Scripture Hebrews 11-3, 11- 16, 36 - 40 (1-3) Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. (11-16) By faith Abraham, even though he was past age--and Sarah herself was barren--was enabled to become a father because he considered Him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one.  Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.   (36-40) Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated-- the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.  Now on to the sermon

Catherine Jones of Kerrville, Texas writes, “My four-year-old likes to say the blessing at mealtimes, usually repeating the same short prayer: ‘Thank you, God, for this gracious food. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.’ “One evening, however, he thanked the Lord for the birds, the trees, each of his friends, and asked God to watch over his family and help them to be good. I was thrilled that he was finally praying from the heart.       “But after the ‘Amen,’ he took a spoonful of stew, gasped, then dropped his spoon into the bowl. ‘I should have said a longer prayer,’ he said. ‘My food is still too hot.’ Christian Reader, "Kids of the Kingdom."

One day a four-year-old was standing on a kitchen chair pulled close to the wall, intensely staring at the familiar "Our Daily Bread" painting of the older man praying over a small loaf.      "What are you doing, Honey?" her mother asked. "Looking," she said with a catch in her voice. Noticing tears under her dark lashes, Mom probed deeper. "What are you thinking?" With a heartfelt sigh, the little girl replied, "He doesn't have any peanut butter."  -- H.J. Duffy, Livingston, Texas. Christian Reader, "Kids of the Kingdom."

 

On a more serious note, do you remember the pictures of the pilgrims at the first American Thanksgiving? Approximately half of their number died the first year they were on this continent. They had a hard time, and it was a cold winter. Dangers lurked everywhere, but the pilgrims didn't focus on their losses, like the deaths of their loved ones and the dangers and the cold weather that they faced. They chose not to let those problems obscure the blessings of God. They joined together, and thanked the Lord for the blessings they had received.

Charles Allen notes that a person is rich indeed when he or she is so busy celebrating what God has provided that they lose sight of the problems and the things they do not have! May we remember that God’s word says, “Godliness with contentment is great gain!” (1 Timothy 6:6) When we get to feeling discouraged it helps to list all of the blessings that we have received. Every one of us is more blessed than we are hurt. Charles Allen, "Lessons from the Lepers," Preaching Today, Tape No. 147.

Hebrews 11 starts out very boldly!

NIV “Now faith” is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

KJV: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

NASB: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

We should ask ourselves if we have “now faith” (current, up to date) so we can be sure of what we hope for. This “hope” is more than a “I kinda would like to see this happen” feeling. It is being satisfied that something is going to happen! It is knowledge based on what the word of God says. It believes that God is smart enough to get the truth to you!

Where is your faith placed today? Is it in yourself or in your God? Is it in your ability or your bank account? Personally, I do my best keep my faith in a safe place – in God!

Recently I heard someone quoting a famous person who admitted, “I have had a lot of problems in this lifetime, and the truth is, most of the problems were my own responsibility.”

However, our Pilgrim Fathers had to face the terrible weather, illness, and the natives who resented the pilgrims stealing their land – for obvious reasons! But what should we do when problems come our way and they seem overwhelming… because they are overwhelming?  

Recently one of our new hemodialysis patients was trying to get used to his treatments. The surgeon came along and examined his new access (he had sown the patient’s artery to the vein in his forearm) and it wasn’t healing properly. The surgeon stated, “we may have to go back to surgery and correct that.” The patient responded, “I don’t want to get cut on again.” To which the doctor responded, “I’m afraid you are going to have to adjust to these problems… they go along with it.”

And problems go along with this life. But we should remember the scripture found in 1 Corinthians 10:13. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it. (NIV)

But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it. (TLB)

Matthew Henry, the great commentator of the 1700s, observed that our fleshly desires gain strength when we indulgence them. Therefore, he explained, when the desire is first noted, we should immediately say no!  If we think about something long enough, we will take action.  

Murmuring about our problems actually provokes God.  If you face a temptation, deal with it!  If a thought overwhelms you, pray, then occupy your mind in another direction.  But the best way out of problems is through praise, and that is exactly what the pilgrims did by throwing a Thanksgiving party!

What do you have to be thankful for today? Make a list and share it with others!

The Christian's security against sin is distrust of himself. God has not promised to keep us from falling, if we do not look to ourselves. To this word of caution, a word of comfort is added. Everybody has problems and temptations.  It is a part of this life. How sweet to know that God is wise as well as faithful, and will adjust our burdens according to our strength.  He knows what we can bear.  He will make a way to escape; He will deliver either from the trial itself, or at least any harm from it.  

As I was studying for this message I came across a great quote – and it is worth considering at this time. A lot of folk will be working very hard to make your Thanksgiving celebration a great one. The quote is this: “When you carve the Thanksgiving turkey, give the first piece to the person who prepared it.”

Thanksgiving During the Depression
Deuteronomy 8:10; Psalms 100:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Gratitude; Thankfulness; Thanksgiving; Old age; Blessings

Back in the very early thirties, William Stidger was seated one day with a group of friends in a restaurant.  Everyone was talking about the depression: how terrible it was, the suffering people, rich people committing suicide, the jobless, the whole thing.  The conversation got more and more miserable as it went on.  There was a minister in the group, and he suddenly broke in and said, "I don't know what I'm going to do, because in two or three weeks I have to preach a sermon on Thanksgiving Day.  I want to say something affirmative.  What can I say that's affirmative in a period of world depression like this?"  And as the minister spoke, Stidger said it was like the Spirit of God spoke to him: "Why don't you give thanks to those people who have been a blessing in your life and affirm them during this terrible time?"

He began to think about that.  The thought came to his mind of a schoolteacher very dear to him, a wonderful teacher of poetry and English literature from years ago who had gone out of her way to put a great love of literature and verse in him.  It affected all his writings and his preaching.  So he sat down and wrote a letter to this woman, now up in years.  It was only a matter of days until he got a reply in the feeble scrawl of the aged. "My Dear Willy"--Stidger says at that time he was about 50 years of age and was bald, and no one had called him Willy for a long time, so just the opening sentence warmed his heart.  Here's the letter:

"My Dear Willy: I can't tell you how much your note meant to me.  I am in my eighties, living alone in a small room, cooking my own meals, lonely, and like the last leaf of autumn lingering behind."  Listen to this sentence, will you?  "You'll be interested to know that I taught in school for more than fifty years, and yours is the first note of appreciation I ever received.  It came on a blue, cold morning, and it cheered me as nothing has done in many years."

Stidger says, "I'm not sentimental, but I found myself weeping over that note."  Then he thought of a kindly bishop, now retired, an old man who had recently faced the death of his wife and was all alone.  This bishop had taken a lot of time, given him advice and counsel and love when he first began his ministry.  So he sat down and wrote the old bishop.  In two days a reply came back.

"My Dear Will:  Your letter was so beautiful, so real, that as I sat reading it in my study, tears fell from my eyes, tears of gratitude.  Before I realized what I was doing, I rose from my chair and I called her name to share it with her, forgetting she was gone.  You'll never know how much your letter has warmed my spirit.  I have been walking around in the glow of your letter all day long."

Citation: David A. Seamands, "Instruction for Thanksgiving," Preaching Today, Tape No. 62.

Don't limit your "thanks giving" to the fourth Thursday in November!