Sermon: A Thanksgiving Response of Gratitude
Psalms 85:1 “LORD, You have been gracious to Your land; You have brought back the captivity of Jacob. 2 You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sins. Selah. 3 You have taken away all Your wrath; You have turned from the heat of Your anger. 4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause Your anger toward us to cease. 5 Will You be angry with us forever? Will You draw out Your anger to all generations? 6 Will You not give us life again, so that Your people may rejoice in You? 7 Show us Your mercy, O LORD, and grant us Your salvation."
Introduction: Psalms 85 begins with a heart of gratitude. The Psalmist understands that present afflictions should not cause him to forget God’s former mercies. The favour of God is the fountain of happiness to the nation, as well as to each of us in particular. Although the psalmist appreciate food, clothing and shelter, he is thinking of more eternal blessings. When God forgives our sin, he covers them; and when he covers the sin of his people, he covers them all. The pardon of sin is when God removes our sin as far the east is from the west. In compassion for us, God sent his only son, Jesus Christ as our Intercessor who is able to stand before a Holy, Righteous God in the place of every repentant sinner who believe. Because of Christ the righteous anger of God has been turned away. We are reconciled to God, and we may expect and experience the comfort of God being reconciled to us. He shows mercy to those to whom he grants salvation; for salvation is the result of His grace and mercy. It is also a great mercy that does not leave his children in their sin. The Lord's people may expect sharp and tedious afflictions when they commit sin; but when they return to him with humble prayer, he will make them again to rejoice in him.
This is a great delight to me because, in it, the psalmist proper assessed the condition of the nation and cries to God in prayer. I hope during this season gratitude, you have found time to pray. Throughout the Scriptures, there are hundreds of times when God sent his messengers to inform His people of their needy condition. Most where blind to their condition. Even the seven churches of Revelation did not know their spiritual condition. Ephesus had lost their first love, Rich Smyrna thought they were poor, faithful Thyatira had allow Jezebel, a false prophet to teach, dying Sardis thought they were lively, Pergamos was holding on to God and teaching error, and on fire Laodicea was really luke warm. What a great blessing that sends His word to bring healing and wholeness to his people.
The psalmist understands that he and his people have received a great blessing from God. First, God had brought them out of captivity. Secondly, God had given a homeland, a place of their own. Now desires that God would complete the wonderful work He has started in them. The psalmist is careful not to blame God for their present struggles. He knows unrepentant sin and wayward living are the culprit. He also knows the tendency of people to sin. He desires a attentive heart that is sensitive enough to put away sin and draw close to God. God had given Israel victory so many times. The people of God are prone to turn to folly as the Bible calls it. Old folk use to say, “to act the fool.” The idea is that one has a relationship with, has the right instruction, and the will to act, yet choose to live foolishly. Why is it so difficult to response to God with a heart of gratitude? Why is it so easy to grant God and his goodness for grant it? At one moment, Israel would be refreshed in the presence of God, sensing the realness of God’s power, and receiving the fulfillment of His promises, then they would wander away from God, back into sin and then into bondage. David’s knew from personal experience what it was to walk in the refreshing presence of God, to experience the realness of his power, and to receive God’s promised blessings. Yet he also knew the rebuke and reproof of God, the remorse of sin and separation. Then he experienced the joy of restoration. A Proper Response of Gratitude to God is hard to find in a selfish generation. The lack of gratitude leads to lack of contentment. So there is no lasting joy and peace. There is so much ripping and running to every place except to the presence of God. There are several things I want us to consider of thanksgiving, many people want stimulation without change.
1. Many people want stimulation without change. Ps 85:4 “Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause Your anger toward us to cease.”
The psalmist responds to God’s goodness by asking God to turn us! Many enjoy the blessings of God, are stimulate by His spirit, even rejoice and weep without understanding that purpose of His word, presence and power is transformation. Salvation is not something that works only inside the church building. God transforms the church from being a reservoir into a river of life to the community. A reservoir holds water for personal use, while a river flows to bless others. The difference between the Dead Sea and the Jordan River is that the Dead Sea has no outlet. A Selfish Heart has not outlet! No charitable spirit, no giving of ones self, living only for self! Turn us O’ Lord! Many people want stimulation without change. They want dancing, shouting and singing with joy bells ringing without personal transformation. They satisfied and think of Christianity as spectator sport. God’s grace has not changed them. Turn O Lord!
2. Many Want to Listen to God’s word without Obedience. “5 Will You be angry with us forever? Will You draw out Your anger to all generations? 6 Will You not give us life again, so that Your people may rejoice in You?”
Jesus once said, “Why call me Lord, Lord and do not things which I say.” The psalmist realizes that God is never angry without a cause. God does not with draw His blessings without a reason. Yet he understands that God will not bless abundantly in disobedience. Many want to hear God’s word, say Amen, without any intention of obeying it. Many want to hear good preaching, hear sound doctrine, but do not obey what they hear. They want the word to be told like it is, but they live like it isn’t! They want to hear about salvation, but live the unsaved. They understand they should be different but choose to live like the world. Many want stimulation without change, listening without obedience and celebration without confrontation.
3. Many want celebration without confrontation. 7 “Show us Your mercy, O LORD, and grant us Your salvation.”
The psalmist does not mention God’s justice, only his mercy! Show us Your Mercy, O Lord. Justice is what we deserve, but our sin and shortcoming require God’s mercy. Many want celebration without confrontation. They donot want to be challenge with holy living or faithfulness. Many donot want to be challenged to pray more, give more, or grow more. They refuse to witness their faith, warn the straying and plead the lost. Preach anything you want to that doesn’t cause me to give, grow, or go! They want a word to enjoy without being challenged. Many want celebration without confrontation! A Proper Response of Gratitude mean holding on to grace and truth.
4. Many want Grace without Truth. The Psalmist final plead is O Lord grant us Your salvation!
God’s salvation includes both grace and truth, comfort and correction. The gospel of John mentions truth 22 times and grace only three times. This generation wants grace without truth. The psalmist desires God’s salvation. There a thousand versions of man’s salvation leading to a thousand different destination. There is only one way to Heaven, one way to God’s salvation, faith in His son, Jesus the Christ.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Ac 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
God’s salvation includes “walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost.” Many preach blessing without obedience, grace without truth and comfort without fear. God’s amazing grace must always be accompanied by abiding in the truth. The amazing grace of God teaches us to love God, others and ourselves. His amazing grace lifts us up, while his truth keeps us humble. The amazing Grace of God leads us from the selfishness of my breakthrough, my stuff, my inheritance, my time, to God knows what’s best for me. God’s Grace leads us to true fulfillment and peace. Many want fulfillment and peace apart from God our creator. It has led to a frustrated Generation. They are so transient moving from one membership to another, one church to another, and the like. Yet others have found the joy of serving the Lord. They have discovered more than emotional excitement, they have real worship! Their response of gratitude is one of transformation, obedience and commitment to a God give us life, restoration and causes His people to rejoice again and again. A grateful heart leads to committed hands in God’s vineyard; committed hearts in worship; committed lives walking in the way of God in the home, the church, and in the community. The grateful heart of the psalmist leads us to pray! Let’s joined him in prayer, “Revive us again, restore us again, and return our hearts to you! In the Name of Jesus. Amen.”
