THANKSGIVING: An Attitude of Gratitude - Thanksgiving and Love - November 17, 2019
Video - Worship countdown
Prayers
INTRODUCTION
A profound truth
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever"
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.
Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains, because they rebelled against God’s commands and despised the plans of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.
Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.
Some went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders.
He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, and fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the wickedness of those who lived there. He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; there he brought the hungry to live, and they founded a city where they could settle. They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest; he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased, and he did not let their herds diminish.
Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled by oppression, calamity and sorrow; he who pours contempt on nobles made them wander in a trackless waste. But he lifted the needy out of their affliction and increased their families like flocks. The upright see and rejoice, but all the wicked shut their mouths.
Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.”
Psalms 107:1-43 NIV
I. THE POWER OF THE STORY
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story"
A. Our love story with the God of the Universe
B. The story of humanity
II. THE LOST
"Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away."
A. Those of us who were lost know lostness
B. The way back is through the straight way of God
III. THE CAPTIVE
"They rebelled against God’s commands and despised the plans of the Most High."
A. The prison of rebellion
B. God broke away their chains
IV. THE AFFLICTED
"Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death."
A. The suffering of our own choices
B. God sent out his word
"He saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave."
V. THE VULNERABLE
"At their wits end."
A. The sailor and the farmer
B. He brought them out of their distress.
"He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed."
VI. THE STORY OF HUMANITY
A. The ebb and flow of life
B. The retribution\repentance cycle
C. Redemption and lift
VII. THE LOVING DEEDS OF THE LORD
"The upright see and rejoice, but all the wicked shut their mouths. Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.”
A. He doesn't keep us from things.
B. He rescues us from things.
C. He saves us.
CHALLENGE
Tell your story of love to someone who needs to hear it. Why are we so intent to continue to tell the story to those who have rejected it? Seek out the lost, the captive, the afflicted, the vulnerable. Share the story of humanity. Give witness to the God of love.
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