#partial truth

       ●  How is your peace?        ●  How is your peace with GOD?

How is your peace with family? with neighbours?

So this morning, I want to focus (not just saying it as a phrase of greeting) but actually asking:

       ●  How are we?        ●  How is our peace w/ GOD/family/neighbours?

>> Let’s ask GOD for help with that (prayer).

      LORD we thank YOU for this privilege to get together       with these dear people on this Sabbath morning.       And we ask for the help of YOUR HOLY SPIRIT,       that YOU will to turn our attention to YOU.

      That YOU will open the eyes of our hearts       to see the SCRIPTURES.

      So we can look in the mirror       & fix what needs to be fixed.

      So that we can glorify YOU.       In JESUS Name, Amen.

A.] Need for Spiritual Exam

      Who was here last week, put up your hands.

      Okay I think most of you, so last week we heard from       John Black about evaluation. It was mostly about:       How do we evaluate ourselves?

      The GOD Who Evaluates | John Black [Nov.4/19]

      We also had communion, whenever we have the       LORD’s Supper, we always talk about our       need to examine/evaluate ourselves.

      And as a continuation to that I really want to       examine our spiritual states today.

            Cause it is important to GOD,             HE wants us to be in a good place.             We are HIS children; HE loves us.             We are called by HIS Name.

      People can’t see GOD, but       they are supposed to       recognize HIM in us.

B.] How to measure spiritual state?

     So in what way & how can we measure our spiritual state.

     You know people often care about their health, & they      say the most important thing to have is your health; &      it’s true that health is important,

           but spiritual health is            even more important.

     So with GOD’s help, I want us to go through a few      verses that talk about examining our spiritual state.

     Just like you can go to a doctor & have different types      of blood tests that are meant to examine different      aspects of your health.

     We are not going through all the different tests, that      you can do on your spiritual state.

     >>We’re going to focus on 1 specific point.

    I really want to focus on thanksgiving.

    Because one of the ways that a person can really examine     their spiritual situation is:

    How much are you giving thanks to GOD?

    I want to say that again, one of the best ways to     evaluate our spiritual state is how often we’re     giving thanks to GOD.

Is giving thanks to GOD something that defines you? If it does, then great, thank GOD. Continue to do that, it brings HIM glory.

If that is not what defines you, then we need to find the reasons. And we need to see what we can change. I have heard of people who pray: GOD may YOU please give me a thankful heart. GOD has already done everything, so we can have such a heart. >> But it depends on us.<<

      So this lesson focuses on: being thankful to GOD.       Am I giving thanks to GOD?

C.] Definition of Thanksgiving

    In order to do that, let’s start with defining thanksgiving.

    Then we will go through the WORD of GOD, see how     the SCRIPTURE teaches us about this subject.

Why do we give thanks

How do we give thanks

When do we give thanks

    But first of all, let’s define it: What is thankfulness?

    When we open a dictionary, it’s defined differently,     but it’s often the same principle.

        Thankfulness is the expression of the         heart towards a good source.

    By thanking, you’re not focusing yourself on the good     thing, you’re focusing on the source of the good thing.

    In the Hebrew, the word for giving thanks comes from     the same root as the word to confess.

    And that’s not a coincidence.

        Because the meaning of confession is to         clarify truth without trying to cover it.

    Thankfulness & confession have the same root in the     Hebrew language. So thankfulness is in a way:

        Recognizing the good deed/thing.

    There’s even an expression that implies that in Hebrew.

C1] Biblical Definition

    Now let’s see how according to the Bible we define it.

        Thankfulness to GOD is to recognize         from the heart that this is something         that comes from GOD, &         to direct the thankfulness to GOD.

    Thankfulness to GOD is an expression of the     heart towards the source of the good     while knowing that this source is GOD.

    We have defined what it means to be thankful     & to be thankful to GOD.

1.] Why do we give thanks

    Now we will ask ourselves why?

    It is a big subject of course.     But I’ve summarized it to 4 different points:

1.1] Verbalize GOD is our Source

    1st thing I want to say is:

    Thanking is to confess that this comes from GOD.     We can read this in James 1:16,

        James 1:16-17 | Do not be deceived, my beloved believers.         Every good & perfect gift is from above, coming down         from the FATHER of the Heavenly lights, with whom there         is no change or shifting shadow.

