THANKSGIVING
Intro: Christians are thankful people. Non-Christian opposite "neither were they thankful."
I. THE CAUSE OF TRUE THANKSGIVING.
A. The grace of God.
1. Too often we think only in terms of material.
a. Health - Glory in infirmities.
b. Strength - God's strength made perfect.
c. Shelter - Christ who spoke of no place to lay His head.
d. Food.
2. Deeper causes of thanksgiving.
1. His gift of love.
2. Our victory through Christ.
3. Forgiveness - peace - hope.
B. The case of the lepers.
1. Leprous type of sin.
a. Defilement and separation from God.
b. Hideous loathsomeness and death.
2. "The lepers stood afar off and cried."
a. Jesus with leper in Chap. 5.
b. Church divided over lesser things.
3. Their faith tested.
a. Spoke five words to them.
b. Only way to test truth was to obey.
1. Christianity today not subject to test tube experimentation.
c. Imagine debate and arguments that must have ensued.
C. True cause is spiritual.
II. THE CHARACTER OF TRUE THANKSGIVING.
A. Attitude that calls for action.
1. Attitude comes from realization of what has been done.
2. In the story before us only one took proper action.
a. He was a Samaritan un-orthodox.
b. Prostrated himself before the Lord.
1. The person not the miracle became most important.
3. Where are the nine?
a. Value Christ places on gratitude and misses it when it is not
expressed.
b. Pure praise almost lost art.
1. Most hymns of praise merge into thanksgiving which is less.
a. Thanksgiving is the expression of gladness because
God is good to us.
b. Praise is worship and adoration - our sense of
God's goodness and glory.
III. CONSEQUENCE OF TRUE THANKSGIVING.
A. "Arise, go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole."
1. Not only cleansed physically but spiritually.
2. Miracle of grace within soul.
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Chuck Smith (1927 - 2013)
Pastor Chuck was used in the Jesus People revival where he was used along with others to minister to the hippy young people. They saw a work of the Spirit where many were added to the church and discipled. He has raised up many pastors who are a part of the Calvary Chapel movement now and where he pastors the large Costa Mesa church in California.The Calvary Chapel movement is based of simple principles that Chuck Smith taught over the years such as: The priority of agape love, Simple fellowship amongst the saints, the breaking of bread, the teaching of God's word chapter by chapter and verse by verse. And lastly and most importantly the principle not by might nor by power but by my spirit saith the Lord.