1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:29,980 Thank you. 2 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:59,980 Thank you. 3 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:14,400 Father in worship, it's also Children's Church Sunday, and so we are just thankful that you're 4 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:14,580 here. 5 00:01:14,580 --> 00:01:21,060 We're going to have a word of prayer, and then we will spend a moment reading the Psalms 6 00:01:21,060 --> 00:01:21,460 together. 7 00:01:21,460 --> 00:01:27,060 Father in heaven, I thank you for Jesus, and I thank you for grace, and I thank you for 8 00:01:27,060 --> 00:01:33,580 hope, and I thank you for our church and for being able to gather here this morning to 9 00:01:33,580 --> 00:01:38,500 encourage one another, to spend time with one another, to gather around your table and 10 00:01:38,500 --> 00:01:43,320 in your word, and I just ask that you would encourage us and strengthen us and be with 11 00:01:43,320 --> 00:01:44,700 us as we worship this morning. 12 00:01:44,700 --> 00:01:46,460 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 13 00:01:46,460 --> 00:01:56,780 The psalm, in just a minute, the first four verses of the 105th are what is called a 14 00:01:56,780 --> 00:02:04,400 call to worship and frequently in the psalms the author of the psalm would invite people to join 15 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:11,760 him or come to worship for example in the 95th psalm the psalmist says this oh come let us worship 16 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:19,520 and bow down let us kneel before the Lord our maker and as i think about that my first thought 17 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:26,400 is why we need to be called to worship for reasons, at least for me, is that we're easily 18 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:33,620 distracted. We're easily, our attention easily drifts, chases after all kinds of different 19 00:02:33,620 --> 00:02:40,600 things. And one of the things that being called to worship and to praise God does for us is 20 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:46,960 it fixes our eyes back on the one who cares and provides and protects and watches over 21 00:02:46,960 --> 00:03:11,220 But also we need to be called to worship because it reminds us of the goodness and the greatness and the graciousness of God. 22 00:03:11,220 --> 00:03:22,980 And so as we read Psalm 105, verses 1 through 4, we are going to be called to worship, to give thanks to God, to call upon his name. 23 00:03:22,980 --> 00:03:26,100 So let's go ahead and be standing as we read together. 24 00:03:26,100 --> 00:03:40,120 O give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, sing to him, sing praises to him, 25 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:46,620 Tell of all his wondrous works, glory in his holy name. 26 00:03:46,620 --> 00:03:50,260 Hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. 27 00:03:50,260 --> 00:03:53,540 Seek the Lord and his strength. 28 00:03:53,540 --> 00:03:56,240 Seek his presence continually. 29 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:57,880 This is the word of the Lord. 30 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:02,140 Let's go ahead and we're going to begin by singing, 31 00:04:02,140 --> 00:04:06,200 Come, now is the time to worship, followed immediately by Glorious Day. 32 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:24,740 Come, now is the time to worship 33 00:04:24,740 --> 00:04:34,760 Come, now is the time to give your heart 34 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:43,440 Come, just as you are to worship. 35 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:53,620 Come, just as you are before your God. 36 00:04:53,620 --> 00:05:03,480 Come, one day every time we'll confess you are God. 37 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:07,460 One day every knee will bow 38 00:05:07,460 --> 00:05:11,600 Still the greatest treasure remains 39 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:16,620 For those who gladly choose you now 40 00:05:16,620 --> 00:05:27,680 Come, now is the time to worship 41 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:37,620 Come, now is the time to give your heart 42 00:05:37,620 --> 00:05:46,340 Come, just as you are to worship 43 00:05:46,340 --> 00:05:56,520 Come, just as you are before your God 44 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:58,560 Come 45 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:06,520 One day every tongue will confess you are God 46 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:10,820 One day every knee will bow 47 00:06:10,820 --> 00:06:15,760 Still a greatest treasure remains for those 48 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:19,420 Who gladly choose you now 49 00:06:19,420 --> 00:06:25,160 One day every tongue will confess you are God 50 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:29,420 One day every needle bow 51 00:06:29,420 --> 00:06:34,440 Still the greatest treasure remains for those 52 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:38,180 Who gladly choose you now 53 00:06:38,180 --> 00:06:49,300 Come, now is the time to worship 54 00:06:49,300 --> 00:06:59,460 Come, now is the time to give your heart 55 00:06:59,460 --> 00:07:07,900 Come, just as you are to worship 56 00:07:07,900 --> 00:07:18,060 Come, just as you are before your God 57 00:07:18,060 --> 00:07:24,700 Come, come. 58 00:07:48,060 --> 00:07:57,700 Who could carry that kind of weight? 59 00:07:57,700 --> 00:08:06,280 It was my turn till I met you. 60 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:14,820 I was breathing but not alive. 61 00:08:18,060 --> 00:08:23,300 All my failures I tried to hide. 62 00:08:23,300 --> 00:08:32,020 It was my tomb till I met you. 63 00:08:32,020 --> 00:08:40,520 You called my name and I ran out of that grave. 