:36,539 --> 00:15:44,019 ma', am, and yes, sir and no, sir. It's just good hospitality. 179 00:15:45,939 --> 00:15:51,459 Okay, I'll stop. But saying thank you is important. I paid the 180 00:15:51,459 --> 00:15:57,769 bills. You'll do what I say. Amen. Right? Teaching them to be 181 00:15:57,769 --> 00:16:03,249 grateful. Teaching them to be thankful. Sometimes adults need to 182 00:16:03,249 --> 00:16:07,369 learn the same thing. We are commanded to be thankful. In Colossians, 183 00:16:07,369 --> 00:16:12,649 chapter three, verse 15, Paul said, and let the peace of God rule 184 00:16:12,649 --> 00:16:17,249 in your hearts to the which also you are called in one body. 185 00:16:17,969 --> 00:16:25,539 And be. Be ye thankful. Be ye thankful. It's a command. And of 186 00:16:25,539 --> 00:16:28,899 course, here in our verse, it says in everything, give thanks. 187 00:16:28,899 --> 00:16:33,019 It's a command. We're commanded as Christians to be thankful. 188 00:16:34,379 --> 00:16:40,539 To be thankful. Thinking brings thanksgiving. As we think 189 00:16:41,339 --> 00:16:45,219 about the blessings that God has given us, as we think about the 190 00:16:45,219 --> 00:16:49,819 goodness of God, as we think about the stuff he's given us, we 191 00:16:49,819 --> 00:16:53,259 think about our family. I mean, we could go on and on and on. 192 00:16:53,259 --> 00:16:56,899 The list gets longer and longer and longer in my life every 193 00:16:56,899 --> 00:17:00,579 year. I'm so thankful for what he's given me, for what he's done 194 00:17:00,579 --> 00:17:04,779 for me. I'm thankful for the hope that I have. I'm so thankful. 195 00:17:05,899 --> 00:17:09,579 Be careful, boy. The devil loves, loves, loves to get you on 196 00:17:09,579 --> 00:17:11,739 the negative. He loves to get you thinking about the negative. 197 00:17:12,139 --> 00:17:15,779 He loves to get you thinking about the bad stuff. Thankful that 198 00:17:15,779 --> 00:17:20,299 life is made up way more of good stuff than bad. We need to be 199 00:17:20,299 --> 00:17:24,419 reminded of that. Colossians, chapter three. Again, it says there, 200 00:17:24,419 --> 00:17:27,219 and let the peace of God. I want to remind you there that it 201 00:17:27,219 --> 00:17:31,499 doesn't say make the peace of God. It's let the peace of God. Let 202 00:17:31,499 --> 00:17:36,619 the peace of God rule in your hearts. Rule in your hearts. The 203 00:17:36,619 --> 00:17:40,259 peace of God. I'm glad when I got saved, I got peace with God. 204 00:17:41,769 --> 00:17:47,169 And then as a Christian, I get the peace of God. Philippians describes 205 00:17:47,169 --> 00:17:49,169 as the peace of God that passes all understanding. There's 206 00:17:49,169 --> 00:17:52,649 many places where it refers to the peace of God. I'm so thankful 207 00:17:52,649 --> 00:17:56,249 for the peace of God. The peace of God should rule in our hearts. 208 00:17:57,529 --> 00:18:01,889 God should sit on the throne of our heart. And the understanding 209 00:18:01,889 --> 00:18:05,769 and the knowledge that he's in control should rule in our hearts. 210 00:18:07,139 --> 00:18:11,299 And if he's in control, then we will have peace. Hang on, let's 211 00:18:11,299 --> 00:18:14,779 say that differently. If we believe and have faith, knowing that 212 00:18:14,779 --> 00:18:18,659 he is in control, we'll have peace. The peace of God. Whether 213 00:18:19,379 --> 00:18:22,979 good or bad things happening in our life now, let the peace of 214 00:18:22,979 --> 00:18:27,299 God rule in our hearts to the which also you're called in one body. 215 00:18:27,459 --> 00:18:30,699 In other words, rule in our hearts means that God rules in our 216 00:18:30,699 --> 00:18:34,629 hearts. We are walking with him, we are talking with him. And 217 00:18:34,629 --> 00:18:38,149 this produces fruit in our life. The fruit that walking with 218 00:18:38,149 --> 00:18:43,149 God produces in our life is a love for others. Here it refers to 219 00:18:43,149 --> 00:18:54,469 the body, the body, the church, fellow brothers and sisters 220 00:18:54,469 --> 00:19:05,119 in Christ, unity, commonality, same goals, same purpose. I love 221 00:19:05,119 --> 00:19:14,159 this one. Each walking with God, therefore in the same direction. 