    If you are parents then you are always giving good     things to your children. But you notice when they     don’t acknowledge that it comes from you, &     that they are not thankful. They’re ungrateful for     anything you ever give them.

    They just take it for granted & just want more & more;     you feel like there’s something that is not okay there;     like something that’s missing.

    This is especially if you have teenagers, who think     they have a room that is only theirs.

    When you’re actually the one paying the rent for it.

        This is mine! This is mine!

     But actually all that they have is from you.

        Now it’s easy for us to recognize this         with teenagers, but we are often         the same towards GOD.

    Because everything good that we have in life,     it comes from GOD. And we often take it for granted.

    And GOD doesn’t want us to take it for granted.

       ●  Is it because HE’s so egotistic & wants to hear             our thankfulness to HIM all the time?

            No, it’s because HE loves us; & HE knows             it is good to give thanks to the LORD.

            That’s the next thing, HE knows that us             recognizing this comes from HIM & giving             thanks to HIM—that it does good for us             because we are created in HIS image.

            And it is something good for our being.

       ●   And as a saved people, even though we cannot             walk next to HIM like we did before the fall in the             garden of Eden.

            We can still walk throughout our life             with our eyes fixed upon HIM.

            Knowing that everything good comes from HIM,             & being filled with thankfulness for that.

       ●  And you know in the secular world when they            try to get GOD out of the picture.

           They try to do that in their own way.

           They talk about having positive thoughts            (positive thinking).

           They say that if you suffer from depression that            is something that will help. If you start to develop            a habit of positive thinking.

           The problem is that’s only part of the truth.

           Because the most important element there is missing.            >> What’s missing is thankfulness to GOD.

1.2] Intimate Relationship with GOD

    That brings me to the 3rd point of     why we need to be thankful.

         Because thankfulness leads to           true & intimate relationship           with GOD.

    And it is a sign that you are saved.     Thankfulness to GOD is a sign of saving faith.

    I want us to turn to Luke 17:12-19, it’s a well known     story about the 10 lepers.

         Luke 17:12-19 | As HE entered one of the villages,          HE was met by 10 lepers. They stood at a distance          & raised their voices, shouting,          “JESUS, Master, have mercy on us!”          When JESUS saw them,          HE said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”          As they were on their way, they were cleansed.

         When one of them saw that he was healed,          he came back, praising GOD in a loud voice.

            He fell face down at JESUS’ feet             in thanksgiving to HIM—&             he was a Samaritan.

         “Were not all ten cleansed?” JESUS asked.

          “Where then are the other 9? Was no one found           except this foreigner to return & give glory to GOD?”

            Then JESUS said to him, “Rise & go;             your faith has made you well!”

    Remember this story because we’re going to go back to it.

    But I want to go back to this point:

            Being thankful to GOD             is a sign of saving faith.

    Because to this one leper who came back, only to him,     JESUS said: You are saved! Your faith has made you     well. Your faith has saved you.

            A sign of good relations with GOD,             good relations with JESUS, is that             you have the HOLY SPIRIT within you             —without that you don’t have salvation.

            Without that you’re not born again.

    So someone who is filled with the HOLY SPIRIT is     also filled with thankfulness.

    In that context we want to read a few other verses.

Ephesians 5:18-20 | Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the SPIRIT. Speak to one another w/ psalms, hymns, & spiritual songs. Sing & make music in your hearts to the LORD, always giving thanks to GOD the FATHER for everything in the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. I don’t need to add that much to it, whoever is filled with the HOLY SPIRIT, s/he is also filled with thanksgiving unto GOD.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 | Rejoice at all times. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is GOD’s will for you in CHRIST JESUS. Do not extinguish (quench) the SPIRIT. WHY? Because it’s GOD’s Will; & bc it’s good for us.

1.3]  GOD’s commandment

    The fourth point: WHY to give thanks?     Is because giving thanks to GOD is a commandment.

    Not only in the NT, but also in the OT.

    Let’s look at Psalms 50:14.

       ●  Psalm 50:14 | Sacrifice a thank offering to GOD, &             fulfill your vows to the MOST HIGH.

