Warren D. Carter
Filipino Fellowship – Wien
27.Nov.99
Real Thanksgiving
read Ps 50:7-15 + 23
“O My people, listen as I speak. … I am God, your God! I have no complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt offerings you constantly bring to My altar. But I want no more bulls from your barns; I want no more goats from your pens. For all the animals of the forest are Mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. Every bird of the mountains and all the animals of the field belong to Me. If I were hungry, I would not mention it to you, for all the world is Mine and everything in it. I don’t need the bulls you sacrifice; I don’t need the blood of goats. What I want instead is your true thanks to God; I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High. Trust Me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give Me glory. … But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors Me. If you keep to My path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”
So what can we give thanks to God for here and now?
Probably 1000’s of praise reports and words of thanks could be found today …
but let’s look at just a few simple items that we can all be thankful for:
The Body of Christ Rom 1:8-9a+12
Happenings/ events/ circumstances in life I Thess 5:16-18
Answers to prayer Ps 116:1-2/ 91:14-15
Never leaving nor forsaking us Heb 13:5/ Deut 31:6+8
Kindness and goodness and mercy of God Ps 111:1-10
Salvation Eph 2:1-10
Thanksgiving ‘99
27.Nov.99
The Body of Christ Romans 1:8-9a+12
Let me say first of all that your faith in God is becoming known throughout the world. How I thank God through Jesus Christ for each one of you. God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God … I’m eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other.
Happenings/ events/ circumstances in life I Thess 5:16-18
Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Answers to prayer Ps 116:1-2/ 91:14-15
I love the Lord because He hears and answers my prayers. Because He bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I have breath!
The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love Me. I will protect those who trust in My name. When they call on Me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them.
Never leaving nor forsaking us Hebrews 13:5/ Deut 31:6+8
Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,
“I will never fail you. I will never forsake you.”
Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid! … The Lord your God will go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you. … Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord is the one who goes before you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor forsake you.
Kindness and goodness and mercy of God Ps 111:1-10
Praise the Lord!
I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with His godly people.
How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in Him should ponder them.
Everything He does reveals His glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails.
Who can forget the wonders He performs?
How gracious and merciful is our Lord!
He gives food to those who trust Him; He always remembers His covenant.
He has shown His great power to His people by giving them the lands of other nations.
All He does is just and good, and all His commandments are trustworthy.
They are forever true, to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.
He has paid a full ransom for His people.
He has guaranteed His covenant with them forever. What a holy, awe-inspiring name He has!
Reverence for the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. The rewards of wisdom come to all who obey Him.
Praise His name forever!
Salvation Eph 2:1-10
Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God’s anger just like everyone else.
But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s special favor that you have been saved!) For He raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with Him in the heavenly realms — all because we are one with Christ Jesus. And so God can always point to us as examples of the incredible wealth of His favor and kindness toward us, as shown in all He has done for us through Christ Jesus.
God saved you by His special favor when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.