Thanksgiving

The Harvest Song are reading this morning is taken from James chapter 1.

Vs21 225 there for get rid of who listens to the word but does not do what it says. Is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror. And after looking at himself goes away in immediately forgets what he looks like. What gives you a word? Listen to it and respond to it. Don't just walk away. We're going to be kind of looking at that today as go into the Old Testament and Isaiah. Anyway, friend request for today, one from Kimmy, her aunt. Katie. Bernice's sister is struggling with the death of her husband, and she lives in band, and she asked us to pray for her and so we shall Let's pray.

Our Lord and father, the Mighty God, who is above all we come before you as people who desire, your life is shine and work in and through us and we praise you and thank you. We do we bring our request before you and one of the Great and Mighty request that we continually have is for the lives of the people that we know, our friends are family and our acquaintance is around our neighborhood, that do not know you and their loss is in Eternal loss. If they do not come to see that they need a lord and savior, who is Jesus Christ? And so we pray for their lives and we pray that our hearts would be open to yearn for your work in them. And that we might be participants in that work. Father, we do pray that you would be with the needs, and we think of them a Kimmy's, aunt and pray for your comfort and peace to rest upon her. As she Mourns the loss of her husband, that she would find courage and strength in you and the find direction for her life. And she moves so long. Father, we also want to remember to pray for the requests that are here that haven't been. We know each of us have desires that we lay before your feet and pray that your Mighty hand would be working. We pray for your spirit to guide us and lead us to have the piece that we need as we trust in you, to lead in each of his circumstances that are on our hearts. Now father is we continue on. We pray that your spirit would lead us in worship of the Mighty God in Thanksgiving to you who have provided so much for each of Our Lives, much more than we can even grasp. We thank you and praise you in Jesus name. Amen.

Well, if media issues continue, we're going to be seeing great is thy faithfulness and it's on page 121 in your hymnals. If you are, what's up? Oh, it's it's computer issues. Yeah. It's not controller error.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness, my father.

Lord, I need you.

You have been so good to me.

You have been so good.

You have been so good to me.

I can hear more.

You have been so good. You have been to me. Thank you very much. How can I sync you with me?

You have been good to me.

You have been to me. I came here to me.

With me, you have been so good to me.

You have been so good to me. I can. Can you?

He truly has been good. I'm looking at that picture. Is that the Elk Creek Falls?

Yeah, I thought I recognized that damn.

Supercharged done. Yeah.

A. Kenneth.

It's nice to see that proud of kids out. There is mention that start with the word of Prayer. Our gracious. Father? How we thank you that. You love us so deeply and have blessed us. So richly. We are people that have received abundantly from your Mighty hand and we praise you, and thank you. And we come before you today to honor you with.

