As we approach Thanksgiving, let us consider the greatest reason in the universe to express gratitude to God because of His incredible provision that He has made available not only for present believers in Jesus Christ, but also for the saved to be able to have a mission to share this AMAZING GRACE with the entire world! This is the topic of our message today that we are calling: “Being Thankful For God And His Word”
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Psalms 25:1 -9 (KJV)
Psa 25:1 A Psalm of David. Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.
Psa 25:2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
Psa 25:3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
Psa 25:4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
Psa 25:5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
Psa 25:6 Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
Psa 25:7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.
Psa 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
Psa 25:9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:9 – 15 (KJV)
Col 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Col 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: (NASB: qualified)
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Transforming Power Statements:
1) The Psalmist expresses gratitude to God for being kind, understanding, and patient with him in dealing with the shortcomings and sins of his life, and is grateful that God is merciful and is willing to teach and nurture the ones who seek fellowship with Him from a grateful heart.
2) One of the greatest differences between people who are “adopted” by God through His Only Begotten Son, JESUS, is that they become actively and even aggressively THANKFUL to GOD, because their eyes have become open to the fact that they were on a course of total spiritual destruction, and now through Jesus Christ God’s SAVIOR, they are now born again into His Family and have become a NEW CREATURE, and can now walk in newness of life!!
3) Paul’s letter to the Colossians makes the new relationship clear that mere sinners are made completely acceptable to God by the completed work of JESUS CHRIST on the cross, and that this incredible grace begins immediately to be poured out without measure onto each and every believer in Jesus, and this grace produces consistent improvement and acceptance from day to day!