How Can I Say Thanks #4

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How Can I Say Thanks #4

A SONG OF THANKSGIVING

TEXT: I CHRONICLES 16:8-34

ON this Sunday before Thanksgiving I want to wrap up our series “How Can I Give Thanks”. And today we are going to look at a Psalm of Thanks found, not in the book of Psalms, but in the book of 1 Chronicles.

Before reading the psalm, let me set up the context:

I Samuel 4, during Saul’s kingdom, the ark had been captured by the Philistines in battle and carried back to their country as a "trophy" of war.
But this "trophy" caused big problems
"Let's get rid of it"
So they finally decided to return it to Israel
Put it on cart pulled by milk cow, with calf tied up. Cow ran all the way to a border city of Israel.
It was taken to the house of Abinadab, where it remained for 20 years.
But David wanted the ark - which represented the presence of God - returned to Jerusalem.
In I Chronicles 13 we read of their first attempt
Put ark on cart, pulled by oxen - like Philistines - Like the world - (It worked for them...)
But oxen stumbled, Uzza killed
Left ark at house of Obededom for 3 months. d. They had not done it God's way
But David learned his lesson, and tried again

This time, God's Way! and they were successful and with a great parade of musicians & singers, priests & Levites, the ark was returned to Jerusalem.

To show his praise & Thanksgiving on this glorious occasion, David gives this Psalm of Thanksgiving to the Musicians & Singers, saying:
Let's all unite our voices together singing this Psalm
Giving God thanks for all He has done for us to

[1Ch 16:8-16, 23-34 NLT] 8 Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. 9 Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. 10 Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the LORD. 11 Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him. 12 Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given, 13 you children of his servant Israel, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones. 14 He is the LORD our God. His justice is seen throughout the land. 15 Remember his covenant forever--the commitment he made to a thousand generations. 16 This is the covenant he made with Abraham and the oath he swore to Isaac.

... 23 Let the whole earth sing to the LORD! Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. 24 Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. 25 Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods. 26 The gods of other nations are mere idols, but the LORD made the heavens! 27 Honor and majesty surround him; strength and joy fill his dwelling. 28 O nations of the world, recognize the LORD, recognize that the LORD is glorious and strong. 29 Give to the LORD the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his presence. Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor. 30 Let all the earth tremble before him. The world stands firm and cannot be shaken. 31 Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Tell all the nations, "The LORD reigns!" 32 Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy! 33 Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise, for the LORD is coming to judge the earth. 34 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

As we look at this Song of Thanksgiving, I want us to notice several things it teaches us:

FIRST, IT TEACHES US WHAT WE SHOULD SEEK

Vs. 11 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.

Here we find 3 things that we are to seek God for
And thus, 3 things to thank God for
Seek The Lord

- This must be first !

- "Seek ye first the kingdom of God!"

Seek Him alone who can provide salvation
Isa. 55:6, "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near."
Don't put off seeking the Lord
And when you receive his salvation - give thanks!
Seek His Strength For Service
The Bible says - Isaiah 40:31, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength..."
What a privilege to be strengthened by God
When weak, knocked down, we can call on Him
And He will give us strength
Strength to go on - to overcome - to serve
And for that Strength, we should give God thanks
Seek His Face Continually
This is fellowship & communion with God

-not just his “hand” (power, what He can do) but His face (relationship)

What a glorious privilige
To enter his gates with thanksgiving; enter courts with praise
To come boldly before the throne of grace...
And have a face to face relationship with God!
That’s something no other religion offers - what a reason for Thanksgiving!
So then, we are to seek the Lord, seek His strength, seek His fellowship, knowing that Jesus has promised us, "Seek and Ye Shall Find!"
SECONDLY, WE LEARN WHAT WE SHOULD SING

Vs. 9, 'Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him."

Vs. 23, "Sing unto the Lord, all the earth."

