THANKFUL FOR GOD

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   The Bible teaches us to be thankful “to” God.

1.    Psalm 92:1

 

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord…

 

2.    Psalm 140:13

 

Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name…

 

B.   Have you ever stopped to consider this thought:  “We should give thanks ‘for’ God.”

 

C.   There are so many things involved with and surrounding God that are a blessing to each of us that we should be “Thankful for God.” 

 

I.             WE CAN BE THANKFUL FOR GOD’S LOVE

 

A.   Most human beings have a desire to be loved.

1.    Those who are not loved usually suffer difficulties emotionally.

2.    This is especially true of children who are not loved by their parents.

 

B.   There are two ways that human beings are children of God.

1.    One is by creation (Acts 17:28)

 

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

 

2.    Another is by spiritual birth (John 3:3-5).

 

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old?  can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily , I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

 

C.   God loves both sets of children.

1.    He has an affection for all of His creation that causes Him to seek their best interest, both physically and spiritually.

a.    Matthew 5:45

 

…for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and one the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

 

b.    John 3:16

 

For God so loved the world , that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

 

2.    He has a special love for those who have been born again into His spiritual family, the church (Eph. 5:29).

 

For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord his church.

 

II.           WE CAN BE THANKFUL FOR GOD’S LIGHT

 

A.   On the third day of Creation, God created light (Gen. 1:3).

 

And God said, Let there be light:  and there was light.

 

1.    This light scattered the darkness.

2.    This light would bring multiple benefits to man from enabling sight to healing.

 

B.   God, however, brought more than physical light into the world.  He brought spiritual light.

1.    He gave His Word to be light (Ps.119:105).

2.    He gave His Son to be light (John 8:12)

3.    He gave His church to be light (Matt. 5:16).

 

C.   These spiritual lights can be likened unto physical light in some ways.  They, too, bring multiple benefits to mankind from enabling sight to spiritual healing (2 Cor. 4:6).

 

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

 

III.         WE CAN BE THANKFUL FOR GOD’S LONGSUFFERING

 

A.   There are many passages that reveal God is longsuffering.

1.    The first time the word “longsuffering” is found in the KJV is in Exodus 34:6.  A description of God is being given in the verse.  The third characteristic is longsuffering following merciful and gracious.

2.    Numbers 14:18 begins with these words:  “The Lord is longsuffering…”

3.    Peter also reveals that God is longsuffering (2 Pet. 3:9).

 

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

 

B.   Definition:  longsuffering

1.    The word is a compound word composed of the words “long” and “suffering.”  Just flip the two words around and we have its meaning:  “to suffer long.”

2.    Vine reveals that the Greek word is also a compound word.  One word means “long” and the other word means “temper.”  Thus, it means to be of a long temper instead of being short-tempered.

3.    Patience, forbearance, and a slowness to avenge wrongs

 

C.   Question:  Aren’t you glad God suffers long with you?

1.    What if He retaliated with divine wrath the very moment we sinned?

2.    What if He responded with divine justice the moment we failed to be just?

3.    What if He reciprocated with divine indignation the moment we treated someone inappropriately?

 

D.   Peter tells us that God is longsuffering because God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  We should be thankful that God truly wills our salvation.

 

IV.         WE CAN BE THANKFUL FOR GOD’S LISTENING EAR

 

A.   Most individuals enjoy having someone as their “listening ear.”

1.    A person with whom to vent

2.    A person who will listen to their sorrows

3.    A person who will listen to their confessions of wrong

4.    A person who will allow them to speak freely about any subject

 

B.   NOTE:  These individuals are not easy to find in life.

1.    We often refer to them as a “best friend.”

2.    Others cannot be trusted. 

Others do not manifest they care.

Others will use their knowledge of us against us.

Others will quickly judge and condemn.

Others will try to solve our problems.

 

C.   God is a listening ear.

1.    1 Peter 3:12

 

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers…

 

2.    If you do not think you can take anything to God in prayer, just take a few days and read the psalms.  Many of the psalms contain David’s cries to his heavenly Father.

a.    He took his doubts to God (Ps. 22:1).

b.    He took his weakness to God (Ps. 6:2)

c.    He took his fears to God (Ps. 18:4)

d.    He took his sins to God (Ps. 51:1-4).

e.    He took his enemies to God (Ps. 7:6).

f.     He took his rejections to God (Ps. 41:9).

 

D.   There is absolutely nothing that we cannot take to our heavenly Father (1 Pet. 5:7).

 

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

 

V.           WE CAN BE THANKFUL FOR GOD’S LIFE

 

A.   God is life, that is, it is part of His nature (Ps. 36:9).

 

For with thee is the fountain of life…

 

B.   There are three types of life God has provided for man.

1.    Physical life (Gen. 2:7)

 

And the Lord God formed man out of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

 

a.    Very few people have ever said that they wished they were never born.

b.    Life is something that, even the atheist, is glad to possess.

 

2.    Spiritual life

a.    When man yields to sin, he faces spiritual death.

b.    God did not want man to die in his sins.  Therefore, he provided him spiritual life in Jesus Christ

1)    “In him was life…” (John 1:4).

2)    “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

3)    “I am the resurrection and the life:  he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).

 

3.    Eternal life

a.    John 3:15

 

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

 

b.    Romans 6:23

 

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

c.    Titus 3:7

 

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   God Himself gives us a lot to be thankful for.

 

B.   We have only touched the hem of the garment.

1.    His power

2.    His providence

3.    His goodness

4.    His immutability

5.    His comfort

6.    His faithfulness

7.    His holiness

8.    His justice

 

C.   As we enter into this week of celebrating the holiday of Thanksgiving, let’s not only be thankful to God; let be thankful for God.