222 00:19:15,999 --> 00:19:18,719 If we're all walking with God, we're all walking the same direction. 223 00:19:19,839 --> 00:19:26,079 Amen. All the same goals, all the same purpose. Loving others as 224 00:19:26,079 --> 00:19:31,399 we love ourselves, experiencing the peace of God. And 225 00:19:31,399 --> 00:19:38,999 all of that results in being a thankful people, a thankful church. 226 00:19:39,239 --> 00:19:44,199 Aren't you thankful as a church? And maybe you get tired of 227 00:19:44,199 --> 00:19:50,509 hearing it. Preachers come in here that special speakers and they 228 00:19:50,509 --> 00:19:58,229 brag on you. They brag on us. I wonder why. Have you been to some 229 00:19:58,229 --> 00:20:04,669 other churches lately? I don't even like going out of town. I seriously 230 00:20:04,669 --> 00:20:10,949 don't. I know I'm. You know, I'm biased. I love our church. Not 231 00:20:10,949 --> 00:20:16,879 a lot of churches out there like this one. Just not. Do you believe 232 00:20:16,879 --> 00:20:24,519 that? Go find out. It shouldn't be that way now. I'm thankful 233 00:20:24,519 --> 00:20:27,919 for Worth Baptist Church. I'm thankful for Victory Baptist Church. 234 00:20:27,919 --> 00:20:31,478 I'm thankful there are absolutely some wonderful churches 235 00:20:31,478 --> 00:20:37,559 out there. But man, it's really hard to find. We are to be 236 00:20:37,559 --> 00:20:41,119 a thankful people. Understanding as we walk with God 237 00:20:41,119 --> 00:20:44,519 and as we walk in the same direction as we keep the main thing. 238 00:20:44,519 --> 00:20:46,859 The main thing and that's spreading the gospel that that we 239 00:20:46,859 --> 00:20:51,739 as a church family should be a thankful family. A congregation that 240 00:20:51,739 --> 00:20:55,819 recognizes God's blessings. Notice the verse again. Look back 241 00:20:55,819 --> 00:21:01,939 at it with me first. Thessalonians 5:18. For in everything 242 00:21:02,019 --> 00:21:06,259 give thanks. Is that what it says? Doesn't say for. It says in. 243 00:21:07,299 --> 00:21:15,319 And there is a difference in everything give thanks. It doesn't 244 00:21:15,319 --> 00:21:20,119 even say be thankful in most things. It says in everything. In 245 00:21:20,199 --> 00:21:22,799 everything. And you know where I'm headed with this one. That's 246 00:21:22,799 --> 00:21:25,719 Romans 8:28. And we know that all things work together for good 247 00:21:25,719 --> 00:21:30,199 to them who love God. To them who are the called according to his 248 00:21:30,199 --> 00:21:33,399 purpose. The called according to his purpose. We know the vexed 249 00:21:33,399 --> 00:21:36,319 verse says for whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate 250 00:21:36,319 --> 00:21:40,939 to be conformed to the image of his Son. That God works everything 251 00:21:40,939 --> 00:21:48,459 to our good is a biblical principle. It is fact. It is something 252 00:21:48,459 --> 00:21:52,099 we have to accept by faith. That God is working in our lives 253 00:21:52,819 --> 00:21:56,059 both in the good and the bad that we perceive to be good and the 254 00:21:56,059 --> 00:22:00,779 bad and working all those things to our good. It's easy to 255 00:22:00,779 --> 00:22:08,869 be thankful when in the good times. Amen. Isn't is for me when 256 00:22:08,869 --> 00:22:19,029 things are going great. When you're healthy. I got made to go 257 00:22:19,029 --> 00:22:28,189 to the doctor. People are so mean. So I had a blood test. Test. 258 00:22:28,189 --> 00:22:32,849 Came back today, got the phone call. They said on the phone to me 259 00:22:33,409 --> 00:22:38,529 everything is wonderful. That's great. Praise the Lord. They 260 00:22:38,529 --> 00:22:45,569 really did. That happened just before church. Until the next time. 261 00:22:48,129 --> 00:22:53,889 51 years old. Blood work came out great. It's great when everything 262 00:22:54,769 --> 00:22:59,259 is great. We can be thankful when again our health is all right. 