64 00:08:42,180 --> 00:08:45,300 Out of the darkness 65 00:08:45,300 --> 00:08:48,900 Into your glorious day 66 00:08:48,900 --> 00:08:54,260 You called my name 67 00:08:54,260 --> 00:08:57,800 And I ran out of that grave 68 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:02,400 Out of the darkness 69 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:06,060 Into your glorious day 70 00:09:12,180 --> 00:09:19,000 Now your mercy has saved my soul 71 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:27,600 Now your freedom is all that I know 72 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:32,080 The old made new 73 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:36,440 Jesus, when I met you 74 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:41,560 You called my name 75 00:09:41,560 --> 00:09:44,740 And I ran out of that grave 76 00:09:44,740 --> 00:09:49,520 Out of the darkness 77 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:53,320 Into your glorious day 78 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:58,560 You called my name 79 00:09:58,560 --> 00:10:02,060 And I ran out of that grave 80 00:10:02,060 --> 00:10:06,680 Out of the darkness 81 00:10:06,680 --> 00:10:10,520 Into your glorious day 82 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:22,860 I needed rescue, my sin was heavy 83 00:10:22,860 --> 00:10:27,040 But chains break at the weight of your glory 84 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:31,300 I needed shelter, I wasn't open 85 00:10:31,300 --> 00:10:35,580 Now you call me a citizen of heaven 86 00:10:35,580 --> 00:10:39,880 When I was broken, you were my healing 87 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:44,120 Now your love is the air that I'm breathing 88 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:48,560 I have a future, my eyes are open 89 00:10:48,560 --> 00:10:51,300 Cause when you call my name 90 00:10:51,300 --> 00:10:55,460 I ran out of that grave 91 00:10:55,460 --> 00:11:00,240 Out of the darkness 92 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:04,060 Into your glorious day 93 00:11:04,060 --> 00:11:09,200 You call my name 94 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:12,900 I ran out of that grave 95 00:11:12,900 --> 00:11:17,400 Out of the darkness 96 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:21,580 To your glorious day 97 00:11:39,200 --> 00:12:09,180 For more information, visit www.fema.org 98 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:39,180 Thank you. 99 00:12:39,200 --> 00:13:09,180 Thank you. 100 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:39,180 Thank you. 101 00:21:39,200 --> 00:22:08,600 We are thinking a little bit about thankfulness, 102 00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:33,640 I think just about every wedding that I have ever done, I have tried in some way to remind the couple that is getting married that the wedding is more than just the ceremony and the party and the outfits and the joy and the excitement and all of those things that happen on that one day. 103 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:42,460 But a wedding is the beginning of something that goes on and on, and it's much bigger than simply one moment. 104 00:22:42,460 --> 00:22:45,960 And I think with Thanksgiving, we kind of have the same thing. 105 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:53,340 Maybe we think of it as a holiday that we here in America celebrate on the fourth Thursday of November. 106 00:22:53,340 --> 00:23:02,300 But biblically, being thankful or having this attitude of Thanksgiving is something that goes much deeper. 107 00:23:02,300 --> 00:23:08,020 It's not just a call to a day, but it is called a call to the way of life. 108 00:23:08,020 --> 00:23:14,300 And part of the way that we are, as God's people, thankful is coming to this table. 109 00:23:14,300 --> 00:23:19,040 In fact, if you've ever referred to this meal that we are about to partake in, 110 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:25,040 as the Eucharist, it just comes from the word that means thanks or to give thanks. 111 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:31,320 And so one of the ways in which we keep our eyes focused upon Jesus and upon his grace, 112 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:34,840 It's one of the ways that we are called from sin and to righteousness. 113 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:42,380 One of the ways that we as Christians are nourished and strengthened and helped is by coming to this table. 114 00:23:42,380 --> 00:23:49,980 So we're going to sing about God's grace and then we are going to read about God's grace and partake in the supper together. 115 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:15,280 He breaks the power of sin and darkness, whose love is mighty and so much stronger, the King of glory, the King above all kings. 116 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:33,360 Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder, who leaves us breathless in awe and wonder, the King of glory, the King of love of all kings. 117 00:24:33,360 --> 00:24:46,960 This is amazing grace. This is unfailing love that you would take my place. 118 00:24:48,480 --> 00:25:00,560 That you would bear my cross, you would lay down your life, that I would be set free. 119 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:09,460 Jesus, I sing for all that you've done for me. 120 00:25:12,760 --> 00:25:17,380 Who brings our chaos back into order? 121 00:25:17,380 --> 00:25:21,840 Who makes the orphan a son and daughter? 122 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:27,760 The King of glory, the King above all kings. 123 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:35,780 Who rules the nations with truth and justice? 124 00:25:35,780 --> 00:25:40,380 Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance. 125 00:25:40,740 --> 00:25:46,000 The King of glory, the King above all kings. 126 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:50,500 This is amazing grace. 127 00:25:50,500 --> 00:25:54,840 This is unfailing love. 128 00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:59,340 That you would take my place. 129 00:25:59,340 --> 00:26:03,920 That you would bear my cross. 