An inspiring Thanksgiving sermon from Ps 107 on gratitude.

A 5-point sermon on Thanksgiving.

“O give due to the Lord, for He’s good; for His steadfast love endures endlessly.” (Psalm 107:1)

Introduction: Soul singer Lionel Ritchie was as soon as deeply impacted by a speech through which his father had honored his mom, on their thirty seventh wedding ceremony anniversary. In his speech, Ritchie Senior had lovingly given due to his spouse for sticking by him by way of the ups and downs of life. Mentioned Lionel, “What an important story as a result of I go by way of my home every single day and I don’t say thanks. I simply take as a right that sure issues be finished”. That speech moved him to compose certainly one of his finest liked songs, ‘Three Instances a Girl’.

How a lot we too neglect to specific thanksgiving to God for the blessings He offers us. We frequently take them as a right. In Psalm 107, the creator earnestly encourages the individuals to proclaim thanksgiving to God, by repeating the phrase, “Allow them to thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His great works to humankind” on 4 events (Psalm 107: 8, 15, 21, and 31). That’s a superb coverage for us to observe too.

Proposition: So allow us to at all times try to maintain a coronary heart of thanksgiving earlier than our nice Creator God

The Psalmist goes on to explain the numerous methods through which a loving God had been devoted to His youngsters. He does this by reflecting on a few of His devoted acts. I wish to draw your consideration to five of these traits by way of this sermon at present. Let’s be pleased about them. 

1) God’s Delivering Energy (Psalm 107:6)

“Then they cried out to the Lord of their hassle, and he delivered them from their misery” (Psalm 107:6)

Do that you must cry out to the Lord due to some hassle at present? Wherever Jesus went, He introduced deliverance to distressed and oppressed individuals. It appeared like that was His favourite pastime. The Bible reveals the Lord as a God of deliverance and that is clearly seen in the way in which He delivered His individuals from the oppression and slavery introduced upon them in Egypt. The superior indicators He carried out in Egypt had been outstanding indicators of His delivering energy. 

Reflecting on the Lord’s delivering energy, the author of Psalm 107 says, “Then they cried out to the Lord of their hassle, and he delivered them from their misery” (verse 6). In his reflection, he repeats this phrase 4 instances within the psalm (vs 6, 13, 19, 28) .

The author of Psalm 32 additionally highlights this reality  in a barely totally different manner by saying, “You might be my hiding place; you’ll defend me from hassle and encompass me with songs of deliverance”. (Psalm 32:7). Due to this fact, having a coronary heart of reward and thanksgiving to God by way of track and speech opens the door for us to come across His delivering energy. (Apparently, at present, secular music therapists play sounds that assist troubled individuals in hospitals, particular wants school rooms,nursing properties, and related environments.)

Illustration: I keep in mind the time I had a severe detachment of the retina on my left eye. It led to a lot discouragement, nervousness, and eventual surgical procedure. The day earlier than the surgical procedure was a troublesome one as I saved praying for braveness and power. As I sat praying, the hymn titled “In Christ Alone” started to play on the pc. I had sung that hymn many instances earlier than – however in what I consider was a pivotal second ordained by God, it grew to become a track of deliverance for me. The lyrics; particularly the next traces, hit me like a bullet.

“From life’s first cry to last breath/ Jesus instructions my future”

As these highly effective lyrics circled my thoughts, religion and reward started to rise, and a deep assurance came to visit me that Jesus alone ‘instructions my future.’ There was renewed confidence in Christ’s look after me.

Awake all through the sophisticated surgical procedure, I silently saved giving due to Jesus, figuring out my future was totally in His arms. His peace-giving presence was so sturdy that I virtually fell asleep at one level. Fortunately, the surgical procedure was accomplished efficiently. 

Let’s hold trusting the delivering energy of our God. Let’s even be stuffed with thanksgiving for all of the deliverance now we have skilled up to now.

2) His Steering (Psalm 107:7)

“He led them by a straight technique to a metropolis the place they might settle” (Psalm 107:7)

The Psalmist highlights God’s steerage for His individuals as He “led them by a straight manner”. Equally, the Lord Jesus revealed Himself as our Good Shepherd who leads His speech tenderly. The steerage He gives will at all times be the perfect for our lives. I can consider so many cases the place His steerage was pivotal and correct in my life, my household, and my ministry. With out His steerage, I might have ended up taking critically incorrect selections. Let me quote from Psalm 32:8 NLT – “The Lord says, “I’ll information you alongside the perfect pathway to your life. I’ll advise you and watch over you.” Sure, He’ll information us alongside the perfect pathway.

Let’s be stuffed at present with thanksgiving for His steerage for “the place He guides, He additionally gives”. Which takes me to my subsequent level.

3) His Provision (Psalm 107:9)

“He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good issues” (Psalm 107:9)

Are you battling a difficult want proper now? The Lord who offered miraculously for His individuals by way of their desert wanderings in the course of the Exodus remains to be the identical. He offered them meals from the skies and opened up water fountains from rocks. He’s nonetheless Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who gives. Hebrews 13:8 tells us that “Jesus Christ is identical yesterday, at present, and endlessly”.

