The Meaning of Thanksgiving day (Psalm 100:1-5) 18th Nov. 2012

 

Give thanks

Give thanks with a grateful heart. Give thanks to the Holy one Give thanks because He's given. Jesus Christ His Son *2

And now let the weak say I am strong let the poor say I am rich Because of what the Lord has done for us*2 Give thanks*3

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

1 What a fellowship, what a joy divine, Leaning on the everlasting arms;

What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain: Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms;

Leaning, leaning, Leaning on the everlasting arms.

2 Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,

Leaning on the everlasting arms. (Refrain)

3 What have I to dread, what have I to fear,

Leaning on the everlasting arms?

I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,

Leaning on the everlasting arms. (Refrain)

 

Confession of Faith The Apostles' Creed

I BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead. on the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

 

Oh! to be like Thee

1. Oh! to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer,

This is my constant longing and prayer;

Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,

Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Refrain: Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

2.Oh! to be like Thee, full of compassion,

Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,

Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,

Seeking the wand’ring sinner to find.

3. Oh! to be like Thee, lowly in spirit,

Holy and harmless, patient and brave;

Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,

Willing to suffer, others to save.

4. Oh! to be like Thee, Lord, I am coming,

Now to receive th’ anointing divine;

All that I am and have I am bringing,

Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.

5. Oh! to be like Thee, while I am pleading,

Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love,

Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,

Fit me for life and Heaven above.

 

 

 

 

 

The Meaning fo Thanksgiving day (Psalm 100:1-5)

 

Today is Thanksgiving day.

For faith freedom, puritans were forced to take refuge on an island in Plymouth Harbor during a blinding snowstorm. Then on December 21 (Dec 11, by their calendar), 1620, they landed at Plymouth. There they found a stream with clear pure water. They found some cleared land, and a high hill that could be fortified. This was once an Indian Village, but a smallpox plague had killed all of the Indians in 1617. The Puritans decided this would be their new home. The first year in the new land was extremely difficult for the Puritans. Poor and inadequate food, strenuous work, and changeable weather made the settlers susceptible to sickness. The colony lost almost half its members during that first winter. on an early spring morning of 1621 an Indian walked into the little village and introduced himself to the startled people as Samoset. Two weeks later he returned with Squanto. These two Indians introduced the Puritans to Massasoit, the chief of the Wampanoag tribe that controlled all southeastern Massachusetts at that time. Governor Carver and the chief exchanged gifts and arranged a treaty of peace. Shortly afterward, the Mayflower and its crew sailed back to England, leaving the Puritans on their own. Then Governor Carver died, and William Bradford became governor of the colony. Squanto and his Indian friends taught the Puritans how to catch fish and use them as fertilizer in planting their crops. They planted corn, pumpkins, and beans. They also hunted and fished for food. The bountiful harvest that year led Governor Bradford to declare a celebration. Sometime in the fall of 1621, the Puritans invited their Indian friends to join them in a three-day festival which we now call the first Thanksgiving. After the harvest crops were gathered in November 1623, Governor William Bradford of the 1620 Pilgrim Colony, “Plymouth Plantation” in Plymouth, Massachusetts proclaimed: "All ye Pilgrims with your wives and little ones, do gather at the Meeting House, on the hill… there to listen to the pastor, and render Thanksgiving to the Almighty God for all His blessings." This is the origin of our annual Thanksgiving Day celebration.

Today’s passage is Psalm 100:1-5. This chapter is called the psalm of thanksgiving of David. The fundamental attitude of Christians is thanksgiving and joy. It is not sorrow and hardship but rejoicing and thanksgiving. Of course this joy comes from the gospel of Christ. In today’s passage, David encourages everyone on the earth to praise the Lord.

In verse 1, David said, “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.” Here, ‘all the earth’ means that all people on the earth. We also know that the nature praises the Lord, too (Psalm 66:1, 96:1, 9; 98:4).

In verse 2. When we serve the Lord, it is better that we serve the Lord with joy. God wants us to always rejoice. God does not want us to be in sorrow in this world. Although sometimes, we face difficult situations with grief, the fundamental attitude of Christians is joy and thanksgiving. Lam. 3:33 says, “For he (God) does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.” God’s basic intention is to make us happy and joyful.

In verse 3. God is our God. He will take care of everything for us. He created us, and we are His people and His sheep. God will supply all necessary things for us, sometimes more than sufficiently (Eph. 3:20). When we give up our sinful desire, we will enjoy the peace in mind. Mark 4:19, I Tim. 6:9, and James 1:14-15 all tell us how much damage the sinful desires can cause our Christian life. In most cases, our peace is hampered due to our sinful desire.

In verse 4. It is David’s advice that we praise the Lord with joy.

In verse 5. God’s character is fundamentally good. God does not harm us with any evil intention. God’s love for us is eternal. Since God is faithful, He will keep His love for us eternally.

If we read I Thss. 5:16-18, we know that it is God’s will that we always should be joyful, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances. It is our duty to follow God’s will. Thank you and God bless you.

 

 

offering hymn God is so good

God is so good *3 he's so good to me.

 

closing hymn: The Lord watches over You.

The Lord watches over You. He is your shade at your right hand;

The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord watches over You. He keeps you from all harm.

He will help you and watch over your life. Life up your eyes to the hills.

where does your help come from? your help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.

 

Closing Prayer ; Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen