Thanksgiving 2006
Sermon # 3 0f 3
Nov. 26th 2006 AM
Most of us know the story of the first Thanksgiving—at least, we know the Pilgrim version. But how many of us know the Indian viewpoint? No, I’m not talking about some revisionist, p.c. version of history. I’m talking about the amazing story of the way God used an Indian named Squanto as a special instrument of His providence.
Historical accounts of Squanto’s life vary, but historians believe that around 1608—more than a decade before the Pilgrims landed in the New World—a group of English traders, led by a Captain Hunt, sailed to what is today Plymouth, Massachusetts. When the trusting Wampanoag Indians came out to trade, Hunt took them prisoner, transported them to Spain, and sold them into slavery.
But God had an amazing plan for one of the captured Indians—a boy named Squanto.
Squanto was bought by a well-meaning Spanish monk, who treated him well and taught him the Christian faith. Squanto eventually made his way to England and worked in the stable of a man named John Slaney. Slaney sympathized with Squanto’s desire to return home, and he promised to put the Indian on the first vessel bound for America. It wasn’t until 1619—ten years after Squanto was first kidnapped—that a ship was found. Finally, after a decade of exile and heartbreak, Squanto was on his way home.
But when he arrived in Massachusetts, more heartbreak awaited him. An epidemic had wiped out Squanto’s entire village. We can only imagine what must have gone through Squanto’s mind. Why had God allowed him to return home, against all odds, only to find his loved ones dead? A year later, the answer came. A shipload of English families arrived and settled on the very land once occupied by Squanto’s people. Squanto went to meet them, greeting the startled Pilgrims in English. According to the diary of Pilgrim Governor William Bradford, Squanto “became a special instrument sent of God for [our] good . . . He showed [us] how to plant [our] corn, where to take fish and to procure other commodities . . . and was also [our] pilot to bring [us] to unknown places for [our] profit, and never left [us] till he died.” When Squanto lay dying of a fever, Bradford wrote that their Indian friend “desir[ed] the Governor to pray for him, that he might go to the Englishmen’s God in heaven.” Squanto bequeathed his possessions to his English friends “as remembrances of his love.” Who but God could so miraculously weave together the lives of a lonely Indian and a struggling band of Englishmen? ( Charles Colson, BreakPoint Commentary, November 25, 1998, (c) 1998 Prison Fellowship Ministries)
God is in control of all circumstances, both the good and the bad. As we learned last Sun night the 50/20 principle taken from Genesis 50and verse 20 where Joseph said to his brothers “But as for you, ye thought it evil against me; but God meant it unto good.” Did you take time this Thanksgiving weekend, to give thanks to God for the way he works in your life? Two weeks
ago, we examined an attitude of praise. For thanks comes from the heart steming from an attitude of Praise. Last week , We looked at the importance of giving thanks through the the parable of the 10 lepers recorded for us in Luke 17. This morning we will Conclude our mini- series by look at giving Thanks to God. We will look at Several scripture passages this morning and discover some specfic things we can thank God for. PRAY
I. THANK YOU ,LORD GOD FOR YOUR WORD- I Thess 2:12,13; Col 3:16
II. THANK YOU ,LORD GOD FOR YOUR GIFT OF SALVATION- II Corinthians 9:15,
III. THANK YOU, LORD GOD FOR GIVING US THE VICTORY - I Cor. 15:57, II Cor 2:14-16
I. THANK YOU ,LORD GOD FOR YOUR WORD- I Thess 2:12,13; Col 3:16
The apostle Paul was a Prayer warrior. In just about all the NT Books He wrote, he would start the letter thanking God for the individual or group of individuals that he was addressing, The Church at Thessalonia was no exception, in faith, Paul reminds them several times in both epistles that he is thanking the Lord on their behalf. Notice I Thessalonians 1:2:
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.
Keep your finger there, Turn (or go across the page to I Thess 2:13,14:
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. For ye, brethren became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews.
Now back to I Thess 1:5,6,7a:
For our Gospel came not........ So that ye were ensamples to all that believe...
In these passages we see that the Word of God:
Was readily accepted Because it was from God not Man
Was readily accepted because it was Powerful-
It changes lives - Rom 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth ; to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
It is a crushing hammer - Jer 23:29
Is not my word like as a fire saith the Lord and like the hammer that breaketh the rock into pieces
It is a defensive Weapon - Eph 6:17
And take the helmet of Salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.
It is a Probing instrument- Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two -edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the Soul and Spirit, and of the joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
It probes the heart with both conviction and assurance.
Three chefs were working in a restaurant one day, when their kitchen supervisor approached them with an order, and instructions on how to properly prepare it. The first chef looked at the instructions, and said "You can show a recipe to 100 different people, and each of them get a different meaning. You can’t understand recipes, so why even read them?"