Illustration: My second son had unhealthy eczema from the age of 1. For a few years thereafter, he, and we, struggled intensely with the issue. At one level a Physician really useful a brand new Moisturizing Lotion that labored extraordinarily effectively for him. After all, we had been fairly thrilled about it, however there was one drawback. It was very costly. Apart from that, there was added medicine that we needed to buy recurrently.

After about 3 months I believe, I noticed that we couldn’t maintain this expense by way of our revenue. However since we would have liked the Lotion, I took it to the Lord in prayer. After praying, I considered checking on its background. To my shock, I discovered that the fee within the nation of manufacture, Australia, for double the amount we had been buying, was roughly 1/4th the value.

To chop an extended story brief, since that day, now we have managed to get all our necessities from over there in small portions. Within the course of, now we have saved some huge cash that has been put to higher use. It was really an sudden win and provision for us. (Fortunately, we’d like little or no of it now as my son is doing positive). 

Sure, God’s provision can come by way of for you too in sudden methods and thru sudden individuals or sources. Let’s be pleased about all His provision to us and belief Him at present to fulfill our wants.

  4) God’s Safety (Psalm 107:28-29)

“Then they cried out to the Lord of their hassle , and he introduced them out of their misery. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the ocean had been hushed” (Psalm 107:28-29)

Dwelling in an more and more insecure world has its actual challenges. Within the midst of very actual risks and tensions that may crush our peace and enhance our ranges of tension, it’s comforting to know that we will look to our God, the residing God, to encompass us with His safety.

The composer of Psalm 125 offers us a vivid image of what God’s safety seems to be like. He says, “Because the mountains encompass Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His individuals each now and forevermore” (vs2). Sure, we’re at all times surrounded by the protecting overlaying the Lord offers us, just like the overlaying He gave His individuals on the night time of the Passover.

In 2 Kings 6:13-17, when the Prophet Elisha was in grave hazard in a metropolis referred to as Dothan, surrounded by the armies of the king of Aram, God intervened miraculously. Though Elisha’s servant was terrified by the sight of the huge military surrounding the town. Elishs was nonetheless unperturbed. He mentioned, ‘Don’t be afraid, those that are with us are greater than those that are with them’ (vs16). The servant thereafter “… regarded and noticed the hills stuffed with horses and chariots of fireplace throughout Elisha” (vs17). God had surrounded His Prophet with His mighty safety.

The identical safety is obtainable to us at present. God can “Nonetheless the storms in our life to a whisper; and hush the waves of the ocean”, simply as Jesus did on the Sea of Galilee. His safety is additional highlighted powerfully by way of Psalm 91 and scores of different scripture passages. Have you ever thanked Him at present for His safety? Let’s transfer now to my last level.

5) His Unfailing Blessings (Psalm 107:35-38)

“They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest; he blessed them, and their numbers drastically elevated,…” (Psalm 107:37-38)

God delights to bless you. By no means doubt that. Sadly, generally the phrase ‘blessing’ could be checked out in a misunderstood manner, notably due to the over emphasis on prosperity in some teachings and sermons. So, what does the phrase ‘blessing’ point out?  

I wish to share some meanings of the phrase ‘blessing’ that I’ve come throughout. Blessing is recognized as “receiving God’s favor; receiving His grace, His assist and safety.” Additionally as “God’s approval”, and as “a present of God that brings happiness or religious good”. Sadly, as I mentioned some time in the past, the phrase ‘blessing’ is usually equated solely with materials and monetary prosperity. It’s principally recognized within the type of luxurious autos, luxurious properties, enterprise class journey, billion greenback enterprise offers, non-public jet planes and so forth. The top results of such pondering is that the numerous Christians who don’t have such luxuries really feel that they don’t seem to be blessed. What a tragic state of affairs! 

 However, being blessed means rather more than that within the gentle of our everlasting calling.

 After I encountered the saving grace of Jesus in my life, among the lovely blessings I acquired because of God’s favor had been – His forgiveness, His superb grace, a reworked life, the presence of Jesus, the facility of the Holy Spirit, peace, pleasure, a function and a hope for residing, and freedom from all method of superstitious and occult practices along with the concern connected to them, and naturally everlasting life. I used to be later healed of persistent bronchial asthma too. None of those had been materials advantages however they had been highly effective blessings and clearly confirmed God’s favor upon me.

Let’s be grateful to God for all His blessings, massive and small.

Closing: As I used to be reflecting not too long ago over this psalm and planning this sermon, the Lord jogged my memory of how He had introduced deliverance by way of trials, steerage in troublesome conditions, provision in sudden methods, safety from focused assaults of the enemy, and particular person blessings to every of our members of the family. A lot to be pleased about!

Might we really be taught to be grateful to God every single day. Might our hearts overflow frequently with gratitude and reward to Him.

With my arms lifted up, and my mouth crammed with reward,

With a coronary heart of thanksgiving, I’ll reward You O Lord.

 Might God bless you on this season of Thanksgiving!

Prayer – Lord, might I always remember all of the blessings You’ve given me. Just like the Psalmist, assist me to overflow with thanksgiving at present by way of worship, a prayer, or a track of reward. Amen.

For one more sermon about God’s faithfulness click on right here.

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