263 00:22:59,259 --> 00:23:06,139 The money in the bank Kids are halfway behaving, spouse is minding. 264 00:23:10,939 --> 00:23:14,059 Just quit looking at each other. You're going to get in trouble. 265 00:23:14,059 --> 00:23:16,859 It's Thanksgiving. You're going to be in the house together 266 00:23:16,859 --> 00:23:20,339 the next couple of days. Be careful. No, no. Everything. It's 267 00:23:20,339 --> 00:23:24,659 easy to be thankful when things are going good. But what happens 268 00:23:24,659 --> 00:23:29,539 when you. When you get the phone call and instead of saying, 269 00:23:29,539 --> 00:23:35,619 hey, the blood work was great. Hey, we need you to come in. Most 270 00:23:35,619 --> 00:23:40,539 of us have been there, haven't we? Get a test result back from your 271 00:23:40,539 --> 00:23:46,059 child who has a problem and you have to go in or the doctor meets 272 00:23:46,059 --> 00:23:50,309 with you in another room. My wife and I have been through that. 273 00:23:52,709 --> 00:23:56,469 It's hard to be thankful in those times. It's hard to be thankful 274 00:23:56,469 --> 00:23:59,949 when the money is, you know, you're at the end of the money. And 275 00:23:59,949 --> 00:24:03,349 I know, again, I've already said the poor in America are rich 276 00:24:03,349 --> 00:24:09,909 compared to others. But when we live on this plane, on this level, 277 00:24:10,469 --> 00:24:15,919 most of us live according to our, you know, maybe above our means 278 00:24:15,919 --> 00:24:22,439 sometimes. And you find yourself in hot water. It's tough, 279 00:24:22,439 --> 00:24:26,199 isn't it? Sometimes of your own making, but sometimes not of 280 00:24:26,199 --> 00:24:29,638 your making. Things that happen in your life that you have 281 00:24:29,638 --> 00:24:34,519 no control over and you find yourself in the middle of it. The 282 00:24:34,519 --> 00:24:40,649 Bible says to be thankful, That's a tough order. Again, it's 283 00:24:40,649 --> 00:24:44,089 a command. That's a tough order. Amen. Would you not agree? 284 00:24:44,729 --> 00:24:50,889 That is a tough order. It's hard to be thankful in the bad times 285 00:24:54,249 --> 00:25:00,649 we've had. Know of a couple of men here lately who are in their 286 00:25:00,649 --> 00:25:05,289 40s who had a stroke, who are associated with our church or with 287 00:25:05,289 --> 00:25:11,979 our school. I just. It boggles my mind. And then the ramifications 288 00:25:12,299 --> 00:25:16,459 that happen because of that, and maybe a job loss, and then all 289 00:25:16,459 --> 00:25:20,259 of a sudden it just kind of spins out of control and the medical 290 00:25:20,259 --> 00:25:26,419 bills build up and I feel for them. We've been able to help them 291 00:25:26,419 --> 00:25:31,139 some and, you know, pray for them, but it's hard to be thankful 292 00:25:31,139 --> 00:25:33,979 in those times. It's hard to be thankful when you get the phone 293 00:25:33,979 --> 00:25:44,099 call that your kid was taken to the pokey, the jail. I haven't 294 00:25:44,099 --> 00:25:46,899 been there yet, but I know some parents who have. And they've 295 00:25:46,899 --> 00:25:49,859 called me and said, hey, preacher, my son is this. Or my daughter, 296 00:25:50,579 --> 00:25:56,819 what do I do? That's tough, isn't it? Or when a kid just rebels 297 00:25:56,819 --> 00:26:10,069 and, you know, why are we to be thankful at all times? How can 298 00:26:10,069 --> 00:26:18,028 we be thankful in everything? Well, the verse tells you, for this 299 00:26:18,509 --> 00:26:26,149 is the will of God. In Christ Jesus concerning you. The only way 300 00:26:26,149 --> 00:26:29,349 you can give thanks in everything is, is if you believe 301 00:26:29,349 --> 00:26:34,989 the next statement. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus 302 00:26:34,989 --> 00:26:42,469 concerning you. You see, God again uses circumstances in our life 303 00:26:42,469 --> 00:26:45,669 to conform us into the image of His Son. He brings us through 304 00:26:45,669 --> 00:26:50,749 tests or he allows things into our life to help us grow and in our 305 00:26:50,749 --> 00:26:58,689 faith to be conformed to the image of His Son. And then secondly, 306 00:26:58,689 --> 00:27:02,209 sometimes it's his chastening whom he loveth. He also chasteneth, 307 00:27:02,209 --> 00:27:07,009 right? I mean, we understand that children, in order to have them 308 00:27:07,009 --> 00:27:11,329 grow up properly, to train them properly, is they need chastening, 309 00:27:12,449 --> 00:27:16,649 they need love. They need love that's not just spoken, but love 310 00:27:16,649 --> 00:27:22,339 that is showed. And that love is also the chastening rod. Whom 311 00:27:22,339 --> 00:27:25,739 the Lord loveth, he chasteneth. In fact, the Bible says 312 00:27:25,979 --> 00:27:32,059 that if you do not use the rod with your child, you hate them. Well, 313 00:27:32,059 --> 00:27:35,339 that's strong words, isn't it? That's because the chastening of 314 00:27:35,339 --> 00:27:39,859 a mom and a dad of a child, it should be and it ought to be, and 315 00:27:39,859 --> 00:27:45,059 it is, if done right. Love showing love to that kid. Hey, I 316 00:27:45,059 --> 00:27:47,939 have your best interest in mind. You don't need to do this or 317 00:27:47,939 --> 00:27:50,899 you should do this. Because that is the best way, that is the 318 00:27:50,899 --> 00:27:55,099 right way. And you're going to find out that mom and dad know better 319 00:27:55,099 --> 00:28:01,699 than you. You train them, you're helping them developing right 320 00:28:01,699 --> 00:28:04,219 and wrong and all those things. And God does the same thing 321 00:28:04,219 --> 00:28:09,699 with us. Do you believe that God is truly in control? It really 322 00:28:09,699 --> 00:28:14,419 comes down to that, right? It's God who sets up kings. It's 323 00:28:14,419 --> 00:28:18,379 God who takes them down. Do you really believe that God is in 324 00:28:18,379 --> 00:28:24,459 control of everything? Of everyone? There are so many who believe 325 00:28:24,459 --> 00:28:26,779 that God just started everything and then just kind of 326 00:28:26,779 --> 00:28:30,259 wound it up and threw it into space and doesn't care. But no, that's 327 00:28:30,259 --> 00:28:33,979 not the God of the Bible. That's somebody's box they put God 328 00:28:33,979 --> 00:28:38,379 in. As far from the Bible as you can be. Because the Bible says 329 00:28:38,379 --> 00:28:44,339 that God is not very far from any of us. That God cares for us, 330 00:28:44,339 --> 00:28:49,019 that he never leaves us and never forsakes us. He also says he 331 00:28:49,019 --> 00:28:53,099 would never fail us. You ever been in a spot where you feel like 332 00:28:53,099 --> 00:29:00,579 God failed you? Be thankful. In everything. In everything, be 333 00:29:00,579 --> 00:29:05,539 thankful. Do you truly believe that God's in control? He is the 334 00:29:05,539 --> 00:29:09,299 one who brings or allows the storms in our life in order to conform 335 00:29:09,299 --> 00:29:12,499 us to the image of his son. If you truly believe that he's in control, 336 00:29:12,979 --> 00:29:20,609 you can be thankful in all things. Count your blessings. Name 337 00:29:20,609 --> 00:29:26,529 them one by one. You won't believe what God has done for you. 338 00:29:27,649 --> 00:29:31,049 I have in my office many times said to somebody, I really do think 339 00:29:31,049 --> 00:29:34,609 it works. Sit down one day and just start counting your blessings. 