130 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:08,140 You would lay down your life. 131 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:12,860 That I would be set free. 132 00:26:12,860 --> 00:26:21,800 Jesus, I sing for all that you've done for me. 133 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:28,380 Worthy is the man who was slain. 134 00:26:28,380 --> 00:26:34,080 Worthy is the king who conquered the grave. 135 00:26:34,080 --> 00:26:37,500 Worthy is the man who was slain. 136 00:26:38,940 --> 00:26:43,100 Worthy is the King who conquered the grave. 137 00:26:43,100 --> 00:26:47,120 This is amazing grace. 138 00:26:47,120 --> 00:26:51,180 This is unfailing love. 139 00:26:51,180 --> 00:26:55,940 That you would take my place. 140 00:26:55,940 --> 00:27:00,580 That you would bear my cross. 141 00:27:00,580 --> 00:27:04,800 You would lay down your life. 142 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:10,420 That I would be set free 143 00:27:10,420 --> 00:27:18,500 Jesus, I sing for all that you've done for me 144 00:27:18,500 --> 00:27:29,140 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked. 145 00:27:29,140 --> 00:27:34,640 Following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, 146 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:38,140 the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience, 147 00:27:38,140 --> 00:27:42,280 among whom we all once lived in the passion of our flesh, 148 00:27:42,280 --> 00:27:45,980 carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, 149 00:27:45,980 --> 00:27:50,880 and were by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind. 150 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:57,400 But God, being rich in mercy and because of the great love with which he loved us 151 00:27:57,400 --> 00:27:59,940 even when we were dead in our trespasses, 152 00:27:59,940 --> 00:28:02,820 made us alive together with Christ. 153 00:28:03,500 --> 00:28:11,060 By grace you have been saved, and raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the 154 00:28:11,060 --> 00:28:16,900 heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable 155 00:28:16,900 --> 00:28:20,980 riches of his grace and kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 156 00:28:20,980 --> 00:28:26,400 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing, it is a gift 157 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:29,780 of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 158 00:28:30,420 --> 00:28:34,200 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, 159 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:38,640 which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 160 00:28:38,640 --> 00:28:48,860 Father in heaven, we ask that you would help us to see the love, 161 00:28:48,860 --> 00:28:54,860 the forgiveness, the hope, the peace, the transformation 162 00:28:54,860 --> 00:28:58,420 that is found in the good news of the gospel. 163 00:28:59,420 --> 00:29:04,020 Help us as we partake of this bread and this cup to remember where we were 164 00:29:04,020 --> 00:29:09,140 and to see where through Christ you have brought us to. 165 00:29:09,140 --> 00:29:16,220 That in this meal you would remind us that you have called us to follow you 166 00:29:16,220 --> 00:29:19,880 and to work with you and for you in your kingdom. 167 00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:24,860 We ask that you would refresh our souls and strengthen our resolve, 168 00:29:24,860 --> 00:29:28,560 that through your spirit you would be at work in our lives. 169 00:29:29,420 --> 00:29:31,540 Be with us as we partake of this meal. 170 00:29:31,540 --> 00:29:34,520 We ask that you bless this bread and this cup. 171 00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:36,240 It's in your son's name we pray. 172 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:37,220 Amen. 173 00:29:37,220 --> 00:29:42,840 One of the things that we remember as we partake of this meal 174 00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:44,940 is that we are not alone. 175 00:29:44,940 --> 00:29:46,360 Paul will continue on. 176 00:29:46,360 --> 00:29:50,200 Remember that at that time you were separated from Christ, 177 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:52,420 alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, 178 00:29:52,420 --> 00:29:56,180 strangers to the covenant of promise, 179 00:29:56,300 --> 00:29:59,460 having no hope and without God in this world. 180 00:29:59,460 --> 00:30:05,640 But now in Christ Jesus, you who are once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 181 00:30:05,640 --> 00:30:07,720 Let's partake of this bread together. 182 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:13,540 And in the same way, let's partake of the cup. 183 00:30:20,060 --> 00:30:31,200 As we partake and are encouraged, we are also called to share that good news with the world around us, proclaiming Jesus until he comes again. 184 00:30:31,200 --> 00:30:36,920 If you'd like to follow along this morning, we are in the book of James. 185 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:47,040 Next week, to give you an idea of what's happening next, we are going to be beginning our journey toward the arrival of Jesus. 186 00:30:47,500 --> 00:30:51,960 And as we enter the Advent season, we look in two directions. 187 00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:58,020 One, we look back to the birth of Jesus, and over these next four weeks preceding Christmas, 188 00:30:58,020 --> 00:31:04,540 we prepare and we consider, but we also look forward to the time when he comes again. 189 00:31:04,540 --> 00:31:11,520 And so, for God's people, celebrating this season is a time to look backward to what God has done, 190 00:31:11,520 --> 00:31:17,440 but also to rejoice in the promises of what God has promised to do in the future. 191 00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:22,240 And so we begin that next Sunday, which is December 1st. 192 00:31:22,240 --> 00:31:24,780 And I'm looking forward to that journey together. 193 00:31:24,780 --> 00:31:26,240 Let's go ahead and have a word of prayer. 