A GRATEFUL NATION

SERMON STARTER

          We are grateful for a lot of things. . .life, health, strength, special people who have been placed in our lives, God's Hand of Provision, Jesus Christ and His Salvation and Blessed Promise and Hope of Eternal Life. I for one am grateful and collectively we are a grateful nation.

When Dwight D. Eisenhower was President from 1953 to 1961, he received a letter from eight-year-old Keith Aiken of Trumbull, CT. Kevin wrote,

“After listening to the news about the cold war, I am worried about the people in the world. In thinking it over, I have a plan. Get all the leaders together who want war, put them in a ring and let them fight it out.”

          The only veteran of foreign wars I ever heard say how much he loved war was George Patton. The rest of the veterans I talk with say they struggle to forget. War is a terrible but sometimes necessary thing. William T. Sherman, Civil War Union General is quoted in a speech in 1880 as saying,

“WAR IS HELL!”

“Some of you young men think that war is all glamour and glory, but let me tell you, boys, it is all hell!”

“You don’t know the horrible aspects of war. I’ve been through two wars and I know. I’ve seen cities and homes in ashes. I’ve seen thousands of men lying on the ground, their dead faces looking up at the skies. I tell you, war is hell!”
TR.The main war we seem to be concerned about these days is the partisan cultural wars. We have seen anarchy in the streets from many of whom do not believe in our Constitutional form of government. Flag burnings are commonplace. Disrespect of our national flag and anthem are common. National unity seems to have left the country. Jesus put it simply. . .

 

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.” Matt. 24:6

Soon, you will hear God’s Shofar calling us to attention and declaring an end to wars and time as we know it. God will declare an end to the senselessness of war and His armies will conquer what is ultimately behind all this human evil, Satan and his minions!

HONORING VETERANS, cont.

 

          Perhaps WWII could qualify as the greatest war in human history. In all 61 countries with 1.7 billion people, three-fourths of the world’s population took part in what many have called, The Great War. In terms of money spent it has been more than 1 trillion dollars. This makes it the most expensive war of all time.

The cost in human lives, not including 6 to 7 million Jews killed in the Holocaust, it is estimated that more than 55 million people lost their lives, 25 million of those dead were military and 30 million were civilian. It is impossible to wrap your mind around such carnage.

On this day we honor those who have been and are willing to go and give on behalf of their country.

As someone wrote: (Pastor Ray Reads this)
It is the VETERAN, not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the VETERAN, who salutes the Flag,
Who serves under the Flag.

          Today we honor all our armed service veterans. To you veterans we owe a debt of gratitude because you were willing to go and give on behalf of the United States of America! 

GOD BLESS EVERY ONE OF YOU!         Pastor Phil    <><<

November 11, 2018 - Sheepfold Ministries

Pastor Phil Roland

 

A GRATEFUL NATION

1 Timothy 2:1-7

 

“We are most grateful for those who have, some unreservedly, poured out their lives so that we may continue to enjoy the privileges of freedom. On behalf of a grateful nation we give thanks to Jesus for our salvation and for the American servicemen and women for our freedom.”  Pastor Phil <><<

 

THEME:
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.     1 Thessalonians 5:18

 

Yoo-khar-is-teh'-o = To give thanks; to be grateful; to express gratitude

 

We are a Grateful People because. . .

I.   INGRATITUDE IS THE ATTITUDE OF THIS WORLD

A. Our World is Disrespectful of the Sacrifice and Service of Veterans

          1. Insensitive, Unfeeling, Uncaring, Non-Empathetic

          2. It's easy to say, "Thank you for your service." "I'm grateful."

          3. Not just disrespectful of Vets, Infirmed, Seniors as well

B. Paul’s Prophesy of this present age - 2 Tim 3:1-5

   “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be

   lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive,

   disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving,

   slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,

   treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of

   God-having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to

   do with them.”

