Things To Be Thankful For

 

Intro: We Christians have so much for which to be thankful for not just one day a year but each and every day we live. God has given us so many blessings both spiritual and material! I have listed some spiritual blessings because they are eternal. Be thankful that;

1. We are children of God. (John 1:12) But as many as received Him (Jesus) to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. This verse speaks of Jesus granting the right or giving the authority to become a child of God. No one can attain this new birth by his or her own power, merit, or ability. Only Jesus can grant it. When we place our faith and trust in Jesus’ death on the cross as payment for our sins, we ask for His forgiveness of our sins and we receive Him into our lives, Jesus gives us the authority and power to become children of the living God. Galatians 3:26 (NLT) For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. We owe thanks to Jesus because He gave us the right to become children of God.

2. We are righteous in God’s eyes. (2 Corinthians 5:21) For God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. This is one of the great verses proclaiming the unbelievable love of God. Christ bore the penalty and the punishment for our sins. God made Jesus, who was completely innocent and perfect; to become sin for us so He could take away our sin. Once someone comes to Jesus and confesses their sin and asks for forgiveness and salvation, they become righteous in God’s eyes and they find a peace and satisfaction of soul which is everlasting, and that person will never cease to be righteousness. Nothing can ever change our standing with the Father. Think about that, Christians will never cease to be righteous in God's eyes. Jesus said in; John 6:47 (NKJV) Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. Jesus makes it plain that the believer has been made righteous and has eternal life, starting the moment someone believes in Him as their Savior. The verb “believes” in these verses means “he who continues to believe.” We do not believe merely once; we keep on believing in and trusting Jesus. We owe thanks to Jesus for making us righteous in God’s eyes.

3. We are redeemed from the curse of the law. Galatians 3:10-14¹⁰  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." ¹¹  But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith." ¹²  Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them." ¹³  Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), ¹⁴  that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Every person is guilty of violating the 10 commandments and under the curse of God's law until they are saved. Jesus took our curse upon Himself on the cross. To be hanged on a tree signified to the Jews that a person had been cursed. Christ willingly allowed himself to become cursed for all humanity, and so He endured the Crucifixion for us. At the cross, the curse of the law was transferred from sinful humanity to the sinless Son of God. Christ became our representative and took on himself the penalty of our sin for breaking God's laws and then He gave us His righteousness so we could be accepted by the Father. We are no longer under God's curse for breaking His law. Thanks be to Jesus for redeeming us (saving us) from the curse of the law.

4. We have victory over the world. 1 John 5:4 (NKJV) For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. It is faith (trust) in Jesus that saves us, and it is faith in Jesus that keeps us. We (walk) live our lives by faith. We are children of God by faith in Jesus Christ, and faith is the only way in which you and I will be able to overcome this world around us. The power of Christ, given to believers through the Holy Spirit, gives us the victory over the world, the flesh, the devil, death, and sin. We need to live our lives in the assurance that we belong to God and we are under His care and we have victory over the world.

Conclusion: These are just some of the things God has given us to be thankful for. As you read the word of God daily you will find many more things for which to be thankful because the bible says Ephesians 1:3 Thanks be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. May we be counted among those who are thankful for every good and perfect gift that comes from God our Father.

Invitation: Do you know for sure you are a child of God? Can you say that without a doubt? If not now would be a good time to confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and invite Him to take charge of your life, then you too will be thankful that you now have victory over the world, the devil, death, and sin. The choice is yours!

VETERANS DAY

 Friday the 11th will be Veterans Day. It is an official United States holiday that honors people who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, also known as veterans. It is a federal holiday that is observed every year on November 11. Veterans Day celebrates the service of all living U.S. military veterans.