194 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:33,500 Father, be with us this morning as we consider and we look at our lives and we look at your goodness. 195 00:31:33,500 --> 00:31:38,540 may you help us to see all that you have given us 196 00:31:38,540 --> 00:31:41,180 even in the midst of trials and difficulty 197 00:31:41,180 --> 00:31:45,340 that you are the author of all good gifts 198 00:31:45,340 --> 00:31:50,140 and we ask that you would help us in our discouragement 199 00:31:50,140 --> 00:31:53,260 or in our struggle, in our temptation 200 00:31:53,260 --> 00:31:55,080 or in our need of repentance 201 00:31:55,080 --> 00:31:58,340 or even if we've never come to you 202 00:31:58,340 --> 00:32:02,120 that you would help us to see laid out before us 203 00:32:02,120 --> 00:32:09,640 is light in our darkness be with us this morning it's in Jesus name we pray amen there are things 204 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:16,020 that probably all of us maybe in our life have just sort of come naturally to us things that 205 00:32:16,020 --> 00:32:21,380 maybe we're just naturally good at but then there are things that probably for most of us we are 206 00:32:21,380 --> 00:32:28,200 just naturally bad at for me growing up it was probably obedience right nobody had to teach me 207 00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:32,140 to be disobedient, right? It was the other way around. And probably for most 208 00:32:32,140 --> 00:32:36,220 of us, right, patience. Nobody had to teach us to be impatient, 209 00:32:36,220 --> 00:32:40,320 right? We were just kind of impatient naturally. That patience 210 00:32:40,320 --> 00:32:44,080 was a skill that we had to learn and develop in a 211 00:32:44,080 --> 00:32:47,380 character trait that had to be built up within us. 212 00:32:47,380 --> 00:32:52,060 The same is true for thankfulness. I think, and we'll take a look at 213 00:32:52,060 --> 00:32:55,720 some Scripture in just a moment, that will, I think, show us that maybe 214 00:32:55,720 --> 00:33:03,520 naturally, we just are not thankful people. That our tendency is rather to look either at what we 215 00:33:03,520 --> 00:33:10,300 can get and be self-satisfied or to look at what we don't have and be jealous and angry. 216 00:33:10,300 --> 00:33:20,620 And that thankfulness for us is very, very difficult. And so I want to begin in the very 217 00:33:20,620 --> 00:33:27,160 beginning of the Old Testament and we'll work our way toward James over the next few minutes. 218 00:33:27,160 --> 00:33:34,740 And what's interesting is especially in Genesis and in the beginning of Exodus, we find very, 219 00:33:34,740 --> 00:33:43,240 very little thankfulness. We see no thankfulness in the account of Adam and Eve. We dive very 220 00:33:43,240 --> 00:33:49,440 quickly into the first brotherly fight that ends in the first brotherly murder over this gift to 221 00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:51,680 God and scholars have pointed out 222 00:33:51,680 --> 00:33:53,520 that Cain's 223 00:33:53,520 --> 00:33:55,320 gift seems to be about the minimum 224 00:33:55,320 --> 00:33:57,380 and seems very thankless 225 00:33:57,380 --> 00:33:59,640 and the families of Isaac 226 00:33:59,640 --> 00:34:01,520 and Jacob they spend a lot of 227 00:34:01,520 --> 00:34:03,600 time fighting over God's 228 00:34:03,600 --> 00:34:05,560 blessings and who's going to get them 229 00:34:05,560 --> 00:34:07,640 and how much and fear 230 00:34:07,640 --> 00:34:09,320 that someone may usurp 231 00:34:09,320 --> 00:34:11,620 their blessing rather than seeing God's 232 00:34:11,620 --> 00:34:13,720 hand in those blessings 233 00:34:13,720 --> 00:34:15,660 and I think 234 00:34:15,660 --> 00:34:17,320 the growing problem of 235 00:34:17,320 --> 00:34:19,020 ingratitude culminates 236 00:34:19,020 --> 00:34:25,160 in the deliverance of God's people from slavery in Egypt during the Exodus. 237 00:34:25,160 --> 00:34:30,700 In Exodus, the 14th chapter, God has done many amazing things. 238 00:34:30,700 --> 00:34:35,320 He has brought his people out of Egypt in this great demonstration of power, 239 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:39,320 both by the hand of Moses with Pharaoh's magicians 240 00:34:39,320 --> 00:34:42,740 and in speaking powerfully to Pharaoh, 241 00:34:42,740 --> 00:34:46,500 but also in God's demonstration through the plagues. 242 00:34:47,280 --> 00:34:52,600 And eventually God's people are released and they are free to go and God leads them out of Egypt. 243 00:34:52,600 --> 00:35:03,540 And in Exodus 14, you find them stuck in the middle of nowhere, surrounded topographically by mountains with a sea in front of them and soldiers behind them. 244 00:35:03,540 --> 00:35:07,360 Do you know what the response of God's people was? 245 00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:15,360 Having seen God's power, having seen God's might, their response is simply this. 246 00:35:15,360 --> 00:35:18,540 Were they out of graveyard space in Egypt? 247 00:35:18,540 --> 00:35:19,360 Listen to what they say. 248 00:35:19,360 --> 00:35:24,020 Is it because there's no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? 249 00:35:24,020 --> 00:35:28,920 What have you done bringing us out of Egypt? 250 00:35:28,920 --> 00:35:31,240 There's no hope. 251 00:35:31,240 --> 00:35:35,900 There's not any thankfulness for what God has done. 252 00:35:35,900 --> 00:35:40,620 No awe and worship over the power that he has displayed 253 00:35:40,620 --> 00:35:44,120 and all of the things that he has done to bring them freedom. 254 00:35:44,120 --> 00:35:46,700 Their first response is simply to say 255 00:35:46,700 --> 00:35:49,460 Did they run out of graveyard space in Egypt 256 00:35:49,460 --> 00:35:52,400 And you brought us out to this deserted place to die 257 00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:54,360 And we know what God does 258 00:35:54,360 --> 00:35:56,540 He splits the people, the sea in half 259 00:35:56,540 --> 00:35:58,480 The people walk across 260 00:35:58,480 --> 00:36:00,540 The Egyptian army is destroyed 261 00:36:00,540 --> 00:36:04,680 And then, in the first half of Exodus 15 262 00:36:04,680 --> 00:36:09,420 There is praise, which is very closely related biblically to thankfulness 263 00:36:09,420 --> 00:36:12,480 And there's this wonderful song of praise 264 00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:22,960 However, by verse 22, God's people forget God's power and his provision and they grumble again. 