Advent 1: Experience Hope

November 30, 2014
Advent:  Experience Advent

Week 1:  Experience Hope     NOT EDITED

Psalm 80

SIS – Hope is an experience we have when we meet Jesus Christ, the Savior, personally.

Before we jump right in with both feet we need to establish a good definition for “hope.”  Let’s start by defining what hope is NOT.  Hope is not wishful thinking.  One can hope continually and continue to fail miserably in life.  Hope has to have substance, and a wish has not substance.

Several dictionaries define “hope” as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.  You will notice that this is not much different from a “wish.”  In fact, the same online dictionaries define “wish” as, a desire or hope for something to happen.  This definition of hope lacks substance.  Interestingly, a couple dictionaries point out that an “archaic” (obsolete, out of date, old-fashioned) meaning would be, “a feeling of trust.”

That is interesting.  Hope used to have “substance.”  If one has trust there must be something “objective” (substantial) to put one’s trust in, or on.  But, this is considered, “archaic” or out of date. 

Let’s look at the Bible’s description of hope.  Now this description is a bit long so listen carefully:

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing  with the glory  that is going to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation  for God’s sons  to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected  to futility —not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it —in the hope ²¹ that the creation itself  will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children. ²² For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains  until now. ²³ And not only that,  but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits —we also groan within ourselves,  eagerly waiting for adoption,  the redemption of our bodies.  ²⁴ Now in this hope  we were saved, yet hope  that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see,  we eagerly wait for it with patience.

From this passage we see both the need for hope and the nature of hope.  We need hope because “life is hard.”  Paul refers to our “present sufferings.”  Without hope that someday things will get better we would crumble under the weight of our sufferings in this world—some sooner, some later, but all eventually.  Paul goes on to compare “hope” with “salvation” – “in this hope we were saved.”  So, hope is a “savior,” but not any savior, but Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  When Paul introduces himself to his understudy, Timothy, Paul reminds Timothy that the substance of our hope is a person, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul said (1Tim. 1:1),

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command 

of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope.

Now one more Scripture to describe hope from a Biblical perspective:

⁸ In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. ⁹ Then an angel of the Lord  stood before  them,  and the glory of the Lord  shone around them, and they were terrified.  ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid,  for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:  ¹¹ Today a Savior,  who is Messiah  the Lord,  was born for you in the city of David.

So, here we are at the first Sunday of Advent.  In this season we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.  We must point out that He was NOT born a political leader.  He was NOT born a social reformer.  He was NOT born a king or potentate.  The angel’s specifically describe Jesus as being born “a savior.”  The Messiah—God who would come in human flesh was the hope that Israel had hung their lives upon for several thousand years. 

This hope has substance—as substantial as God, Himself.  Our hope does not rest on a doctrine, a philosophy, a religion however sublime these might be. Our hope rests on a Person—Jesus, God the Son. So, regardless of how difficult life may get—and it can get very, very difficult—we always have hope because we have Jesus.  Our hope is in a Savior, Christ the Lord.

Years, centuries actually, before Jesus was actually born in Bethlehem, the Psalmist describes the pathway to hope.  The Psalmist looks forward to an even we look back on, and together Old and New Testament saints continue to look forward to “the blessed hope of His appearing again” (Titus 2:13).  Let’s read it together:

READ PSALM 80:1-3

The Psalmist in psalm 80 is really talking about “reconnecting” with God.  Despair results when we disconnect from God leading us to disconnect with others, and eventually we disconnect from our very selves—a disconnection that tragically can lead to disconnecting from this world altogether.

We live in a day of great irony:  “people are communicating with each other more than at any time in human history, but connecting with each other less.  The events of our world--war, famine, rioting and general despair—demonstrate how disconnected we are as human beings.  Despair comes with such a disconnect.  Hope springs from connecting with God and others.

