? (Theme Song) ? ?
Jesus is worthy... ?
00:00:00.56\00:00:07.06
? oh yes, he's
worthy... ? ? worthy of all... ?
00:00:07.06\00:00:14.96
? all the praise... ?
Pastor Byrd: Take your Bibles
00:00:14.96\00:00:21.36
and go with me to the
book of I Thessalonians,
00:00:21.36\00:00:25.20
Chapter 5, and
we're going to verse 15.
00:00:25.20\00:00:30.40
Not going to
keep you long today.
00:00:30.40\00:00:32.40
I Thessalonians 5, "See that
none render evil for evil unto
00:00:32.40\00:00:39.43
any man; but ever follow
that which is good, both among
00:00:39.43\00:00:44.03
yourselves, and to all men."
00:00:44.03\00:00:46.96
Paul says, "Rejoice evermore.
00:00:46.96\00:00:50.73
Pray without ceasing.
00:00:50.73\00:00:53.73
In every thing give thanks:
for this is the will of God
00:00:53.73\00:00:57.16
in Christ Jesus concerning you.
00:00:57.16\00:01:00.60
Quench not the Spirit.
00:01:00.60\00:01:03.86
Despise not prophesying.
00:01:03.86\00:01:06.03
Prove all things; hold
fast that which is good.
00:01:06.03\00:01:09.00
Abstain from all
appearance of evil.
00:01:09.00\00:01:12.00
And the very God of peace
sanctify you wholly; and I pray
00:01:12.00\00:01:17.10
God your whole spirit and soul
and body be preserved blameless
00:01:17.10\00:01:20.80
unto the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ." With the holiday
00:01:20.80\00:01:27.33
Thanksgiving season
I zero in on verse 18.
00:01:27.33\00:01:32.16
"In every thing give thanks:
for this is the will of God in
00:01:32.16\00:01:38.26
Christ Jesus concerning you."
00:01:38.26\00:01:43.60
Paul was en route to
Rome with a layover in Corinth
00:01:43.60\00:01:46.10
when he wrote this
letter to the young church
00:01:46.10\00:01:48.76
at Thessalonica.
00:01:48.76\00:01:50.56
In this chapter on Christian
deportment, Paul offers several
00:01:50.56\00:01:54.43
titbits on how Christians
ought to conduct themselves
00:01:54.43\00:01:57.63
with one another.
00:01:57.63\00:01:59.13
In the text he offers
eight --how many, everybody?
00:01:59.13\00:02:02.30
Eight Christian
principles for us to live by.
00:02:02.30\00:02:05.96
But today we
only deal with four.
00:02:05.96\00:02:08.90
First, Paul says in verse
15, don't render evil for evil
00:02:08.90\00:02:13.26
unto anyone.
00:02:13.26\00:02:14.26
In other words, you can't live
a Christian life based on the
00:02:14.26\00:02:19.43
philosophy of payback.
00:02:19.43\00:02:20.73
Which means you can't go around
trying to get even with folk
00:02:20.73\00:02:26.03
who have wronged you.
00:02:26.03\00:02:27.76
Two wrongs never make a right.
00:02:27.76\00:02:30.63
If you kick my dog that
does not give me license
00:02:30.63\00:02:34.30
to kick your cat.
00:02:34.30\00:02:36.16
Christianity is not an eye for
an eye or a tooth for a tooth,
00:02:36.16\00:02:39.70
because an eye for an eye or
a tooth for a tooth will leave
00:02:39.70\00:02:42.26
somebody
snaggletoothed or blind.
00:02:42.26\00:02:45.33
If you're a follower of Christ,
you must return good for evil.
00:02:45.33\00:02:51.60
Do I have a
witness in this place?
00:02:51.60\00:02:53.60
Number two, Paul says, Rejoice.
00:02:53.60\00:02:55.70
He says what, everybody?
00:02:55.70\00:02:57.50
Rejoice evermore.
00:02:57.50\00:02:59.33
Now, quickly, I
don't know about you,
00:02:59.33\00:03:02.60
but I don't have time
for a religion that won't
00:03:02.60\00:03:05.13
let me rejoice.
00:03:05.13\00:03:06.60
When I come to church, I
don't come for foolishness.
00:03:06.60\00:03:10.30
When I come to church, I
don't come for somberness,
00:03:10.30\00:03:14.10
I don't come for mess.
00:03:14.10\00:03:15.13
I don't come for
despair, despondency, defeatism
00:03:15.13\00:03:18.53
or negativity.
00:03:18.53\00:03:19.63
You get enough of
that during the week.
00:03:19.63\00:03:22.16
I come to church to rejoice.
00:03:22.16\00:03:24.66
This is the day that the
Lord has made, I will rejoice
00:03:24.66\00:03:29.63
and be glad.
00:03:29.63\00:03:30.63
I come to praise
the name of Jesus.
00:03:30.63\00:03:33.06
I come to magnify
the name of Jesus.
00:03:33.06\00:03:35.66
I come to lift
up the name of Jesus
00:03:35.66\00:03:37.66
and if something is right
and it ought to be affirmed,
00:03:37.66\00:03:40.50
somebody ought to say something.
