Dedicated To The Men of God Who Preach the Word of God As It
Is To Men As They Are
"Preach The Word"
The Attitude Of Thanks
"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"
(Ephesians 5:20)
Thanksgiving Day began with the Pilgrims of the Plymouth Colony. In 1621, Governor Bradford appointed a day of thanksgiving - - a day of feasting and expressing gratitude. In 1863, President Lincoln issued a proclamation that the last Thursday in November be set apart as a day of prayer and thanksgiving. This day was changed, by Congress in 1941. to the fourth Thursday in November. For Christians, thanksgiving should not end there, but should be a constant attitude of the soul. There should be thanksgiving for:
1. ADVERSITY ENDED
Just as our forefathers came to the new world to escape the bondage of those who would lord their faith and bring them under the bondage of a state religion, so we, as Christians, have fled to the Lord Jesus and have been set free from our enemy, the devil. When we were servants of sin and Satan, we were the enemies of God. Now, we have been reconciled to God by the blood of the cross. Thank God, the war is over. We are at peace with Him.
2. HARDSHIPS ENDURED
For the Pilgrims, the road to freedom was not easy. There were many hardships to endure. So it is with the Christian. Even though the price of our redemption was paid by the sacrifice of Jesus, there are many hardships to be endured by God*s children on our journey to heaven. We must always realize that without divine strength, we would surely perish along the way. It is Jesus who causes us always to endure hardness as good soldiers of His (see 2 Tim. 2:3).
3. BLESSINGS ENJOYED
When our forefathers met for that first Thanksgiving Day, it was not only to give thanks to God for the end of adversity and for being able to endure hardness, but it was also to thank Him for the blessings of food, clothing, shelter, and the freedoms they enjoyed. It will take eternity for the Christian to thank God for all the blessings we have enjoyed and will enjoy forever with Him.
A Mini-Sermon From Billy Bryant
Marion, NC-USA