340 00:29:35,809 --> 00:29:39,689 We have a lot of people now, especially social media, who do the, 341 00:29:39,689 --> 00:29:43,539 you know what I'm thankful for, you know, for 30 days. And that's 342 00:29:43,539 --> 00:29:47,939 super easy to do. But I guarantee if you try to make up the 343 00:29:47,939 --> 00:29:51,899 list of the bad stuff, you'll find that that list is far shorter 344 00:29:51,899 --> 00:29:59,939 than you think if you actually put it down. God is working in our 345 00:29:59,939 --> 00:30:02,779 lives and we need to be thankful for that. By the way, live 346 00:30:02,779 --> 00:30:06,019 long enough and you'll view the storms of the past differently. 347 00:30:07,469 --> 00:30:14,509 Amazing how time gives past storms perspective. Not all of them. 348 00:30:15,389 --> 00:30:18,869 There are some storms that we have faced that we won't know until 349 00:30:18,869 --> 00:30:24,269 eternity, why or how or what. And those we truly have to put our 350 00:30:24,269 --> 00:30:27,589 confidence in God and faith in him that he has our best interest 351 00:30:27,589 --> 00:30:33,779 in mind, that he's in control. Being thankful is recognizing that 352 00:30:33,779 --> 00:30:37,619 everything comes from God. That's the basis of Thanksgiving. 353 00:30:37,699 --> 00:30:44,059 Everything comes from God. I have no stuff. It's teaching that 354 00:30:44,059 --> 00:30:49,419 to our kids, helping them to understand and realize the cost of 355 00:30:49,419 --> 00:30:53,539 things. That's why kids ought to have chores, Kids ought to learn 356 00:30:53,779 --> 00:30:58,099 the value of earning something. And kids ought to get 357 00:30:58,099 --> 00:31:02,149 jobs as they get older. And kids ought to be taught the value 358 00:31:02,229 --> 00:31:06,429 of things. Where stuff come from. Might be good to take your 359 00:31:06,429 --> 00:31:14,989 kid to a farm. Be really good for them, actually, where does their 360 00:31:14,989 --> 00:31:21,829 stuff come from? Where's their food come from? Comes from the store. 361 00:31:24,389 --> 00:31:29,119 No, be thankful. We ought to be thankful in the good and the bad. 362 00:31:29,119 --> 00:31:31,879 And again, as I said before, that's a tough order. We ought to 363 00:31:31,879 --> 00:31:34,919 be thankful in all things. That's a command. Think about it. 364 00:31:34,919 --> 00:31:40,279 It's a command from our heavenly Father, from God. And when 365 00:31:40,279 --> 00:31:43,279 we are not thankful, we are breaking God's command. And when 366 00:31:43,279 --> 00:31:48,399 we break God's command, that's a sin. Being unthankful is a sin. 367 00:31:50,399 --> 00:31:54,879 It's wrong. So, preacher, I've gone through this and I've gone through 368 00:31:54,879 --> 00:32:00,079 that. Listen, I have too. And sometimes it takes a while. Now, 369 00:32:00,079 --> 00:32:03,119 it says here, be thankful in all things. That means while you're 370 00:32:03,119 --> 00:32:08,639 in it. But I can tell you from my experience, sometimes when I'm 371 00:32:08,639 --> 00:32:12,119 in it, I'm not as thankful as I should be. But it's not until a 372 00:32:12,119 --> 00:32:16,759 little while later that I look back and go, oh, thank you, Lord. 373 00:32:19,359 --> 00:32:23,319 Thank you for being so good to me, providing me the grace that I 374 00:32:23,319 --> 00:32:26,759 needed at the time I needed it. Sometimes that grace that's shed 375 00:32:26,759 --> 00:32:36,599 abroad in our hearts. Is really not revealed to us till sometime 376 00:32:36,599 --> 00:32:42,319 later. We ought to be thankful in all things again, to think is 377 00:32:42,319 --> 00:32:46,929 to be thankful. Thankfulness produces thankfulness. And then I 378 00:32:46,929 --> 00:32:49,649 would say to you too tonight that thankfulness really is a choice. 379 00:32:50,449 --> 00:32:57,569 Thankfulness is really an attitude. Amen. It's an attitude. 380 00:32:59,249 --> 00:33:04,849 It's an attitude created by perspective. How big is your God? 381 00:33:05,809 --> 00:33:10,259 Is your God truly in control? Do you. Do you believe, honestly 382 00:33:10,259 --> 00:33:14,819 believe. Do you truly believe that God has your best interests 383 00:33:14,819 --> 00:33:21,099 in mind? I believe he does. The Bible teaches that emphatically. 