265 00:36:22,960 --> 00:36:30,720 Five verses later in Exodus chapter 16, people forget God's power. 266 00:36:30,720 --> 00:36:34,940 They forget his provision and they said, 267 00:36:34,940 --> 00:36:41,900 Would that we have died by the hand of the Lord in Egypt when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full. 268 00:36:42,140 --> 00:36:46,620 For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill the whole assembly with hunger. 269 00:36:46,620 --> 00:36:49,560 And so God has brought them out, and they have complained. 270 00:36:49,560 --> 00:36:50,780 He has brought them through. 271 00:36:50,780 --> 00:36:52,160 They have complained. 272 00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:53,600 There's a worship service. 273 00:36:53,600 --> 00:36:55,840 Immediately they complain about water. 274 00:36:55,840 --> 00:36:58,660 Five verses later, they're complaining about food, 275 00:36:58,660 --> 00:37:02,340 and they come up with this completely fictitious scenario. 276 00:37:02,340 --> 00:37:04,820 Remember, they're slaves in Egypt. 277 00:37:04,820 --> 00:37:10,780 They're not lounging by the buffet eating all the free bread that they want to eat. 278 00:37:11,220 --> 00:37:13,180 They were hungry in Egypt, too. 279 00:37:13,180 --> 00:37:14,100 And what does God do? 280 00:37:14,100 --> 00:37:17,520 He feeds them with bread from heaven. 281 00:37:17,520 --> 00:37:20,920 Let's speed it up just a little bit. 282 00:37:20,920 --> 00:37:22,360 Exodus chapter 17. 283 00:37:22,360 --> 00:37:24,280 The people thirsted there for water. 284 00:37:24,280 --> 00:37:26,660 Remember, God's already provided water and food. 285 00:37:26,660 --> 00:37:32,880 And they said, why did you bring us up out of Egypt to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst? 286 00:37:32,880 --> 00:37:39,280 And it's not very long before we see the law of God written down in Exodus. 287 00:37:40,540 --> 00:37:42,660 You have the Ten Commandments and all of the law. 288 00:37:42,660 --> 00:37:47,580 And then in chapter 32 of Exodus, what happens? 289 00:37:47,580 --> 00:37:49,880 Moses on the mountain speaking to God. 290 00:37:49,880 --> 00:37:50,980 Remember what everybody does? 291 00:37:50,980 --> 00:37:55,760 They get all their earrings and their gold chains and they melt it together and they make a calf. 292 00:37:55,760 --> 00:37:57,080 And they worship it. 293 00:37:57,080 --> 00:38:01,560 They've seen God defeat the Egyptians in the land of Egypt. 294 00:38:01,560 --> 00:38:03,900 They've watched God split the Red Sea. 295 00:38:03,900 --> 00:38:05,080 They've crossed it. 296 00:38:05,080 --> 00:38:08,960 They've seen water, food, and more water. 297 00:38:08,960 --> 00:38:12,260 and there's literally bread falling from heaven. 298 00:38:38,960 --> 00:39:08,940 Thank you. 299 00:39:08,960 --> 00:39:38,940 Thank you. 300 00:39:38,960 --> 00:40:08,940 Thank you. 301 00:43:08,960 --> 00:43:32,520 Hello. 302 00:43:32,520 --> 00:43:34,620 All righty. 303 00:43:35,280 --> 00:43:38,940 You might say, why is this a battle? 304 00:43:38,940 --> 00:43:41,460 And we'll see this in context. 305 00:43:41,460 --> 00:43:45,100 But one of the reasons is that everything in this world fights against thanksgiving. 306 00:43:45,100 --> 00:43:52,660 And if we are not willing to fight back with the truth of who God is, 307 00:43:52,660 --> 00:43:56,260 there is this deceit that will lead us into sin. 308 00:43:56,260 --> 00:44:00,100 I'm going to read James 1, verses 16 and 17. 309 00:44:00,100 --> 00:44:02,760 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 310 00:44:03,740 --> 00:44:07,760 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, 311 00:44:07,760 --> 00:44:15,100 coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 312 00:44:15,100 --> 00:44:20,380 Now, it's very easy for us to see how verse 17 fits with being thankful, right? 313 00:44:20,380 --> 00:44:23,760 Every good and perfect gift coming down from above, 314 00:44:23,760 --> 00:44:27,000 and we go, that's something to do with thankfulness. 315 00:44:27,000 --> 00:44:32,200 But James' thought actually begins in verse 16 where he says, 316 00:44:32,380 --> 00:44:37,020 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 317 00:44:37,020 --> 00:44:40,980 And we might think, well, deceived how? 318 00:44:40,980 --> 00:44:42,500 Or by what? 319 00:44:42,500 --> 00:44:45,700 And there's a lot of questions that this warning can raise. 320 00:44:45,700 --> 00:44:49,340 And to understand why James warns us like this, 321 00:44:49,340 --> 00:44:54,860 I think we first need to understand the context to which he writes. 322 00:44:54,860 --> 00:44:58,980 James is writing to people who are suffering. 323 00:45:00,260 --> 00:45:02,960 In fact, this letter begins like this. 324 00:45:02,960 --> 00:45:06,160 Hi, I'm James. Prepare to suffer. 325 00:45:06,160 --> 00:45:11,420 If you've seen The Princess Bride, James is literally Inigo Montoya, right? 326 00:45:11,420 --> 00:45:15,800 Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Now prepare to die. 327 00:45:15,800 --> 00:45:18,340 James begins exactly like this. 328 00:45:18,340 --> 00:45:19,820 In fact, look at verse 2. 329 00:45:19,820 --> 00:45:22,540 Verse 1 is, Hi, I'm James. 330 00:45:22,540 --> 00:45:30,080 Verse 2 is, Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet with various trials, trials of various kinds. 331 00:45:30,080 --> 00:45:33,680 James literally begins with, my name is James. 332 00:45:33,680 --> 00:45:36,920 There's going to be trials and difficulty. 333 00:45:36,920 --> 00:45:41,780 And in the paragraph that precedes our text this morning, we find it again. 334 00:45:41,780 --> 00:45:46,280 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, 335 00:45:46,280 --> 00:45:49,160 for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, 336 00:45:49,160 --> 00:45:51,460 which God has promised to those who love him. 337 00:45:51,460 --> 00:45:56,640 And God's people are in the midst of trial, and they're struggling. 