We live in a world where communication is fast and easy.  We communicate more but the irony is:  we are connecting much less.  People now do not even have to leave their homes to work, and dropping in on a neighbor for a friendly visit is considered very bad form.  We can communicate with just a “touch on the screen,” but we do not connect at a level that really touches our hearts. In a land birthed in an atmosphere of great hope, many struggle with despair.

I want you to know that despair not only comes to our house, but even the White House.  In fact, I just heard on T.V. the other day that "A man jumped the White House fence.”  The Secret Service quickly chased the man down and after a brief conversation they were able to talk President Obama into coming back and finishing his term." —Conan O'Brien.  We all have problems.  We all need to experience a little more hope.

The hope we need this Christmas, and throughout the year, is outlined in Psalm 80.  Verse 18-19 declares where hope can be found:

Revive us . . .Restore us, “Yahweh the God of Hosts; look on us with favor, and we will be saved.”

Why is the Psalmist crying out for God to restore the hope of Israel?  Because Israel had fallen into despair and disrepair because as a nation they had become “disconnected” from the God of their Fathers, just like America has become “disconnected” from the Founding Fathers.  We need to reconnect with the Word of God, the Flock of God, and the Person of God if we want to experience the “hope” of God.

1.  We need to reconnect with the Word of God (8-11)

The events and discussion following the tragic shooting of a teen in Ferguson, Missouri by a police officer point out that many have lost our hope in America.  We have lost our way.  We’ve lost our way because we’ve lost our connection with the Word of God.  We MUST reconnect, and first we must reconnect with the Word of God. 

The Psalmist’s despair came because he knew the history of God’s Covenant relationship with Israel. The Psalmist looked at the hopeless situation of Israel and recalled another time in history when Israel experienced the same hopelessness. The Psalmist recalled the ancient story of how God delivered Israel from a brutal bondage in Egypt.  It was through the understanding of Who God was and how God’s relationship was revealed in His Word that the Psalmist knew where to look when times became dark and the nation was adrift.

He knew the History of God.  The Psalmist had read the scrolls telling of God’s deliverance of His people from slavery in Egypt.  The Psalmist had a boldness in his prayer because he had full knowledge of what God had done, showing what God could do again.

One thing is sure:  ignorance of God’s Word will always lead to the fall of any nation, the crippling of families, and individual despair.  Jesus summed up the importance of God’s Word by saying:

“A man cannot live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Mat. 4:4; Deu. 8:3)

Joshua reminds us of the importance of the Word of God in bringing prosperity, health, and well-being:

“This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth and you shall meditate on it day and night being careful to observe everything written therein; then shall your way prosper and then shall you know good success”  (Jos. 1:8)

The Psalmist lived in a time of great despair and great depression, but he knew why because he knew the Word of God.  But, knowing the Word, the Psalmist also knew the way back.  He knew how disconnected Israel had become from God, and he knew the ancient scrolls were a road map back to God.  There was his hope.

There is no foundation for any real hope if one does not know the Word of God and one does not seek diligently to apply that Word to one’s everyday life. A person, or a nation, without a foundation in the Word of God is a person or nation is building on shifting sand.

Hope comes from knowing what God “can” do in the future

by knowing what God “has done” in the past.

To have that solid foundation we need to “reconnect with the Word of God.”  Then, to better establish a connected life we need to:

2.  Reconnect with the PEOPLE of God (v1)

About 20 times the Psalmist refers to God’s people using plural pronouns like “us, we, our, them, they.” (HCSB).  The rest of the references to God’s people the Psalmist makes is in regard to a vine or cedar with many branches, or sprouts.  The Psalmist sees God’s Family as consisting of many units forming a glorified whole.

Hope is a “group” project.  If you allow yourself to become isolated from family and friends, or the world in general, you will most surely fall prey at one time or another to deep depression.  Hope is all about “community,” – sharing with others the deep treasures of grace we have received from God. 

You might recall Ebenezer Scrooge, the primary character in Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol. He is a cranky, self-absorbed, man with no friends because he wanted no friends.  When his lonely, sad existence was pointed out to him by three Christmas Spirits, it brings Scrooge to the realization that the most important gift one could ever give or receive was “friendship and love of others.”

