Why Give Thanks?

November 18am, 2001 Why Give Thanks? Rev. 11:16-19

By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

Thanksgiving Sunday

In the Hartford Kentucky Times News Dorothy Gentry says that she hates it when her football fan husband refers to the turkey leftovers as "replays." But then she heard the wife of a TV executive who said he, the TV executive, calls the leftovers "reruns." The local mortician's wife is not sympathetic because her husband calls them "remains." -- Associated Press, 11-30-93.

Twas the night of Thanksgiving, but I just couldn't sleep I tried counting backwards, I tried counting sheep.

The leftovers beckoned -- the dark meat and white, but I fought the temptation with all of my might.

Tossing and turning with anticipation, the thought of a snack became infatuation.

So, I raced to the kitchen, flung open the door and gazed at the fridge, full of goodies galore.

I gobbled up turkey and buttered potatoes, pickles and carrots, beans and tomatoes.

I felt myself swelling so plump and so round, till all of a sudden, I rose off the ground.

I crashed through the ceiling, floating into the sky with a mouthful of pudding and a handful of pie

But, I managed to yell as I soared past the trees .... happy eating to all -- pass the cranberries, please!

You have the power, but will you use it? God has the power, but will He use it?

Systematic Theological Growth: Encouraging and enabling students/disciples of Christ to implement the principles of the Bible in our lives.

Scripture Text: Rev. 11:16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, 17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. 18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. 19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

A Worship Service in Heaven.

Why should you thank God anyway? The purpose of this message is to show why we should give thanks to God. The Elders were worshiping. Who are the elders who are worshipping here in heaven? The twenty four elders worshipped. Who are they anyway? They are the senior saints of God who have been placed in prominent positions in heaven.

They gave thanks to the Lord God Almighty, which is, was, and will be. God is still God. He has always been and He will always be God. Not just another god, but the only true living God who rules and reigns. Why do we see all the injustice in the world? Why do we see the wicked prospering and the righteous loosing? Why do we continue to see the great tragedies that we recently experienced? Knowing that God is gracious and allows each of us the opportunity to decide to serve Him, we see many who choose to not come to Him. They choose the ways of the world. They don’t choose God. We should give thanks because we know that He is and that He does rule all. Our lives are like the grass that dies quickly, but the Lord reigns. He will one day come to take up his power that he has temporarily laid aside.

Why did they give thanks?

1. He has taken his great power and has reigned. In this future event God’s power is assumed and used to bring the earth and all that is therein under his control. He reigns and rules with an iron fist. What made the elders so happy? God’s plans will be carried out to the fullest. The wicked will be punished and the righteous rewarded. Now, God allows us all to make our own decisions then the decisions we have made will come to pass. God’s laws of life will eventually be brought to pass. Now, he gives mercy and grace, but then he will cause all to receive the reward of their ways. It’s a two edged sword that the Lord will then raise. To the wicked it means wrath, but to the righteous it means reward. Now, which will you choose? We will choose today.

2. The nations were angry. The world will be upset when it realizes that it no longer can have it’s own way. Like a spoiled child who has been allowed to go it’s own way the world will find out there is a higher power than the bomb and he who holds the trigger. The nations of the world will not be allowed to continue unless they have submitted themselves to the only true living God. We should be thankful that one day God will take over. Justice will rule by the one who knows all and can make true justice.

3. Thy wrath is come. God’s Grace will be transformed into God’s wrath on that day. All those who have forbidden God’s entrance into their hearts will be punished. All those who have destroyed the earth will be destroyed. All of the enemies of the Lord will be judged and condemned. God will rule over all on that day. Now people can choose, but on that day God will choose to rule. He is the Lord. The time has come to destroy those that destroy the earth.

4. The time of the dead to be judged and the righteous rewarded.

The time of the reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to them that fear thy name small and great. Be thankful that God allows us to choose. Be thankful that God gives grace. Be thankful that He has forgiven us. Be thankful that He will reward His servants. Be thankful that those who has persecuted the prophets and the righteous will be judged. Be thankful that God is the judge and not us. Be thankful that we have been saved. Be thankful that we have been given the warning and have heeded the call. Be thankful that God is still God and today He is your God. He

19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.