Sermon Tone Analysis

Part of alist that several housewives compiled.

They wrote that they were especially thankful:

§  "For automatic dishwashers because they make it possible for us to get out of the kitchen before the family comes back in for their after-dinner snacks.

§  "For husbands who attack small repair jobs around the house because they usually make them big enough to call in the professionals.

§  "For children who put away their things & clean up after themselves.

They’re such a joy you hate to see them go home to their own parents

§  "For teenagers because they give parents an opportunity to learn a second language.

§  "For Smoke alarms because they let you know when the turkey’s done.

APPL.

Now our list might not be the same as theirs, but I’m convinced that if we began to make a list, we would find that we have much more for which to be thankful than just our material possessions.

§  Like you, I’m sure, my list would include the major things - life, health, family, friends, & the nation we live in, despite all its flaws.

§  But even more than that, I’m thankful for my salvation, our church family, & the mercy that God showers upon us each day.

With Jesus we have so much for which to celebrate on Thanksgiving!

Has it ever occurred to you that no Americans were more underprivileged than that small handful from the Mayflower who started the custom of setting aside a day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God?

§  They had no homes & no government agency to help them build homes.

They had no means of transportation but their legs.

Their only food came from the sea & the forest, & they had to get it for themselves.

§  They had no money & no place to spend it if they’d had any.

They had no amusements except what they made for themselves, no means of communication with their relatives in England, no social security or medicare.

§  But anyone who dared to call them underprivileged would probably have ended up in the stocks, for they did have 4 of the greatest human assets: initiative, courage, a willingness to work, & a boundless faith in God.

Thanksgiving Day is a distinctive holiday.

It doesn’t commemorate a battle or anyone’s birthday or anniversary.

It is simply a day set aside to express our nation’s thanks to our nation’s God.

In 1789, George Washington made this public proclamation.

(Now I will read only a little part of it, but I want you to see the strong & absolute acknowledgment of the fact of God, & of our nation’s dependence upon Him.)

§  "By the President of the United States of America.

A proclamation: Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, & humbly to implore His protection & favor, - and

§  "Whereas, Both Houses of Congress" (Did you hear that, "Both Houses of Congress?")

"have by their joint committee requested me `to recommend to the people of the United States a day of Public Thanksgiving & Prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God. .

.’

§  "Now, Therefore I do recommend & assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great & glorious Being who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. .

."

So read the very first Thanksgiving Proclamation.

Today our nation pauses once again to give thanks.

And one would assume that because of the example of our forefathers, & because we today have so much, that we would be an extremely thankful people.

But it is often just the opposite, isn’t it?

The more we get, the less thankful we become, the less mindful of God we become, & the more we want.

I think that the 100th Psalm was written to deal with that attitude, to remind us of our need to be thankful, & to maintain an attitude of gratitude.

I.       THE BASIS OF OUR THANKSGIVING

A.     The 100th Psalm was written for the people of Israel.

§  God said to them, "When you come into the promised land, & settle down in your warm homes, & you have plenty to eat, don’t forget Me.

I led you out of the wilderness & I brought you into a land flowing with milk & honey."

§  But it doesn’t take very long to realize that the people of Israel needed a reminder, & I am afraid that we need it, too.

§  Maybe God had us in mind, too, when this Psalm was written.

Did you notice to whom it is addressed?

The first verse says that it is addressed to "all the earth," & the last verse says that it is includes "all generations."

§  This message of thanksgiving is so deep & wide that it applies to every person in every era in every stage of life.

§  ILL.

It’s sad, isn’t it, that we are the only country in the world, except for Canada & the Philippines (as far as I know), that has a Thanksgiving Day?

I wonder how our world would be changed if suddenly all nations would begin to observe Thanksgiving?

§  I think that there is something about giving thanks together to God that breaks down barriers between people & brings about a unity, much like that which occurred as the Berlin wall began to crumble.

B.     I think also that there is a real danger in this season of determining our thanksgiving on the basis of how much we have.

§  "Do I have enough turkey to gorge myself sufficiently?

Is my money in the bank secure?

Am I healthy?"

And we let these things determine whether we are or aren’t thankful.

§  The Psalmist says that all of these things may change at any time.

They may drift away, or burn up, or someone may steal them.

The only thing we have for sure is our relationship with the Lord.

§  And that is what the 100th Psalm emphasizes.

Just scan the Psalm.

In vs. 1 you’ll find the name of the Lord.

In vs. 2 you’ll find the name of the Lord.

In vs. 3 you’ll find the name of the Lord.

In vs. 4 it says, "Enter His gates with thanksgiving."

And in vs. 5 you’ll find the name of the Lord.

The basis of our thanksgiving is the Lord.

II.

FIVE THANKSGIVING COMMANDS

C.     The first command is in vs. 1, "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth."

§  It means to "shout with the force of a trumpet blast," a shout of joy to the Lord that comes from the very depths of your being.

§  Maybe He solved your problem.

Maybe He has given you the direction to go.

Maybe He has provided a blessing, & you realize that it has come from God.

So from the depths of your being you proclaim your praise.

§  There is a story about a veteran missionary who was a medical missionary for many years in India in a region where there was progressive blindness.

People were born with healthy vision, but there was something in that area that caused people to lose their sight as they matured."

§  But this missionary had developed a process which would arrest progressive blindness.

So people came to him & he performed his operation, & they would leave realizing that they would have become blind, but now they were going to be able to see for the rest of their lives.

§  He said that they never said, "Thank you," because that phrase was not in their dialect.

Instead, they spoke a word that meant, "I will tell your name."

Wherever they went, they would tell the name of the missionary who had cured their blindness.

They had received something so wonderful that they eagerly proclaimed it.

§  And that is what the Psalmist is saying.

"Suddenly you realize that God has been so good to you that you can’t keep it inside any more.

From the depths of your being you shout your joy unto the Lord."

D.     The second command is, "Serve the Lord with gladness."

§  The Bible teaches that if we witness on behalf of the Lord, if we feed the hungry, if we clothe the naked, if we do the work of the Lord, whatever it might be, we are serving the Lord.

§  Jesus said, "Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto me."

§  I’m not sure that we grasp that.

Maybe we serve at times out of a feeling of obligation or a fear of guilt if we don’t serve, or maybe even because we want to draw attention to ourselves.

§  It’s natural for us to desire appreciation when we do something that is worthwhile.

But the Psalmist says, "In whatever you do, serve the Lord with gladness."

E.      The third command is, "Come before Him with joyful songs."

Another passage says, "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord."

And that I can do.

§  Have you noticed?

In these first 3 commands, God has said, "I want you to be happy.

Shout with joy, serve with gladness, & come with joyful songs."

§  ILL.

Now just take a moment & look at the people around you.

Do they look happy?