                    1. John Calvin, 15th Century French theologian and reformer

                    2. Calvin taught that Man is Totally Depraved

                    3. Calvin is simply echoing Paul in this text

B. Paul’s description is in our daily Bad-Newspapers

                    1. Mankind hasn't gotten any better

                    2. Given the choice between good and evil, men choose evil

          C. We enjoy the highest standard of living in the world

                    1. We're ungrateful, never satisfied, we want more

                    2. Narcissistic, never satisfied, "Just a little bit more. . ."

 

We are a Grateful People because. . .

II.  GRATITUDE IS THE ATTITUDE OF THE KINGDOM

          A. Early Christians were Grateful to God – Colossians 3:13-17

   “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one                           body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ

    dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all

    wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with

A GRATEFUL NATION, cont., p2

gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or                       deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the                              Father through him.”

          1. Every day in God's Kingdom, they gave thanks 2 Cor. 9:15

                      15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

          2. Jesus had delivered them from darkness into His Light

          3. What about You? Are you grateful for what God is doing?

B. They were grateful and gave verbal thanks to God – 2 Cor. 2:14-16

    “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in

      Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the

      knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those

     who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the

     smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.”

                    1. Grateful, we are forgiven, we are “IN CHRIST” - 2 Cor. 5:17

                    “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things

                          have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

                    2. We Are Grateful God has forgotten sin’s accusations

                    3. We are Grateful We have newness of life in Christ

 

We are a Grateful People because. . .

III. Because of His Favor - Psalm 103:1-5

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

          A. He Favors us with Long Life

              “who satisfies your years with good things;”

                    1. Women continue to outlive men

                    2. Life expectancy being 76.3 years for males

                    3. Longevity is 81.1 years for females

                    4. We live longer if we don't smoke or drink, up to 86

          B. He Favors us with Health

                    “who heals all your diseases;”

                    1. I don't need "Obama-Care" or, Medicare, I have Jesus-Care

                    2. I use Medicare, and I ALWAYS prudently consult my doc. . .

          C. He Favors us with Strength

                    “your youth is renewed like the eagle;”

                    1. Eat Right, Sleep Right and leave the rest to Jesus

                    2. Isaiah 40:38 says I will "Run in my youth and not be weary,                                       walk in my old age and not faint."

 

We are a Grateful People because. . .

IV.  WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THOSE WHO SACRIFICE

          A. Grateful for those who lay down their lives - John 15:13

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

A GRATEFUL NATION, cont., p3

         B. Veterans have done this for us – Romans 12:1

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your               bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual                    act of worship.”

         C. We are to follow our veteran's example

                    1. Obediently go where they are needed

                    2. Laying down their lives for one another and us

                    3. Putting themselves in Harm's Way for our Peacefulness

 

We are a Grateful People because. . .

IV. JESUS MADE HIMSELF A LIVING SACRIFICE FOR US

          A. He is a veteran who gave Himself fully to free us from sin

B. His sacrifice has set us free 

C. His salvation is his priceless gift

D. Will you accept His Sacrifice for you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A GRATEFUL NATION, Text:

1 Timothy 2:1-7 (NKJV)
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle--I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying--a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ephesians 5:18-21 (NKJV)
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Psalm 136:26 (NKJV)
26 Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever.

Psalm 107:1 (NKJV)
1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

 

 

ILL.- John Stuart Mill, philosopher from London, England, died in 1873, said, “War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight is a miserable creature…”

There are some things are worth fighting for: our freedom in America and our freedom in Christ!

God bless the USA! God bless our US veterans! And God bless the veterans of the Christian faith!

 

 

 

 

 

 

REMEMBER:

"It is the soldier, not the reporter,

who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet,

who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,

who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.

It is the soldier,

who salutes the flag,

who serves beneath the flag,

and whose casket is draped by the flag,

who allows the protester to burn the flag."

(Father Denis Edward O'Brien, USMC)

 

Who lays down his life so that others may live in freedom.

 

“Greater Love has no man that this: that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VETERAN'S DAY POEM

 

It is the VETERAN, not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the VETERAN, who salutes the Flag,
Who serves under the Flag.