338 00:45:57,580 --> 00:46:03,460 Maybe in a way different to you this morning, but they may be struggling in the same way you're struggling this morning. 339 00:46:03,460 --> 00:46:16,420 And part of the struggle that is found in this text is that some of God's people, as they face this difficulty that weighs down upon them like a burden on their back, 340 00:46:16,420 --> 00:46:20,440 is they begin to do what most of us do when things get tough. 341 00:46:20,440 --> 00:46:21,580 We may begin to grumble. 342 00:46:21,580 --> 00:46:26,640 Sometimes we begin to despair or to lose hope. 343 00:46:27,580 --> 00:46:36,080 And then sometimes we even come to the place where they point their fingers at God and say, this is all your fault. 344 00:46:36,080 --> 00:46:43,580 And so James says this, he says, let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God. 345 00:46:43,580 --> 00:46:47,420 For God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 346 00:46:47,420 --> 00:46:52,980 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 347 00:46:52,980 --> 00:46:55,920 He expands on that in verse 15. 348 00:46:56,920 --> 00:47:01,820 And the point James is making is that God is sovereign over all things. 349 00:47:01,820 --> 00:47:06,900 He works all things, even your struggles, and even your trials, and even your hurts, 350 00:47:06,900 --> 00:47:13,680 even your tears and uncertainties, for good for those who love Him. 351 00:47:13,680 --> 00:47:15,560 It's Romans 8. 352 00:47:15,560 --> 00:47:21,700 But the temptations to sin do not come up from God. 353 00:47:22,280 --> 00:47:28,140 God is not coming up with some sort of evil plan to try to make you stumble is what James is saying. 354 00:47:28,140 --> 00:47:30,060 In fact, he's saying it's just the opposite. 355 00:47:30,060 --> 00:47:39,620 God is the one who when everything falls apart around you is the one who holds you close and holds you upright so you do not stumble. 356 00:47:39,620 --> 00:47:49,340 And what James is saying to God's people and to us is that when we face uncertainty and difficulty and it feels like it's weighing us down. 357 00:47:49,340 --> 00:47:51,360 it is not God who is weighing it down 358 00:47:51,360 --> 00:47:53,440 it is God who is holding us up 359 00:47:53,440 --> 00:47:56,180 and he has wrapped us in his arms 360 00:47:56,180 --> 00:47:59,080 and he says this 361 00:47:59,080 --> 00:48:03,140 he says 362 00:48:03,140 --> 00:48:05,380 it's not God who tempts you 363 00:48:05,380 --> 00:48:08,240 it's our desires 364 00:48:08,240 --> 00:48:11,080 and one of the things that happens 365 00:48:11,080 --> 00:48:14,760 how easy is it to justify bad behavior 366 00:48:14,760 --> 00:48:15,600 when we're suffering 367 00:48:15,600 --> 00:48:18,020 let me give you a simple example 368 00:48:18,020 --> 00:48:21,700 that's not really bad behavior, but one we probably can relate to, right? 369 00:48:21,700 --> 00:48:25,440 We had a terrible, terrible day, really, really tired. 370 00:48:25,440 --> 00:48:26,800 You know what? 371 00:48:26,800 --> 00:48:32,460 I need and I deserve, because of the suffering that I have just gone through, 372 00:48:32,460 --> 00:48:36,980 I deserve a giant milkshake and a bag of Reese's Pieces, right? 373 00:48:36,980 --> 00:48:39,340 Like, I've said that. 374 00:48:39,340 --> 00:48:41,040 I'm going to give myself a little treat. 375 00:48:41,040 --> 00:48:43,960 I deserve a little treat after the day I've had. 376 00:48:45,440 --> 00:48:54,840 Now, we can understand that in that context, but also, when it comes to the suffering of our life, it is often easy to do the same thing. 377 00:48:54,840 --> 00:48:58,000 Especially when it comes to sin. 378 00:48:58,000 --> 00:48:59,860 And we may not even think about it as sin. 379 00:48:59,860 --> 00:49:01,820 It's rather, I deserve this. 380 00:49:01,820 --> 00:49:06,160 Or I've gone through so much, I should be allowed this. 381 00:49:06,160 --> 00:49:14,020 And James will say, don't let those desires deceive you about God's good gift. 382 00:49:14,940 --> 00:49:22,280 Don't let those desires in the midst of your struggle and heartbreak cause you to turn your back on him. 383 00:49:22,280 --> 00:49:26,100 It's easy to justify bad behavior when you're suffering. 384 00:49:26,100 --> 00:49:30,160 And the warning James is giving us is one of love. 385 00:49:30,160 --> 00:49:34,640 He's not just yelling at us, but he's saying, I love you. 386 00:49:34,640 --> 00:49:38,440 He's saying to the church, don't be deceived, my beloved brothers. 387 00:49:38,440 --> 00:49:42,720 I'm not giving this warning to shame or to hurt you. 388 00:49:44,440 --> 00:49:51,020 And so against the struggle of our constantly tempted and discouraged hearts, 389 00:49:51,020 --> 00:49:57,780 I find thankfulness to God to be the answer that we so desperately need. 390 00:49:57,780 --> 00:50:01,740 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, 391 00:50:01,740 --> 00:50:08,800 coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 392 00:50:09,940 --> 00:50:15,140 So I want to take a look just very quickly at this verse 393 00:50:15,140 --> 00:50:18,300 and show you three things or three weapons 394 00:50:18,300 --> 00:50:23,540 or three ways to focus your heart and your thankfulness on God. 395 00:50:23,540 --> 00:50:24,420 And it starts just like this. 396 00:50:24,420 --> 00:50:30,420 Every good and every perfect gift is from God. 397 00:50:30,420 --> 00:50:34,080 And what James is doing here is so wonderful. 398 00:50:34,080 --> 00:50:38,720 He's using two different words to describe two different kinds of gifts. 399 00:50:39,220 --> 00:50:45,720 And when he says every good gift, the picture here is of those general gifts that God gives to everybody. 400 00:50:45,720 --> 00:50:50,480 So if you've ever woken up in the morning and it's a beautiful day, 401 00:50:50,480 --> 00:50:56,240 and it's a quiet morning and there's coffee and the sun is shining and the birds are chirping, 402 00:50:56,240 --> 00:50:58,700 and you just say, it's a beautiful day, right? 