If all the earth should sing unto the Lord, how much more do we - who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and experienced the blessings of God - have to sing about!
Those whose hearts are full of thanksgiving are never without a song to sing unto the Lord
Many Songs we can sing:
Songs of Delieverance - "He Brought Me Out"
Songs of Forgiveness - "Would you be free from the burden of sin, There's Power in the Blood"
Songs of Grace - "Amazing Grace"
Songs of Healing - "Where the healing waters flow, Where the joys celestial glow; Oh, there's peace and rest and love, Where the healing waters flow!"
Songs of Peace - "There's within my heart a melody Jesus whispers sweet & low! Fear not I am with thee peace be still; in all of life's ebb and flow!"
Songs of Hope & Faith - "Living by Faith"
Songs of Joy - "Joy Unspeakable"
Songs of Worship and Adoration - worship choruses
In all of these songs, there should be an element thanksgiving and praise!
Maybe you don't feel like you are gifted to sing

But I do hope that even if you are not singing out you are at least singing in your heart to God.

Eph. 5:19-20,"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name our Lord Jesus Christ."

THIRDLY, IT TEACHES US WHAT WE SHOULD GIVE

Vs. 8, "Give thanks unto the Lord"

Vs. 28, "Give unto the Lord Glory & Strength"

Vs. 29, "Give unto the Lord the Glory due unto His Name

The Lord deserves our thanksgiving and praise
In a world where human nature tends to take so much for granted - where there is so little thankfulness and sincere gratitude - let us always give thanks to God!
Roms. 1:21 "...they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful..."
Describing our generation, II Tim. 3:2 says, "For men shall be...unthankful..."
Jesus asked the one leper who had returned to give thanks, "Where are the 9?"
It is Good to have a National Thanksgiving Day to remind us of the need of giving thanks unto God
But True Thanksgiving is Thanks Living!

(How Can I say Thanks?)

The best thanks we can give to God is to live a life of grateful trust & obedience unto Him day by day!
It's not merely words that God desires to hear
It's when His name is glorified in our lives that God receives the thanks He deserves.
FOURTHLY, IN THIS SONG WE ARE TAUGHT WHAT TO REMEMBER

"remember his marvelous works that he hath done, his wonders" Vs. 12

David encourages the Israelites to remember all of God's miracles of salvation & deliverance
Deliverance from Egyptian bondage - plagues
Red Sea - Cloud to guide them - Manna - Water
Victory over enemies - Walls of Jericho
Again & Again & Again - "remember his marvelous works - Don't Forget to Thank Him for His Wonders"
Likewise, we should remember God's Miracle of Salvation
Remember Christ's Life and Atoning Death
Remember His Resurrection
And Ever Give Thanks!

Remember His Faithfulness

1Ch 16:15 NLT 15 Remember his covenant forever--the commitment he made to a thousand generations.

His covenant w/ Abraham, Isaac & Jacob still stands
His covenant of grace in Christ Jesus still stands
He is faithful and true
The same yesterday, Today & forever
"I am the Lord, I change not"
We should remember his faithfulness & give thanks!
FINALLY, WE ARE TAUGHT WHAT WE SHOULD SPEAK
It is Good to remember God's words & His works
But remembering, let us not be silent
Instead, let us lift our voices with thanksgiving
Vs. 9 - We are to speak to one another of "all his wondrous works"
We ought to always have a testimony of praise & thanksgiving

2.We should be eager to give thanks to God

Vs. 24, We are to "Declare His glory among the heathen; his marvelous works among all nations."

Not just at church
But wherever we are.
It is our duty as thankful Christians - to tell the good news and witness to the lost whenever we get the chance.

CONCLUSION: CAST CHRISTMAS VISION

And here at SLC, we want to help you in your witness by putting some tools in your hand and giving you an opportunity to invite your unchurched friends and family to church.

Next Month we are kicking off our Christmas season and the theme this year is “A Charlie Brown Christmas”

(put up the Charlie Brown Christmas graphics)

IN just a couple of weeks our kids will be doing their Christmas play (1 service at 11 am) – this will be an awesome time to invite someone to join you at church

Then on December 22, 2 very special Christmas services that will focus on the real meaning of Christmas. There will also be a lot of fun things for kids and families – Hot cocoa, train rides, Santa’s village

Cast Vision for this next month:

Raise $10K so we can Love on our neighborhood – “God so loved the world that He GAVE” and that’s what we want to do.

Blessing every kid at Marshall and McLean elementary schools with a Christmas gift.

Taking over the laundrymat again.

And as the money lasts we will give out grocery gift cards, and bless the residents of our Hope Center and LIV.

Each of these outreach events also provides us with the opportunity to invite people to come to our church during the Christmas season – to come to a service where they will encounter the God who loves us so much that He Gave!