A Thanksgiving Service and Message

Opening Prayer:  Give thanks to God in prayer!

Hymn: “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”

Responsive Reading

Pastor: “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1:31

Congregation: “Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.” Psalm 65:9

Pastor: “Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness. They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.” Psalm 65:11-13

Congregation: “He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth . . . O LORD, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.” Psalm 104:14 & 24

Pastor: “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.   Psalm 107:8-9

Everyone:  “But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.” Jonah 2:9

Chorus: “Thank you Lord for saving my Soul”

Chorus: “God is so Good”

Testimonies of God’s goodness:

Hymn: “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee”

Testimonies of God’s leading, provision, or protection:

Special: Children’s Choir

Hymn: “All Creatures of Our God and King” – Stanzas 1,3,5

Devotional
Occasions of Thanksgiving and Praise
in the Old Testament

1.  When David brought the Ark of God into the City of David
(I Chronicles 16:1-12).

 2.   Levites were to thank and praise God ever morning and evening
(I Chronicles 23:30).

3.  When Solomon dedication  the Temple  (2 Chronicles 5:12-14).

4.  When the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid (Ezra 3:10-11).

5.   When the wall of Jerusalem was dedicated (Nehemiah 12:27, 31).

Conclusion:  The example of one can effect many: Mattaniah –Nehemiah 11:17

Challenge:  Will you be a Mattaniah in you home and be the first to begin the thanksgiving in Prayer?

Recite Psalm 100: “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with Thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

Closing Hymn: “O Worship the King”

Closing Prayer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hindrances to Thanksgiving

Introduction: There is no season on Thanksgiving – The Bible says, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” ( I Thessalonians  5:18).

Theme: 7 monstrous attitudes that keep us from being a thankful people.

1.  The monster of discontentment:

 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”   I Timothy 6:6-10

 2.  The monster of impropriety:

“Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.”  Ephesians 5:4

 3.  The monster of worry:

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”   Philippians 4:6

4.  The monster of worldly philosophies:

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, bounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ”  Colossians 2: 6-8

 5.  The monster of Christless motives:

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”   Colossians 3:17

6.   The monster of prayerlessness:

 “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.”
Colossians 4:2

 7.  The monster of not seeking God’s kingdom first:

 “For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”   Hebrews 13:14-15

Conclusion: What monster attitude are you facing in your life this Thanksgiving season? Allow the Lord to slay the attitudes that are not pleasing to Him– and be thankful!

 

Father’s Day Message: The Ultimate Father!

I have been reading through the Gospel of John again and am again amazed to see the relationship of God the Father with God the Son.   Back in 2011 I preached a message on Father’s Day entitled “The Ultimate Father”  that  explored the relationship of God the Father with God the Son as and ultimate example of Fatherhood..   I hope this message will bless you as you prepare for Father’s Day this year.  To God be the glory!

Link:  http://pastormarkworden.sermoncampus.info/main/main/10169954

Link  shown during the message ( pause message and watch this when indicated in the message):

This Sunday is Easter (Resurrection Sunday!)

Tonight our family celebrated a passover meal together in preparation of heart for worship of our risen Lord this coming Lord’s day.  What a blessing!

Resurrection Sunday post from past years:

An Easter Message: Slow of Heart to Believe

Posted on March 22, 2010

Title:  “Slow of heart to believe” Text: Luke 24:13-32 Introduction:  An avowed atheist died.  His last will and testament was found and read.  He left some startling instructions to make sure that he would never rise:  “My body is to … Continue reading →

The Resurrection of Christ through Peter’s Eyes!

Posted on March 22, 2010

Easter – Early Service – 2005    Dillon, Montana – Title: The Resurrection from the eyes of Peter  – Text: Luke 24:31-35 “The Lord is risen indeed and hath appeared to Simon” Introduction: It is only recorded that the Lord “hath appeared to … Continue reading →

 

 

 

James 5:7-12 — The Error of Impatience

Introduction: The theme of James is avoiding the common errors in the faith. So far James has warned us not to fall into the following errors: The error of misunderstanding God’s purposes in trails, the error of not maintaining born again attitudes, the error of partiality, the error of a dead faith, the error of an uncontrolled and hurtful tongue, the error of lust that is fed by our friendship with the world, the error of pride, the error of willful disobedience, and the error of not understanding the end of the ungodly rich. In today’s passage James confronts us with the common error of impatience.

Proposition: As we wait for the Lord’s coming, we must be patient with others (James 5:7a).

Explanation: Discerning the Greek synonyms used by James that are translated as the word patience  in many translations:

 Endurance – Hupominantas

 “The patient ability to bear up in all circumstances”

James 1:3-4 “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

James 5:11 “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”

Longsuffering – Makrothumesate

“A patient attitude toward others regardless of what they have done”

James 5:7-8  “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”

 Outline:

I. The examples placed before us that demonstrate patience:

 A.  The husbandman (vs.7-8)

• “Establish your heart” – Strengthen so as to stand firm – Unmovable-

• Pro 4:23 ‘Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

 B.  The prophets (vs.10) Example – Jeremiah

 C.  Job (vs.11) Job 42:10b “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also he the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

 II. The warnings placed before us that try our patience:

 A. People try our patience (vs.9) —

• Don’t hold grudges – grumble against other

• The incentive – the judge – Jesus Christ is watching

“The warning is against the human tendency – when subjected to oppression and injustice – to give way to our vexations by unjustly lashing out against those near and dear to us” Hiebert p.301

 To walk in love with saints above
Will be a wondrous glory
To walk below with saints we know
Well, that’s another story

B. Pledges (commitments) try our patience (vs.12): Don’t swear (back up your word by making promises based on things of this earth or things in heaven).