            The writer here is saying thanksgiving is like a vow             you have to pay. A sacrifice of thanksgiving is when             we are filled with thankfulness to GOD.

            We do it out of thankfulness to GOD.

       ●  Hebrews 13:15 Through JESUS, therefore, let us             continually offer to GOD a sacrifice of praise, the             fruit of lips that confess HIS name.

            A good tree only bears good fruit, so too those who             depend upon the LORD as their source/vine/rock, will             continually praise GOD no matter their circumstance

            You won’t be able to love your enemy, when they             do damage to your (pride/body/possessions/family)             if that is what you treasure most.

            Those safe from harm/theft are those who love GOD

             [Luke 12:20; 14:33; Luke 6:46 vs. Matthew 7:22-23]

         ●  Romans 12:1 | Therefore I urge you, fellow believers,               on account of GOD’s mercy, to offer your bodies               as living sacrifices, holy & pleasing to GOD, which is               your spiritual service of worship.

              Idolaters will do anything to please something/one               other than GOD, thus “HE will give them up to the               desires of their heart” [Romans 1:24; Psalm 81:12],               for GOD is not mocked, what a man sows, he reaps.               [Galatians 6:7; Job 13:9]; We serve a jealous GOD,               who yearns fellowship w/ those who bear HIS image.

    We’re all in a state of becoming, while our LORD draws us     to HIS being; only those who ultimately choose/obey will be     transformed into HIS very likeness (loving/merciful/kind)

1.4] Not Emotion Feeling

    What is your answer when someone says,     “How can I give thanks to GOD, if I don’t feel thankful?     I don’t have this thankfulness in me.”

       ●  Giving thanks to GOD has nothing to do with feelings.

                     It shouldn’t be dependent on your                      feelings, to be more precise.

    Thankfulness to GOD is a step in faith.

            Just like love & joy, people tend to             connect these with all kinds of emotions.

    It’s true that it often comes with these emotions, but     it is not dependent on our emotions.

            Otherwise GOD wouldn’t give             us as a commandment.

    How can you command someone to love     [or to be happy / give thanks]?

    You would feel that it is artificial, but not GOD,     HE wants us to do these things no matter what     circumstances we are in.

    We often look at the world through these filters     (darkened glasses which Satan has put on us);     we see everything in a gloomy light;     everything is black or dark.

            But GOD wants us to             see things through             HIS perspective.

    Through the wonderful things     HE has already done, & the     things HE has promised.

    Even if we can’t feel it with our emotions GOD wants us     to recognize it. And in light of these things to     proclaim these things comes from GOD &     it is wonderful & we should give thanks to HIM.

            >> Because it’s true.

    We can see throughout the book of Psalms, how     the writers of Psalms & how they do it &     GOD also fills them with joy.

    The secular world (who don’t know GOD); they     take GOD out of the picture & they encourage     people to think positively.

            GOD doesn’t always tell us to             think positively, HE tells us to             look at the truth.

            The way GOD created it.

            And the things that are actually the truth.

    Look at the truth of GOD, at the Word of GOD,     & give thanks for that.

RECAP: So why give thanks to GOD?

It’s for our own good.

It glorifies GOD.

because it’s truth that we have so many things to be thankful for.

    Before we come to the next question:     What do we give thanks for?

    I’m going to stay on this 1st question of:     Why give thanks?

    I’m going to approach it from the opposite side.

26:39 youtube.com/watch?v=xOQn3fAu2zo&feature=youtu.be&t=1599

           Psalm 95:1-11 | Come, let us sing for joy to            the LORD; let us shout to the Rock of our            salvation! Let us enter HIS presence with            thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to HIM            in song. For the LORD is a great GOD, a great            King above all gods. In HIS hand are the depths            of the earth, & the mountain peaks belong to HIM.

           The sea is HIS, for HE made it, & HIS hands            formed the dry land. O come, let us worship & bow            down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

           For HE is our GOD, & we are the people of HIS            pasture, the sheep under HIS care. Today, if you            hear HIS voice, do not harden your hearts as            you did at Meribah, in the day at Massah in the            wilderness, where your fathers tested & tried ME,            though they had seen MY work. For forty years            I was angry with that generation, & I said,            “They are a people whose hearts go astray,            & they have not known MY ways.”