The second chef took a slightly different angle. He said "I don’t believe this recipe to be the literal directions of our supervisor. I believe the ingredients all have hidden meanings. I think the meat represents one thing, the spices and other ingredients symbolize something else, and the time and cooking temperature are some sort of mysterious allegory."
While the other two were engaging in their debate, the third chef simply took the recipe, and prepared the dish according to instructions. The dish turned out to be delicious, and I’m sure you can guess what happened next. This chef was rewarded for following directions properly, while the other two were reprimanded, or worse.
While this little story may seem somewhat silly, it sadly illustrates the attitude that many people take toward God and His Word, the Bible, which is to be OUR instructions, our "recipe," for how to live our lives. - Two weeks ago we looked at Col.3:16:
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly ........ Singing with Grace in your Heart to the Lord
ARE YOU THANKING GOD FOR HIS WORD And The WAY IT PENETRATES OUR HEARTS!!
II. THANK YOU ,LORD GOD FOR YOUR GIFT OF SALVATION- II Corinthians 9:15;
II Thess. 2:13-17
Thanks be unto God for his Unspeakable Gift II Corinthians 9:15
Unspeakable has the Idea being unexpressible - Beyond explanation, Beyond Description.
Ill. Foreign Lang. Some words just don’t translate.
This gift of course is Eternal Life- Rom 6:23, Eph 2:8,9 There are aspects to Salvation that just is incomphereible to our finite minds.
The Unspeakable great Love that God has for us. - John 3:16; I John 3:16
The Unspeakable Life of Christ - Human form yet without sin
Voluntary set aside his Deity for Us.
Perfect Sacrifice -takes our sin
Turn now to II Thessalonians 1:3 as we again see Paul encourage the Church at Thessalonia by revealing again that he is Thanking God for their Testimony.
We are bound to thank God Always for You, as it is meet(fit), Because that your faith growth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth.
It is interesting to note that as their relationship with Christ grew , their relationship with other, demonstrating Christ’s Love also grew. As a result of God’s love for Us, we respond by sharing it with others. Now go across the page or turn the page to II Thessonians 2:13-17.
Notice this is the fourth time in these 2 epistles, Paul expressing thanks to God.
Paul is Thanking God for His Great Love for Us.
For Chosing Us
For setting us apart (sanctified)
For calling Us
1.- God LOVED you when you didn’t love Him.
2.- God CHOSE you because of His grace & mercy.
3.- God DREW you to Himself by the convicting work of the Holy Spirit.
4.- God CALLED you to trust Him through the presentation of His Word.
5.- God will GLORIFY you fully when He returns at the Rapture.
As a result of his work in us, WE need to stay focus and remain faithful to him.
He loves us and continues to comfort Us.
Two boys were playing in the snow one day, when one said to the other, "Let us see who can make the straightest path in the snow." His companion readily accepted the proposition, and they started. One boy fixed his eyes on a tree, and walked along without taking his eyes off the object selected. The other boy set his eyes on the tree also, and, when he had gone a short distance, he turned, and looked back to see how true his course was. He went a little distance farther, and again turned to look over his steps. When they arrived at their stopping place, each halted and looked back. One path was true as an arrow, while the other ran in a zigzag course. "How did you get your path so true?" asked the boy who had made the crooked steps. "Why," said the other boy, "I just set my eyes on the tree, and kept them there until I got to the end; while you stopped and looked back and wandered out of your course." This is a perfect picture of the Christian life. If we fix the eyes of our hope, our trust, and our faith upon Jesus Christ, and keep them continually fastened thereon, we will at last land at the desired haven, with flowers of immortal victory at our feet....
Have you Thanked the lord lately for the work he has done within you, for your Salvation?
III. THANK YOU, LORD GOD FOR GIVING US THE VICTORY - I Cor. 15:57, II Cor 2:14-16
But Thanks be to God which Giveth us the Victory Through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I Corinthians 15:57
Thank you Lord, for your work at Calvary , which causes us to be trumph in and with Christ.
II Cor. 2:14-16
We Can Triumph over SIN - Rom 6:23; 5:12
We Can Triumph over Self- Rom 7:17,25
We Can Triumph over Satan- Heb 2:14
We Can Triumph over Death - I Cor. 15:54-57
Ill- roman victory Parade, burn incense- sweet smell of Victory -V15,16
We can enjoy the sweet savor of Victory because we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ- Eph. 5:1,2; II Cor 2:15,16
Closing Ill-A city missionary in London was called to an old building where a woman lay dying in the last stages of a terrible disease. The room was cold and she had nowhere to lie but on the floor. When the missionary asked if there was anything he could do, she replied, "I have all I really need; I have Jesus Christ." Deeply moved, the missionary went home and penned these words:
In the heart of London City,
Mid the dwellings of the poor,
These bright and golden words were uttered,
"I have Christ. What want I more?"
Spoken by a lonely woman dying on a garret floor,
Having not one earthly comfort,
"I have Christ. What want I more?"
(quoted by John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Ephesians, p. 269)