403 00:50:58,700 --> 00:51:00,560 That's a gift from God. 404 00:51:00,560 --> 00:51:08,020 When you enjoy a meal with friends, as you watch your children or grandchildren play, 405 00:51:09,220 --> 00:51:15,080 as you experience those things that throughout life bring joy to your heart, 406 00:51:15,080 --> 00:51:17,720 those things that a lot of people experience, 407 00:51:17,720 --> 00:51:22,180 those general gifts of God are good. 408 00:51:22,180 --> 00:51:26,660 The warm sunshine that's not too warm and not too cold. 409 00:51:26,660 --> 00:51:30,000 Rain at the end of a drought. 410 00:51:30,000 --> 00:51:33,940 So many of these things we take for granted. 411 00:51:33,940 --> 00:51:36,160 And James says every good thing, 412 00:51:36,800 --> 00:51:41,080 Everything in this world that applies to everybody, that's all from God. 413 00:51:41,080 --> 00:51:46,300 But then he says, it's not just like candy in a parade, right? 414 00:51:46,300 --> 00:51:48,920 Have you ever been in a parade where they're throwing out candy 415 00:51:48,920 --> 00:51:51,800 and sometimes they throw it near you and you're able to get some 416 00:51:51,800 --> 00:51:54,100 or your kids are able to get some and you can steal it later? 417 00:51:54,100 --> 00:51:57,640 And then sometimes they miss you and they throw it to the people down the street. 418 00:51:57,640 --> 00:52:00,220 James says, that's not how this works. 419 00:52:00,220 --> 00:52:05,580 God distributes his gifts to the whole world, but also he has gifted you specifically. 420 00:52:06,580 --> 00:52:09,020 When he says every perfect gift. 421 00:52:09,020 --> 00:52:15,480 Think now about the times when God has specifically worked in your life. 422 00:52:15,480 --> 00:52:21,080 Those times when both in big and in small ways God has provided for you in a wonderful way. 423 00:52:21,080 --> 00:52:24,800 That word of encouragement from a friend at the moment that you needed it. 424 00:52:24,800 --> 00:52:28,000 That help when you thought there was no help coming. 425 00:52:28,000 --> 00:52:35,640 And out of the blue, those moments where God very clearly provides for you. 426 00:52:36,580 --> 00:52:39,820 Every good thing comes from God. 427 00:52:39,820 --> 00:52:47,060 He says, not just the general gifts, but everything in your life. 428 00:52:47,060 --> 00:52:48,460 You know what this means? 429 00:52:48,460 --> 00:52:53,780 It means that you and I have an endless supply of things to be thankful for. 430 00:52:53,780 --> 00:52:56,460 If we are willing to look for it. 431 00:52:56,460 --> 00:53:02,040 So there are times, I think my wife can attest to this, that I struggle to find something. 432 00:53:02,040 --> 00:53:05,740 Sometimes when it's maybe right in front of my very eyes. 433 00:53:05,820 --> 00:53:06,700 It happened Wednesday night. 434 00:53:06,700 --> 00:53:10,640 We were getting ready for our Thanksgiving meal here at the church. 435 00:53:10,640 --> 00:53:12,620 And I had turkeys on the smoker. 436 00:53:12,620 --> 00:53:17,920 And the big thing with poultry versus beef is you don't want medium-rare turkey, right? 437 00:53:17,920 --> 00:53:20,560 Nobody wants medium-rare turkey. 438 00:53:20,560 --> 00:53:22,560 And so I had some meat probes in it. 439 00:53:22,560 --> 00:53:24,580 So I had an idea that it was about the right temperature. 440 00:53:24,580 --> 00:53:26,740 And I'm like, where's my good meat thermometer? 441 00:53:26,740 --> 00:53:28,880 And I'm running around the house. 442 00:53:28,880 --> 00:53:30,580 I'm running around the church kitchen. 443 00:53:30,580 --> 00:53:33,660 I'm looking at all those places that I can think of. 444 00:53:33,660 --> 00:53:35,620 Did I put it in my pocket, take it to the office? 445 00:53:35,820 --> 00:53:44,200 and I'm just 90 miles an hour, can't see it anywhere, so I use backup meat thermometer, 446 00:53:44,200 --> 00:53:51,460 turkey was fine, I think it turned out pretty okay, but then, next morning, pouring myself 447 00:53:51,460 --> 00:53:57,640 a cup of coffee, everything was done, most things were cleaned up, and I look down right 448 00:53:57,640 --> 00:54:02,760 where the meat thermometer normally is, and guess what's sitting right there, it'd been 449 00:54:02,760 --> 00:54:09,180 there the entire time right i was just so frantic and so busy and running in so many different 450 00:54:09,180 --> 00:54:18,200 directions that i didn't have time to stop and look and for many of us this is our struggle when 451 00:54:18,200 --> 00:54:25,280 it comes to thanking God we're so overwhelmed with our crisis and with our hurts and our fears 452 00:54:25,280 --> 00:54:30,800 and our uncertainties that we're running everywhere and when somebody says what's good we say there's 453 00:54:30,800 --> 00:54:39,400 nothing good it's why the psalmist says this i lift my eyes to the hills where does my help come 454 00:54:39,400 --> 00:54:44,340 from my help comes from the Lord most of us are so busy staring down our troubles 455 00:54:44,340 --> 00:54:55,380 that the psalmist says stop and lift your eyes up and see the goodness of God and so the first 456 00:54:55,380 --> 00:54:56,600 way we fight 457 00:54:56,600 --> 00:54:58,900 is by realizing 458 00:54:58,900 --> 00:55:03,000 that there is 459 00:55:03,000 --> 00:55:05,060 every good gift 460 00:55:05,060 --> 00:55:07,420 that comes from God 461 00:55:07,420 --> 00:55:09,540 secondly that God is the source of every gift 462 00:55:09,540 --> 00:55:11,300 notice that it is 463 00:55:11,300 --> 00:55:13,140 from above and coming down 464 00:55:13,140 --> 00:55:15,200 from him and this is humbling 465 00:55:15,200 --> 00:55:17,120 because it's not 466 00:55:17,120 --> 00:55:19,460 something I have procured for myself 467 00:55:19,460 --> 00:55:23,260 and notice this God doesn't just 468 00:55:23,260 --> 00:55:24,120 have 469 00:55:24,120 --> 00:55:28,520 but he is the source of good gifts 470 00:55:28,520 --> 00:55:30,380 he doesn't just have all of these things 471 00:55:30,380 --> 00:55:34,080 but he is the very goodness 472 00:55:34,080 --> 00:55:36,660 that he gives to his people 473 00:55:36,660 --> 00:55:38,860 that's what it means when it says 474 00:55:38,860 --> 00:55:40,900 he is the father of lights 475 