Our fellowship together. Lord, we thank you for this time around your word and we pray that your spirit would be here powerfully in each of our hearts. That you would be guiding us in our thoughts and how we look at you may we be drawn closer and closer. And father. I pray that your spirit would touch my heart and use me as you would to minister the words that you have given. And that I would honor you bless us. Oh, Lord, and this time around your word in Jesus name. Amen. Well, we have truly been able to look back on God's blessing for our lives. Each one of us here has been blessed in so many ways, and sometimes we don't even understand. Well, always, we just don't understand the depth of God's true blessing for our lives. But you know, he continues the desire to pour out blessings on our lives and that has something to do with what was said before. If you listen to the word, the desire is that you also respond to the word. Just a little story to kind of kick it off. I lived a few different things in my life. And one of those things I was, I was school teacher for a number of years in California in the Norwalk School District. I also coached track and cross-country and I enjoyed it. Greatly. We were very successful by God's grace and a good hard work and each year that we got ready for cross-country in the spring. I would give out an invitation for kids to come and take a look at cross country and see if they wanted to come out and join us as a team. And so, I'd make the call. And then, I would talk with the athletes that had run with me before. And I said, please, when you come to the meeting, wear your Letterman's jackets and where all the metals that you earned. And you know as time went on there were some athletes that had earned twenty or Thirty medals. And so when they walked into the room, they had all their Championship patches on their sleeves and in the front of their jackets and they would Shake along with the sound of the metals. Clacking against each other, you know, and all the people that were there to see if they want to shot sign up for a cross-country. They would see all this happening. And hopefully it encourages them to respond and to step up and compete attract. Well, one of the things I told them was if you will do what I ask you to do. You will win a championship. I knew this because I knew all the other teams that we competed against over the seasons and I knew that we were a team that did things a little bit differently and part of that was that we work harder than anybody. Other teams. We were more prepared to compete out of the seven years that we competed. We only lost two races in both, the girls in the guy's championships. So we were a very competitive team throughout the years. Anyway, the same thing goes for God. God says to you and to me, if you will do what I ask you to do. I will bless you richly nagants. Already blessed you, right? I mean, we can look at our lives and say, wow, look at all. I've been given and we can say thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Lord. Good. God wants to continue to bless us and part of that is listening to what he has to say to us and then responding to what he says. And he says it's over and over and over again and scriptures. And we're going to look at a passage today from the Old Testament and Isaiah 58. Where we see God saying, if you will, I will bless if you will, I will bless if you will. I will bless. And that's what he says to you. And to me today, if you'll only do what I ask you to do. I'm going to bless you and sometimes we think of all the blessings as being those Earthly blessings, but you know, the greater blessings that God gives are those blessings that he reserves for us and glory. And I don't know what those rewards will be. God promises those rewards and the richness of them. And so as Paul says, I press on toward that prize that I want to win. By serving the Living God. Okay. So let's go ahead to Isaiah 58 and take a look at what he says. What are those things that God calls us to to follow and to worship? Isaiah 58. Verses 6 through 9, a Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen to loose the chains of Injustice. And untie the cords of the Yoke. The set, the oppressed free and break every yoke. Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor Wanderer with shelter? When you see the naked to close them and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood, then your light will break forth like a Dawn and your healing will quickly appear. Then your righteousness will go before you in the glory of the Lord, will be your rear guard. Then you will call the Lord will answer. You will cry for help and he will say here I am. Here. Am I, you know, that's a great call for each and every one of us in this. It's a please do this. And I will bless you. Richly. You know, when God says that throughout scriptures, we read that this morning, we read that it. If we went further on and James, we would read how he will bless us if we will do what he asked me to do. And so he continues to do that through. Scripture will take a look at my cahier, Micah does the same thing. He asked us to follow that regard. Micah 680 says he has shown you. In other words God shown you, what he wants you to do o mortal. What is good. And what does the Lord require of you to act justly to love. Mercy, walk humbly with your God, okay. Those are simple things, it's easy for him to say Jack justly is to make sure that what you do coincides with how God would act towards those around us that you seek Justice in all the things that you choose to do. And if you see Injustice happened in the world to somehow step in there and try to help out in that regard. He also wants us to demonstrate Mercy. Certainly. God has given each of us who have called upon his name who know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior received Mercy beyond measure. And it's a call to each and everyone of us that that be a part of our Lives as well that we are people that will demonstrate Mercy. When you see somebody struggling in having difficult than condemn them, our desire ought to be to help them find their way to find the pathway of truth and the right way to serve God he wants us to do all of those things call us at him. And finally he desires us to be as he is humble. You know. God was incredibly humble to come to Earth as a man. You know, he gave up all his glory and Heaven to come to the man to live a life that brought struggles because of who he was and what he called people to do and eventually die. For you, and for me. So that we might have life. And that's what he calls for us. You know, when the big question is. Are we listening? Are we hearing what God is saying right now? Are we listening to what he says? Because he wants to bless us. And if we do, listen, if we do hear what he's saying, and we go ahead and Sue those things in our lives that his life will shine greater in each of our lots and God does shine in our lives. We reveal God, more and more as he becomes a greater part of our lives and the only becomes a greater part is we give to him what he calls from us to do. Isaiah. 9:2 says, the people walking in darkness have seen a great light has gone. And of course it was speaking of Jesus Christ there. But now today Jesus Christ, wellsware, and you and me, He dwells in us and we are that light. And if we don't obey him and do the things he's called us to do that, light does not shine. It doesn't shine in our world and God wants us to shine. He wants us to live a lie that blesses and honors him and he will bring healing to the lives to our lives and the lives of those around us because it is through you. And through me that God desires to give his grace and mercy out to others. It's God who changes? But it's, he who uses all of us to make a difference in this world and he brings healing through your life. You if you tell somebody what Christ has done for you and it changes their life. You have been a part of God's healing in their lives. And that's what the Bible says. Isaiah. 1:18 says come. Now. Let us settle. The matter, says the Lord though. Your sins are like Scarlet. They shall be white as snow though. They are red as Crimson. They shall be like wool. In other words, God's changed. Your life is change you from Darkness to light, and he wants to do that to others. But guess what he wants to use you, and me to make that difference. And we need to be grow in that light in Christ. So, being obedient to those calls to be just to be merciful. Those are the things that he's calling us to be in our world today. So that we do make a difference.

