A Few Thoughts about Thanksgiving in 2020

In the midst of COVID-19 and the “reset” (PM Justin Trudeau), how do Christians respond?

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NET in everything give thanks. For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

How can anyone give thanks in everything?

We have a Messiah.

We have a hope.

We have a future.

We have a salvation.

We have a constant friend.

We have a family.

We have a fellowship.

We have a forgiveness.

We have a promise.

We have a life.

We have a helper.

We have a peace.

We have a song.

We have truth.

We have a worldview.

We have a lifestyle.

We have an armor.

We have a King.

We have a gift.

We have a history.

In prison, still sing: Acts 16:25 EMTV Now about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

We can all have a thankful attitude with God’s help. John 15:5 GW I am the vine. You are the branches. Those who live in me while I live in them will produce a lot of fruit. But you can't produce anything without me.

What do we do? We must, by God’s grace, actively apply this advice. Philippians 4:8 NLT And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

None of us are perfect in this for sure. We need to remember this Philippians 4:4-7 NLT Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

God does give strength. Philippians 4:13 NLT For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Yahweh, who is the greatest of all counselors, has given us the Psalms to help us. We can speak freely to Him (Hebrews 4:16 MKJV Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.)

First an article: 5 Things the Psalms of Lament Teach Us About Emotions.

A few Psalms:

B1 Psalm 13

B2 Psalm 10

B3 Psalm 69

B4 Psalm 143

Pray

B1 Think about the ways God has helped you, then pray.

B2 Pray for our brothers and sisters who are suffering.

B3 Pray for yourself.

B4 Pray for the Lord Jesus to come. “Come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20 ESV He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

A Few Thoughts About Psalm 100

Psalms 100:1-5 BSB A Psalm of thanksgiving. Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness; come into His presence with joyful songs. 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name. 5 For the LORD is good, and His loving devotion endures forever; His faithfulness continues to all generations.

This is a Psalm of praise and thanksgiving.

There are 2 sets of commands and their rationale.

First set

B1 Commands

C1 Shout

C2 Serve

C3 Come

C4 Acknowledge

B2 Rationale

C1 God created us

C2 God owns us

C3 God shepherds us

Second set

B1 Commands

C1 Enter

C2 Give thanks

C3 Praise

B2 Rationale

C1 God is good

C2 God is merciful

C3 God is faithful

Notes for first set

B1 Shout

C1 The Hebrew word is רוּעַ rûwaʻ. It means a loud noise.

C2 Here a joyful noise because of the context.

C3 Happiness is only from events, happenings, experiences. Joy is a deep peace, content, safety, satisfaction. In our passage, this joy is from fellowship with out creator, the Creator.

C4 A joyful noise is the expression of this contentment and peace.

C5 Use

D1 Both happiness and joy: Esther 8:16 NIV For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor.

D2 Zechariah 9:9 NIV Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

C6 Do we have joy? Why?

C7 Why is real joy only related to God and His ways?

B2 Personally, I believe Scripture teaches that we were created for fellowship with God and to serve Him forever. He does not need fellowship or servants. The basic meaning serve is the Hebrew word which means to work. We work for God. He does not need our work, but if there is work in His kingdom, we know that He is a delegator, not a micromanager.

B3 Come is an invitation. It has the idea of entering. A special blessing is for believers: Ephesians 3:12 NLT Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God's presence.

B4 Acknowledge is to recognize, give credit to, believe, We are to acknowledge

C1 He is God

C2 All the character traits/attributes of God

C3 Isaiah 45:5-6 NLT I am the LORD; there is no other God. I have equipped you for battle, though you don't even know me, 6 so all the world from east to west will know there is no other God. I am the LORD, and there is no other.

B5 Rationale

C1 God created us

C2 God owns us, or rather, “His we are,” that is, “we are His.”

C3 God shepherds us which reflects His style of leadership.

Notes for second set

B1 Commands

C1 Enter. This is the same word as come in verse 2.

C2 Give thanks: Colossians 3:17 BSB And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

C3 Praise. What do we praise God for? Basically, it is everything that God is. It is His ways, thoughts, desires, and deeds. It is seen in the 10 Commandments and His decisions. It is seen in His character traits, His worldview, and lifestyle. His way is perfect. Since it is perfect, it is best for us, too.

B2 Rationale

C1 God is good. Good is an adjective and can be applied in many different ways. Here it refers to His character and actions. All God’s decisions are done in wisdom, love, and holiness.

D1 The standard of good is God Himself. Mark 10:18 BSB “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied, “No one is good except God alone.

D2 Psalm 86:5 NIV You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.

C2 God is merciful

D1 God wants to show mercy. He does not want to punish, but we must meet His conditions like Abraham did. Genesis 15:6 NIV Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

D2 Consider these 2 passages:

E1 God punishes those who rebel and continue in rebellion even after being warned many times. Psalm 59:5 NIV You, LORD God Almighty, you who are the God of Israel, rouse yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to wicked traitors.

E2 God pardons and forgives those who humble themselves and believe: Micah 7:18 NIV Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.