•  See Matt. 5:33-37 – An echo of the teaching of our Lord

•  Be truthful – total honesty in speech – The incentive – condemnation

 “James has in view the self-serving attempt to hide the truth by appearing to appeal to God to establish the truth. Such duplicity is totally inconsistent with Christian honesty” (Hiebert p.308).

Psalm 15:1-5,  “LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.  He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.  In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.”

• Remember the context is about the LORD’S return.

– The Lord’s coming should be both a comfort and a concern to us.

 III. The nature of God placed before us that encourages our patience (vs.11c):

A.  God is pitiful – “intense inner yearnings of the heart”

Heb 4:15 For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

B.  God is merciful – Psalm 145:8 “The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.”

Conclusion: The LORD is coming, may He not only find us waiting patiently for Him but being patient with our brothers in Christ.

Scriptual examples of the power of gratitude:

Are you a thankful person?

Message Title:  The Power of Gratitude

Download: http://pastormarkworden.sermon.net/da/2643574

Playback: http://pastormarkworden.sermon.net/da/2643574/play

Text: James 4:17 – The Error of Willful Disobedience

Theme: Topical study on examples from scripture that illustrate the choice to obey or disobey.

Introduction:  One of the major themes in the letter of James is this matter of  “doing” what God has told us to do. (Review James 1:22-25; 2:8; 2:12 – Note that doing is connected with the Word of God.  Now, James sums up everything that he has warned us about by giving us a challenging summary statement.  He calls our attention to the fact that it is not enough to know the truth but that we must act on the truth in obedience.  He says, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”  This is a clear warning against willful disobedience.   King David in Psalm 19 prayed for deliverance from this type of sin.  He prayed, “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.”  The fact is that God did not make us like puppets.  He gave us the gift of choice – of freewill to obey or disobey.  The Old Testament is full of examples for our edification. Romans 15:4 says, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” I trust the O.T examples that we will consider today will help us to make the choice to obey instead of suffer the consequences of disobedience.

I.  Cain & Able’s choices – Gen. 4:1-12

II.  Joseph’s choice  — Gen. 39:7-9

• Focus on God enabled him to choose good instead of evil (vs.9).
• But God was with him (vs.21).
• Sometimes obedience to God brings harsh consequences from man (vs.20).

III.   Joshua’s choice – Joshua 24:14-15

IV.   King Saul’s choice — I Samuel 15

• Self deception of Saul’s choice (vs.13, 20)  Partial obedience is still disobedience
• Rebuke of Saul’s choice (vs.22-23).
• Partial repentance – He was still blaming others – he was the king and choose to disobey God (vs.24).  If fear was a motive, it was sin to fear man rather than God.

V.   Demas’ choice – 2 Timothy 4:10, “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica . . .”  James 4:4

Conclusion:  Avoid two errors in responding to a message like this about doing “good.”

For the Saved person: You cannot obey in your own strength – Saved by grace through faith – Live by grace through faith.  We can only live out the command of James 4:17 by a dependence on the empowering grace of God in our lives through the Holy Spirit.   Jesus himself lived on this earth by the grace of God the Father.  Acts 10:38 “ How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”   2 Corinthians 9:8  “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all-sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”

For the unsaved person: Doing good will not save you.  Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us . . .”

James 4:1-10 – The Error of Lust

Theme: The error of submitting to our lust rather than God

Introduction: James moves on in chapter 4, digging deeper into what causes problems in our relationships with other believers as well as what cause serious problems in our relationship with God. He asks another probing question in verse one to help us understand the root causes to the wars and fighting that all to often plague our lives. His answer to his own question reveals that our own lusts, which are fueled by our friendship with the world, are the root cause.

 I. Submitting to your selfish desires has devastating effects on your relationships (vs.1-4):

A. Toward your brother your lusts are the source of

1. Wars & Fightings (vs.1)

2. Unfulfilled desires (vs.2)

B. Toward God your lusts

1. Corrupt your prayers (vs.3).

2. Lead you into spiritual adultery (vs.4a).

3. Make you at war with God (vs.4b). “enmity with God,” “enemy of God”

C. Toward the world your lusts lead you into an unholy friendship (vs.4).

1 John 2:15 “ Love not the world . . .

II. Submitting to God in humility instead of pride allows God to “lift you up” (4:5-10):

A. Restoration begins when you heed the rebuke and promise of Scripture (vs.5-6).

1. “The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy”