Loneliness feeds upon itself.  When you allow yourself to become isolated from others, for whatever reason (and there are many) you allow yourself to sail into some very dangerous waters.  God made us to live in “community” with others.  Christmas is a great time to “reconnect” with Family and Friends, and most importantly, the Family of God.

We live our lives in a sea of people--people at work, people at the grocery store, people at the bank, and even in church—but we don’t “connect.”  We need to connect with as many people as possible in order to have a solid foundation of hope for the future.

Don’t be an “old Scrooge.” Reach out to others. Give and receive love this Christmas and you will find that a blazing fire of hope will ignite in your soul and warm you on any cold nights of life you might face now and in the future.

We need to reconnect this Christmas with the Word of God, and with people in our world, but most importantly, we need to reconnect with the God of the Word. 

3.  Reconnect with God (3, 7, 19)

One of the most profound statements I have read in regard our hope is amazingly simple.  Every problem a person [nation] has is related to his concept of God.  If you have a big God, you have small problems.  If you have a small God, you have big problems. (Hendrickson, Disciples are Made, Not Born).

If you can grasp this concept—that is, the concept of God’s absolute, sovereign, grace-filled control of everything, including your life—you have grasp the fundamental principle of living a “hope-filled, victorious Christian life.”  It’s all about God!

J.B. Philips wrote a masterpiece on this theme entitled, “Your God is Too Small.” Philips points out that the our despair and debilitation in life as believers stems from an “inadequate” view of God.  He says:

“Let us fling wide the doors and windows of our minds and make some attempt to appreciate the size of God.”

This is what the Psalmist here is trying to do:  he seeks to correct an inadequate view of God in order to restore Israel’s confidence in immensity of God; and, as a result, restore Israel’s hope for the future.

Look at how the Psalmist describes God in verse 19:

¹⁹ Restore us, Yahweh, the God of Hosts.

If you follow the Psalmist’s train of thought from beginning to end you will see that the climax of his song comes in verse 19 when he piles on three different terms for God.

(1) Verse 3, the Psalmist uses “elohim,” a general word for God in the O.T., often referencing God as Creator.  Then in (2)verse 7 the Psalmist adds to elohim the term, “tsabaōt” ( צְבָאוֹת ), meaning armies (or “hosts”).

The title, “God of Hosts,” translates the word root, tsaba (צָבָא), which means “God Who Commands An Army.”  The NET Bible interprets the title as, “The Invincible God.” 

Then, (3)verse 19 adds yet another title to describe the God in whom the Psalmist finds great hope.  In verse 19 the Psalmist adds to elohim and tsabaōt the term, יהוה Yhvh. These are the four most important letters in the O.T.  This is God’s special name He gave to Moses before Moses set off to challenge the Pharaoh.  It is called the “Covenant Name” because it recognizes that Almighty God is the God Who made a contract with Israel, making them “His Special People.”  It is the most significant title for God in the O.T., or N.T.

Notice how the Psalmist increases the intensity of the name of God as we move through this Psalm of Hope.  The Psalmist is poetically detailing an important truth in God’s Word:  our hope in life intensifies as our relationship with God intensifies.  A deeper relationship means a deeper hope in life.

The image the Psalmist portrays is one of Immense Power and Intimate Love. In fact, the Psalmist calls upon Yahweh in verse 3 to:

“Rally Your power and come to save us!”

Salvation is what Christmas is all about.  Recall the angel’s words to the shepherds on the hillside near Bethlehem that first Christmas:

“Don’t be afraid, for look I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord was born to you” (Luke 2:1-11)

God sent us a Savior because we needed salvation from our sin.  He didn’t send us a Military General to deliver us from tyranny.  He didn’t send us a mere teacher, to deliver us from ignorance.  He didn’t send a politician to “deliver us from our wealth”.  God sent us what we needed, just when we needed it:  a Savior to deliver us from sin.

