By: Wayne Wise
Psalms 95
Abraham Lincoln:
Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1863
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.
A Basic Flaw of Mankind
Not being Satisfied with what we have
An Attitude of: I did it, I deserve it – I don’t have to be thankful for it
Thanks Giving Consists of Looking UP
Psalms 95:1-6 “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. 3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. 5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. 6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
”Jesus: Calming the Storm
Matthew 8:23-27 Master the Tempest is Raging #689 “No water can swallow the ship where lies the master of ocean and earth and skies
”Thanksgiving that leads to Thanks-Living“
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” James 1:17
“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Romans 2:4 Deut. 6:20-23
The Athiest Woman
The story was told of two women shopping
The one, a Christian, the other an atheist
While exiting the store the atheist was heard saying … “It’s such a beautiful day… I’, so thankful”
To which the Christian responded… "Grateful to whom, my dear?"
To whom will you be grateful?
WILL you be grateful?
In Praise? Psalms 95:1
In Bowing in Submission? Psalms 95:6
1 Corinthians 6:20 “For ye are bought with a price”
“Today if you will hear his voice…”Psalms 95:7b
“Harden not your heart …. Psalms 95:8
“As in the day of provocation”
Have I provoked the Lord through a lack of thanksgiving? Psalms 95:8
Connecting the Dots with Thanksgiving
What is the source of our blessings???
Man made blessings?
Good Luck?
Coincidence?
A miracle?
God’s Providence?
Can we connect the dots, realizing that our blessing come form God?
Looking Up
Looking up we should notice the PRESENCE of God Looking Up we should notice the PLANS of God
Looking Up we should notice the PROTECTION of God.
Thanks Giving Consists of Looking UP
Looking AROUNDI AM SATISFIED WITH MY __________ Until I ____________
CLOTHES....Look at the Fall catalog
VEHICLE.....Latest model
HOUSE....Decide that I am cramped
Last Year’s GADGET.....Friend purchases this years latest gadget
“Peel It”
A woman’s son was offered an orange by a man outside the store The mother reminded the little boy… “What are you supposed to say? The little boys response…. “Peel it”
What do we need that God has not blessed us with?
“for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Psalms 95:7
Each of us is blessed with our own “pasture of blessing” Some pastures are larger than others
Some may be greener than others
Do I regularly insult my pasture from God???
Is this God’s Will??
Thanks Giving Consists ofLooking UP...Looking AROUND
Looking INWARD
Thanksgiving is an expression of M O D E S T Y
I am Thankful for...
....the taxes I pay (sort of)
....because it means I’m employed
....the clothes that fit a little too snug
....because it means I have enough to eat
....a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home
Ungratefulness is SIN
Romans 1:21 “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”
Not thankful to God
Vain in imaginations
Foolish heart darkened
The Greatest Gift of all
Acts 2:37-39 “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”