2. God resists the proud – See Proverbs 3:34

3. God Gives grace to the humble Def. –Grace

B. Restoration is assured when you follow the process of repentance (7-10):

1. Submit to God (vs.7)

2. Resist the Devil (vs.7)

3. Draw close to God (vs.8)

4. Cleanse hands (vs.8)

5. Purify heart (double minded) (vs.8) James 1:6-8

6. Be afflicted (vs.9) Matthew 5:

7. Mourn (vs.9)

8. Weep (vs. 9)

9. Turn laughter and joy into mourning and heaviness (vs.9) (Sin is pleasurable)

10. Humble yourself (vs.10).

Conclusion:  The example of repentance in the life of King David – Read Psalm 32 and Psalm 51

James 3:1-18 – The Error of a Wicked Tongue

Theme: The wickedness of the tongue comes from a heart influenced by the wisdom of this world.

I. A warning concerning the use of our tongue.

 A. Be careful when you put yourself in position as a teacher (vs.1-2).

• Lit – “Not many of you should become teachers”

• Those who teach subject themselves to a stricter judgment

• You will offend others with your speech

 B. Be knowledgeable about the wickedness of the tongue (vs.2-12).

1. It is hard to control – vs. 2b-4

2. It is small but powerful – vs. 5

3. It is untamable and destructive – vs. 6-8

4. It is influenced by the powers of darkness — vs.6

5. It is inconsistent –vs. 9-12

 II. An appeal for a Godly and consistent use of our tongue (vs.13)

 A. The setup question: (13a) Relates back to verse 1 – those who think they are wise and want to teach others. They must pass the test . . .

 B. The test of reality: Show me! (13b) Their life must back up their talk!

Connects back with 2:18

III. An explanation of why we have such an evil tongue:

* We follow the wisdom that is “not form above” (vs.13-16).

 A. The roots of earthly, sensual, and devilish-(demonic) wisdom are

 1. Bitter Envying -A fierce desire (harsh zeal) to promote yourself over others

 2. Strife – contention, Selfish ambition

 Warning – don’t lie about what is in your heart – If you want to change you must see yourself the way God does.

 Matthew 12:34-37, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh  A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things  But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

 B. The results of earthly, sensual, and devilish wisdom

 1. Confusion – A state of disorder – I Cor 14:33

 2. Every evil work – Vile –a good for nothing thing or matter

 IV. A demonstration of the cure for an evil tongue: Wisdom that is from above (vs.17-18).

 A. Wisdom described didactically like a check list: (vs.17).

 1. Pure- chaste, holy — clean and undefiled, free from all vices

 2. Peaceable- It promotes “right relationships between man and man, and between man and God.”

 3. Gentle – Conveys the thought of respect for the feelings of others –

 4. Easy to be intreated – Has a conciliatory attitude that is ready to cooperate when a better way is shown: it is the opposite of being stubborn and unyielding.

 5. Full of mercy – “Mercy is more than a feeling of pity; it is an attitude of compassion toward those in distress that leads to practical help.”

 6. Full of Good fruits —

 7. Without partiality – “Acts consistently: it does not take one position in one circumstance and another in a different one.”

 8. Without hypocrisy – Does not work under a mask – nothing to hide-

 B. Wisdom described poetically like a Hebrew proverb (vs.18).

 “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

 “The meaning is that peacemakers sow in peace the seed that produces a harvest of righteousness. By peacemakers he means those who control their tongues and thus avoid the forest fires and destruction of a tongue burning with fire from hell” Dr. Rude

 Conclusion: Assignment for this week- Listen to what comes out of our mouth, what rolls off your tongue – not just what you say, but how you say it. Is it demonstrating wisdom from above or below? If it is not from above don’t lie to yourself. Admit the sin of your tongue that come from your heart of envy and strife. As God to forgive you and cleanse your heart. As God to give you a new heart remembering James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift cometh down form the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning”

 

James 2:1-13 – The Error of Partiality

Theme: The Christian faith demands that we not treat others with partiality

I. The Rebuke of Partiality (vs.1-4)

 A. The prohibition of having a respect of persons (vs.1)

“Respect of persons” — Preferential treatment –favoritism based on external circumstances and appearances

 B. The illustration of having a respect of persons (vs.2-3)

 C. The question of self-examination (vs4).

 “Partial in yourselves” – An inner attitude that predisposes you to elevate one person above another that is based on evil motives.

 II. The Result of Partiality (vs.5-11)

A. Inconsistent behavior with the reality of life- 5-7

1. God is merciful to the Poor

2. The rich are at enmity with you.

B. Disobedient behavior against God’s Word- 8-11

III. The Remedy of Partiality (vs.12-13)

A. Remember that you must give account to God for your conduct.

By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil –Example – Joseph

B. If you want to be judged with mercy—you better be merciful yourself.

Matt. 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy”

Illustration — Matthew 18:23-35

Mercy: Not getting what we deserve.

Mercy: “An attitude God has taken toward the believer because of the judgment He has taken on sin at the cross. Paul says in 2Cor. 4:1, “As we have obtained mercy, we faint not.” In Eph. 2:4 Paul says, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.” In Titus 3:5 Paul says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he save us.” White pg.33