Some day it will be “too late” for God to save us.  But, today is not that day.  Today, we can call upon God; we can reconnect with God and we will be saved by God—perhaps, just in the nick of time!

“Just in the nick of time” is definitely one of the stranger idioms in the language. The language experts are sure that nick here is the same word as that for a small cut or notch.  It stood for absolute precision.

That’s the whole point of Christmas:  God came to us just in the nick of time—when hope was almost gone.  Paul describes it like this in the KJV:

4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God [sent forth] his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the [adoption of sons.]

God is standing at the ready backed up by His Sovereign power and Heavenly Army to act on our behalf if we will simply “reconnect” with Him.  God WANTS to reconnect with you—that’s the real beauty of Christmas.  God came to us to be with us.

Our hope is built, not on our politics or our power but upon the power and plan of an Almighty, All-powerful, All-knowing, All-loving God.

We lose hope when we allow ourselves—because of our sin—to become disconnected from “Yahweh, the God of Hosts.”  It is like unplugging a power tool—it becomes useless and ineffective.

When we become “distant and disconnected” from God, He looks smaller and our problems look bigger.  The key to having our hope restored is “reconnecting with the God of the Word.”

God “reconnected” with the world by taking the form of a baby in a manger.  John refers to the “reconnection” in this way:

“God became flesh and dwelled among us.” (John 1:14)

There’s our hope friends.  Wrapped up in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger!  When you read the Christmas story, you are reading the “story of hope.”  Real hope.  When you look into the “face of Jesus Christ” you are seeing the “face of hope.”  Real hope.

That’s the whole point of the Christmas story.  That’s the whole point of the Bible.  God has not given up on us—in fact, God will never give up on us.

I like to say that the real miracle of every human birth is that it reminds us God has not given up on humanity.  God has not given up on you and I.  Christmas is a time for us to “reconnect” with the God of the Word and let “Yahweh, the God of Hosts, restore our hope.”

We can communicate faster and easier than at anytime in human history, but even when we communicate, do we really connect?

At Christmas time, God made the “ultimate connection” with man by being born as a man.  He lived as a man.  He died as a man.  He rose again as the God-man of Heaven.  That is the remarkable, astonishing, mind-boggling truth that underlies Christmas.

Join me in seeking God earnestly and patiently to help us “reconnect” with Him and with our world this Christmas.  Join me in asking God to “Restore Our Hope” this Christmas.

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Two Little Words

November 23, 2014
Two Little Words

1Thessalonians 1-10            NOTES NOT EDITED

SIS – “Thank You!” are two little words that have practical value and eternal significance.

Shari and I raised (are still involved as consultants) two children. We have spent our lives involved with youth and children in church, through a private preschool in our home, and through the preschool at church. One of the most basic instructions you will hear if you are around children and their parents is this: "Did you say, Thank You?" I don't think we realize how ubiquitous this idea of "gratitude" is in our culture--at least in theory anyway. "Thank You" were the two earliest words I spoke I am sure--just after "no" and "mine." My parents were sticklers on "gratitude." I had more than one "talking to" when I failed to show proper gratitude for some act of kindness bestowed upon me. Gratitude is really a very "religious" concept. In fact, one of the significant offerings in the Book of Leviticus was the "thank offering" (Lev. 22:29). "Thank You!" doesn't even seem to approach an adequate response in regard to what Jesus Christ did for me (for us all) when He sacrificed Himself on the cross so that I could have eternal life. How can "Two Little Words" adequately repay Jesus for such kindness! Well, when those "Two Little Words" become an over-arching attitude in life represented by appropriate actions, at least we are headed in the right direction.

Thanksgiving is all about “eating”—a lot of eating.  I am thankful for my wife.  As with many wives she will start preparing the Thanksgiving Day meal days in advance.  She will stay up late the night before, and awake early Thanksgiving Day and cook right up to mealtime.  What took her days to prepare, will be devoured in only minutes!  We owe our wives a great debt of gratitude for cooking.

