THANKSGIVING - Being Thankful For Things Most Important
-Introduction
-With this being the Sunday prior to our Thanksgiving holiday, I would like to take this
opportunity to focus on that same important theme – thanksgiving.
-As I mentioned in the sermon last Sunday evening, we are a very rich people.
-When we compare our circumstances here in the U.S. to others around the world,
we are very, very fortunate.
-If we would do as the song “Count Your Many Blessings” says, we would be counting
for quite a while.
-Although we have many material blessings, the most important blessings are
spiritual – those found “in Christ” – Eph 1:3.
-It is some of those spiritual blessings that I want to talk about this morning.
-To begin, let’s consider three passages:
1. 1 Chron 29:1-3, 6, 9-14
2. 2 Chron 31:1-2
3. Ezra 3:10-11
-Notice that these three passage all deal with thanks and all involve the temple –
the house of God.
-Materials For God’s House
-David realized that the materials which were given for the building of the temple were
actually God’s to begin with. (Psalm 24:1)
-So, Solomon would build a temple for God with materials provided by God.
-The temple represented God’s house – His dwelling place.
-2 Chron 6:1-2, 7:1-3
-To God’s people, this was to be an encouraging and comforting thought – God
was dwelling with them.
-Yet, notice what Jesus said in His last public address before His crucifixion.
-Matt 23:37-38 - Notice, He says “your house” rather than “God’s house.” It was
no longer God’s dwelling place.
-God had not forsaken all. The time had come for the law to pass away. It was about to
be replaced with “a better covenant…established upon better promises” (Heb 8:6).
-God’s house was going to change.
-God no longer dwells in a physical temple.
-2 Cor 6:16-18
-As Christians, we are a part of the church – the house of God.
-1 Tim 3:14-15, 1 Pet 2:5
-Just as David realized that God ultimately provided the materials for the temple, we need
to realize that God provided the materials necessary for His spiritual house, the church.
-Matt 16:15-19 – This is Jesus church. He built it. It belongs to Him.
-It has been built upon the Gospel of Christ.
-When one obeys the Gospel, He is added to the church – Acts 2:47.
-The Gospel was not formulated by man, but was designed & provided by God.
-We need to be thankful that God built His spiritual house!
-God Has Involved Mankind in the Construction Process
-Even though we did not design the church or originally build it, that does not mean that
we are completely excluded from any part at all in the process.
-God has chosen to utilize mankind in His building process.
-1 Cor 3:6-11 – We are to properly build upon the foundation that has been provided.
-Matt 7:24 – To be a wise builder, we must conform to the will of God.
-2 Tim 2:15 – To do so, we must be a student of God’s word – a “workman.”
-Unfortunately, in the Old Testament days, there were times when the temple was
neglected and left in disarray.
-When Hezekiah ordered the refurbishing of the temple, he also appointed the priests
to their duties of properly worshipping and serving God which included the giving
of thanks.
-If we are going to keep God’s house in its proper condition, we must offer and show our
thanks through proper worship and service in accordance with His patterns.
-Rom 1:21 – When mankind failed to glorify God and thank Him, they turned away
from worshipping and serving Him. Let’s continue to be thankful!
-Now here’s an important question: When we think of our Christian duties and
responsibilities do we think only in terms of obligations or do we also think in terms of
privileges and opportunities? In other words, do we thank God for giving us the
privilege and opportunity to worship and serve Him?
-Do we realize that God has granted us a wonderful favor in giving us the opportunity to
teach the Gospel to others?
-1 Cor 3:10 – “grace of God” – grace = unmerited favor
-Paul says he was granted the favor of being a builder in the house of God. Not only
was he a builder in the house of God, he was a builder with God.
-Do we thank God for utilizing us in His work? Are we involved in His work?
-Our House Will Not Be Destroyed
-In Ezra 3, the people were rejoicing because the foundation of the temple had been laid.
-The foundation was being laid again due to the fact that the temple had been destroyed.
-How devastating it must have been for the people to see God’s house destroyed.
-Thankfully, we will never have to see the spiritual house of God destroyed.
-Heb 12:28; Isa 9:7
-The Lord is not going to sell the house He built. He is not going to abandon it. Instead,
He is going to claim it – Eph 5:25-27, Matt 25:31-34.
-Summary and Invitation
-Let’s be thankful for the house that God has built. Let’s be thankful for the privilege of
being a part of it and working within it. Let’s be thankful for the fact that Jesus will one
day claim it and invite all who are a part of it into the everlasting home of heaven.
-Are you in the Lord’s church?
-If not, obey the Gospel: Believe (John 3:16, 8:24), Confess (Matt 10:32, Rom 10:9-
10), Repent (Luke 13:3,5; Acts 17:30), Be Baptized (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38)
-If you previously obeyed the Gospel, have you remained in the Lord’s house? If not,
return to faithfulness by confessing your shortcomings, repenting of them and praying
for God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-24).
Date: November 20, 2005