Thanksgiving As A Sacfifice

 "Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving..." (Ps. 95:2a). God isn't looking for a great sacrifice to impress Him; "...the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit." "For you will not delight in sacrifice or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering" (Ps. 51:16-17). You may feel a cleavage betwixt you and the Lord and the only thing you might need to do is to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving ("Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him, bless his name!" (Ps. 100:4). "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good" (Ps. 107:1).

Who glorifies God? "The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me..." (Ps. 50:23).

Remember the sobering words of Paul about those who were not thankful: "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him..." (Rom. 1:21a). Everyone has a treasure chest to thank God for in spite of his circumstances: I recall the man who felt sorry for himself because he had no shoes until he saw a man without any feet. Looks like we have no excuse. "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits" (Ps. 103:2).


Conclusion: "What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me?"--being thankful is a start-- (Ps. 116:12).   Soli Deo Gloria!

Happy Thanksgiving/Hanukkah

 The scholars say that the convergence of these two holidays won't happen again for 70,000 years--what a special day! I recall that Lincoln proclaimed the feast of Thanksgiving in October of 1863 and it was fixed as the fourth Thursday in November by FDR. The Last Supper or Holy Communion, also known as the Eucharist (which means thanksgiving, by the way, in Greek) is a unique Christian tradition. Thanksgiving is our heritage (not to celebrate seems un-American). One of the first lessons we learn as children is to be thankful and say thanks, especially saying grace at dinner time (a family ritual, if you will). It is ingrained in us to think of the holiday as Turkey Day, with an afternoon of football and family get-togethers. One of the two real family holidays with Christmas.

Jesus healed ten lepers and only one came back to give thanks: He said, "Where are the nine?" Romans 1:21 talks about people knowing God (though not in a saving way, of course) and neither being thankful nor giving Him the glory--"so their foolish hearts were darkened" and consequently "God gave them up." Truly sober words and a word to the wise is sufficient. About giving thanks, what if you have a meal for a guest and he was to say afterward, "How much do I owe you?" Wouldn't you be insulted? We can't pay God back even for all eternity to do it. The psalmist says in Ps. 116:12, "What shall I render to the Lord for all His goodness to me?"

Lincoln said the greatest gift God has given a man is the Bible and he said it was the greatest cure for depression. The Great Hallel (Ps. 136) exhorts us to give thanks unto the Lord several times as does Ps. 107 ("Give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, His mercy endures forever"). Whey gives thank you might venture to ask. Just as there are benefits to being a veteran like health care and the G.I. Bill and there are fringe benefits to a job, there are benefits to being joint-heirs with Christ and heirs of God. "And do not forget all His benefits," says Ps. 103:2. We thank God for who He is and for what He has done (as recounted the history of Israel in Psalms 78 and 105, and the praises of the Great Hallel. "The Lord has done great things for us; whereof we are glad" (Ps. 126:3). Most importantly, we thank God to gain entrée into His presence per Ps.100:4, which says, "Enter His gates with thanksgiving, enter His courts with praise."

I cannot help but be reminded of the following hymn: "Count your blessings, name them one by one, and you will see what the Lord has done." We are to thank God in all things (1 Thess. 5:18), for all things (Eph. 5:20), and with thanksgiving let our requests be made known unto God (Phil. 4:6). A friend of mine has a daughter that complained about the pain in her foot and he told her to thank God for blessing her foot! What faith! God turns curses into blessings and makes the wrath of God to praise Him (Ps. 76:10). The key to a Spirit-filled walk is to be "abounding in thanksgiving" (Col. 2:7). Finally, the offering of sacrifice makes us acceptable to God (Lev. 22:29), and is considered a thank-offering or a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Jonah offered sacrifice with a "voice of thanksgiving." "The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies Me," says Ps. 50:23. In heaven, the elders and angels will offer thanksgiving to God: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen" (Rev. 7:12).

The best biblical example of contentment and thankfulness for God's provision despite matters is in Habakkuk 3:17-18: "Though the fig tree, not blossom...yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." We must learn to be content in all circumstances just like Paul in Philippians 4:13. Ever hear of the man without shoes that became thankful when he saw a man without feet? How about the father who took his son to a third world country to show them how they live to teach him gratitude, and the son was impressed that they didn't have fences! I'm sure you can think of examples galore for this blessed day.   Soli Deo Gloria!

Neither Were They Thankful

 "Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy" (Psalms 107:22, NIV).

"But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you..." (Jonah 2:9, NIV).
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and grateful" (Col. 4:2, NIV). 
"Amen!  Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever.  Amen!"  (Rev. 7:12, NIV). 
"I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD" (Psalm 116:17, KJV).  