I once remember Phyllis Diller—not known for her domestic skills—saying that “My cooking is so bad my family thinks Thanksgiving Day is set aside to commemorate the bombing of Pearl Harbor.”

We celebrate Thanksgiving Day to show our gratitude for the good favor of God that falls upon our lives.  It has become a tradition that the President of the United States, who has the power to pardon those condemned to die, pardons a turkey slated for someone’s dinner table.  It was last year, or maybe the year before, that Obama followed this tradition and pardoned a turkey from California.  The President was shocked when the turkey turned down the pardon.  The turkey scratched out a letter saying, “Thank you for your kindness Mr. President but I don’t need a pardon—I need a job!”

When you think about it, the turkey has a point.  Having a job is certainly something for which to be thankful.  In fact, the list of things we can be thankful for is nearly endless.  I’d go a step further even saying that “thanksgiving” is not an act, but an attitude—a driving force in life.  As I was reading in preparation for this week’s sermon I came across a great perspective on “gratitude” from a lady named, Nancy Demoss.  Here’s what she had to say,

"I'd like to coin a new word for those who may be deficient in the gratitude department (which includes all of us from time to time). I'm calling for ‘gratitudinal change.' . . . . When gratitude becomes your default setting, life changes... the whole world looks different when you see it through gratitude-colored glasses. A problem that used to bury you now takes its rightful place behind twenty other blessings that are bigger than it'll ever be. A recurring issue that once brought out a whole range of pent-up emotions now only produces a new excuse for praising God with greater fervor than ever, knowing He is more than true and trustworthy."

I think Ms. Demoss nails it.  “Thank You!” are two little words that have practical value and eternal significance.  Let’s read what the Apostle Paul set forth as the Holy Spirit moved upon him.

READ 1Thessalonians 1:1-10

Paul began every one of his letters to the churches with a note of thanksgiving except one—that was the Galatian church that was being lead by worldly men who had their own agenda for salvation and had discarded God’s plan of grace.  Yet, except for The Church at Galatia Paul seemed to not be able to say “Thank You” enough.  In fact, in 1Thessalonians Paul mentions thanksgiving in 3 out of 5 chapters.  Let’s survey what Paul said about the “Two Little Words.”

1.  True thanksgiving has an ETERNAL element (vv 2-3)

Verses 2 and 3 of this first chapter of 1Thessalonians contain one the most important issues in regard to “gratitude.”

² We always thank God for all of you, remembering you constantly in our prayers. ³ We recall, in the presence of our God and Father,  your work of faith,  labor of love, and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ

In the letter writing style of First Century Greek culture it was customary to include some type of blessing or thanksgiving.  In Greek form Paul (along with Silvanus, or Silas, and Timothy) gave his name as the writer, and also the name of those to whom he was writing.  He then added a blessing.  As often was the case, the writer would add a note of thanksgiving.  Paul went much further than just what was customary.  As I said above, Paul mentions his gratitude in three of the five chapters of this Book of Thessalonians. 

Paul truly loved this church, which he had established on his second missionary journey.  It was his “baby,” so to speak.  He, like a proud father, mentions there excellence in regard to “faith, love, and hope” (v3).  Paul genuinely admired the spiritual passion of this group of believers—and he says so.  But, here’s an interesting point that we need to highlight—Paul did not give thanks “to” the Thessalonians, but “to” Almighty God.  “We always thank GOD.”  I find this to be very interesting and very important.  True gratitude has an “Eternal Quality” to it.  It is something more than “deep appreciation for a kindness bestowed upon us.”  It goes way beyond that.  It is about something “Eternal.” 

Verse 4 gives us further insight into the “eternal quality of gratitude.”

⁴ knowing your election,  ^•brothers loved by God.

An attitude of gratitude has a “lifting aspect” to it.  It lifts one up into the Presence of God.  Notice that Paul mentions this in verse 3:  in the presence of our God and Father.