00:03:40.50\00:03:42.83
If God's been good to you,
somebody ought to say something.
00:03:42.83\00:03:47.60
If God has blessed you,
somebody ought to say something.
00:03:47.60\00:03:52.30
If God has been your bridge over
troubled waters, somebody ought
00:03:52.30\00:03:56.56
to say something.
00:03:56.56\00:03:57.83
If God has helped you raise
those children by yourself,
00:03:57.83\00:04:02.30
somebody ought to say something.
00:04:02.30\00:04:03.90
Because if God has kept
you, if God has raised you,
00:04:03.90\00:04:07.66
if God has rescued you,
if God has delivered you,
00:04:07.66\00:04:10.70
if God has redeemed
you, somebody ought to
00:04:10.70\00:04:13.20
say something.
00:04:13.20\00:04:14.20
Somebody is sitting there,
say I don't know what to say.
00:04:14.20\00:04:16.93
If God woke you up this morning,
clothed you in your right mind,
00:04:16.93\00:04:21.16
somebody ought to say something.
00:04:21.16\00:04:23.00
Let the redeemed
of the Lord say so.
00:04:23.00\00:04:26.80
Rejoice evermore.
00:04:26.80\00:04:28.33
Some of us sit in service
all day long, never smile, never
00:04:28.33\00:04:33.66
sing, never pat our foot.
00:04:33.66\00:04:36.60
You know folk pat they feet.
00:04:36.60\00:04:38.03
Come on, say Amen.
00:04:38.03\00:04:39.43
Never moan, never
groan, never say Amen,
00:04:39.43\00:04:42.46
never do anything.
00:04:42.46\00:04:43.76
I could not go
anywhere for three hours
00:04:43.76\00:04:46.36
and just sit
still and do nothing.
00:04:46.36\00:04:48.50
Paul says, Rejoice.
00:04:48.50\00:04:49.80
Paul says what, everybody?
00:04:49.80\00:04:52.06
And be what?
00:04:52.06\00:04:53.63
Glad.
00:04:53.63\00:04:54.70
God desires that
his people be joyful.
00:04:54.70\00:04:57.13
Let me be honest.
00:04:57.13\00:04:58.13
As Christians we
should be the happiest people
00:04:58.13\00:05:00.20
in the world.
00:05:00.20\00:05:01.20
Christians
shouldn't have long faces.
00:05:01.20\00:05:03.20
Christians shouldn't
have mean dispositions.
00:05:03.20\00:05:05.30
Christians shouldn't
have cruel characters.
00:05:05.30\00:05:07.76
Philippians 4:4 says,
"Rejoice in the Lord always:
00:05:07.76\00:05:11.73
and again I say, Rejoice."
00:05:11.73\00:05:14.20
Bless the Lord, O my soul
and all that is within me,
00:05:14.20\00:05:17.93
bless his holy name.
00:05:17.93\00:05:19.36
I will bless the Lord at
all times and his praise shall
00:05:19.36\00:05:23.83
continually be in my mouth.
00:05:23.83\00:05:25.70
My soul shall make a
boast of the Lord and the facts,
00:05:25.70\00:05:29.26
humble shall hear
and be glad thereof.
00:05:29.26\00:05:31.26
O magnify the Lord
with me and let us exalt
00:05:31.26\00:05:34.36
his name together.
00:05:34.36\00:05:35.36
Paul says, Rejoice evermore.
00:05:35.36\00:05:38.16
But then number three,
Paul says, pray without what,
00:05:38.16\00:05:40.63
everybody?
00:05:40.63\00:05:41.63
Come on, pray without what?
00:05:41.63\00:05:43.46
Now, there's something
that life has taught me.
00:05:43.46\00:05:46.23
Life has taught me how to pray.
00:05:46.23\00:05:47.80
Anybody know what
I'm talking about?
00:05:47.80\00:05:50.46
Somebody knows that
if you're a child of God,
00:05:50.46\00:05:53.56
you will learn,
Sure enough, how to pray.
00:05:53.56\00:05:56.00
When you live long
enough, young people,
00:05:56.00\00:05:58.16
you will learn how to pray.
00:05:58.16\00:05:59.50
You may not be able to have all
these fancy pancy cliches, but
00:05:59.50\00:06:03.36
somebody knows what it's like to
go in your secret closet, in the
00:06:03.36\00:06:07.10
midnight hour, and call
on the name of the Lord.
00:06:07.10\00:06:10.93
When you live life long enough
you will learn how to pray.
00:06:10.93\00:06:14.96
There should be a constant
spirit of prayer breathing
00:06:14.96\00:06:17.83
through the Christian's life.
00:06:17.83\00:06:19.40
You need to understand
today, the devil is always busy.
00:06:19.40\00:06:23.00
I said, the
devil is always busy.
00:06:23.00\00:06:25.50
When you sleep,
the devil is busy.
00:06:25.50\00:06:27.83
When you're
awake, the devil is busy.
00:06:27.83\00:06:29.96
When you think you're
at your spiritual best,
00:06:29.96\00:06:32.30
the devil is busy.
00:06:32.30\00:06:33.53
When you're at
your spiritual worst,
00:06:33.53\00:06:35.53
the devil is busy.