They knew God but didn't give Him thanks and for this reason, God darkened their foolish heart.  We are responsible for the light God has given us or we will be judged accordingly.  Thanksgiving is a sacrifice to God (cf. Psa. 50:14) and praise is another sacrifice to God (cf. Heb. 13:15) that we can offer God as a way to gain entree into His divine throne room and presence.  "Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise..." (Psa. 110:4, KJV).  That seems to stipulate a formula for getting into the spirit of worship and prayer.  They are juxtaposed in this verse and go hand in hand--thanksgiving for what He's done or will do and praise for who He is and how He reveals Himself in glory. 

You can be sure that an ingrate is not filled with the Spirit, neither knows it, for this is a basic lesson of spirituality we all learn to mature in the faith.  But a lot of ingratitude is habitual and a matter of nurture and upbringing; i.e., it might be the parents who didn't bring them up right!  As Romans 1:21 equates the two and says, "they glorified him not as God." Gratitude and praise go together to comprise an act of worship that we owe God as creatures, knowing that He is alone is worthy of our worship.  We ought to be so thanksgiving oriented that we are grateful that someone thanks us for kindness rendered in Christ's name-it should make our day!  But we should remember that our tasks in the Lord are often thankless tasks!

Paul targets thanksgiving as the right mental attitude in his epistles:  "Giving thanks always for all things unto God..." (Eph. 5:20, KJV); "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Phil. 4:7, KJV); "In everything give thanks" (1 Thess. 5:18, KJV); "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts ... and be ye thankful" (Col. 3:15, KJV).  This is stated as the will of God for us.  He wants us to learn to see the silver lining behind every cloud and to learn that all our adversity and affliction is Father-filtered and will work together for our good (cf. Rom. 8:28).

The amazing example of having the right attitude of gratitude in dire circumstances is when Paul and Silas were in prison and sang joyfully unto the Lord.  No one can take away our attitude and that's why we must cultivate this as a sure way to stay focused on God.  Paul demonstrates his attitude of gratitude in prison writing Philippians by opening with thanksgiving.

Gratitude is not the ultimate proof of faith per se but is the sign of a right mental attitude (cf. Col. 4:2; Psa. 100:4).  God condemns ingrates:  "... for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience" (Eph. 5:6, ESV).  Nowhere in Scripture are gratitude and faith equated, correlated, or juxtaposed as a measure or keynote of each other; however, faith and obedience are in Hebrews 3:18-19, NASB, as follows:  "And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient?  So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief"  (cf. Heb. 4:6, 11).  Some translations mistranslated these verses and put in "unbelief" instead of "disobedience."  James 2:18, NIV, says, "... and I will show you my faith by my deeds."

But the NASB and ESV are more literal and use what is functional equivalence; i.e., word for word translations not thought for thought.  Faith and obedience are eternally equated in Romans 1:5 and 16:26 (that they might "come to the obedience that comes from faith," cf. NIV) and in Acts 6:7, "They were obedient to the faith."

Also, note that Dietrich Bonhoeffer said quite dogmatically, "Only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes." These two are definitely equated in the Word.   Doctrinally speaking, the only proof of faith is obedience just as Christ admonished that if we love Him we will obey Him.  Thanksgiving, even praise, can be signs of faith but not the ultimate litmus test, but obedience is the plumbline (cf. John 14:21).  We don't have the law to obey but are measured by our obedience to the will of God (we are free in Christ but not free from God's will!), which is an easier yoke and we have the Spirit which bears witness with our spirit to give us peace. Clearly, obedience is the test:  "... Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams" (1 Sam. 15:22, NKJV).

Jesus made it clear love would be the telltale sign of the believer (cf. John 13:35) and the world would know we are Christians by our love.  Love is the distinguishing trait of our faith and its greatest contribution in charity, outreach, missions, evangelizing, and labor.  Faith is what pleases God and its expression is love:  "... The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" (cf. Gal. 5:6, NIV).  Soli Deo Gloria!

Let Us Give Thanks Unto The Lord

 "Always giving thanks to God he Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ," (cf. Eph. 5:20).

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus," (cf. 1 Thess. 5:18). 

Why?  He is good and His mercy endures forever, for two good reasons. We can be secure!   We must make the sacrifice of thanksgiving that He is worthy of and is also that which puts us in the right mindset and frame of mind to worship and serve Him. Thanksgiving isn't natural just like worship; we must be oriented, taught, trained, and inspired to do so.   It's a way of forgetting about ourselves and focusing on Jesus and be filled with the Spirit.  We cannot be self-centered and spiritual simultaneously. Self and thanksgiving don't mix!  