00:55:40,900 --> 00:55:44,800 it means that he is consistent in his goodness 476 00:55:44,800 --> 00:55:48,000 some have pointed to this father of lights 477 00:55:48,000 --> 00:55:49,520 and said what that means is that 478 00:55:49,520 --> 00:55:53,120 God is light as John says in his first epistle 479 00:55:53,120 --> 00:56:23,100 Thank you. 480 00:56:23,120 --> 00:56:53,100 Thank you. 481 00:56:53,120 --> 00:57:23,100 Thank you. 482 01:03:23,120 --> 01:03:35,960 Turn your eyes upon Jesus 483 01:03:35,960 --> 01:03:43,400 Look full in His wonderful face 484 01:03:43,400 --> 01:03:50,900 And the things of earth will grow strangely dim 485 01:03:50,900 --> 01:03:58,440 In the light of his glory and grace 486 01:03:58,440 --> 01:04:09,180 Turn your eyes to that hillside 487 01:04:09,180 --> 01:04:15,980 Where justice and mercy embrace 488 01:04:15,980 --> 01:04:23,680 There the Son of God gave his life for us 489 01:04:23,680 --> 01:04:30,740 And our measureless debt was erased 490 01:04:30,740 --> 01:04:38,020 Jesus, to you we lift our eyes 491 01:04:38,020 --> 01:04:45,100 Jesus, our glory and our Christ 492 01:04:45,100 --> 01:04:52,300 We adore you, behold you, our Savior and encourage you 493 01:04:52,300 --> 01:04:58,580 And see Christ the lion aware 494 01:04:58,580 --> 01:05:06,640 What a glorious dawn, fear of death is gone 495 01:05:06,640 --> 01:05:13,460 For we carry his life in our veins 496 01:05:13,460 --> 01:05:21,300 Jesus, to you we lift our eyes 497 01:05:21,300 --> 01:05:28,220 Jesus, our glory and our prize 498 01:05:28,220 --> 01:05:33,340 We adore you, behold you 499 01:05:33,340 --> 01:05:36,340 Our Savior ever true 500 01:05:36,340 --> 01:05:42,340 Oh Jesus, we turn our eyes to you 501 01:05:42,340 --> 01:05:54,380 Turn your eyes to the heavens 502 01:05:54,380 --> 01:06:00,380 Our King will return for His own 503 01:06:00,380 --> 01:06:05,220 Every knee will bow 504 01:06:05,220 --> 01:06:08,980 Every tongue will shout 505 01:06:08,980 --> 01:06:12,980 All glory to Jesus 506 01:06:12,980 --> 01:06:23,440 Jesus, to you we lift our eyes 507 01:06:23,440 --> 01:06:30,380 Jesus, our glory and our prize 508 01:06:30,380 --> 01:06:34,580 We adore you, behold you 509 01:06:34,580 --> 01:06:37,640 Our Savior ever true 510 01:06:37,640 --> 01:06:44,760 Oh Jesus, we turn our eyes to you 511 01:06:44,760 --> 01:06:51,060 Jesus, to you we lift our cries 512 01:06:51,060 --> 01:06:59,260 Jesus, our glory and our prize 513 01:06:59,260 --> 01:07:03,400 We adore you, behold you 514 01:07:03,400 --> 01:07:06,440 Our Savior ever true 515 01:07:06,440 --> 01:07:12,300 Oh, Jesus, we turn our eyes to you. 516 01:07:12,300 --> 01:07:23,720 Oh, Jesus, we turn our eyes to you. 517 01:07:32,840 --> 01:07:38,060 Just a few announcements as we wrap up this morning, this Wednesday. 518 01:07:38,060 --> 01:07:41,560 Well, we have a time of evening at 6 p.m. 519 01:07:41,560 --> 01:07:43,780 That's Thanksgiving Eve. 520 01:07:43,780 --> 01:07:47,840 We invite you to join us for that. 521 01:07:47,840 --> 01:07:52,340 Additionally, next Sunday is the day of Advent. 522 01:07:52,340 --> 01:07:57,820 As we look to hope and the hope that is found in Jesus, 523 01:07:57,820 --> 01:08:01,640 we are excited to begin that journey in celebration. 524 01:08:01,820 --> 01:08:14,780 One just quick announcement, one of the things that we do each Sunday of Advent is our kids in sort of a semi-organized mob participate in the lighting of the Advent candles. 525 01:08:14,780 --> 01:08:19,920 And so we'd like to give all the kids a chance to be part of that. 526 01:08:19,920 --> 01:08:28,600 And so we can, if you talk to me, if your kids would like to participate, just come talk to me and we'll figure out the schedule. 527 01:08:29,460 --> 01:08:33,320 A lot of candles to light as we add one every Sunday so we can have some turns. 528 01:08:33,320 --> 01:08:40,820 So it'll be a joyful time and exciting to see our kids participating with this. 529 01:08:40,820 --> 01:08:42,240 And they love that they get to play with fire. 530 01:08:42,240 --> 01:08:46,640 All right, so that's where we are at. 531 01:08:46,640 --> 01:08:53,260 Just in general, we have Children's Church, 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month in Wednesday night Bible study. 532 01:08:53,260 --> 01:08:59,100 Although this week, a time of worship for Thanksgiving Eve. 533 01:08:59,120 --> 01:09:00,500 Let's go ahead and have a word of prayer. 534 01:09:00,500 --> 01:09:07,360 I'll read a verse from Psalm 136, and then we'll sing the doxology. 535 01:09:07,360 --> 01:09:10,560 Father in heaven, I thank you for your goodness, 536 01:09:10,560 --> 01:09:15,680 and I ask that as we celebrate this week your blessings, 537 01:09:15,680 --> 01:09:19,980 that this would not just be a seasonal experience for us, 538 01:09:19,980 --> 01:09:21,980 but it would be the reality of how we live, 539 01:09:21,980 --> 01:09:26,520 both in those big general ways and in those small personal ways 540 01:09:26,520 --> 01:09:31,260 that you would help us to celebrate and declare your goodness to the world in which we live. 541 01:09:31,260 --> 01:09:33,940 It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 542 01:09:33,940 --> 01:09:39,860 One of the ways we can see in the Psalms that helps us focus our eyes on the goodness of God 543 01:09:39,860 --> 01:09:47,220 is in the 136th Psalm, which is just a psalm recounting Israel's leaving of Egypt and the exodus, 544 01:09:47,220 --> 01:09:52,460 and each part and each blessing and work of God is followed by the refrain, 545 01:09:53,340 --> 01:09:56,820 His steadfast love endures together, and the psalm ends like this. 546 01:09:56,820 --> 01:10:02,720 Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever. 547 01:10:02,720 --> 01:10:19,560 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. 548 01:10:20,340 --> 01:10:24,660 Praise Him, all creatures here below. 549 01:10:24,660 --> 01:10:30,480 Praise Him, above ye heavenly hosts. 550 01:10:30,480 --> 01:10:36,140 Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 551 01:10:50,340 --> 01:11:20,320 Thank you. 552 01:11:20,340 --> 01:11:50,320 Thank you. 553 01:11:50,340 --> 01:12:20,320 Thank you.