00:06:35.53\00:06:36.73
When you've got your
guard up, the devil is busy.
00:06:36.73\00:06:39.16
When you've got your
guard down, the devil is busy.
00:06:39.16\00:06:41.66
Bottom line, the devil is busy.
00:06:41.66\00:06:43.66
Satan is on the loose,
the devil is never satisfied
00:06:45.13\00:06:47.56
with peace prevailing.
00:06:47.56\00:06:49.86
Satan is the author of confusion
and whenever he can get
00:06:49.86\00:06:53.63
a foot in, he will.
00:06:53.63\00:06:55.33
That's why Paul
says, pray without ceasing.
00:06:55.33\00:06:59.10
When you pray the
devil will leave you alone.
00:06:59.10\00:07:02.46
You've got to
pray without ceasing.
00:07:02.46\00:07:04.93
That means, don't stop praying.
00:07:04.93\00:07:06.66
Where there's much prayer,
there's much what, everybody?
00:07:06.66\00:07:09.70
Where there's little prayer,
there's little what, everybody?
00:07:09.70\00:07:12.80
And where there's no
prayer, there's no what?
00:07:12.80\00:07:15.33
I'm a witness.
00:07:15.33\00:07:16.33
Prayer still changes things.
00:07:16.33\00:07:18.80
Pray for your family.
00:07:18.80\00:07:20.63
Pray for the one
sitting next to you.
00:07:20.63\00:07:22.73
Pray for the elders.
00:07:22.73\00:07:24.26
Pray for the deacons.
00:07:24.26\00:07:25.46
Pray for the ushers,
they've got to put up with us.
00:07:25.46\00:07:28.33
Pray for the deaconess.
00:07:28.33\00:07:30.10
And, God knows,
pray for the pastor.
00:07:30.10\00:07:32.73
And while you're saying Amen
and praying for everybody else,
00:07:32.73\00:07:34.73
pray for yourself.
00:07:34.73\00:07:35.73
And then fourth, and finally,
Paul says, in every thing
00:07:35.73\00:07:44.06
give what, everybody?
00:07:44.06\00:07:46.70
For this is the will
of God in Christ Jesus
00:07:46.70\00:07:51.76
concerning you.
00:07:51.76\00:07:52.76
Now, when I was a child,
because I'm an old man now,
00:07:52.76\00:07:56.70
forty years old, I'm
an old man, I was taught
00:07:56.70\00:08:01.23
to say, Elder Thomas,
when I was a little boy,
00:08:01.23\00:08:03.50
thank you.
00:08:03.50\00:08:05.43
When somebody did something
for you, I was taught to say
00:08:05.43\00:08:12.03
thank you.
00:08:12.03\00:08:13.50
And if you didn't,
Sister Williams, it was
00:08:13.50\00:08:16.20
a reflection on your home
training and your upbringing.
00:08:16.20\00:08:19.56
And because my Daddy didn't
believe in being embarrassed,
00:08:19.56\00:08:23.86
I had better learn how to
say thank you in response to
00:08:23.86\00:08:26.76
people's kindness
because in his house a hard hand
00:08:26.76\00:08:29.76
made a soft bottom.
00:08:29.76\00:08:30.76
Somebody knows
what I'm talking about.
00:08:30.76\00:08:32.76
He said, you may not have
money but you can have manners.
00:08:32.76\00:08:35.86
You may not be rich but
you don't have to be rude.
00:08:35.86\00:08:38.43
You may be poor
but you can be polite.
00:08:38.43\00:08:41.40
Everybody can say thank you.
00:08:41.40\00:08:43.00
Do I have a
witness in this place?
00:08:43.00\00:08:45.00
But I've gotten
a little older now.
00:08:45.00\00:08:47.00
When I take folk out to dinner,
church folk, "Stanlieo's"
00:08:47.00\00:08:51.26
and I see people
sit at dinner tables
00:08:55.40\00:08:58.30
out at restaurants, invited to
go out, and people will pay for
00:08:58.30\00:09:02.40
your entire meal and folk will
get up and never say thank you.
00:09:02.40\00:09:09.93
I mean, people get their
meal paid for. Young people,
00:09:09.93\00:09:12.16
when you go to a
church member's house
00:09:12.16\00:09:14.16
on Sabbath, dinner,
when you leave the house,
00:09:14.16\00:09:16.16
you say thank you.
00:09:16.16\00:09:18.93
Take folk out to dinner,
they don't say thank you,
00:09:18.93\00:09:21.43
but, you know what,
I keep a record of it.
00:09:21.43\00:09:27.16
I'm not going to
lie, I've got my list.
00:09:27.16\00:09:29.16
Come on, say Amen.
00:09:29.16\00:09:30.40
That determines who I'm going
to let go out with me again.
00:09:30.40\00:09:32.63
Do I have a
witness in this place?
00:09:32.63\00:09:34.63
But we live in a world
that has been conditioned
00:09:34.63\00:09:38.63
to be unthankful.
00:09:38.63\00:09:41.26
This whole type of consumer
mentality that most of us live
00:09:41.26\00:09:43.86
by where we just take
the attitude of entitlement,
00:09:43.86\00:09:46.96
that people owe
what they give to you.