We all have something to give thanks for even if we are impoverished or broke, even in the pandemic we can realize our blessings and celebrate our life and that it's worth saving and living for Jesus. When we give thanks it orients to eternity and off our predicament;  we must learn to live in light of eternity and not for the here and now. When we are filled with gratitude, we want to spread the cheer and payback to others and society of what God has blessed us with. 

We never give thanks in vain because in the measure we do it, God blesses in return. God is no man's debtor and pays back multiple when we give as unto the Lord. Freely we have received from the Lord and freely we are to give! We must first realize that all we own is the Lord's and we are just stewards: We must first offer ourselves to the Lord as a living sacrifice and render to God what is God's. That's the key, one can never repay the debt of love and grace is that which we don't deserve, cannot repay, and cannot earn even in all eternity we will be debtors to God. 

We ought to overflow with thanksgiving!  For instance, just think of the blessings of salvation both in this life and the next we have the perks of being the children of God. In our salvation, our past is forgiven, our present is given meaning, and our future is secured!   We cannot but thank Him for His "unspeakable" or indescribable gift!  (Jesus!)   As members of God's kingdom, we have many privileges and should rejoice in our status as overcomes! Remember, we owe it all to the Lamb who sits upon the throne and has overcome and invited us to be joint-heirs.  

In short, this is God's explicit will: give thanks in all things as unto the Lord, in every circumstance even if we don't know why.   That can test our faith!  How can we do this?  There are infinite ways: multiple instruments of music, multiple songs and hymns to sing,  multiple gifts, multiple talents, multiple opportunities, multiple songs,  multiple relationships, multiple occupations, multiple hobbies, multiple blessings, multiple passions, and multiple salvation stories or testimonies.  We must render thanks for all that salvation involves and who we were before: remembering the rock from which we were hewn and the quarry from which we were dug.  

Remember, we are commanded to give thanks and this is for our good as God doesn't have anything to gain; He is worthy and deserves to be praised and worshiped with thanksgiving. When we do so, wonderful peace will fill our hearts for doing God's will.  Even in prayer, the right attitude is to do it in thanksgiving and to prepare our hearts with it. Praise God for who He is and thank Him for what He's done, even given us the victory!  Our conversation and fellowship should be in thanksgiving and no obligation but willingly and voluntarily. We are to worry about nothing, pray about anything, and thank about everything if we want to enjoy the peace of God in our hearts.   

In summation, giving thanks entails much more than just telling someone "thank-you" or even doing lip-service to God to that effect, but in bearing fruit in respect to it and being a witness of thanks to others, doing good works showing and proving gratitude as in remitting a debt.    Soli Deo Gloria! 

The Gospel As The Power Of God

 "We do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord," (cf. 2 Cor. 4:5). 

"... when ye received the word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as in the truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe," (cf. 1 Thess. 2:13). 

"For my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should no stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God," (cf. 1 Cor. 2:4-5). 

A preacher should realize that the gospel is where the action is and should never grow weary of preaching it.  It may be milk of the Word but we never outgrow milk or any other staple of our diet such as bread.   The Holy Spirit doesn't desire to glorify Himself but to praise and glorify Jesus for what He's done to save us as a people of God and for who He is as the Son of God, earnest unto good works. 

We should strive to know nothing save Christ and Christ crucified (cf. 1 Cor. 2:3) and to spread the good word of Jesus or the gospel message and to apply it to our lives as a testimony to others; i.e, to live it out and make it relevant the only gospel others may see is in us!    If they see it in us it becomes real and a welcome mat to the infidel.  This gospel is indeed good news but there is also bad news that must accompany it: to repent of sins as a prerequisite of salvation.  We must get them lost first!  In the true gospel message, which is about what Christ has done and not we do, God reaches down to us in condescension. 

We must realize it's all about God and not about us!  We can experience salvation in real-time and have an actual encounter with God.  We are made alive (or our souls are quickened per Eph. 2:1) by the preaching of the cross because we are as good as dead in God's eyes in our sins.  God quickens and opens the door of faith within us (cf. Acts 14:27) and makes us alive in Christ tor born again. When we have the Holy Spirit, we see life with a new lens or with a Christian worldview or outlook. We have a whole new motive for living:  kingdom living for Christ's glory in God's economy as it were.  

