Giving Thanks In Uncertain Times

Alderwood Community Church
November 23, 2008

Giving Thanks in Uncertain Times
Ephesians 5:1-4, 20

1. As Children of God our lives are to be characterized by giving thanks. Ephesians 5:1-4

A. Giving thanks is one of our distinguishing traits, setting us apart from the rest of the world.

"Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk of coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving." Ephesians 5:4

"For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." Romans 1:21

B. Thanksgiving is to be offered at all times.

"Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:20

This would mean in all circumstances!

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

(see also: James 1:2-4, Job 1:21)

C. Thanksgiving is to be offered for everything.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights." James 1:17

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." Psalm 103:2

2. We need to understand the things that can rob our attitudes of thanksgiving.

A. Our self-centered attitude of entitlement.

B. The culture that we live in.

C. Comparing ourselves with others.

D. Circumstances

3. We will become more content and increase our thankfulness by developing the following daily habits.

A. Rehearse the Scriptures and build your trust in God and remind you of His goodness.

(Isaiah 40:28-31; Jer. 32:17; Prov. 3:5-6; Matt. 6:26; 7:11; James 1:17)

B. Practice seeing God's hand in everything. Psalm 92:4

C. Practice giving thanks everyday! Psalm 100

The Danger and Tragedy of Unbelief

John 12:37-50

1. Beware of the tragic consequences of not believing in Jesus Christ! (vrs. 37-43)

A. The O.T. prophet Isaiah predicted this judicial hardening. (vrs. 37-41) (Isaiah 53:1, 6:10)

(This is also found in: Matt. 13:14-15, Mark 4:12, Luke 8:10, Acts 28:25-28, Romans 1:24,26,28; 11:8)

This "judicial blindness" does not dismiss human responsibility rather it is the consequence of the human choice of unbelief. God then "gives them over" to their sinful instincts. (Romans 1)

This is exactly what Jesus was warning about in John 12:35-36.

B. Some people secretly believe yet refuse to confess their faith in Christ because of the fear of social consequences. (vrs. 42-43) (See also: John 5:44-46, Luke 12:8-9)

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing." Matt 23:37

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

It is a serious thing to treat God's truth lightly.

2. Weigh Jesus' words carefully! (vrs.44-50)

Why is Jesus worthy of your belief?

A. Because Jesus is God. (vrs. 41, 44, 45)

"The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." Hebrews 1:3a (Read Hebrews 1:1-3)

B. Because Jesus' words are the very words pf God. (vrs. 49-50)

C. Because Jesus' words with either condemn you or liberate you based on your belief in them. (vrs. 47-48/ 46, 50)

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." John 3:36

"But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. (Hell)" Revelation 21:8

We only have one chance to believe upon our Lord Jesus Christ! Once death comes it is too late.

"Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9:27-28

Application:
1. Believe in Jesus Christ while you still have a chance!
2. Share the words of Jesus Christ with a sense of urgency!
3. Live as children of light! Ephesians 5:8-11, Matt. 5:16

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:14-15

Don't be deceived!

Here are some sermon notes from the message James MacDonald preached on the 5th.

He preached from 1 John 2:18-27. The title of the message was "Don't be deceived!"

1A) Don't be deceived: we are in the last hour. v. 18-19
last hour: meaning the final period of time in human history. The time from when Christ finished the work on the cross, until the earth will pass away. We as Christians should be living as this was my last moment, my last breath.

v. 18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming,
Here are 4 things about the anitchrist.

1. The antichrist was predicted by Christ. Matthew 24:24 - a person who will rise up to deceive the nations.


2. Called by other names. (antichrist, man of lawlessness, the beast)


3. He will be promoted by a false prophet


4. This person will rule the world

Here is a list of 5 books that have messages that will deceive you. The end of these books is empty promises. If you own them I recommend you have a bonfire right now!

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

The assertion is made that Christ's deity was an invention of Constantine in the 4th century. Quoted in the book "Jesus establishment as the Son of God was officially proposed and voted on by the counsel of Nicaea, until that moment in history Jesus was viewed by His followers as a mortal man." Basically a great and powerful man but a man non the less. By endorsing Jesus as the Son of God Constantine turned Jesus into a deity or a God.

This message is basically telling us Jesus is not God. The Bible tells us in 1 John 5:20 that Jesus is the true God and eternal life.

The Third Jesus by Deepak Chopra

This message argues that we need to move beyond the historical Jesus of the Bible and we need to move beyond the Divine Jesus invented by Christian Theologians. Deepak says we need to get onto the third Jesus, the cosmic jesus who is for all humanity.

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

Quoted from pg. 164 "You are god in physical body, you are eternal life expressing itself as you, you are all power, you are all wisdom, you are all perfection.

Later Rhonda adds the earth turns in its orbits for you, the oceans Eben flow for you, the birds sing for you, the sun rises and sets for you. None of it can exist without you, no matter who you thought you were know the truth who you really are. You are the master of the universe.

That is straight up blasphemy against God.

The New Earth by Eckhart Tolle

Quoted from this book, Tolle says there is only one absolute truth and all others truths emanate from it. You are the truth. If you look for it elsewhere you'll be deceived every time. The very being that you are, is truth. Then horrifically, blasphemy Tolle tries to pull Jesus into his message. Saying Jesus tried to convey this when He said I am the truth. Jesus speaks of the inner most I am the essentials of identity of every man and woman and every life form when each person obtains this state of godhead. Tolle says the world will be transformed.

So this message is not denying the Deity of Christ, but His uniqueness.

The Shack by William P. Young

Quoted from pg. 110 Young writes all three members of the Godhead become incarnate not just the Son. In another place Young's Jesus says I am not the way, the truth, and the life. He quotes Jesus, he puts these words in our saviors mouth. In the book Jesus says I'm not the way, the truth, and the life, I'm just the best way.

Then he goes on to say..Those who love me from every system that exist weather Buddhist, Mormons, or baptists, Muslims, Democrats or Republicans, Americans or Iraqis, Jews or Palestine's, I have no desire to make them Christian. I just want them to join in the transformation into sons and daughters of my pappa.

This message is universalism. What it says is Jesus is a good way, Jesus is even the best way, but not that He is the only way. But Acts 4:12 says: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

2A) Don't be deceived: You can know the Gospel. v. 20-23. The truth is in God's Word. You can know the truth yourself. The message of the Bible is in the Bible. We all have insight into God's Word.

v. 22 Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son.

People we are in the last hour. Maybe more like 10 minutes to the hour. Don't be deceived by false messages that lead you astray. It not a good time to be far from the cross of Christ!

Repent! Turn to Jesus! That is the only way for salvation!

Acts 3:19 says Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,