00:09:46.96\00:09:50.13
But nobody owes you anything.
00:09:50.13\00:09:52.83
It's that same kind of
entitlement, that same kind
00:09:52.83\00:09:56.53
of ungrateful
mentality that we demonstrate
00:09:56.53\00:09:59.50
toward God.
00:09:59.50\00:10:00.50
That God owes me.
00:10:00.50\00:10:01.50
That God needs me.
00:10:01.50\00:10:03.50
That God must do for me.
00:10:04.83\00:10:07.10
But God doesn't have
to do a thing for me.
00:10:07.10\00:10:09.90
God doesn't have to do
another thing for me in my life.
00:10:09.90\00:10:13.13
In fact, if God--I feel like
preaching today--if God doesn't
00:10:13.13\00:10:17.10
do anything else for me,
God's already done enough.
00:10:17.10\00:10:20.40
Two thousand years ago Jesus
went to Calvary to save a wretch
00:10:20.40\00:10:27.40
like you and me.
00:10:27.40\00:10:28.80
Has God done
anything for anybody?
00:10:28.80\00:10:32.06
Has God been good to anybody?
00:10:32.06\00:10:34.40
I think there's 50 people
who don't mind praising the name
00:10:34.40\00:10:37.40
of Jesus for what God has done.
00:10:37.40\00:10:39.80
Paul says, in every thing
00:10:39.80\00:10:42.66
give thanks.
00:10:44.93\00:10:46.20
This means in the good
times, praise his name.
00:10:46.20\00:10:49.60
In the bad times, do the same.
00:10:49.60\00:10:52.10
In every thing
give the King of Kings
00:10:52.10\00:10:55.26
all the thanks.
00:10:55.26\00:10:56.26
You see, it is no test
of faith to say thank you
00:10:56.26\00:10:59.06
when the sun is shining.
00:10:59.06\00:11:01.66
It is not great character
when everything you touch
00:11:01.66\00:11:04.00
turns to gold,
when every idea of yours
00:11:04.00\00:11:07.00
is a stroke of genius.
00:11:07.00\00:11:08.80
That won't make
any face for you.
00:11:08.80\00:11:11.70
You see, it's easy to give God
face when things are going well.
00:11:11.70\00:11:14.26
It's convenient to be grateful
when things are going great.
00:11:14.26\00:11:16.63
When all is going
well in your life,
00:11:16.63\00:11:18.70
it's easy to say thank you.
00:11:18.70\00:11:22.16
But Paul says, in
every thing give thanks.
00:11:22.16\00:11:27.86
Which means when
things go wrong, thank God.
00:11:27.86\00:11:32.60
When your world turns
upside down, thank God.
00:11:32.60\00:11:37.43
When sickness comes
in your body, thank God.
00:11:37.43\00:11:41.60
When death comes on
your doorstep, thank God.
00:11:41.60\00:11:45.70
When your enemies and your
foes come to eat of your flesh,
00:11:45.70\00:11:48.90
thank God.
00:11:48.90\00:11:50.26
When people talk about you,
thank God, because now you know
00:11:50.26\00:11:53.73
who your real friends are.
00:11:53.73\00:11:55.50
When your employer comes on your
job with a pink slip, thank God,
00:11:55.50\00:11:58.80
because God must have something
better for you up the road.
00:11:58.80\00:12:01.73
When hard times put you down,
when hard times knock you down,
00:12:01.73\00:12:06.16
when rough times hold you
down, thank God in every thing.
00:12:06.16\00:12:11.03
In what, everybody?
00:12:11.03\00:12:12.86
Give thanks now.
00:12:12.86\00:12:13.86
Let me tell you something.
00:12:13.86\00:12:15.46
Make it practical.
00:12:15.46\00:12:18.06
If you have a bad
day at work, be thankful.
00:12:18.06\00:12:22.16
Appreciate that you have a job.
00:12:22.16\00:12:23.56
Some people don't.
00:12:23.56\00:12:26.13
When you can't pay
your bills, be thankful.
00:12:26.13\00:12:30.66
At least you're not one
of your bill collectors.
00:12:30.66\00:12:32.66
Do I have a
witness in this place?
00:12:32.66\00:12:34.80
When you're in Oakwood
Church, sitting next to somebody
00:12:34.80\00:12:40.36
who can't sing, be thankful.
00:12:40.36\00:12:45.36
At least you have ears that
can hear and you're not deaf.
00:12:45.36\00:12:48.20
Come on, say Amen.
00:12:48.20\00:12:50.03
If you look in the
mirror and you see gray hair,
00:12:50.03\00:12:53.30
be thankful.
00:12:53.30\00:12:54.30
Think about cancer patients
taking chemotherapy who only
00:12:54.30\00:12:57.50
wishes for any kind
of hair, any color hair.
00:12:57.50\00:12:59.96
When you find yourself in
the grocery line and you're the
00:12:59.96\00:13:03.16
recipient of poor
customer service, be thankful.
00:13:03.16\00:13:05.33
Think about the people who
have no food at all to eat.
00:13:05.33\00:13:08.73
When you realize how much it
takes to take care of a house,
00:13:08.73\00:13:12.53
be thankful you have a house.
