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BE THANKFUL FOR…
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
This speaker enjoys the
holiday known as Thanksgiving (not commercial, family).
B.
This being said, it seems
odd to have a day called Thanksgiving Day.
For the faithful child of God, every day is filled with blessings for
which we should give God thanks.
1.
Some blessings are easy to
be grateful for: family, job,
freedom, salvation in Christ, etc.
2.
There are other things that
are more difficult to be thankful for.
Let’s look at some of these things in this lesson.
A.
Why? It gives us the opportunity to
learn.
B.
Here, I am reminded of the
Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:30-35).
And Philip ran
thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Under-standest
what thou readest? And he said, How
can I except some man should guide me?
And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read
was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before
his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
in his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his
generation? For his life is taken
from the earth. And the eunuch
ans-wered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? Of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began
at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
1.
Twice the eunuch showed his
lack of knowledge.
a.
He said that he read but did not understand.
b.
He asked about whom the prophet was speaking in the
text.
2.
His ignorance, however, enabled him to fill the void through the teaching
of Philip. This ultimately led to
his salvation.
C.
Our lack of knowledge should
ignite passion and zeal to learn (Prov. 25:2).
It is the glory
of God to conceal a thing: but the
honor of kings is to search out a matter.
II. BE THANKFUL FOR
THE DIFFICULT TIMES OF LIFE
A.
Why? It is through difficulties that one
grows.
B.
Trials and tribulations
challenge our strength, our stamina, our faith, and our minds. Difficulties cause us to be creative and
to think out of the box. Whether we
win or lose, we grow in the conflict.
1.
James
1:2-3
My brethren,
count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the
trying of your faith worketh patience.
2.
Romans
5:3-4
And not only so,
but we glory in tribulations also:
knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience experience; and
experience, hope.
C.
This speaker sees new
ministers entering the field and young couples entering into marriage. They may be well-grounded in knowledge,
but their strength will come by enduring trials, tests, and
affliction.
III. BE THANKFUL FOR YOUR
MISTAKES
A.
Why? They can teach you valuable
lessons.
B.
Mistakes can come in many
forms. Some involve sin and some do
not. Any mistake holds at least one
lesson within its grasp.
1.
That one lesson may be: “I’ll never do that
again.”
2.
Often there is more than one
lesson to be learned.
C. David
made a severe mistake with regard to Uriah the Hittite (I Kings
5:5).
Because David
did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from any
thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of
Uriah the Hittite.
1.
Do you think David learned
any lessons from his transgression?
2.
Let’s look at three big
lessons he should have learned:
a.
Covering sin only leads to
greater sin (Ps. 1:1; II Tim. 3:13).
b.
You cannot hide sin from God
(Num. 32:23; Heb. 4:13).
c.
The consequences of sin can
be devastating (Rom. 6:23; Gal. 6:7-8).
D.
Each one of us needs to look
for the lessons in our mistakes and learn from them. The old adage is true: “One who does not learn from his
mistakes is destined to repeat them.”
IV. BE THANKFUL WHEN YOU
ARE TIRED AND WEARY
A.
Why? It means you have made a
difference.
B. Being
tired usually indicates that one has been engaged in work, toil, and
labor.
1.
If the efforts are not sinful or illegal, someone usually benefits: God, others, family, community,
self.
2.
As we cradle our tired bodies in the comfort of a warm bed our conscience
rejoices in a job well done.
C. In so
doing, we follow the worthy example of Jesus in His earthly
ministry.
1.
There were at least four occasions when Jesus was weary.
a.
As the disciples sailed on a ship, Jesus slept on a pillow (Mark
4:38)
b.
His disciples were exhorted to rest (Mark 6:31).
c.
He sat on Jacob’s well because He was weary (John
4:6).
d.
The events surrounding his crucifixion took their toll. Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry the
cross (Matt. 27:32).
2.
Why did Jesus grow weary? (Acts 10:38).
How God anointed
Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing
all that were oppressed with the devil; for God was with
him.
V. BE THANKFUL
FOR YOUR CRITICS AND CHALLENGERS
A.
Why? They force you to
strengthen your nerves and sharpen your skills.
B.
It is easy to
lackadaisically hold a certain position.
However, when that position is challenged, we are forced to make our
position firm.
C.
Over the last year and a
half, several issues have raised their heads here that have caused me to have to
sharpen my thinking on various subjects.
1.
The authority of elders to
require ties be worn by the men taking a leadership position during
worship.
2.
Are youth songs appropriate
songs to be sung in worship to God?
3.
I
Corinthians 7:10-11
4.
Matthew
5:32
5.
Will grace cover sins
without any conditions?
6.
What are the best ways of
doing benevolent work?
7.
How does the Holy Spirit
indwell in the Christian?
D.
Our critics force us to
study (II Tim. 2:15) and to be ready to give an answer (I Peter 3:15). As one man commented: “Our antagonist is our helper”
(Burke).
CONCLUSION
A.
It is easy to be thankful
for the good things of life.
B.
We, however, can be and need
to be grateful for the troubles, stresses, and setbacks in life (I Thess.
5:18).
In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus concerning you (emp. mine, vme).
1.
Negatives can become positives.
2. Difficulties can become blessings.
