A Thanksgiving that God Accepts
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· 16 viewsthe only kind of thanksgiving that God accepts
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Illustration:
Several years ago, there was a need that a member of our church had. Because of this need, I put a plan together to help meet the financial component of this need. As a church, we had some reserves, but what we had was not sufficient. As a result, I sent an email to several church leaders who each agreed to participate in a portion of that need. There were several objects of thanks that this member in need could have addressed. He could have thanked each individual who gave. He could have given a general “thanks” to the church. He could have thanked God for providing brothers who were able to meet the need.
Just as there could be different objects who receive “thanks” in my example, there are usually many different objects of our thanks. Sometimes we thank other human beings. Sometimes we thank people who are close to us, but as Creatures of God, we should recognize how deserving of thanks the Lord is.
confirms for us that God is deserving of “thanks”.
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.
The question is whether God accepts our thanksgiving or not. I submit to you that God does not accept all thanksgiving, and the reason that God does not accept all thanksgiving is because He has very specific requirements for the “giving of thanks” that is offered to Him.
Illustration:
There was a show on Television where an employee of a company was going to move to Florida from Pennsylvania. He along with a coworker were enjoying the sites and sounds on a golf course in Florida. The coworker pulled out a gift and offered it to the employee who was going to remain in FL. The employee took the gift, set it on a tee, and smashed it with a golf club. The employee was showing his dislike of the Pennsylvania office by rejecting the gift.
Rejection is quite difficult, but it is especially difficult when you are trying to be nice. The scriptures clearly teach us what is required in offering “thanks” to God.
Because this book of Hebrews is written to Jewish converts to Christianity, I think that it’s important to understand what connection they would have made with . Let’s consider
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried.
Several things to keep in mind here. (1) It was voluntary. (2) It was the highest form of peace offering that could be given. (3) The giver had to be ritually clean before offering it. (4) It was an expression of gratitude to God.
If the offering of thanks was to be accepted, it must be done according to what God had prescribed. Outside of this it was unacceptable and not pleasing to the Lord.
This is no different today. If the “giving of thanks” will be offered to God, who is supremely worthy, then it must be done so in the prescribed manner. We have a few problems:
(1) We are not Jewish, and we don’t follow a Jewish code for life.
(2) We often are not even thinking about what makes our thanksgiving acceptable. Most of the time we are thinking about “giving of thanks” as simply the right thing to do.
Illustration:
I was playing around with one of the small children here at Grace this past week. I offered her some candy, and she took it. Because of this, what do you think her mother told her to say? Why did she tell her to say it?
I don’t expect that they will care whether I accept the thank you or not. They assume that I will accept the thanks as an expression of gratitude.
On some occasions, the children will try to share with me because I have shared with them. These are expressions of gratitude. They assume that I will accept their tokens of gratitudes.
Proposition:
Because God is God and is worthy of thanks, we should be keenly aware of what makes our offering of thanks acceptable to him and what it is that he rejects! He does not accept vain expressions or tokens of “thanks.”
(*) Giving of thanks to God is acceptable ONLY when it is given through [by] Christ (v. 15)
(*) Giving of thanks to God is acceptable ONLY when it is given through [by] Christ (v. 15)
(a) What does this mean? This means only those in relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
(a) What does this mean? This means only those in relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
The original hearers needed to understand that their Old Testament rituals are not what made them acceptable before God any longer.
It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Illustration:
Several years ago, on my first trip to Ghana - Missionary Steve Volante told us that we were going to try to get in to see the King of one of the towns. In preparation, Steve advised us in several ways, and he told us to bring a gift. We put everything together and prepared for the meeting. We were ushered into his presence where he gladly accepted us and our gifts were presented to him.
The only reason we were allowed to enter into the presence of the king of this town was because Steve, who knew the king, brought us. Otherwise, we would not have been able to enter before him, nor would we have been able to give our presents to him.