To enter the kingdom of God, we must surrender or raise the white flag to Christ of the ownership of our lives. We become living sacrifices!  We are the salt of the earth to preserve it and give it a flavor but also the light of the world to show the way. We see ourselves for who we are and the picture isn't pretty; we need a renewed mind in the image of Christ.  Salvation brings a new identity in Christ so we can relate to Him as family; not as a second chance or new lease on life but a whole new life becoming regenerated and made new from the inside out.  We don't just turn over a new leaf, make a New Year's resolution, or an AA pledge but are given a clean slate and a new beginning, a fresh start. 

We must not ever be ashamed of the gospel as Paul wasn't and realize that it's the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes (cf. Rom. 1:16).  The gospel has convicting power and we never outgrow it as believers; it's the staple of our spiritual diet of the Word. We must remember that the Christian life is not just hard, it's impossible!  We need the grace of God to live it out and make it real to others by our witness and we should never jeopardize this.  The unconditional love of God is shown in Him reaching down to us when we don't deserve it, our worship is reaching up to Him and our fellowship is in reaching out to fellow believers.  When we reach down to those in need, it's compassion and mission.   

The Christian life is not for spectators and worship isn't passive but active because only genuine believers can share the true gospel with conviction: it's not just about do-goodery or doing good deeds but about being a witness for Christ and obeying Him in all things. God doesn't want our achievements but our obedience and the measure of our spirituality aren't our ecstasies but our obedience  Worship is not passive but active and we are participants in our own way.   Soli Deo Gloria!

Our Mission Statement...

 Jesus honored us by assigning us the Great Commission and to be ambassadors for Him to the ends of the earth, i.e., no place He wouldn't be with us.  We are to keep the main thing the main thing and remember as Paul did to preach Jesus and Jesus crucified, i.e., the gospel message as the main focus and theme of our message.  But we cannot do this faithfully if we aren't practicing what we preach and living as Christ lived.  We are to walk as we have received Christ, as Lord.  We must therefore be purpose-oriented and keep our mind on the Lord and not lose heart.  

We are to love the gospel, want to live it out, and never grow tired of its message as the milk of the word that is so necessary for good spiritual health.  The church that is obedient church is one that focuses on the goal: the Great Commission and has this as a great commitment until we have achieved the great completion.  We are to look to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith and not to focus on ourselves or the world.  The purpose is to bring glory to God and when we are obedient this does that.  That means finding our niche and doing our part in the church.  

Discipleship begins in the church body as mature believers mentor and train those who are younger in the faith by exercising their gift.  We are all students matriculated in the school of Christ and must be faithful for that can not be separated from our faith.  Obedience and faith are forever joined together and we are challenged to obey Christ's Great Commission.  The father of missions was William Carey, who said that we ought to expect great things from God and then attempt great things for God!

We must think big and follow Christ who said we would do greater things than Him.  As we are going about our daily routine we are to be examples of Christ's love and kindness.   We all have an orbit of friends and can reach out to them.  The mission's ethic can be summed up: "Follow Me!" as Christ commanded. Our rallying cry is to preach salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone!  The purity of the gospel cannot be compromised or dumbed down.

To make disciples means to teach them all Christ commanded and especially to be obedient, which is the measure of our faith.  God isn't looking for our personal achievements but our obedience and love.  When properly armed with the truth we can march on to wherever Christ sends us.  But we are expected to bloom where we are planted!  Let Christ send us!  He expects us just to be willing.  The call to make disciples is the time-tested method of church growth and we don't need to re-invent church growth techniques.  Only in the church can we find our place in the mission of Christ and grow in grace and in knowledge for no believer is a Lone Ranger or hermit.  We find out spiritual gifts through serving and willingness to be used by God.  We want to be like Jesus and follow on to know Him in discipleship.  

Our message is simple: preaching Jesus and His gospel.  But we must get them lost first and not water down our call to repentance and faith, for easy-believism (no-lordship discipleship) is not salvation.  We must preach that sinners repent and receive Christ as Lord of their lives and Savior and that they only trust in Him and obey Him in all things. Repentance and faith go hand in hand: believing repentance or penitent faith (cf. Acts 20:21; Heb. 6:1).  They must bring forth fruits to be real; there's no genuine repentance without saving faith.  

We should not be asking what is the mission as much as what is the mission for me?  Personalize it and see that we all have a place in God's redemptive plan and will.  "Let the redeemed of the LORD say so!" (cf. Psalm 107:2).  We will see that the gospel is always relevant and is for everyone as it goes out to all in earnest and anyone who repents can be saved.  We must bear in mind that our strongest witness is a personal testimony that cannot be refuted:  "I was blind but now I see!"  We all have a similar one!   Soli Deo Gloria!