And Don says, are you listening? Are you listening to me?

He wants to use us to help the world. It helps those in need. Isaiah 30-19 says people of Zion who live in Jerusalem for how gracious he will be when you cry for help. As soon as he hears. He will answer you. God wants to help us be what we need to be. And so we need to cry out to him and say, okay. I'm listening. I'm hearing what you're having to say help me change and be the person that I need to be, so that I can be the light to the world. The help that this world needs. The Shine for you and the world of need. It continues on the whole idea of being righteous before God, and that's what we're called to do. I found it? Isaiah 58:9 be through 12. It says, if you do away with the Yoke of Oppression with the pointing fingers and malicious talk in other words, gossiping. And if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy, the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness and your night will become like noon day. Isn't that interesting that he refers to life when he talks about his work through you and threw me continuing on the Lord will guide. You always. He will satisfy your need in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring, whose water never fails. Your people will rebuild. The Ancient ruins and we'll raise up the old age foundations. Those things in our lives that need to be restored. All that, which was broken before we came to know the Lord and now is being restored and God calls us. Once again. Listen to what I have to say. And do it. Going back to Isaiah 1:17. It says learn to do, right? Just defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the Widow. an interesting that God's concern for those that are in need is Incredibly great. And it's the way that you and I'm in straight our walk with him.

He does it over and over again. So it's Not something. Oh, well, he said that once know he says it over and over again, but those are the things that we are called to do. And he says are you listening? Do you hear what I have to say? He's giving us a vision of what is necessary for the future. He wants us to see that and respond to it. In Isaiah, 42:16, I will lead the blind by ways. They have not known along unfamiliar pass. I will guide them. I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do. I will not forsake them. In other words, you know, we enter. The connection with God, when we come to know, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior and and things are dark. But God wants to light that path. He has to give us the path of truth that he has for each of us to walking. Each of us walks a different path, but it is all Ford's. Finding the light that God desires to grow in each and every one of us. So that not only is our path, clear, but we we begin to light the path of others. That that Vision he has for us becomes clear and that desire to walk with him and becomes real in a live in our lives. He is the ever-present guy. Is this you have the Holy Spirit, why he is here right now? And he is working on your heart. I pray that he is as you listen to what I'm telling you from his word. The holy spirit is acting him alive and you trying to give you guidance and understanding what he has to say to you and now he wants to direct your life. He is the Great and Mighty guide for each of Our Lives. We are all need to be attentive to what he has to say. Some 48:14 says, for this, God is our God forever and ever, he will be our guide. Even to the end, is he, he's not going to leave us. His presence is going to be there, his presents and his guidance in our lives is a real and a lot. And he's not going to walk away. He's going to be there and he's going to continue to help guide us toward the truth. He's rebuilding Our Lives. Remember crippled and humiliated by the sin that is in our lives, and is not until we come to him and say, God, I'm condemned, and I know I am being destroyed by the citizen in my life, and I need your forgiveness and when he forgives us him, he just guide us to rebuild our lock us. New. Remember in 2nd Corinthians, 5:17 from my a new creation in Christ. We take us new and ride with him. That's what he's doing to each. And every 49:8 says, this is what the Lord says. In the time of my favor. I will answer you in the day of sub. You, I will keep you and will make keep to be a covenant. And in the reassign, it's desolate inheritance has. In other words, he takes that which is destroyed, and it makes new life and that's what he wants to do to each of our Lots as we go forward. Let's continue last section, which is our verses 13 and 14 and you actually are responding really properly to this one because you were here worshiping in his house and that's really the good news. The idea of seeking God and when you come and fellowship with other believers in the, you are actually being obedient to the Living God. And that's what you're doing right now, Isaiah 58 13 and 14. If you keep your feet from breaking, the Sabbath and doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabetha Delight in the day, honorable, and if you honor it by, not going your own way. And not doing as you please or speaking Idle Words and you will find joy in the Lord and I will cause you to ride in Triumph on the high. A book and a feast on the inheritance of your father. Jacob for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. This is desire for everyone of us to find fellowship with other believers.