This is precisely what the writer is saying.
By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Application:
This means that the only “thanks” that God accepts is from those who have been brought to God by Jesus Christ. This means that only those who are true, born again believers are accepted with God and can offer thanks that is acceptable.
Illustration:
Around 10 years ago, a friend of mine took me out to Wilmington, Ohio to meet a farmer. There, he introduced me to him, and there he asked the farmer if I could come and hunt on his land. Though I had previously had not interaction with this farmer, the farmer let me on the land because of the relationship that my friend had with the farmer.
In like manner, because of the relationship God has with the Son, Jesus brings us to the Father and we are accepted because of Jesus Christ. This is the only thing that makes any of our offerings acceptable with God.
Transition:
Not only does this mean only those who are in relationship with God through Jesus Christ, but...
(b) Why is this true? This is true because of the blood of Jesus Christ.
(b) Why is this true? This is true because of the blood of Jesus Christ.
Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Oh! what could we say about the blood of Christ. Here, the writer points out that they are made holy by the blood. This would be important because they were being tempted to believe that they were made holy by rituals. See
Illustration:
That following Christmas after my first year on the farmer’s land, my wife had made some homemade apple butter for everyone for Christmas. So, I asked my wife to jar some extra so I could take it out to this farmer who let me hunt on his land. I did so, and he was grateful. For a fleeting moment, I thought, “Now that I have my own relationship with this farmer, I really don’t need my friend any more. I have brought this farmer my own gift, and now I have my own relationship with this farmer.” I began to think that now the kind gesture I had with this farmer was really taking the place of the long term relationship my buddy had with this farmer.
Similarly, once we come to Christ, we have a temptation to forget that our lives are now what make us more acceptable with God. It is almost as if we say within ourselves, “I have brought God my own gift of service/talents/money, and I really don’t need Jesus Christ anymore.” This is so far from the truth though. The blood of Jesus Christ is not only that which opens the way, but it is that which eternally keeps the way open for us.
Transition:
Not only does this mean only those who are in relationship with God through Jesus Christ, but...
This is true only because of the blood of Jesus Christ
(c) How can I offer this kind of thanksgiving?
(c) How can I offer this kind of thanksgiving?
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
(*) what does my thanksgiving look like if I am not a believer
Consider the fact that God has provided the ONLY way for you to know Him by giving His Son Jesus Christ. You have, in your heart, rejected Him. How then can you be genuinely “thankful” from the heart - when you have rejected him from the same heart?
This is hypocrisy, at best. God is tired of sacrifices that are not truly from the heart, no matter how sentimental you may feel.
(ii) As a believer? YOU MUST LIVE UNDER THE CONTROLLING INFLUENCE OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD
(*) what does a believer who is not offering thanksgiving look like?
It is Christian who is also living hypocritically because he is not living according to who he really is in Christ.
(*) what does my thanksgiving look like, if I am a believer who is offering unacceptable thanks?
It is a Christian who only gives thanks at concentrated periods for thanksgiving and not at all times in all places.
Invitation question here:
(-) An unbeliever is someone who has never had a moment of conversion in their life. An individual who has believed in the existence of God but never received Jesus Christ.
(*) Your first activity of giving of thanks must be to receive Jesus Christ, whom God has given.
Conclusion:
(d) What does this look like in 2018?
(i) As a non-believer? YOU MUST RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR
(i) As a non-believer? YOU MUST RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
(*) what does my thanksgiving look like if I am not a believer
Consider the fact that God has provided the ONLY way for you to know Him by giving His Son Jesus Christ. You have, in your heart, rejected Him. How then can you be genuinely “thankful” from the heart - when you have rejected him from the same heart?
This is hypocrisy, at best. God is tired of sacrifices that are not truly from the heart, no matter how sentimental you may feel.
Illustration:
Can you understand why parents/family members get so upset and emotionally involved at the sporting events for their children? Last night, one of the special team for the Michigan Wolverines was attempting to make blocks for his teammate. An opposing team member blindsided the Michigan player, and it was a tremendously dirty, targeting play.
Later that evening, the brother of the injured Wolverine said, “I’ve seen a thousand hard hits on friends, teammates, opponents, myself even and as a player you are always of the mind that that person/you will be ok. Seeing my brother take that hit and not move and be strapped to that gurney, all from my living room almost made me lose it.”
Similarly, unbeliever, you must understand to reject, offend, or ignore Jesus is to ignore the Father. You must receive Jesus, if your offering of thanks will be acceptable.
(-) An unbeliever is someone who has never had a moment of conversion in their life. An individual who has believed in the existence of God but never received Jesus Christ.
(-) An unbeliever is someone who has never had a moment of conversion in their life. An individual who has believed in the existence of God but never received Jesus Christ.
(*) Your first activity of giving of thanks must be to receive Jesus Christ, whom God has given.
Invitation question here:
Will you take a moment and believe in your heart that God hath raised Jesus from the dead? Will you take a moment to confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord?
(d) What does this look like in 2018 for a believer?
(ii) As a believer? YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT JESUS ALONE MAKES YOU ACCEPTABLE WITH GOD.
(ii) As a believer? YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT JESUS ALONE MAKES YOU ACCEPTABLE WITH GOD.
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
ILLUSTRATION:
In employment fields, you have what is called a “performance review/evaluation.” This typically takes place at a set period of time or with some kind of frequency. Ahead of time, you are made aware of what metrics you will be evaluated on. For example, in our former place of employment, I was evaluated on (1) Sales (2) Closing Ratio (3) Cancelations. These reviews became the basis for what were called annual reviews. At the annual review, you received a rating of 1 to 5. One meant you did not meet any expectations, and you may not receive a raise or your raise would be very little. Five meant that you exceeded all expectations, and you would get a very good raise based on that rating.
The rating system for the Christian is quite different. The Christian receives the performance evaluation that has been given by God to Jesus Christ. The Christian then is not looking to selfishly gain. He has everything in Christ. The Christian then lives with constant gratitude for what He has received in Jesus Christ. Only the labor that is done because of the evaluation you have in Christ is accepted. If you labor because you think it will gain you a greater performance review, you are sadly mistaken. Rewards in Heaven will not be based on your labor but on your motive - was it done because of what Christ has done or not.
This is the only kind of offering of thanks that God accepts - One that is through Christ.
Part ii
Part ii
Introduction:
MAYBE DISCUSSION ON THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT TO MAKE US THANKFUL.
This chapter is one that encompasses some of the ethical instructions or how Christians are to treat one another. Namely, the writer covers how the Christians are to respond to those in authority over them.
If the only kind of offering of thanks that God accepts are those who come to God by Jesus Christ, then what does a Christian who offers this kind of offering like? There are certain evidences that we should find in the Christian’s life who is offering this kind of thanksgiving.
Illustration:
If I were to give you the following details, who am I speaking about? 6’ tall, dark hair, black shoes, man....beard, married, has a child.....enjoys running, singing, and leading the youth ministry at Grace Baptist Church.
The more specific we become with the description, the more clear the picture is of who we are speaking about. In similar fashion, there are qualities that should be true about the Christian who is going to offer to the Lord an offering of thanks that is acceptable.
Proposition:
Our intention this evening is to identify these truths and submit ourselves to them.
(*) it is the Christian who is secure in Jesus - not worried about what everyone else is thinking about him - - “By him”
(*) it is the Christian who is secure in Jesus - not worried about what everyone else is thinking about him - - “By him”
The temptation for the original hearers was to fall back into the oppressive truth of caring what people thought of them.
Example:
These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.
Illustration:
Peer Pressure
There was a test conducted by a university where 10 students were placed in a room. Three lines of varying length were drawn on a card. The students were told to raise their hands when the instructor pointed to the longest line. But 9 of the students had been instructed beforehand to raise their hands when the instructor pointed to the second longest line. One student was the stooge. The usual reaction of the stooge was to put his hand up, look around, and realizing he was all alone, pull it back down. This happened 75% of the time, with students from grade school through high school. The researchers concluded that many would rather be president than be right.
C. Swindoll, 3–27-84
Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.
Similarly, because of our sinful nature and the culture constantly grading our success based on what other’s think, we have a tendency to allow that thinking to creep into our hearts. Rather than being secure in Christ, we tend to become very insecure and worried about our jobs or the thoughts of others.
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Invitation question here:
(-) Christian, will your offering of thanks be acceptable to God? Then, come to God by Christ. Where is Christ in your life? It is difficult to say that you will come to God by Christ if you rarely consider Christ in your life.
Transition:
Presenting acceptable thanksgiving begins with a security that is found “in Christ”
(*) it is a Christian who is voluntarily commited to community - “let us” - rooted in the “By him”
(*) it is a Christian who is voluntarily commited to community - “let us” - rooted in the “By him”
Because of their standing being in Jesus Christ and not in ritual practices, they are understanding of the new community into which they have been brought. Consider
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Illustration/Quote:
"We want the Big Ten championship and we're gonna win it as a Team. They can throw out all those great backs, and great quarterbacks, and great defensive players, throughout the country and in this conference, but there's gonna be one Team that's gonna play solely as a Team. No man is more important than The Team. No coach is more important than The Team. The Team, The Team, The Team, and if we think that way, all of us, everything that you do, you take into consideration what effect does it have on my Team? Because you can go into professional football, you can go anywhere you want to play after you leave here. You will never play for a Team again. You'll play for a contract. You'll play for this. You'll play for that. You'll play for everything except the team, and think what a great thing it is to be a part of something that is, The Team. We're gonna win it. We're gonna win the championship again because we're gonna play as team, better than anybody else in this conference, we're gonna play together as a team. We're gonna believe in each other, we're not gonna criticize each other, we're not gonna talk about each other, we're gonna encourage each other.
In like manner, as we consider a thanksgiving offering that is acceptable to God, we must stop thinking about how we do this individually and start considering how Christ saved us for community which includes giving thanks as a church.
Invitation question here:
Invitation question here:
(-) Christian, will your offering of thanks be acceptable to God? Have you seen “thanksgiving” as something that is merely a celebration for you independently or as a biological family? The truth is that this is a selfish view of giving of thanks. Would you ask the Lord to help you to see the joy of “giving thanks” together?
Transition:
Presenting acceptable thanksgiving begins with a security that is found “in Christ”
Presenting acceptable thanksgiving to God calls us to be voluntarily committed to community.
(*) it is a Christian who is takes seriously his eternal priestly role - “sacrifice…continually” - again, rooted in the “By him”
(*) it is a Christian who is takes seriously his eternal priestly role - “sacrifice…continually” - again, rooted in the “By him”
(*) it is a Christian who is takes seriously his eternal priestly role - “sacrifice…continually” - again, rooted in the “By him”
(*) it is a Christian who is takes seriously his eternal priestly role - “sacrifice…continually” - again, rooted in the “By him”
These words would have had some attention-grabbing qualities for these hearers. First, they would have thought about the Old Testament sacrificial system. Second, they would have thought about all that they had heard in this letter - how that Jesus was the Sacrifice (v. 12).
What is especially a treasure though is the fact that in the Jewish system, not everyone could be a priest. Only those of the family of the Levites could be priests. Now, though, through the sacrifice of Christ - they are all priests.
Invitation question here:
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Illustration:
Growing up, only the really rich and important people had car phones and big cell phones. Now, how many of you have a cell phone? With these cell phones comes a lot more privilege and responsibility.