00:13:12.53\00:13:14.43
Think of those folk
who wish they had a house
00:13:14.43\00:13:16.46
to take care of.
00:13:16.46\00:13:17.46
When you feel like complaining
because you have to walk a long
00:13:17.46\00:13:19.56
distance from your car
when you park at Oakwood Church,
00:13:19.56\00:13:22.43
be thankful.
00:13:22.43\00:13:23.43
Think of what it
must be like if you didn't
00:13:23.43\00:13:25.70
have feet to walk.
00:13:25.70\00:13:26.70
When you get irritated
by people's anger, apathy,
00:13:26.70\00:13:29.66
ignorance, bitterness or
insecurities, be thankful.
00:13:29.66\00:13:32.60
Things could be worse.
00:13:32.60\00:13:33.86
You could be one of them.
00:13:33.86\00:13:35.86
When you think everything
in your world is terrible
00:13:39.16\00:13:42.06
and you want to give up,
think about all the people
00:13:42.06\00:13:45.46
who have been told they
only have a certain amount
00:13:45.46\00:13:47.50
of time to live.
00:13:47.50\00:13:48.50
They don't want to
give up, they want to live.
00:13:48.50\00:13:52.46
You ought to be thankful.
00:13:52.46\00:13:55.10
In everything, give thanks.
00:13:55.10\00:13:58.70
Ellen White says in
Ministry of Healing,
00:13:58.70\00:14:00.76
I was reading last
night, she says that even though
00:14:00.76\00:14:02.76
things which
appear to be against us
00:14:02.76\00:14:04.76
may work out for our good,
because God will not ask us
00:14:04.76\00:14:08.30
to be thankful for
that which would harm us.
00:14:08.30\00:14:12.13
The text continues, in
every thing give thanks.
00:14:15.30\00:14:21.53
For this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus concerning you.
00:14:21.53\00:14:26.70
Let me break this down quickly.
00:14:26.70\00:14:28.10
The word for this, everybody
say "for this." Make reference
00:14:28.10\00:14:34.53
to this thankful spirit
The phrase "is the will of God"
00:14:34.53\00:14:39.00
makes reference to God's desire.
00:14:39.00\00:14:41.80
So, when we put
these two phrases together,
00:14:41.80\00:14:45.30
what we're saying is
our thankful spirits are
00:14:45.30\00:14:50.23
God's desire.
00:14:50.23\00:14:52.00
Our thankful
spirits are God's desire.
00:14:52.00\00:14:59.60
In other words, God
loves it when we thank him.
00:14:59.60\00:15:04.26
God loves it when we praise him.
00:15:04.26\00:15:07.26
God is happy when we thank him.
00:15:07.26\00:15:10.13
God is pleased
when we thank him.
00:15:10.13\00:15:13.36
God inhabits our
thanks and praise.
00:15:13.36\00:15:16.40
When we praise
God, demons tremble.
00:15:16.40\00:15:19.46
When we praise
God, enemies stumble.
00:15:19.46\00:15:22.36
When we praise
God, the devil grumbles.
00:15:22.36\00:15:25.43
Ellen White says men are too
sparing of giving thanks to God.
00:15:25.43\00:15:29.06
She says to give
thanks to God in your heart
00:15:29.06\00:15:31.83
and with your voice.
00:15:31.83\00:15:34.46
Our thankful spirits are God's
desire for this is the will
00:15:34.46\00:15:37.03
of God in Christ Jesus.
00:15:37.03\00:15:38.63
When you're in Christ
Jesus, you're in God's will.
00:15:38.63\00:15:41.13
When you're ungrateful,
unappreciative, unthankful,
00:15:41.13\00:15:43.73
angry and mad,
you're not fulfilling
00:15:43.73\00:15:45.73
God's wi.
00:15:45.73\00:15:47.23
But Paul's not finished.
00:15:47.23\00:15:48.70
Paul continues in the text.
00:15:48.70\00:15:50.00
He says, "In every thing give
thanks: for this is the will of
00:15:50.00\00:15:52.66
God in Christ Jesus concerning
you." But it's God by the gift
00:15:52.66\00:16:00.13
of his son, Jesus
Christ, has laid you,
00:16:00.13\00:16:03.53
has laid me, has laid
us under the obligation
00:16:03.53\00:16:06.86
of perpetual or
continual thanksgiving.
00:16:06.86\00:16:09.96
Which means our whole
lives, not just during
00:16:09.96\00:16:12.90
Thanksgiving season, but
our whole lives ought to be
00:16:12.90\00:16:16.13
continual thanks
offerings for the blessings
00:16:16.13\00:16:18.80
of Jesus Christ.
00:16:18.80\00:16:19.83
Every day is a
day of thanksgiving.
00:16:19.83\00:16:23.23
Take the time to
glorify the Lord today.
00:16:23.23\00:16:27.10
That's why I bless the
Lord at all times and his praise
00:16:27.10\00:16:30.53
is continually in my mouth.
00:16:30.53\00:16:32.70
Notice that Paul in the text
tells us to offer thanksgiving
00:16:32.70\00:16:37.26
right after he tells us
to pray without ceasing.
