Thanks!
July 24, 2011
Introduction
Andrew Blackwood, in his book, We Need You Here Lord, has a section that he simply titled, “Thanks.”
Thanks,
Eternal God,
With our eyes wide open to the wrongs in the world
We give You our thanks.
Thank you for bringing us into the world
In this time of desperate need
And giving us the responsibility
To overcome evil with good
And thank you for all the helps you have given
Toward fulfilling our task
Thank you for our daily work
And the strength and skill to do it.
Thank you for the things you have entrusted to us
-- food and clothing and automobiles and dollar bills --
We know, though sometimes we forget it
That toil and its earthly rewards
Are not the end of our striving
But a part of our reasonable service to you
Thank you for all our spiritual blessings
Love and friendship
Loyalty and laughter
Truth and beauty.
Thank you for the land in which we live
With its rich heritage of justice and freedom
And the opportunity that lies always before us
Yet, even as we thank you
We recognize that these blessings can be lost
Others, more deserving than we, have lost them.
So above all else we give our thanks
for the blessing that man cannot take away
Yourself
We thank you, Father
Because you are always at work in the world
Where your children live
And suffer.
We thank you, Savior
In the midst of our tribulations
Knowing that you have overcome the world.
We thank you, Holy Spirit
For the guidance you offer us
And the victory of right that you have promised.
Teach us to live our thanks
By working each day for the victory
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
The book was not written in the last year or two about our current problems, but has a copyright of 1969.
Body
I. “Thank you for bringing us into the world”
(Psa 100:1-3 NKJV) Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! {2} Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. {3} Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
A. It is important to acknowledge God, and to be thankful.
(Rom 1:18-20 NKJV) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, {19} because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. {20} For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
II. “And giving us the responsibility To overcome evil with good”
(Rom 12:20-21 NKJV) Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." {21} Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
A. Thank you for the things you have entrusted to us -- food and clothing and automobiles and dollar bills –
(Rom 8:32 NKJV) He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
(Mat 6:30-34 NKJV) "Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? {31} "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' {32} "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. {33} "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. {34} "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
B. That toil and its earthly rewards are not the end of our striving but a part of our reasonable service to you.
(Rom 12:1-2 NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. {2} And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
III. Thank you for all our spiritual blessings Love and friendship Loyalty and laughter Truth and beauty.
(Eph 1:3 KJV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
A. So what is the Love and friendship that Blackwood refers to.
(Titus 2:1-5 NKJV) But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: {2} that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; {3} the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; {4} that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, {5} to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
B. Thank you for the land in which we live with its rich heritage of justice and freedom.
(Deu 5:16 NKJV) 'Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
IV. We thank you, Savior In the midst of our tribulations Knowing that you have overcome the world.
(John 16:33 NKJV) "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
V. We thank you, Holy Spirit for the guidance you offer us and the victory of right that you have promised.
(Jer 10:23-24 NKJV) O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. {24} O LORD, correct me, but with justice; Not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing.
Conclusion
I. Remember where we started: We need you here Lord.
II. Remember the subtitle: Prayers from the city.
III. Finally, are you right with God?
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