In like fashion, only certain people were allowed to offer sacrifices to God; but now because Jesus Christ has saved us, He has made us to be all priests and we can go directly to God by Jesus Christ.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Invitation question here:
(-) Christian, will your offering of thanks be acceptable to God? Is your giving of thanks above your budgeted time, above your budgeted finances, and above your budgeted energy? Maybe it’s time we took some inventory of our lives, our lack of faith to see if we really are “sacrificing.”
If an assessment were taken of your life - by Christ - not in comparing yourselves to each other, would “sacrifice” be the word that identifies your labor as a “priest”?
* Christian sacrifice is the offering up of our bodies to God for the service of the believers.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Transition:
Presenting acceptable thanksgiving begins with a security that is found “in Christ”
Presenting acceptable thanksgiving to God calls us to be voluntarily committed to community.
Presenting acceptable thanksgiving to God means to take seriously our eternal priestly role.
(*) it is a Christian who genuinely speaks forth this thanksgiving in openly confessing Christ’s name - “fruit of our lips…to his name”
(*) it is a Christian who genuinely speaks forth this thanksgiving in openly confessing Christ’s name - “fruit of our lips…to his name”
Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, And teach me thy judgments.
This is an interesting thought: “fruit” gives the thought that it finds it’s life-giving source internally. There has been grace imparted to the Christian. As someone has believed in Christ, it should be quote organic for praise to issue forth from his lips.
Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise thee.
Illustration:
Psalm
My daughter came home from the Dollar Store with a little, rubber, happy face emoji. This morning as I was looking at it, she showed me how to use it. The emoji has a mouth that is open and the inside of the emoji is hollow. When you squeeze the emoji, it shoots out of its mouth this slime. When you squeeze the emoji again, it sucks the slime back in its’ mouth.
The Christian’s lips should issue forth praise to God because of what is in Him. It is unnatural for a Christian to NOT want to praise the Lord.
Additional Application:
When we speak of the Christian’s life, it is no secret that the Spirit of God is the fruit-bearing agent in the Christian, but does the Spirit of God have anything to do with “thanksgiving”?
Psalm 108:
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Invitation question here:
(-) Christian, will your offering of thanks be acceptable to God? Who do our words confess that our hope is in? Who is really the controlling power in your life?
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
When you celebrate “Thanksgiving” this week, will it be real? Will it be acceptable, based on this scriptural truth?
(*) Your first activity of giving of thanks must be to receive Jesus Christ, whom God has given.
Transition:
Presenting acceptable thanksgiving begins with a security that is found “in Christ”
Presenting acceptable thanksgiving to God calls us to be voluntarily committed to community.
Presenting acceptable thanksgiving to God means to take seriously our eternal priestly role.
Presenting acceptable thanksgiving to God means speaking forth praise and confessing the name of Christ
(ii) As a believer? YOU MUST LIVE UNDER THE CONTROLLING INFLUENCE OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD
(*) what does a believer who is not offering thanksgiving look like?
It is Christian who is also living hypocritically because he is not living according to who he really is in Christ.
(*) what does my thanksgiving look like, if I am a believer who is offering unacceptable thanks?
It is a Christian who only gives thanks at concentrated periods for thanksgiving and not at all times in all places.
Questions:
PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER THESE QUESTIONS:
Where is Christ in your life? Are you continually concerned about the thoughts of others? Do you tend to be the territorial person? It is difficult to say that you will come to God by Christ if you rarely consider Christ in your life.
Have you seen “thanksgiving” as something that is merely a celebration for you independently or as a biological family? Would you ask the Lord to help you to see the joy of “giving thanks” together?
Is your giving of thanks above your budgeted time, above your budgeted finances, and above your budgeted energy? Maybe it’s time we took some inventory of our lives, our lack of faith to see if we really are “sacrificing.”
Christian, will your offering of thanks be acceptable to God? Who do our words confess that our hope is in? Who is really the controlling power in your life? How many of you desire for the Spirit of God to be in more control in your life?