00:16:37.26\00:16:42.53
Which means thanksgiving
must also accompany praise.
00:16:42.53\00:16:47.86
Thanksgiving springs
out of faithful prayer.
00:16:47.86\00:16:51.30
Faithful prayer brings
us into the presence of God.
00:16:51.30\00:16:54.33
And when we come
into God's presence,
00:16:54.33\00:16:57.76
we must give God thanks.
00:16:57.76\00:17:00.10
That's why, Elder, when you read
this morning, "Make a joyful
00:17:00.10\00:17:03.00
noise unto the
Lord, all ye lands.
00:17:03.00\00:17:05.73
Serve the Lord with gladness:
come before his presence
00:17:05.73\00:17:09.33
with singing.
00:17:09.33\00:17:10.33
Know ye that the Lord he is
God: it is he that hath made us,
00:17:10.33\00:17:13.36
and not we
ourselves; we are his people,
00:17:13.36\00:17:15.73
and the sheep of his pasture.
00:17:15.73\00:17:18.63
Enter into his gates with
thanksgiving, and into his
00:17:18.63\00:17:21.90
courts with praise: be thankful
unto him, and bless his name.
00:17:21.90\00:17:26.40
For the Lord is good; his mercy
is everlasting and his truth
00:17:26.40\00:17:30.80
endureth to all generations."
00:17:30.80\00:17:32.96
You can't enter into
God's presence and not
00:17:32.96\00:17:36.90
give him praise.
00:17:36.90\00:17:37.90
You can't enter into God's
gate and not give him thanks.
00:17:37.90\00:17:44.10
You can't enter into God's
church and not give him thanks.
00:17:44.10\00:17:50.03
You cannot come into
Oakwood University Church
00:17:50.03\00:17:53.90
and not give God thanks.
00:17:53.90\00:17:57.40
Let me give you
a tidbit of love.
00:17:57.40\00:17:59.83
When you come into Oakwood,
when you come into God's house,
00:17:59.83\00:18:05.00
understand this
sanctuary is God's house.
00:18:05.00\00:18:08.30
This sanctuary is
not the gymnasium.
00:18:08.30\00:18:10.76
It's not the skating rink.
00:18:10.76\00:18:12.56
It's not just a
general auditorium.
00:18:12.56\00:18:15.26
This sanctuary is God's house.
00:18:15.26\00:18:17.70
And when you come into
God's house, before you speak to
00:18:17.70\00:18:21.30
anybody, before you see
who's here, before you see who's
00:18:21.30\00:18:25.23
not here, before you see
what's going on, before you get
00:18:25.23\00:18:28.96
comfortable, you
ought to thank God.
00:18:28.96\00:18:31.16
You ought to
bless God and praise God
00:18:31.16\00:18:33.66
for bringing you
into God's presence.
00:18:33.66\00:18:37.73
When you come into his presence
you humble yourselves, you lift
00:18:37.73\00:18:43.53
up holy hands, and
you begin to worship him.
00:18:43.53\00:18:47.73
Thanksgiving-like prayer
should be without ceasing.
00:18:47.73\00:18:50.96
It should be in every thing.
00:18:50.96\00:18:52.60
This is the will of God.
00:18:52.60\00:18:55.66
God wants your life.
00:18:55.66\00:18:56.86
God wants my life.
00:18:56.86\00:18:57.90
God wants our lives to be
lives of joy, lives of unceasing
00:18:57.90\00:19:02.73
prayer, lives of perpetual,
continual thanksgiving.
00:19:02.73\00:19:06.63
In everything give thanks.
00:19:06.63\00:19:10.23
During this Thanksgiving
season we have a lot
00:19:10.23\00:19:19.03
to be thankful for.
00:19:19.03\00:19:22.03
I said, during this
Thanksgiving, we have
00:19:22.03\00:19:27.23
a lot to be thankful for.
00:19:27.23\00:19:31.90
Just to have life,
we should be thankful.
00:19:31.90\00:19:37.23
Just to have strength,
we ought to be thankful.
00:19:37.23\00:19:43.80
Just to have breath,
we ought to be thankful.
00:19:43.80\00:19:48.83
Even though your husband
complains when his dinner's not
00:19:48.83\00:19:51.30
on time, be thankful your
husband is home with you and not
00:19:51.30\00:19:55.10
with somebody else.
00:19:55.10\00:19:57.70
Even though your child is
complaining about doing dishes,
00:19:57.70\00:20:00.50
be thankful because that means
he or she is at home with you
00:20:00.50\00:20:03.43
and not on the
streets somewhere else.
00:20:03.43\00:20:05.76
Even though you have to pay
taxes, be thankful, that means
00:20:05.76\00:20:08.40
you've got a job somewhere.
00:20:08.40\00:20:10.23
Even though you have clothes
that might fit a little tight,
00:20:10.23\00:20:12.66
be thankful because that means
you have enough food to eat.
00:20:12.66\00:20:15.76
Even though you have
piles of laundry, be thankful
00:20:15.76\00:20:18.36
because that means
you have clothes to wear.
00:20:18.36\00:20:20.70
Even though you have a
lawn that needs mowing,
00:20:20.70\00:20:23.46
leaves that need raking,
windows that need cleaning,
00:20:23.46\00:20:26.70
gutters that need fixing,
be thankful you have a home.
00:20:26.70\00:20:30.16
Even though your alarm clock
goes off early in the morning,
00:20:30.16\00:20:33.70
be thankful because that means
somebody is alive, because in
00:20:33.70\00:20:37.43
every thing give thanks.
00:20:37.43\00:20:39.70
Now, Adam was thankful for Eve.
00:20:39.70\00:20:42.06
Noah was thankful for the ark.
00:20:42.06\00:20:45.00
Elijah was thankful for ravens.
00:20:45.00\00:20:47.46
Samson was
thankful for strength.
00:20:47.46\00:20:49.93
Naomi was thankful for Ruth.
00:20:49.93\00:20:52.46
Ruth was thankful for Jesse.
00:20:52.46\00:20:54.26
Esther was
thankful for Mordecai.
00:20:54.26\00:20:56.56
Job was thankful for trials.
00:20:56.56\00:20:58.56
David was thankful for
a pile of smooth stones.
00:20:58.56\00:21:01.30
Solomon was thankful for wisdom.
00:21:01.30\00:21:03.30
Daniel was thankful
for an answer to prayer.
00:21:03.30\00:21:06.13
Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego were thankful for air
00:21:06.13\00:21:09.00
conditioning in
the fiery furnace.
00:21:09.00\00:21:11.06
Ezechiel was
thankful for dry bones.
00:21:11.06\00:21:13.20
Jonah was
thankful for a great fish.
00:21:13.20\00:21:15.26
The blind man at
Jericho was thankful for sight.
00:21:15.26\00:21:18.13
The woman with the issue of
blood was thankful for healing.
00:21:18.13\00:21:21.60
The woman caught in the act of
adultery was thankful for grace
00:21:21.60\00:21:25.40
and mercy.
00:21:25.40\00:21:26.40
The woman whose son died is
thankful for the Resurrection.
00:21:26.40\00:21:29.16
Today, I'm thankful for life.
00:21:29.16\00:21:30.76
I'm thankful for my wife.
00:21:30.76\00:21:32.33
I'm thankful for my church.
00:21:32.33\00:21:34.13
I'm thankful for my children.
00:21:34.13\00:21:35.76
I'm thankful for Jesus.
00:21:35.76\00:21:42.56
And even though we can't have
what we want, we ought to be
00:21:42.56\00:21:47.80
thankful that we
don't get what we deserve.
00:21:47.80\00:21:51.06
The wages of sin is death.
00:21:51.06\00:21:57.20
But the gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ.
00:21:57.20\00:22:03.03
I want to thank God for Jesus.
00:22:03.03\00:22:07.23
Thank God for Jesus' shed blood.
00:22:07.23\00:22:08.86
Thank God for the nail pierced
hands, the nail pierced feet.
00:22:08.86\00:22:13.00
Thank God for the
crown of thorns that he wore
00:22:13.00\00:22:16.76
on his head for me.
00:22:16.76\00:22:18.66
When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of Glory
00:22:18.66\00:22:23.16
died, Jesus paid it all.
00:22:23.16\00:22:25.06
All to him I owe; sin
has left a crimson stain,
00:22:25.06\00:22:29.20
but he washed it white as snow.
00:22:29.20\00:22:31.83
So, rejoice evermore.
00:22:31.83\00:22:32.96
Pray without ceasing.
00:22:32.96\00:22:34.36
Quench not the Spirit.
00:22:34.36\00:22:36.83
Despise not prophesying.
00:22:36.83\00:22:40.86
Prove all things.
00:22:40.86\00:22:42.60
Hold back that which is good.
00:22:42.60\00:22:45.60
Avoid the appearance of evil.
00:22:45.60\00:22:48.56
And in every thing give thanks
for this is the will of God
00:22:48.56\00:22:58.16
in Christ Jesus concerning you.
00:22:58.16\00:23:02.56
Now I'm finished.
00:23:02.56\00:23:05.23
But if we're going to
have a happy Thanksgiving,
00:23:05.23\00:23:08.90
some of us need to
have a holy amnesia and you
00:23:08.90\00:23:14.50
need to forget those
things that have happened
00:23:14.50\00:23:17.13
to you in your past.
00:23:17.13\00:23:20.10
When the devil reminds
you of your past, you remind
00:23:20.10\00:23:23.10
the devil of his future.
00:23:23.10\00:23:25.73
Forgetting those things which
are behind and pressing towards
00:23:25.73\00:23:30.86
those things that are before;
I press toward the mark of the
00:23:30.86\00:23:34.70
high calling of
God in Jesus Christ.
00:23:34.70\00:23:37.43
There are some of us in Oakwood
today who come to this place
00:23:37.43\00:23:42.16
for the specific
reason to worship.
00:23:42.16\00:23:44.43
We have guilt,
though, in our past.
00:23:44.43\00:23:46.96
Some of us are having the very
life strangled out of us because
00:23:46.96\00:23:49.83
of some bad choices
we've made in the past.
00:23:49.83\00:23:52.83
Some of us have been
crippled by the associations
00:23:52.83\00:23:55.16
that we have been
affiliated with in the past.
