EVIDENCES OF A THANKFUL HEART

 

“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, and

humbly to implore His protection and favor; and

 

“Whereas 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 and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceable to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness":

 

“Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of

November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that Great and glorious Being who is Beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their  becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquillity, union and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one, now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and , in general, for all the great various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

 

“And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our national government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a  government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increases of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be the best.

 

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3rd day of October,

AD1789 George Washington.

 

This was the proclamation for the first national thanksgiving.  Tonight are gathered for yet another Thanksgiving service.  There is no doubt that Thanksgiving is appropriate any time, and especially for us as Christians.  1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

 

Tonight we want to remind you that there are various ways that we can show our appreciation to the Lord for what He has done.  There are outward ways of expressing an inward, thankful heart.

 

We have experienced one way of showing appreciation this evening, the Thanksgiving service.  In the Gospel of Luke we want to see 3 men who showed their appreciation for Jesus healing them in 3 ways.  Tonight we will look at

 

ONE WHO WORSHIPPED - Luke 17:11-19

ONE WHO  WALKED (FOLLOWED JESUS) - Luke 8:26-39

ONE WHO WITNESSED - Luke 18:35-43

 

ONE WHO WORSHIPPED - Luke 17:11-19

 

Vss. 11-12 - Ten men were very sick. They had leprosy. It was a disease that ate at the skin, and made one an outcast according to Jewish law.

Because they were outcasts, they stood afar off.

We had a problem like these lepers that was fatal.

It made us outcasts before God.

The problem was our sin.

 

Vs. 13 - These men had the right idea.  They called on the Lord Jesus to have mercy on them.  They really had no other hope.

 

Like these men, we needed mercy.  We were dead in trespasses and sins.  The only one who could help us was the Lord Jesus, because it was Him who died for us.  Like these lepers, we needed to call on the Lord in order to be saved. Romans 10:17 says, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 

Vss. 14 - These men were told to go show themselves to the priest.

In order for them to get back into society, they needed for the priest to pronounce them as "clean."  They took the step of faith to show themselves to the priest, taking Jesus at His word, and as they went, they were healed.

 

Our healing for salvation was similar.  We took God at his word, that he would save us, if we believed, and He did exactly what he promised.

 

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

Vss. 15-16 - I think each man saw that he was healed.

                     However, only one of them turned around, worshipped God, and gave thanks.

 

What happened to the others?

I think that they were so busy wanting to get back to their lives, that they forgot to say "thank you" and to worship God.

 

Here is a great reminder for you and I.  How thankful are we for what God has done for us. 

 

Our sins have been forgiven.

We have a home in Heaven.

We have the Holy Spirit.

We have answered prayer.

We can't lose our salvation, if we are truly saved.

We are truly loved of God!

 

Shouldn't we, of all people be giving praise and adoration and thanksgiving to God?!

 

1 Timothy 1:12-17 - And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hat enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did [it] ignorantly in unbelief.  And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.  Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, [be] honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Revelation 5:9-12 - And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.  And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;   Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

 

This thanksgiving season should be one of worship for those of us who know Christ personally.  We have reason to worship and praise God!

 

Vss. 17-19  - There was 90% more cleansed than were actually giving thanks.  I wonder if this percentage is true for us who are saved?  What percentage of us who are saved are truly thankful?

 

Let us make sure that we are among the ones who return to give thanks.

We do not like it very well when people fail to give thanks for what we've done.  Imagine how God must feel!

 

ONE WHO WORSHIPPED

ONE WHO WALKED LUKE 18:35-43

 

Read and Comment on Vss. 35-42

 

Vs. 43 - Bartimaeus followed Jesus after being healed.

              He also worshipped God as a result of his healing.

 

Bartimaeus reminds me that a truly thankful person is someone who will walk after Jesus.  Because of what Jesus has done for him in saving him, he will walk after and with Jesus.

 

Luke 9:23-24  - And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

 

John 15:1-7 - I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

 

ONE WHO WORSHIPPED

ONE WHO WALKED

ONE WHO WITNESSED LUKE 8:26-39

 

Vss. 26-38 - READ AND COMMENT

 

Vs. 39 - Notice where the man was sent - to his own home.

              It meant going back to the people who knew him "when".

              It meant going back to the people who knew him best.

 

We are the ones who can best reach the ones we love.

We are the ones who can best reach the ones we know best.

We are the ones, who should show our appreciation for what the Lord has done for us, by telling others.

 

Psalm 107:2 - Let the redeemed of the LORD say [so], whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

 

1 Peter 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

 

EVIDENCES OF A THANKFUL HEART

 

ONE WHO WORSHIPPED

ONE WHO WALKED

ONE WHO WITNESSED