Nothing will tether a soul to this world and create an attitude of despair and dissatisfaction like “ingratitude.”  Ingratitude is like the tethers that hold a hot-air balloon to the earth.  Ingratitude has a “worldly quality to it.”  It’s all about Christmas, without any time for Thanksgiving.  A soul diseased by ingratitude will never be satisfied no matter how much stuff may be acquired.

Gratitude lifts one up into the very Presence of God.  It keeps one focused on the eternal and so one’s satisfaction and joy are not tethered to this world.  The tethers are cut and the balloon filled with gratitude rises toward the heavens.

True thanksgiving has an “eternal quality” to it.  True gratitude also has

2.  a Practical Quality to it (vv 5-9)

What happens when we are truly thankful for what God brings into our lives at the hand of others?  Paul (along with Silas and Timothy) were truly thankful for the Thessalonian church. Look verses 8 & 9:

⁸ For the Lord’s message rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith  ^r in God has gone out. Therefore, we don’t need to say anything, ⁹ for they themselves report what kind of reception  we had from you: how you turned  to God from idols  to serve the living  and true  God ¹⁰ and to wait  for His Son  from heaven, whom He raised from the dead —Jesus, who rescues us  from the coming wrath.

Here’s what happened.  Paul and his team labored among the Thessalonians.  They were so thankful for Paul’s ministry, and Paul was so thankful for their hospitality.  Gratitude saturated the relationship between Paul and the Thessalonian believers.  They just could not say enough good things about each other.  They praised God, and spoke well of each other and “things happened.”  People throughout the region of Macedonia (Turkey and environs, today) saw the message of love and mutual appreciation being modeled and the Thessalonians became a witness to the entire region about how God changes lives.

When we are genuinely—and passionately—thankful to God for Who He is and what He has done (and is doing); and, we are genuinely thankful for those God brings into our lives for mutual instruction, the church will grow—guaranteed!  Such an attitude of gratitude will have practical, as well as eternal results.  Paul calls this ability to effect radical change, “power.”  Look at verse 5:

For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance.

Many of you have heard teachers remark about, “dynamite power.”  The Greek word for power used here (and there are several Greek words related to power) is the root word from which we derive our word, “dynamite.”  “Dunamis” refers to an “innate ability or quality that makes someone or something capable of bringing about change.”  That’s how the word “dynamite” would come over into our language.  Dynamite has the capability of bringing about “great change.”  What once was a mountain—add a little dynamite, or a lot—and it is now a tunnel.

Gratitude to God has an eternal quality to it to be sure, but it has many practical benefits also.  Look at verse 6:

⁶ and you became imitators of us and of the Lord

when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message
with joy from the Holy Spirit.

Now, don’t lose track of the big picture here.  The Thessalonians were imitating what they saw in the life of Paul.  What exactly did they see?  Let’s go back and look at verse 2 again: “We always thank God!”  Stop right there.  The Thessalonians witnessed in the lives of Paul and his partners men who were “eternally grateful to God and showed their gratitude through their devotion to His work.”

That’s what the Thessalonians learned from Paul and his crew and the practical result of that was they were able to overcome great persecution in their lives—and still remain full of joy!  DON’T MISS THIS IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THIS MESSAGE.

The area of Thessalonica was particularly hostile to the gospel, especially because of the strong Jewish influence in the area.  Recall that when Paul was in Thessalonica they were run out of town by an angry mob of Jews who wanted to kill them (Acts 17:5-10).  Now, write this down.  You may need it for the future.

When our love and gratitude for God is greater than our concern for our own well-being and comfort we can experience joy, “inspite of severe trouble and persecution.” 

Gratitude is enormously powerful.  When we are constantly giving praise to God and thanks to others, good stuff happens.  Not only were they able to SURVIVE great persecution, but they were able to THRIVE in spite of great persecution.  Look at verse 8:

⁸ For the Lord’s message rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out.