C3 God is faithful

D1 Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.

D2 Psalm 31:5 NIV Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, LORD, my faithful God.

D3 He is faithful. Are we?

D4 Hebrews 10:23 ISV Let us continue to hold firmly to the hope that we confess without wavering, for the one who made the promise is faithful.

Colossians 4:2 GNT Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God.

Why Am I Thankful

As I was thinking about this topic, I wondered, “Why?”

What is thankfulness?

The opposite is entitled. But, what am I entitled to. Nothing really.

Choices do have consequences.

We are not necessarily thankful for things we deserve. We are thankful for good things that we do not deserve.

It is an attitude for things we do not deserve. It is a humbleness of, “Why me, Lord”?

My wife doesn’t need to make my breakfast, but she wants to. I don’t have to wash the dishes, but I want to. So, we thank each other.

This could be applied to many, many things.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 NLT - As for us, we can't help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation--a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth.

I’m certainly not among the first to believe, more likely one of the last.

But for this, I’m very thankful.

I have no physical brothers and sisters, but in Messiah, we are a very big family. We are not together because of a common interest. We are FAMILY having fellowship with God and each other. 1 John 1:3 WEL That which we have seen and heard, we announce to you so that you also may have fellowship with us, and our fellowship is with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.

I do not deserve God’s love, yet He does love me. Galatians 2:20 WEL "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live. Yet, it is not I but Christ living in me, and the life I now am living in the flesh, I live in faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

I do not have anything worthy to know forgiveness of my sins, the times I broke God’s laws. 2 Timothy 1:9 NLT - For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time--to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.

I do not deserve grace, but I have received grace. Romans 5:21 WEL That just as sin has ruled in death, even so might grace rule through righteousness into eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I am not entitled to anything of these things. I do not deserve them.

So now, I have fellowship with God, wife, children, brothers, sisters, an eternal home after death, many and many blessings more that I do not deserve.

I am humbled.

I am thankful.

Bad things do happen to us. But, as the preacher said, “We do not thank God FOR everything; we are thankful IN everything.”

A friend of ours had her husband brutally murdered. One night she could not sleep. As she lay there awake, she thought of 500 things she was thankful to God for. What about me? Am I thankful? How about you?

Taste and See

Theme: A song of thanksgiving

Scripture: Psalm 34

Objectives: (From the D6 Fusion Sunday School Lesson book)

Know: David praised and blessed the Lord for His constant presence and deliverance in his life.

Think: I can live in the assurance that God is always with me and will deliver me in His timing.

Do: Turn from all sin and do what is right, praising God for His goodness.

B1 Setting: 1 Samuel 21

B2 Outline

C1 Praise Psalm 34:1-3

C2 Answered prayer Psalm 34:4-7

C3 The goodness and fear of God Psalm 34:8-14

C4 God’s standards Psalm 34:15-16

C5 God’s mercy and deliverance Psalm 34:17-18

C6 God’s protection Psalm 34:19-20 (verse 20 is a Messianic prophecy—John 19:36)

C7 Righteous and unrighteous contrasted Psalm 34:21-22

B3 The Sunday School lesson author makes a good point: The basic concept of “to bless” here means to praise or to speak a good word. When we ask God to bless someone, He “speaks a good word” over that person or perhaps speaks good into that life. When we bless God (as David did in this verse), we are speaking a good word about God, specifically about His goodness, kindness, generosity, and faithfulness.

B4 Praise Psalm 34:1-3,

C1 Why is David so thankful?

C2 Why should we be quick to be thankful, too?

C3 Psalm 34:2, what type of people is David speaking about?

C4 Psalm 34:3, what does David want others who have experienced similar things to do?

B5 Psalm 34:4-7,

C1 What was David afraid of?

C2 What was the first thing David did, when he was afraid?

C3 After God helps us, what should we do? 2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT - He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

C4 In verse 5, it is mentioned that their faces are never covered with shame (NIV). Why? People seek many things. What are some dangers of seeking the wrong things? Name some wrong things?

D1 Isaiah 44:11 NLT - All who worship idols will be disgraced along with all these craftsmen--mere humans--who claim they can make a god. They may all stand together, but they will stand in terror and shame.

D2 Isaiah 49:23 NLT - Kings and queens will serve you and care for all your needs. They will bow to the earth before you and lick the dust from your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD. Those who trust in me will never be put to shame."

C5 Matthew Henry writes in his commentary on Psalm 34:5: It has wonderfully revived and comforted them; witness Hannah, who, when she had prayed, went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad. When we look to the world we are darkened, we are perplexed, and at a loss; but, when we look to God, from him we have the light both of direction and joy, and our way is made both plain and pleasant. These here spoken of, that looked unto God, had their expectations raised, and the event did not frustrate them: Their faces were not ashamed of their confidence.

C6 Psalm 34:6,

D1 It is said God delivers from all our troubles. So shouldn’t Christians have their best life now?

E1 Suffering and affliction are part of the Christian life.

E2 It is for

F1 Testing our faith, to see if it is genuine

F2 Strengthening our faith

F3 Comforting our faith to share His comfort with others

F4 Witnessing to others of our faith

F5 What else?

