Give Thanks to God
Isaiah 12:1-6 - Victory Fellowship
November 21, 2021 - Rev. Roderick Grabski
Thanksgiving Sunday
I. Introduction:
a. *MacNeil Jordan was born in Barbados on Christmas Day in 1902.
On his 100th birthday, he could still recite pages of scripture and poetry. He could tell you the name of the ship that brought him to Ellis Island, the street where he got his first job as a garment worker, and the name of the cafeteria where he ate 70 years ago.
A month before MacNeil’s 100th birthday, his family made a CD on everything he wanted to say. His 8 children, 23 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-children all got copies. Here is MacNeil’s recipe for long life: “I eat well. I sleep well. I walk quite a bit.” -- And every week there’s church, where “I praise my God.” MacNeil said that’s what is most important: “Give God praise every day. That’s all. That’s my life.” (1)
b. That’s great advice Church. The Bible states 114 x to give thanks to the Lord, And we know that praising the Lord is important to God, because He talks about it in His Word at least 254 times!
c. If Linus Van Pelt can be trusted, he says the USA was the first country in the world to declare a national day of Thanksgiving.
d. A Thanksgiving Quote: (Walter Shapiro, TIME, Nov. 27, 1989) “Thanksgiving stands out as an oasis of tranquility and a reminder of the values that once tempered America’s materialism. This year give thanks for the one holiday that cannot be bought.”
e. Thanksgiving no longer inhibits the selling season.
f. Thanksgiving is for thanking God and remembering His gracious and mighty deeds!
II. Isaiah expresses how we can have a Thanksgiving Witness To and For God:
a. #1 - Have a Thankful Heart
b. #2 - Trust God
c. #3 - Give your Witness and Testimony
d. #4 - Praise God and Worship Him
e. #5 - Cry Aloud and Shout for Joy!
III. Conclusion: Give thanks to the Lord for He is Good. His love endures forever.
PRAYER
SONG: In the Beauty of Holiness
Isaiah 12 NLT
In that day you will sing: “I will praise you, O LORD! You were angry with me, but not anymore. Now you comfort me. See, God has come to save me. I will trust in Him and not be afraid. The LORD GOD is my strength and my song; He has given me victory.” With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation! In that wonderful day you will sing: “Thank the LORD! Praise His name! Tell the nations what He has done. Let them know how mighty He is! Sing to the LORD, for He has done wonderful things. Make known His praise around the world. Let all the people of Jerusalem shout His praise with joy!
(1) SOURCE: America Online, Copyright By The Associated Press - TITLE: A One-hundred-year-old’s Simple Recipe For Life - AUTHOR: Amy Westfeldt - DATE: 11/23/02