I. VETERANS ARE COMMITTED TO A CAUSE: Our veterans have demonstrated a heart of courage committed to a cause:  The cause of freedom from oppression, and love of country. They are committed to the cause of Constitutional self-government. a. Jesus Christ was committed to a cause! Luke 19:10  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” He wanted to save the world through the cross, not save Himself from the cross.  Just as our veterans are committed to a cause, so Jesus was committed to a greater cause of saving the lost! Let me ask you a question: Are you committed to His cause of reaching others? For what cause would you risk your life? For what purpose would you dedicate your energies…your finances, your time? We honor our veterans. But we worship our Commander in Chief, Jesus. We owe our liberty to our veterans. But we owe our eternal lives to Jesus Christ. We salute the flag! But we kneel before the Christ of the cross. 

II. VETERANS ARE DEDICATED TO CHANGING THE COURSE OF THE FUTURE: What would have happened if it hadn’t been for the dedication of our veterans? Yes, we still live in a corrupt and twisted society, but who knows what powers might have dominated, if it were not for the commitment of our veterans?  Truly, in each war, they changed the course of the future.  a. Jesus was dedicated to changing the course of mankind’s future. Colossians 2:13-14 (NKJV) ¹³  And you, being dead in your trespasses and sins of the flesh, God has made alive together with Jesus, having forgiven you all trespasses, ¹⁴  having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Because of Jesus' sacrifice for us, the course of mankind's future was changed. The penalty of sin and its power over believers was miraculously destroyed by Christ on the cross. Through faith in Christ, believers are forgiven and found not guilty, before God, their judge. Because of Jesus’ dedication to save us, the course of our future has been changed from hell to Heaven. We owe all we are to Him! What are you dedicated to do for the future of this country …For this church… …for your own family? Our nation’s history may have been much different…Without the contribution of our veterans. Our lives would have been much different without the change Jesus made in our lives through His death on the cross as payment for our sins. 

III. VETERANS ARE WILLING TO PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE: Our veterans are dedicated and willing to pay the price for freedoms sake: They give up the safety and peacefulness of being at home. They leave their friends and families. Some surrendered their personal plans for education and career. Some suffered the loss of sight! Some forfeited their limbs! Many were terribly physically disabled. Many actually paid the price of their very lives. Our veterans pay the ultimate price for our freedom.  a. Jesus was willing to pay the ultimate price of all He had for us. Luke 23:44-46 (NKJV) ⁴⁴  Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. ⁴⁵  Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶  And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' " Having said this, He breathed His last. Jesus became our substitute. No greater price has ever been paid than that Jesus paid for us! Jesus paid in His blood for the salvation of those who couldn’t have cared less. Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Jesus didn’t shrink back at the point of death. Jesus gave His all for us that we might be saved. Countless young men and women, in the bloom of youth, have been willing to pay the price, however great, in order to protect and change the course of the future of this nation.  As they pay the ultimate price for our freedom, so Jesus paid the ultimate price for our spiritual freedom. He has saved us from the penalty and power of sin. And as a result, we have become an eternal monument to the riches of His mercy and over abundant grace. He paid the ultimate price, His life and precious blood. What price are you willing to pay, to maintain our spiritual freedom? Will you vote? What price are you willing to pay to fulfill the purpose Christ has called you? What prices are you willing to pay to rid yourself of all that robs you of God’s will for your life? 

CONCLUSION: Veterans’ Day is an opportunity for us to thank those who love us enough to give their lives in service for us. There are monuments that stand today in honor and memory of our brave soldiers. This Tuesday is election day. More than half of the Christians in America don't vote. It is our sacred duty to vote for the candidate who stands for the things that the bible says are right. Know what the candidates stand for and vote the bible. Some veterans and Jesus died to give us freedom to vote. If we fail to exercise our right to vote we will soon lose that right and our freedoms. The cross is a permanent monument that speaks of freedom to all who will hear. We should thank our veterans for their contribution toward our freedom and thank Jesus daily for paying the ultimate price to redeem not only our souls, but also our bodies.

Invitation: Have you taken advantage of Jesus’ shed blood as payment for your sins? If not, confess your sins to Christ, ask Jesus right now to forgive you and save your soul for Heaven.