The J.O.Y.

of Thanksgiving (Thanksgiving Sunday Worship Celebration - December 12, 2010) 1 Chronicles 29:9-18 (NIV) 9 The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly. 10 David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, Praise be to you, LORD, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. 11 Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. 13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. 14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 15 We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16 LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. 17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. 18 LORD, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. Introduction: Wow! What a profound declaration of truth coming from the mouth of someone, who, in my opinion was one of the most - if not the most - expressive persons when we talk about gratitude. He never held back how he felt and did not play it reserved and dignified every time he rendered praises and thanksgiving to God. This passage tells us of the approval of God to David's desire to build a permanent structure to become Gods dwelling place. Although, Yahweh specifically told David that it would be Solomon his son that will take the lead in constructing the temple, David was nonetheless very excited and took the initiative and led the entire Israelites in presenting thanksgiving offering.

What prompted David to be so grateful to God? How was he able to constantly express a life of thanksgiving to his Creator and great King? I would like to share at least three (3) things that I discovered in the life of of this man after God's own heart that enabled him to be one of the most - and in my opinion, he was the most grateful persons who ever lived. The first thing that I discovered about David was that he had a GODLY PERSPECTIVE. He always looked at things from the standpoint of God. As a shepherd boy tending his father's flocks, he never allowed any of the sheep - not even the sickly or the weak ones - to be the great tasting meal of a hungry lion and a ferocious bear. In his moments of introspection, he understood that how he lovingly cared for the flocks and faithfully tended them, God, as his Great Shepherd takes care of him more and beyond compare. David had developed the habit of finding God and how the Great Adonai thinks in everything that he would go through. Secondly, David had a GREAT PASSION for God. No doubt that David was hailed as the great commander of army of Israel, and rightly so simply because for him its more than Israel as a nation but its the LORD and His great name that's at stake. When he fought Goliath, his heart cry was that the uncircumcised giant should not be allowed to defile the LORD of host. The ordinances he instituted in the way praises and celebration with excellent musical instruments must accompany the daily sacrifices offered in the Tabernacle. His desire to build a temple more magnanimous and magnificent than his palace was among the things that demonstrate his great passion for God. And, thirdly, he had a GENEROUS PALM. David was by no means a show off or a money-waster. Instead, he was a wise spender and an intelligent investor. When he knew that if something was to be offered to or done for Yahweh, it should be the best and no less than that. When he blesses people, he would bless them generously and make people happy. The J.O.Y. of Thanksgiving How do we go on our own quest in finding the J.O.Y. of thanksgiving which David found for himself? Well, aside from developing and cultivating the same spirit/attitudes which we mentioned above, allow me to point the J.O.Y. which we can find in the text that we cited above. Jubilation - In verse 9, we find that whole assembly expresses their exuberance before God. The Lord wants His people to find joy in His presence. If sin calls for repentance and mourning, His grace and mercy call us to rejoice and be glad as we respond to Him in gratitude. Jubilation is not how we feel about the blessings and the presence of God. It is an attitude that we render God for who He is and what He has done in our lives. Optimism - In verses 14 and 15, David admits that he and the people of Israel were nothing but foreigners and strangers, like mere shadow and without hope. At the outset, one would think

that He was being pessimistic and no sign of optimism in his statement. But you see, having said and declared that truth about himself and the rest of the people, David expressed his dynamic optimism by recognizing what the grace and blessings of the Great Adonai had accomplished in their lives so far. As I always emphasize, optimism - as well as pessimism - is not a personality. It is an attitude of HOPE - Having Only Positive Expectations. In other words, it is not something that we have embedded in us, something that comes naturally the moment we were born. It is a choice that we have to make. Yield - In verses 17 and 18, David closes his remarks with a heartfelt petition. That God would help them - him and the people of Israel - to have a life that is yielded to Him and in doing what pleases Him. Paul tells us that we are members of Christ's body and each member doing its own part, we will all contribute to the growth, up-building, nourishment, and healthy function of the entire body. In other words, we should all function according to what God has called us to be in the body of Christ. David functioned as king and commander of the army of Israel, Samuel did not try to be king but yielded himself to God as a priest and prophet while the rest did what God had called them to be doing. Not all of us would have equal riches - I wish to God that we would. Some of us would be given much and hence, much would be required from us in terms of utilizing what God had given for His glory and kingdom. Some of us, God would simply bless just enough because God would like to use us differently, not more inferior than anybody else. Remember, He places us exactly where we can be more like Him. Rejoice and be thankful about it! Here are simple and practical exercises that I would like to for you to do in the light of this first part Thanksgiving Message: -Look at both of your hands intently and say out loud prayerfully these words, "These hands are blessed by God!" Again, say it like you believe it with all of your heart. -Now, place your hands on your chest and say these words, "My heart is loyal to God!" With your hands blessed by God and your heart loyal to Him, you're on your way to experience the J.O.Y. of thanksgiving! God bless you always and more! Ptr. Dhon
Senior Pastor Haven of Praise Christian Church Santa Rosa City Laguna Philippines http://www.facebook.com/groups/161436540553545/doc/?id=177623612268171#!/groups/16143654 0553545/