D2 In our suffering, we should know: Jesus the Messiah has always been Messiah, is Messiah, and will always be Messiah. There is no other Messiah.

C7 How is King David the poor man? (Humility)

C8 God’s protection: 1 Peter 2:25 NRSV For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. The word guardian is also translated overseer.

B6 Psalm 34:8-14,

C1 God, through David, gives us some commands

D1 Taste and see God's goodness, which yields God's blessing.

E1 God gives courage

F1 Psalms 27:14 NKJV Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

F2 In another translation: Psalm 27:14 NLT - Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.

E2 God has love: Psalms 69:16 GW Answer me, O LORD, because your mercy is good. Out of your unlimited compassion, turn to me.

E3 God has mercy: Psalms 109:21 NKJV But You, O GOD the Lord, Deal with me for Your name's sake; Because Your mercy is good, deliver me.

E4 God forgives our sins: 1 John 1:9 NKJV If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

E5 God gives fellowship with us: 1 John 1:7 NKJV But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

E6 God frees us and heals our broken hearts: Luke 4:18 MKJV The Spirit of the Lord is on Me; because of this He has anointed Me to proclaim the Gospel to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim deliverance to the captives, and new sight to the blind, to set at liberty those having been crushed.

E7 What else can you think of?

D2 Fearing God yields no want

E1 Name some needs people have.

E2 Why should God want to help anyone?

D3 Seeking the Lord yields contentment and satisfaction

D4 Coming to a believer (David in this case) yields a teaching moment

D5 Watching what we say yields a longer life

E1 We have to know truth, think the truth, speak the truth, and live the truth.

E2 How can we know what love is unless we know truth?

F1 True love. This is a choice. Its characteristics are noted in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

F2 False love. This is of 2 types.

G1 The narcissist love bombs.

H1 The narcissist knows what he/she is doing, but the victim does not.

H2 Some examples (Source)

• I can’t believe I’ve finally found you.
• I’ve never felt so comfortable in someone’s company before.
• No one understands me like you do.
• You’re the most beautiful woman/man I’ve ever seen.
• You have the most attractive __________ (eyes, hair, body shape, smile, dimples).
• My Ex was a psycho, drug addict, alcoholic, schizoid, cheater, etc.
• You’re the best partner I’ve ever had.
• I think I love you. I think I want to marry you.
• I never got married before because I haven’t found the right person yet.
• We have so much in common.
• He/she pressures you into becoming intimate in a short amount of time.

H3 A quote from the same source: Black Hole of False Love: Love Bombing includes not only the above phrases, but also over-the-top gestures of attention. This plays out in the form of constant calls and text messages, gifts, flowers, invites to meet his family, requests to move in together, and splashing your social media sites with cutesy, flirty messages. Of course, these are all behaviors of people who are courting one another…but not after one date.

G2 The cult

H1 The leader may know, but his/her followers do not. They (the followers) believe they are showing true love when recruiting, which if successful will result in spiritual death and bondage.

H2 Some examples

I1 The Love Bombers

I2 10 Reasons People Join Cults

H3 Some pastors and denominations advocate love, love, and more love—love bombing. For a discussion on this see here (Take note: I know nothing of this website except this article). The following link discribes how cults recruit: https://www.watchman.org/articles/cults-alternative-religions/cult_recruiting-methods/

F3 Hate

F4 Freedom from the false is to know the truth. Truth must be foremost for the Christian. We must read and study the only source of 100% truth—the Bible.

D6 Stop doing evil and start doing good

D7 Seek peace, yes, chase it.

B7 Psalm 34:15-22,

C1 Two groups of people of mentioned here. Identify them.

C2 How does God help the righteous?

C3 What does God do for evil doers?

C4 Why does God care for the brokenhearted?

D1 How would you encourage this person? Psalms 69:19-20 GW You know that I have been insulted, put to shame, and humiliated. All my opponents are in front of you. 20 Insults have broken my heart, and I am sick. I looked for sympathy, but there was none. I looked for people to comfort me, but I found no one.

D2 Are we believers ever left alone? John 16:32-33 GW The time is coming, and is already here, when all of you will be scattered. Each of you will go your own way and leave me all alone. Yet, I'm not all alone, because the Father is with me. 33 I've told you this so that my peace will be with you. In the world you'll have trouble. But cheer up! I have overcome the world."

D3 Will God’s love leave us? Romans 8:38-39 GW I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us. We can't be separated by death or life, by angels or rulers, by anything in the present or anything in the future, by forces 39 or powers in the world above or in the world below, or by anything else in creation.

D4 This is why Christians can survive: 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 GW Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He is the Father who is compassionate and the God who gives comfort. 4 He comforts us whenever we suffer. That is why whenever other people suffer, we are able to comfort them by using the same comfort we have received from God. 5 Because Christ suffered so much for us, we can receive so much comfort from him.

B9 Next week:

C1 When we can’t find God

C2 Theme: A song of Distress

C3 Scripture: Psalm 44