Things I Am Thankful For

1CHRON.16:7-14 AND V.34-36 "THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR"

A) Thanksgiving is a time to count your blessings and give thanks to God!

* Everyday should be thanksgiving, but praise God for this day each year that reminds us to

take a day for special thanks to our God! * 1Thes.5:18 "In everything give thanks: for this ..."

B) Paul had learned the secret of a thankful life! * Eph.5:20 "Giving thanks always for ..."

* Phil.4:6 "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and ... with thanksgiving let ..."

* Let me share with you some things that I am thankful for:

(1) FOR JESUS! * I don’t say this lightly, I am so thankful for Jesus Christ!

* He was willing to leave heaven to come to this earth to experience pain, shame and disgrace!

A) 2Cor.8:9 "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was ......."

* I am thankful for Him shedding His blood for me and taking my place on Calvary!

(2) FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT! * The Holy Spirit is a person, He is a He, not a she - John 16:7-15

A) He guides us into all truth! * He will never lie to us!

* He comforts us in time of sorrow, what would we do without Him?

B) He’ll raise us up at the rapture! * I’m thankful for the Holy Spirit!

(3) FOR THE GIFT OF SALVATION! * Rom.6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the ......."

* The word "gift" in the Greek means: a divine gratuity, deliverance from danger, a sacrifice.

* 2Cor.9:15 "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift."

* Unspeakable in the sense that it is indescribable!

A) Salvation means that we are set free from the bondage of sin!

* We are free from the guilt of sin! * My past - beer joints, dance halls, drugs, alcohol ...

B) Salvation comes by faith and is offered to all!

* Rom.10:13 "For whosoever ..." * John 4:13-14 "Jesus answered and said unto her ......."

* Rev.22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, ......."

C) Salvation to Paul meant to be saved "from" something!

* He knew the reality of guilt, he felt the judgment of God’s law!

* He experienced the burden of his sinful nature & he knew Christ saved him from all that!

D) It also meant to be saved "for" something!

* Paul believed that God had set him apart to be His messenger to the Gentiles, and to this He

committed his life! * Would to God we all was like Paul!

E) Everybody that’s saved ought to do something for God!

* You don’t have to beg Christians to work for God, it comes as natural as man breathes air!

(4) FOR THE BIBLE! * It is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path - Ps.119:105

* It guides me through this dark world! * It gives me strength when I am weak!

* It brings me comfort and joy when I’m sad! * I couldn’t survive without it!

(5) FOR THE SAINTS OF GOD! * Paul was thankful for his Christian friends!

* To the Romans Paul wrote Rom.1:8 "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that

your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world."

A) To the Philippians he exclaimed, Phil.1:3, "I thank my God upon every remembrance ..."

* The way Paul felt about his followers, I feel about you here at Faith Church!

* Thank God for you folk, I love you!

(6) FOR OUR CHURCH! * A place where the lost can come to be saved!

* A place where saved people can come and worship God!

A) We are to love our church, support it, and defend it!

* We ought to love to go there! * I don’t want to miss anything!

(7) FOR SUFFERINGS! * Paul was thankful for his difficulties!

* To the Colossians he wrote Col.1:24 "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you."

A) I know it gets hard sometimes! * Thank Him for your sufferings, trials and persecutions!

* Thank Him for the valleys and mountains, even if you have to do it through tears!

* Learn to thank God for your sufferings!

(8) FOR STRENGTH! * Paul was thankful for the power Jesus provided in his daily life!

* 1Tim.1:12 "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted ..."

* "Enabled" - To empower, increase in strength, to make strong!

(9) FOR FAMILY! * So many times we take our family for granted!

* Are you aware that if we die tomorrow, the company that we work for could easily replace