384 00:33:21,099 --> 00:33:23,939 He does have your best interest in mind. He had Israel's 385 00:33:23,939 --> 00:33:28,779 best interest in mind. He said he did all things for them. He said 386 00:33:28,779 --> 00:33:32,779 he did all things for them for their good. Look it up. Deuteronomy, 387 00:33:32,779 --> 00:33:36,539 around chapter six or seven. All things for their good. Everything 388 00:33:36,539 --> 00:33:42,739 he did for them. Have you been. Have you thanked him lately? 389 00:33:43,859 --> 00:33:48,379 Have you thanked God lately? Seriously, have you? Have you thanked 390 00:33:48,379 --> 00:33:54,939 Him? Man, the list is long, isn't it? Have you thanked him not 391 00:33:54,939 --> 00:34:00,099 only with words, but by your actions? It's one thing to say you're 392 00:34:00,099 --> 00:34:06,499 thankful, it's another thing to show it. So many times we question 393 00:34:06,659 --> 00:34:13,139 God in the midst of the storm. We question his power, his abilities, 394 00:34:14,979 --> 00:34:20,099 even, maybe even his motive. And we find ourselves in a position 395 00:34:20,099 --> 00:34:25,779 where we become ungrateful to the God of the universe, who saved 396 00:34:25,779 --> 00:34:31,719 us from the wrath of God, who saved us by sending His Son to save 397 00:34:31,719 --> 00:34:37,799 us from the penalty of sin. If all he did, if God. The only thing 398 00:34:37,799 --> 00:34:44,359 God did for us was to give His Son, Jesus, if that's the only thing 399 00:34:44,359 --> 00:34:50,999 he did, was to send His Son into this world. If the only thing 400 00:34:50,999 --> 00:34:56,049 he did was for His Son to give his life for us for our sins, to 401 00:34:56,049 --> 00:34:59,729 pay the price for our sins, to shed his blood for our sins. The 402 00:34:59,729 --> 00:35:03,449 Creator of the universe shed his blood for us. If that's all he 403 00:35:03,449 --> 00:35:11,369 did. He went to the cross for us, took the beating that he took 404 00:35:11,369 --> 00:35:20,218 for us, put in that tomb. If that's all he did for us. Rose again 405 00:35:20,218 --> 00:35:23,298 the third day, defeating death, hell and the grave. Amen. 406 00:35:23,538 --> 00:35:26,098 If that's all he did for us, we ought to be a grateful people. 407 00:35:26,738 --> 00:35:32,578 We ought to be thankful. Because this life, compared to eternity, 408 00:35:33,298 --> 00:35:42,098 is just a speck of dust. Just that long. I get to live forever 409 00:35:42,818 --> 00:35:47,018 with the Lord. I get to live forever with the loved ones who've 410 00:35:47,018 --> 00:35:51,529 gone on before me. I get to live forever with Noah Got lots of 411 00:35:51,529 --> 00:35:59,209 questions Adam Lots of questions. Peter, how big was his 412 00:35:59,209 --> 00:36:06,569 foot? I have lots of questions we ought to be a thankful people 413 00:36:06,569 --> 00:36:13,489 Amen. Amen let's all stand with verse invitation tonight hymn 414 00:36:13,489 --> 00:36:17,979 113 sweet hour of prayer after we pray Heavenly father Lord help 415 00:36:17,979 --> 00:36:24,539 us by your grace by the power of the Holy Spirit to be a thankful 416 00:36:24,539 --> 00:36:28,339 people Lord because it doesn't come natural to us and we realize 417 00:36:28,339 --> 00:36:33,059 that we are a selfish people but Lord, we know that through you 418 00:36:33,619 --> 00:36:38,219 we can be a grateful people and Lord we pray tonight if someone's 419 00:36:38,219 --> 00:36:41,259 here who doesn't know you as their savior they never accepted 420 00:36:41,259 --> 00:36:49,209 you they never trusted in you and you alone as the means of escaping 421 00:36:49,209 --> 00:36:52,369 hell and having a home in heaven as a means of having their 422 00:36:52,369 --> 00:36:55,649 sins forgiven Lord, may they accept you today before it's too 423 00:36:55,649 --> 00:36:59,889 late. Lord, we thank you once again for all that you've done for 424 00:36:59,889 --> 00:37:02,089 us in Jesus name amen.