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Church of Christ
Sermons and Lessons for 2012 |
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Bobby Stafford |
The Righteous Give Thanks |
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Thanksgiving |
November 18, 2012 |
Sunday AM Sermon |
The Righteous Give Thanks
Introduction:
First National Thanksgiving 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,
and humbly to implore His protection and favor; Whereas, both the
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 next, to be devoted by the people of
the states to the service of that great and glorious being, who is
the 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.
George Washington, 1779
Our Heavenly Father truly is the source of all that is good in our
world. How thankful we should be.
Body:
I.
The Thankful Samaritan
·
Text:
Luke 17:11-19
Leprosy was a horrific disease. It started with sores and then
began eating away at bodily tissues until the body begins to be
consumed. The nose and lips disappear; fingers decay and fall off.
The joints separate and finally the vital organs shut down. In the
first century, it was incurable.
·
The lepers made a desperate appeal because Christ was their last and
only hope. They must have heard of His power to heal. (Luke
5:12-13)
All ten needed His mercy. All ten were healed.
·
Only the Samaritan returned and poured out his thanks at Jesus’
feet. Why didn’t the other nine return?
Coffman listed some possible excuses they may have made.
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One waited to see if the cure was real.
·
One waited to see if the cure would last.
·
One said that he would see Jesus later.
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One decided that he never had leprosy.
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One said that he would have gotten well anyway.
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One gave the glory to the priests.
·
One said, “Oh, well, Jesus didn’t really do anything.”
·
One said, “Just any rabbi could have done it.”
·
One said, “I was already much improved.”
Do any of these expressions sound like something you would have
said?
II.
Being Thankful
·
Unceasing (Ephesians
1:16)
This behavior should be a part of who we are.
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Even for the “little things” (Ephesians
5:20)
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Spontaneous (Philemon
1:3-4)
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God’s will for us (I
Thessalonians 5:18)
III.
The Unthankful
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The Foolish (Romans
1:20-23)
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I Timothy 4:1-5
·
Have you ever been frustrated when somebody didn’t thank you for
something you did for them? How do you think God feels?
IV.
Why Should We Be Thankful?
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God’s goodness and mercy (Psalms
106:1-2, Psalms 107:8-9)
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Answered prayer (John
11:41)
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For Christ and salvation (II
Corinthians 9:15)
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Other Christians (I
Thessalonians 1:2)
A list of some things we may not think about very much.
·
first sip of coffee in the morning
·
ability to pay my bills
·
health-care benefits
·
laughter
·
beauty of each season
·
sound of rain
·
kindness of strangers
·
my sensitive nature
Conclusion:
Abraham Lincoln’s 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.
In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity,
which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to
provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations,
order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed,
and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of
military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by
the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of
peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the
plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders
of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of
the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than
heretofore.
Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that
has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the
country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and
vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large
increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out
these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High
God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath
nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly,
reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice
by the whole American People.
I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United
States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning
in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of
November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent
Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.
Bobby
Stafford
November 18, 2012
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