What Do Atheists Get Wrong In The Bible?...

1. It was written by men; i.e. not inspired by God or is just pie in the sky.
2. It has been corrupted from the original texts.
3. It is incomplete or the wrong books are in it.
4. It has no scientific merit or scientific absurdities.
5. It makes historical errors.
6. It was not written when claimed but much later or by those claimed.
7. It has been undermined by science.
8. It is illogical or irrational, contrary to “common sense.”
9. It has not been verified by archaeological digs.
10. It has no modern relevance.
11. It has contradictions; it contradicts them, not itself.
12. It is not of any significant social, moral, or cultural value.  Soli Deo Gloria!

What Are The Most Convincing Arguments For God's Existence?...

 

1. The ontological, cultural, or anthropological argument,, or where did we get this idea from and why do people believe universally; God is not an idea made up.   Do apes build chapels? Do animals pray? God is self-evident. This ethnological proof, that virtually every tribe, tongue, and people-group has had some belief system concerning God or deity is compelling as circumstantial evidence.; where did they get the idea from, if not God Himself?  
2. The cosmological or the that nothing happens by itself and nothing can create or cause itself but needs the First Cause: no First Cause means no beginning because infinite regress is impossible; you cannot cross infinity! A beginning (Big Bang) implies a Beginner. God is eternal without beginning, having no cause but being uncaused!
3. The teleological proof that we see order, harmony, intelligence, purpose, design, and beauty in nature as evidence and this point to the anthropological principle or that there appears to be designed in nature (it is fine-tuned for life), and this may be called the argument from design; design only implies a Designer; order implies an Orderer, purpose a Purposer, and intelligence an Ultimate Mind.
4. The moral argument or that it seems that we have morals and there must be justice for that to make sense. Where did we get our conscience from?  This implies a Judge or Judgment Day. God seems to care a lot about right and wrong and has given man a moral code, compass, or conscience to be culpable. Morals make no sense without a Judge or God to make them universal.   God must be the moral center of the universe and standard of Good as Plato called Him, the Supreme Good.   Morals then imply a moral Lawgiver; also, how can you believe in justice without a Judge?  

Can You Justify Biblical Creation?

 

1. Even science acknowledges a beginning (the Big Bang)
2. Matter/energy/time all began about 13.7 billion years ago accordingly and not contradictory to the Bible
3. If there was a beginning, there must be a Beginner or cause behind it
4. Creation implies a Creator (order an Orderer, purpose a Purposer, etc.)
5. The Bible doesn’t say when the beginning was or when the earth was created but only “in the beginning,” there is a gap between Gen. 1:1 and Gen. 1:2 that is an unspecified amount of time
6. The so-called six days of creation could be interpreted as epochs or episode, not necessarily 24-hour days; to God, a day can be a thousand years, for example, or a period of time (the day of the LORD)
7. The Bible doesn’t tell how things happened but that God made them happen at His word by the breath of His mouth
8. The Big Bang or creation is an event; all events require explanations and have causes
9. Everything that begins to exist (creation) has a cause; that cause is most likely God—the First Cause (infinite regress is impossible)
10. Science cannot explain many things and doesn’t have all the answers, such as the mystery of life and its origin.    Soli Deo Gloria!

What Proof Is There The Bible Isn't Just Another Book? ...

1. Over 2,000 fulfilled predictive prophecies in great detail, not just a few lucky guesses.
2. Historical accuracy that is even corroborated by secular sources, even about Jesus—it dehistoricized, it’s totally discredited (and some have tried).
3. Archaeological digs verifying its references (over 25,0000)—as Jesus said, “The stones cry out….” (cf. Luke 19:40).
4. It has been the most translated book in history (over 1800 languages) and has had more impact and influence than any other book in history.
5. It has meaningful miracles that are not just helter-skelter or random; it’s the only holy Scripture that, if you remove the miracles, is meaningless.
6. It was written by over 40 men over 1500 years and has no contradictions, unexplained.
7. it is inspiring and changes the lives of those who read it—it claims inspiration of God—it’s the most quoted book in history.
8. It says, “Thus saith the LORD,” or its equivalent over 3,000 times—it claims to be the Word of God, unlike any other “scripture.”
9. The Bible can prove itself if one gives it a chance and only reads it.
10. It has no scientific anomalies but makes many statements ahead of its time that have been proven true—the Bible is the foundation of the philosophy of science saying there are laws of nature (cf. Job 38:33). Soli Deo Gloria!