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weekly sermon
11-22-09
Thank You, Thank You
This coming week we will be celebrating a holiday that was established by man, commercialized by man and celebrated by man, Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was initially established because the pilgrims set aside the day that the ships landed at their plantation point as a mass celebration and day of thanksgiving to Almighty God for their safe passage to this great land.
I want us to reflect back on a few things before we move on. When the pilgrims landed, they had no homes, they were foriegn to a strange land, they had no food, and it was mid winter. This does now sound as though they had much to be thankful for, yet they wanted to thank God for what they had.
That last paragraph should make us reflect on our current surroundings. Yes, I understand that our country is in a difficult time and the people of this country are in some of the most difficult times they have seen, but we survive, we have food, clothing, homes, and most of us have jobs or can get jobs. This is something that we should be VERY thankful for.
Times in many of our lives, because of the economy of our nation, have become some very bleak times. I want us to take a look at a couple of bleak times just to see how we might be better taught to handle things.
First I want us to turn to a story in the Bible that many of us know very well. Turn with me if you will to John, chapter 6 and verse 11.
John 6:11-12, "And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. (12)When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost."
I want to bring you up to speed on what is going on right before this took place. Jesus has been wondering and ministering for many hours and miles. The people had been following Jesus for all this time. It is now getting close to the end of the day and the folks will eventually need to start heading back home. Jesus knew that these folks would have to be fed before they could return to their homes. These folks were in a strange land, homeless, penniless, and without food. Now Jesus receives a two piece fish dinner and looks around at 4000 men, not counting women and children. Well, along with these two fishes, Jesus received five loaves of barley bread. How in the world would anyone ever believe you could feed that many folks with two fish an five loaves of bread. Well, if you look at the passages above you will see exactly how it was done. Jesus, after He had took the loaves, GAVE THANKS, and distributed to the disciples. Jesus knew the true meaning of Thanksgiving. Jesus taught the disciples the true meaning of Thanksgiving.
Let us take a look at one other time that may help us put things into a better perspective. Turn with me to Matthew 26:26-28, "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed [it], and brake [it], and gave [it] to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. (27)And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave [it] to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; (28)For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
Ok, now let us take a look at the goings on that centers around this very well known story. This story is of the the Lord's supper. The Lord's supper takes place just before the capture of Jesus and just before the crucificion. This whole time Jesus knew what was going to happen, yet He has a day of thanks giving. Jesus knows that one of the disciples would betray Him and He knows that He will be captured, led away, and then nailed to a cross to die for our sins. The cruel beatings that we read of, the crown of thorns jammed into His head, the spear stuck into His side, the folks spitting on Him, the nails in His hands and feet, and the utter humiliation of being laughed at while hanging and dying on a cross; all of this Jesus knew and what did He do? Jesus held a celebration where he took bread and wine and gave thanks. We think we have it bad? We think we are in extreme need of something? Nothing that is happening to us can come close in comparison to what Jesus went through, and here He gives thanks, a time of Thanksgiving.
I want us to take a look at one final passage of scripture, John 7:37 "In the last day, that great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink."
You stand here this year, in a time of great trial and tribulation and wonder where you will turn to get your next meal or put a roof over your head yet you have not turned to the One that gave life, much less a meal. Jesus says in this last passage that, if you come to Him and you are thirsty, you will drink and not be thirsty.
There is something I want everyone to think very hard about. Think about this one statement. Folks do not give thanks for what they have, but they do gripe about the things they did not get. Do not regret the things you did not receive, but give thanks for the things you do have. Folks are too wrapped up on material things to understand this at any level. So do me a favor, look around you, what do you have? Think about this, look at what you got, Jesus said 'if you are faithful over little, I will give you little, but if you are faithful over much, I will give you much. Do you want much? Then be thankful for what you have instead of what you want, and the Lord Himself will give to you what you want.
You say you do not have anything to be thankful for? Then let us be thankful for one thing, that the Lord our God has kept showing us so much mercy that we may have eternal life.
If you truly want something to be thankful for then all you have to do is say a simple prayer with me, to receive the saving grace of our Lord and Saviour. That is something to be extremely thankful for.
Say this simple prayer with me, Dear Lord, I want you to be the Lord over my life, forgive me of my sins, and give me the gift of everlasting life. Amen.
If you have said this simple prayer, then we believe that you have received salvation. We would love to rejoice with you, so please drop us a note, in our link, to let us know and confess Jesus before man, so that we may send you a few things that we hope will help you in your new Christian walk.
With Love in Christ,
Pastor Stone
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