Red Barn Walk through Bethlehem: December 7th, 8th and 14th, 15th
Lets Pray:
This is Thanksgiving weekend all across the United States of America and anywhere in the world Americans find themselves stationed or living.
When we think about Thanksgiving today we think about the 4 Fs: Food, Family, Friends, Football.
Regardless of your opinion about some of the traditional dishes, Cranberry sauce, bread stuffing and turkey meat in general. Most people set aside time to meet with family and friends to celebrate.
This morning as I was waking up the Lord impressed in my heart to speak this morning about Thankfulness and how we can guard our hearts against un-thankfulness in our hearts.
**Lets turn to God’s word this morning and hear what God is speaking to us about Thanksgiving and the action of being thankful.
I want to start with several scriptures from the Old Testament:
Turn to Gen 3:22
And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, H3027 and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever
**In this passage of scripture we are introduced for the first time to a very primitive Hebrew word and that word is the word YAD. The word YAD is the word for Hand.
I want you to see that in this context God is speaking about an action that Adam may do with his hand of is own free will. That is to use his hand to do something that would be selfish and trap man in a sinful state, separated from God but physically living forever.
You may say Pastor Jon why are you telling us about Adams hand in a message about Thanksgiving? My friends the reason I am speaking to you about Adams hand is the origin of the biblical Hebrew word for being Thankful and Thanksgiving comes from this root word YAD, Hebrew for “hand” and word for thankfulness describes what we do with our “Hand”
Hand hand (of man) strength, power (fig.)
Before we go any further we need to pause and understand and appreciate our hands.
: The human hand is considered an amazing tool because of its incredible dexterity, allowing for a wide range of precise movements, thanks to its opposable thumb, which enables us to grasp and manipulate objects with great skill, making it essential for performing complex tasks in everyday life, from writing to building things.
- Opposable thumb:
The most crucial feature, allowing the thumb to touch each finger, providing exceptional grip and manipulation capabilities.
- Fine motor control:
The intricate muscle and tendon system in the hand allows for delicate movements and precise control.
- Sensory feedback:
The high concentration of nerve endings in the fingertips provides a detailed sense of touch, crucial for object recognition and manipulation.
- Adaptability:
The hand can adjust its shape to grip objects of varying sizes and textures.
- Creative and construction advantage:
The human hand's design is considered a key factor in human’s ability to develop complex tools and technologies
Psalm 139:14
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
***This word for Praise found here in Psalms 139 is the word for Thanksgiving and is speaks of God’s amazing creation that is you. A human being.
***The first point of the message today: God created mankind with the human utility to be independent and not express thanksgiving.
This is a very important point because it is foundational to being thankful and giving thanks when we recognize that it is are willful action and decision to express thankfulness.
Let’s go back to our Hebrew lesson and I will put these pieces together for you:
The Hebrew word YAD= hand….. Now hold up your hand and say YAD. I want you to show off your YAD this morning. You have an amazing YAD. Almost everything you do for yourself you do with your YAD.
The next word I want to introduce to you is the word: YADA.
literally, to use (i.e. hold out) the hand; physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the hands):—cast (out), (make) confess(-ion), praise, shoot, (give) thank(-ful, -s, -sgiving).
***The first point of the message today: God created mankind with the human utility to be independent and not express thanksgiving.
***The 2nd point of the Message today: What you do with your hands (strength) is how you express either selfishness or thankfulness.
Summary:
- YAD is my Hand
- YADA is me putting forth my hand in praise and reverence and thanksgiving.
- TODA is giving voice to my action of extended hand of praise and thanksgiving.
That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, H8426 and tell of all thy wondrous works.
Offer unto God thanksgiving; H8426 and pay thy vows unto the most High:
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. H8426
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, H8426 and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, H8426 and will call upon the name of the LORD.
Tools
Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; H8426 sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
***The first point of the message today: God created mankind with the human utility to be independent and not express thanksgiving.
***The 2nd point of the Message today: What you do with your hands (strength) is how you express either selfishness or thankfulness.
**Now is the point in the Message where we pivot and look at the application of Thankfulness in biblical example and context:
I was at the Skeens House in South West VA for Thanksgiving with Beverly’s family. Walking up on the mountain behind their house and listening to Deuteronomy:
Deuteronomy 8
1 All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers.
2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.
4 Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.
5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee.
**The 3rd point of the Message today: The best way to be thankful is to remember what God has done for you.
6 Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.
7 For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;
8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;
9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.
10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.
11 Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:
12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;
14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;
15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;
16 Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;
17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
18 But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
19 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.
20 As the nations which the Lord destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord your God.
In Closing I want to take you to the New Testament and introduce you to the Greek word for Thankfulness:
Eucharisteō
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. G2170
It comes from the root word EU pronounced yoo
- to be well off, fare well, prosper
- acting well
His lord said unto him, Well done, G2095 thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: G2095 but me ye have not always.
And he said unto him, Well, G2095 thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
Eucharisteō
to be grateful, i.e. (actively) to express gratitude (towards); specially, to say grace at a meal:—(give) thank(-ful, -s).
Look at our Saviour being thankful and by example showing us how to live a life of Thanksgiving
And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, G2168 and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
Tools
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, G2168 and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
Tools
And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, G2168 and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.
Paul wrote in 1 Thess 5:18
In every thing give thanks: G2168 for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Revelation 11:15-19
King James Version
15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail
***The first point of the message today: God created mankind with the human utility to be independent and not express thanksgiving.
***The 2nd point of the Message today: What you do with your hands (strength) is how you express either selfishness or thankfulness.
**The 3rd point of the Message today: The best way to be thankful is to remember what God has done for you.