When our lives demonstrate a genuine gratitude for all—and I mean all—that God has done AND IS DOING for us, good things will happen.  Good things not only “for” us, but “through” us.  A genuine passionate attitude of gratitude has a practical quality to it.

Not long ago a 10-years long research study of over 200,000 managers and employees (200,000!) revealed that saying “thank you” in the business world results in bigger profits.  When people are thanked for what they do, they are more motivated, and often, their productivity improved (www.homileticsonline.com).

Now, we should never become so cynical that we say “thank you” only to get some kind of measurable return.  But, Paul sure focused a lot on thanksgiving, and it sure made a huge difference in the lives of not only the Thessalonians, but the whole region.  Dare I say, the whole world!  Gratitude is contagious.  Paul’s gratitude led to the Thessalonians’ gratitude which spread to

Those “Two Little Words” are extremely powerful because they have both an “eternal quality” and a “practical quality.”  Now, that would certainly be reason enough to live according to an “attitude of gratitude”  but I see yet another reason why these “Two Little Words” are so extremely important.

3.  Thanksgiving has an “Exciting Quality” to it.  (v10)

It’s just better to be happy and nothing brings a sweeter happiness and more sublime joy than a genuine gratitude for every little blessing God allows to roll our way.  I’m talking about blessings as simple as being “silly with our grandchildren.”

Now, most of you would not describe me as “silly.”  I don’t do many “silly” things—at least not on purpose.  I don’t take turn on the dunk tank at our picnics.  I don’t let kids who raise the most money in a fundraiser shave my head (not that there’s much to shave) or throw pies in my face.  I have an Associate Pastor for that stuff.

Yet, you get me alone with my grandkids and I can be “silly.”  It’s like my grandchildren are the alien body snatchers and the snatch all my inhibitions away.  When I get a little wound up too tight as I am inclined to do, I just dip me a great big bowl of “grandkids!”

Now, what’s that have to do with our text.  Well, this:  gratitude helps us focus on what’s important and not what’s trivial.  Gratitude helps us to see God in every face, every place, and every activity.  Gratitude keeps us “focused” and that focus breeds and indescribable excitement.  Look at verse 10.  We need to pick up verse 9 again to give us the context:

⁹ for they themselves report  what kind of reception  we had from you: how you turned  to God from idols  to serve the living  and true  God ¹⁰ and to wait  for His Son  from heaven, whom He raised from the dead —Jesus, who rescues us  from the coming wrath.

Woooooooooooooooooooooooeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh! That’s just downright exciting!  I am soooooooo glad that God has “rescued me from the coming wrath.”  I am now in line “waiting to meet Jesus!”  How is it possible NOT to be thankful to God?  How is it possible not to be animated with a childlike excitement about the soon coming of the Lord Jesus Christ? 

If you are genuinely saved you will be genuinely thankful and if you have been taught what the Scriptures say about the soon coming of Jesus Christ you can’t help but be excited. 

I think the best way to illustrate this point is to show a film clip I ran across in my studies.  It demonstrates the “Exciting Quality” of thanksgiving better than I can describe it in words.

VIDEO CLIP:  LITTLE GIRL GETS PRAYER ANSWERED
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XACH-1EX4f8

The little girl in the clip we saw earlier really does give us a good picture of what it means to be “truly thankful to God.  The “Two Little Words, “Thank you,” have an eternal quality, a practical quality and an exciting quality in them.  I hope you will be truly thankful to God this season, and each day following for all that He has done for you.

Without the Lord, we are nothing, our lives will come to nothing—nothing but pain and disappointment in the end.  Those Two Little Words, “thank you,” remind us of what life is ALL about.

Alex Haley, the author of "Roots," had an unusual picture hanging on his office wall. It was a picture of a turtle on top of a fence post. When asked, "Why is that there?" Alex Haley answered, "Every time I write something significant, every time I read my words & think that they are wonderful, & begin to feel proud of myself, I look at the turtle on top of the fence post & remember that he didn’t get there on his own. He had help."

Be thankful for all the help God brings your way.

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