Isn't that amazing? That you're not on your own? Are you shouldn't be on your own? How many people of gum and say? Well, I don't go to church but I believe in God and that's not honoring it. Because you're not listening to him and obeying. What he has to say you here today, are reading it to God because you've listened to what he has to say. And that's why you are in attendance here today. Because you've listened For him. You're being obedient to his call on your life, his presents, and his guidance for your life. It's not Justin Isaiah, but it is in multiple places throughout scripture. I'll give you Hebrews 10:25 not giving up meeting together. It is summer in the habit of doing but encouraging one another, all the more as you see the day approaching, in other words. God wants our fellowship together to happen. You know, we're going to have a great time of Fellowship around 8 that is prepared. And thank you, ladies and gentlemen. That have that Feast, but that is part of the fellowship that we have together in meeting together and honoring God, what we do. Any calls or thin church is just, we've got to do know, it's important not only for the unity of the body of Christ and bring us together. We're in worship our creator and our safe is also in our sense of who we are in God, you and I need to be continually pressing on towards that prize of no ice more and more. That's why we're here. We're here to worship him. It's God's Delight going back to you. Have his friends that came and we're trying to instruct all the job should do to follow God. And he says something pretty good. Joke, 2226. He says surely then you will find a life in the almighty and will lift up your face to God, you know, he's trying to give him some guidance and how to, Follow God. And Pope is saying, you know, I am following God. I am doing what God wants me to do. I don't know why I seem to be punished like this, but then eventually got along and helps Jobe find out more and more who he is. And then finally, he humbles himself as we all do and Praises God. And God, bless his him, immensely. And eventually either fast has to come to an end and Repent, you know, and left kind of way. God Delights in those who want to serve him and he delighted in show because John didn't falter in his faith or the Living. God, he knew what he was of honoring God. He just didn't understand the immensity of the Living God in Christ. Never did. But he knew more and more is God talk to him and help him, see who he was. And It humbled, him more and more, but God wants to pour out an abundance on our lot. So then bandhan some blessing far more than we have already.

But the desire for each of us, if we choose not to come and hear his word, but then we listen to what he has to say because he has a lot of important things to Della's from his word, far than we can ever consumed. An entire he has for us. And so we should never grow tired of seeking who he lend its Deuteronomy 32:39. He says he made him ride a height of the land and fed him with fruit of the field. He nourished him with honey from The Rock and with oil from the Wimpy frag. In other words. He was telling me about his carrying the people of Israel along. Why? Because they chose to be obedient to him and followed him. And he led them. And you led them to this point in their lives where they were ready to gland. Wants you to be blessed. Is he helps you walk through this life? He wants you to find his guidance. He wants you to find his presents powerful and mighty and that's what he continually test through scripture talking about. The working of the spirit in your use, the gifts are to bring one another to gather up and become one and be filled with God. We don't want to be partially empty, but we want to be filled with the presence of God. And so it concludes that little section in, Ephesians 4, chapter 4 and its unity in the face in the knowledge of the Son of God, attaining to the whole mess of the fullness of Christ. The full. Imagine if Christ was full and each and every one of our lives, a difference, we would be making a note. Well, God's desire that we build out and we do so, by recognizing his presents and seeking that presents to grow in our lives. And we wants to guide up to all that truth. So the question for each and everyone of us, am I? seeking, first of all, But once you seek Him, do you take him in if you make him a part of your life, are you really what he has to say? And that's what James was saying, you know, do you take a look at the mirror and see yours? Forget yourself, you take a look at what God has for you and then walk away and forget what he has for you. Another day. You forget what he has to say to you.

You know, he speaks to us and he wants us to walk with him. He wants us to know him. He wants us to live the life. It's more than anything to bless you, more and more of his eternal Kingdom, and it's a fraud. It's by saying, yes or yes. Our gracious Father in heaven. We thank you for the bladder lives in your desire to bless us. Continually as of scripture says abundantly that we can be blessed abundantly feeling if we are listening. If we are recognizing your presence and your guidance in our lives, leading us to greater and greater truth is found in and what you're willing to do to our lives and you are willing to do everything rescue. This. Oh Lord. As we continue forward. May you lead and guide us in Jesus name, Amen. Let standing close.

As we see.

Atrophy.

As we see video.

Baby.

Is Father how we thank you for the power of your Mighty grace and mercy and we pray for your blessing as we Joy. The fellowship around a meal with great pictures. We see in scripture on Gathering Together around and may, we find that rich blessing today by your wonderful grace and mercy? Oh, Lord, Our God be with us in Jesus name. Amen.