stages of thanksgiving

Here's a Sermon I preached once on Thanksgiving Sunday at a church.  May you have a blessed Thanksgiving! 

Psalm 105:1–3 (ESV)
 Oh give thanks to the Lord-The Decision

Thanksgiving is upon us and we should run to it with all we have.  Let’s bless His Name!  Thanksgiving is conveyed when we live out our thankful nature before others. Today we are reflecting on some phrases found not only in the passage we are looking at, but throughout the Bible.  Call it Stages of Thanksgiving........ First, as part of our introduction, is the decision to give Thanks
106 Praise the Lord!  Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,  for his steadfast love endures forever!  
Psalm 106:1
34  Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;  for his steadfast love endures forever!  
1 Chronicles 16:34
I will be glad and do something about it!

Call on His Name- Praying

Praying and calling to God started all the way back with the first family....
26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.  
Genesis 4:26
 Isa. 12:4;  see 1 Chr. 16:8–22 
King David used this same outline in 1 Chronicles 16!
David’s Song of Thanks  8  Oh give thanks to the Lord; gcall upon his name;  hmake known his deeds among the peoples!   9  Sing to him, sing praises to him;  tell of all his wondrous works!   10  Glory in his holy name;  let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!  ( 1 Chronicles 16:8–22 Ps. 99:6; 116:13, 17; [Gen. 4:26]) 
Psalm 99:6 retells of His faithfulness in the History of Israel....
6  Moses and Aaron were among his priests,  Samuel also was among those who called upon his name.  They called to the Lord, and he answered them.  
Psalm 99:6
13  I will lift up the cup of salvation  and call on the name of the Lord,  
Psalm 116:13
17  I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving  and call on the name of the Lord.  
Psalm 116:17
 Ps. 77:12 
12  I will ponder all your work,  and meditate on your mighty deeds.  
Psalm 77:12
And then Isaiah, looking through a glass darkly declared the future of the Church!
4 And you will say in that day:  “Give thanks to the Lord,  call upon his name,  make known his deeds among the peoples,  proclaim that his name is exalted.  
Isaiah 12:4
3. Make Known His Deeds Among the Peoples-Ministry
 Ps. 145:4, 5, 11, 12 
4  One generation shall commend your works to another,  and shall declare your mighty acts.  
Psalm 145:4
5  On the glorious splendor of your majesty,  and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.  
Psalm 145:5
11  They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom  and tell of your power,  
Psalm 145:11
12  to make known to the children of man your1 xmighty deeds,  and ythe glorious splendor of your kingdom.  
Psalm 145:12
The declaring, the telling, the sharing is born out of an encounter with Almighty God!!!!
On the day of Pentecost, when the disciples had followed the instructions of Jesus, the Holy Spirit fell on ALL who were there and they began to speak in tongues.....It wasn’t just the marvel of the tongues event, however, that drew their attention, it was the translation of what the onlookers heard when they said:
both Jews and 
proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.
42 Sing to him, sing praises to him-Praise
we understand that one.

Tell of all his Wondrous Works!-Evangelism 

Thank you Jesus, you came from heaven to earth to show the way...
Thank you for the healing, for walking with me in the trial and delivering me from it!
O Mighty Deliverer are YOU!!!!
Thank you....1, 2, 3, 4, 5.....How many blessings?  Too many to number....as the Psalmist said were I to number them they would outnumber the grains of sand...

He lifted me Out!!!! of the deep miry clay 
And planted my feet, on the King’s highway
And that is the reason!  I sing and I shout!!!!
For Jesus came down
And He lifted me out!!!!

Would you bow for prayer.....Jesus can lift you out of that situation you are in.  You don’t have to stay in the depression or the guilt.  Jesus said I stand at the door and knock, if any man or woman open the door I will come in 
He also said come unto me, all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.
First....Do you know Christ?  Have you met the one who can turn your sorrow into Joy?
He’s holding out hope for you
Second...have you been laboring under a burden and its time to turn it over to Jesus?  The songwriter said “I must tell Jesus, all of my sorrows, He is a kind and compassionate friend...In my distress He quickly will help me, make of my troubles swiftly an end.

CONCLUSION-Benediction
Glory in his holy name; 
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!

May the Lord help us to have an attitude of Thanksgiving and Rejoice!!! 

Happy Thanksgiving! Praise God! 

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