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(Sermon)

Following is an excerpt of "How to Celebrate Thanksgiving" by Stan Coffey added on 10/23/2009.
How to Celebrate Thanksgiving
Stan Coffey
Psalms l00: l-5

OUTLINE:

I. WE ARE THANKFUL WHEN WE ENTER HIS PRESENCE
II. WE ARE THANKFUL WHEN WE EXALT HIS PERSON
III. WE ARE THANKFUL WHEN WE EXPRESS HIS PRAISES

On Thanksgiving Day we carry out a tradition as old as America. In 1621 after a terrible year in which half their number died of starvation or disease, the Pilgrims set aside three days in December to praise the Lord for a bountiful harvest of corn. Many years later in

1789, President George Washington proclaimed November 26 as a national day of Thanksgiving unto the Lord. This was in response to God's granting America independence from Britain. In 1863 Abraham Lincoln revived this tradition of giving thanks to the Lord, and finally in 194l, the United States Congress decreed that the

fourth Thursday in November was to be a national day of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year. I love the big thanksgiving dinner. I love gathering with all the family. I love eating so much that you fall asleep watching the football game.

I love a time when we can stop and give thanks, for truly God has been good to my family and me. But we should never be guilty of only thanking the Lord on Thanksgiving Day! Everyday is Thanksgiving Day for the believer.

I Thessalonians 5:18 says "In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." We may not can give thanks for everything but we can give thanks in everything. In our text the Psalmist looks forward to the time of the Millennial Reign of Christ on the earth.

At this time the "knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as waters cover the sea."
At this time God's praises will fill the earth and the lion shall lay down with the lamb.
While these things are in the future, there is an application in this Psalm for Thanksgiving Day. At the top of this psalm we read, "A psalm for thanksgiving." What caused the
Psalmist to be thankful? Why was he worshipping and shouting and thanking God? And why should practice thanksgiving every day.


I. WE ARE THANKFUL WHEN WE ENTER INTO HIS PRESENCE

The Psalmist opens this Psalm by issuing a call to worship and praise the Lord. He teaches us how to come into God's presence. By the way, nothing brings us into the presence of the Lord like lifting up His name. He promises us that He will inhabit the praises of His people. (Psalm 22:3) Notice three ways great manifestations of praise bring us into the presence of God. First, we enter his presence with shouting. "Make a joyful noise," comes from one Hebrew word which means "to shout." Vocal praise unto the Lord may be out of fashion in this present time, but it is still in vogue in God's economy.

When we verbally declare our praise for Him, it glorifies His name and brings us into His presence. May God give us all a shout in the soul that will find expression on our lips!
Secondly, we enter his presence with se ...

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