00:23:55.16\00:23:58.46
And we wish that on this day we
can take, if you will, a magic
00:23:58.46\00:24:02.83
eraser and erase all
the hurts of our past.
00:24:02.83\00:24:12.86
And although we can't do it,
00:24:12.86\00:24:14.86
there is one who can.
00:24:16.33\00:24:19.16
One that can take my bad past
experiences and throw them in
00:24:22.20\00:24:29.23
the depths of the sea.
00:24:29.23\00:24:33.16
And then, as I say all the
time, put up a sign that says
00:24:33.16\00:24:38.50
to the devil,
devil, no fishing allowed.
00:24:38.50\00:24:41.26
Because he was
wounded for my transgressions,
00:24:41.26\00:24:46.20
bruised for my iniquities,
the chastisement of our peace
00:24:46.20\00:24:49.16
was upon him, by
his stripes I am healed.
00:24:49.16\00:24:51.93
In every thing give thanks.
00:24:51.93\00:24:57.76
What is it that God has done in
your life that is so significant
00:24:59.80\00:25:06.60
that every time you
pray you thank God for it?
00:25:06.60\00:25:11.33
What about those times when God
intercepted things in your life
00:25:11.33\00:25:16.86
and you didn't
even know he did it?
00:25:16.86\00:25:19.53
What about those secret moments
when God has been so gracious
00:25:19.53\00:25:23.43
t o you and you've
been mad at God because God
00:25:23.43\00:25:27.13
didn't allow you to have what
you thought you should have,
00:25:27.13\00:25:29.63
when you wanted it, and all
the time God was looking out
00:25:29.63\00:25:33.56
for you and your future,
preparing you for a better way
00:25:33.56\00:25:36.43
all the time.
00:25:36.43\00:25:42.43
When you pray, I don't know what
you thank God for all the time,
00:25:45.13\00:25:50.50
but I'm going to tell you,
Carlton Byrd, every day, always,
00:25:50.50\00:26:01.30
I thank God for my salvation.
00:26:01.30\00:26:05.73
We always come to
church and when we shout,
00:26:10.70\00:26:16.83
oftentimes we
shout on the wrong stuff.
00:26:16.83\00:26:20.26
We shout on the
new house, the new car.
00:26:23.20\00:26:27.66
We shout on the good
singer or the good choir
00:26:27.66\00:26:30.33
or the good organist.
00:26:30.33\00:26:32.30
We shout and we should when we
get excited about the fact we're
00:26:32.30\00:26:37.16
about to next week have
groundbreaking for the school,
00:26:37.16\00:26:40.50
we shout.
00:26:40.50\00:26:41.50
We say Amen on the wrong stuff.
00:26:41.50\00:26:43.86
We shout over food,
clothing and shelter, and, yes,
00:26:43.86\00:26:47.20
thank God for that.
00:26:47.20\00:26:48.86
But it doesn't get any
better than my salvation.
00:26:48.86\00:26:54.50
Because you can buy that
other stuff, but you can't
00:26:54.50\00:27:00.26
buy salvation.
00:27:00.26\00:27:02.46
Jesus already paid the
price and so when I think
00:27:02.46\00:27:07.73
of the goodness of Jesus
and all he's done for me,
00:27:07.73\00:27:12.10
my soul, my soul, my soul
cries out Hallelujah, thank God
00:27:12.10\00:27:20.16
for saving me.
00:27:20.16\00:27:23.20
>: It's an age-old question,
what happens after we die?
00:27:23.20\00:27:26.43
The Breath of Life gift offer
this week is "What the Bible
00:27:26.43\00:27:30.16
Says about Death." This little
book peels back the theories
00:27:30.16\00:27:33.10
the world has on the
afterlife and carefully explains
00:27:33.10\00:27:36.33
what's accurate based on a
source we can really rely on,
00:27:36.33\00:27:40.10
God's Word.
00:27:40.10\00:27:41.50
Discover what the Bible says
about the soul, human nature,
00:27:41.50\00:27:45.10
talking to the dead,
the coming millennium,
00:27:45.10\00:27:47.53
the resurrection and hell.
00:27:47.53\00:27:49.16
"What the Bible Says
about Death" is yours
00:27:49.16\00:27:51.70
for a gift of $5 or more.
00:27:51.70\00:27:52.90
Just call our toll
free number, 877-BOL-OFFER.
00:27:52.90\00:28:00.10
That's 877-265-6333.
00:28:00.10\00:28:01.83
Please have your credit
card ready when you call.
00:28:01.83\00:28:04.36
Or you may write us
to request your copy.
00:28:04.36\00:28:06.46
Just send your check to:
Breath of Life, P.O. Box 340,
00:28:06.46\00:28:08.46
Newbury Park, California 91319.
00:28:08.46\00:28:14.00
Find comfort in
what's to come after we pass
00:28:14.00\00:28:17.10
from this world to the next.
00:28:17.10\00:28:18.53
Get your copy of "What the
Bible Says about Death" today.
00:28:18.53\00:28:24.26
PB: Jesus went to Calvary to
00:28:24.26\00:28:25.26