Posts tagged Thankfulness

40 Days of Preperation Easter Sunday

Apr24
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Warner Smith

Today is Easter Sunday. The highest and holiest day in the Christian religion. Without the resurrection of Jesus from the dead Christianity is useless. There have always been those who have denied Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. There is no evidence, however, that any of the disciples, or New Testament witnesses ever wavered concerning the truth of Christ’s resurrection from the dead, even when tested with laying down their own lives.

People do not die for beliefs which they know to be false! That the disciples and early Christians died willingly is evidence that;

  1. They knew Jesus was who He said He was
  2. That Jesus in fact truly has been raised from the dead.

The Apostle Paul made his argument for the reality and importance of Jesus’ resurrection to the Church at Corinth. Paul wrote:

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 (ESV)

Notice that Paul teaches that if the resurrection of Christ were ever to be disproved then Christianity would also be disproved. If Jesus’ power is not sufficient to conquer death then neither can He overcome the power of sin. Fortunately for those of us who believe, we know that Jesus did in fact rise from the dead, because we have the witness of the Holy Spirit testifying to the reality of His resurrection within our souls.

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:20-21 (ESV)

Jesus’ resurrection is not only the lynch pen concerning the reality of the claims of the Gospel writers, but it is also a fact of history, witnessed by over 500 individuals.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 1 Corinthians 15:3–8 (ESV)

The facts of Jesus’ resurrection are presented in the Gospels in a  rather matter of fact fashion.

1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” 11 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day. Matthew 28:1–15 (ESV)

The fact that Jesus was resurrected is only helpful to us if we believe that He also is God’s Son, and died in our place for our individual sins. Easter is genuinely a celebration only for those who believe and know with absolute certainty that Jesus is who He claimed to be, was capable of accomplishing the work His Father assigned Him, and is currently interceding at the right hand of the Father on our behalf.

Easter is not about eggs, baskets, bonnets, or new clothes.  Each of these things are fine in their place, but none of these have any place in a genuine celebration of the resurrection of Christ. A more proper and authentic celebration of Easter would involve thanking God for His grace, praising God for His provision of a sacrifice capable of removing the penalty of sin from us, to worship Him and desire to live in His presence, while doing everything we can to tell others about the Good News that is found through following Jesus Christ.

Will you celebrate Easter? If so, how? Will you choose to commemorate this act that gives hope to Christians that there is forgiveness of sin and eternal life for all those who believe, or will you gather like Easter is just another excuse to celebrate without giving God His due? Remember Jesus’ teaching:

15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:15–21 (ESV)

Please make it your only ambition to be “rich toward God.” Happy Easter!!!

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40 Days of Preparation Day 35

Apr15
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Warner Smith

Today, Friday April 15, 2011, is the thirtieth-fifth day of preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. Today I need to “put off” stealing and “put on” honesty. This year the IRS has graciously given Americans until Monday, April 18, 2011 to pay their income taxes.  Traditionally, however, April 15 has been tax day. Many of us pay our taxes only begrudgingly. Jesus taught that we are responsible to pay the tax which our government determines we owe. One of Jesus’ disciples, Matthew, was a tax collector Mt 9:9 (IRS agent).

If you want to protest the paying of taxes to the government you will not find a sympathizer in Jesus.

17 . . . . Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” . . . 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22:17b;19–21 (ESV)

Jesus had a rather unique way of paying His tax.

24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” 26 And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.” Matthew 17:24–27 (ESV)

Rather than focusing on Jesus’ method of gathering the funds necessary to pay his tax, however, we should focus on the fact that the funds He needed were supplied to Him by His Father.  In fact God provided more than Jesus needed giving Him enough to pay His and Peter’s tax bill. We don’t need to steal from the government but simply need to trust and obey God and be honest about our tax bills. You and I need to “put off” stealing and “put on” honesty.

Paul clarifies the biblical principle taught by Jesus in his letter to the church in Rome.

6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.  8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:6–8 (ESV)

Our problem with feeling pressure to steal and be dishonest arises from our violating the principal to “owe no one anything, except to love each other.” Because we have failed to trust God and live by His principles we take control of our lives to our own selves and begin to believe that we have what we earned therefore it is ours to do with as we choose. Instead we should recognize that what we have, whatever it is, whether great or small is the gift of God and is His for us to be good stewards of. You and I need to “put off” stealing even when we may think it is justified and “put on” honesty because whether or not we can trust the government we know we can trust God.

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40 Days of Preparation Day 15

Mar26
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Warner Smith

Today, Saturday March 26, 2011, is the fifteenth day of preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. Today I need to “put off” ungratefulness and “put on”gratefulness. There are few things which make my blood pressure rise as quickly as to see anyone receive a gift and be ungrateful. When my children were younger I made certain that they thanked whomever had given them a gift regardless of how small the gift might be because I wanted to teach them to always be grateful.

As a nation we collectively say thank you on Thanksgiving day, but the biblical reality is that we are to be grateful continually.

28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:28–29 (ESV)

This is not always the case, however. In fact one of the characteristics of the people who will be alive during the last days is their ungratefulness.

1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (ESV)

A failure to give God proper gratitude is also a characteristic of those whose thinking is futile and whose hearts are darkened.

21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21 (ESV)

I clearly do not want to be counted among those who do not honor God so I need to “put off” ungratefulness and “put on” gratefulness.

Jesus was also confronted by people who had been the recipients of His healing but did not show gratefulness to God.

11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;16and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:11–19 (ESV)

Please do not overlook the fact that the leper which shows his gratefulness is a Samaritan (the most hated and despised ethnic group known to the Jewish people of Jesus’ time). When confronted by this grateful leper’s actions and attitude Jesus says “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Jesus’ statement to the grateful leper introduces the role which faith plays in our proper expression of gratefulness. While all those who possess saving faith will be grateful to God whether they receive any other blessing or not, those who do not exhibit this faith are also never grateful to God even when they are given great blessings. Thus, I need to examine whether or not I am truly grateful to God because my gratefulness or ungratefulness is a good indicator of the presence of saving faith.

In his letter to the church at Ephesus Paul reminds us that among others, one characteristic which all Christians are to exhibit will be continual gratefulness “giving thanks always.” Therefore, I need to “put off” ungratefulness and “put on” gratefulness.

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. . . 18 . . . be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:15–21 (ESV)

Being ungrateful can lead me to become bitter and fail to give God glory.  Such behavior is not only unwise but sinful. Once more Paul writes;

18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV)

Paul says that being grateful “to give thanks” is the will of God for us in Christ.  Any failure to obey God’s will in my life is sin!  So being grateful is not simply about my having a proper disposition or attitude but it is also about my not sinning.  Therefore, today, right now, I need to “put off” ungratefulness and “put on” gratefulness.

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40 Days of Preparation Day 11

Mar22
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Warner Smith

Today, Tuesday March 22, 2011, is the eleventh day of preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. Today I need to “put off” discontentment and “put on” contentment. One means to help you and I recognize the seriousness with which we must deal with putting off discontentment is to ask ourselves “for what purpose do I do work?” If the answer is to provide for my family’s needs then I must ask a further question. “How much is enough?” According to my Economics 101 instructor the basic needs of a human are “food, clothing, and shelter.”

I believe that too many of us in America today suffer with incessant need for “more!”  It really doesn’t matter what we are discussing we want “more” of it. At the root of this desire for “more” is a basic problem of a lack of contentment or with discontentment. As we prepare ourselves today I ask you to consider the areas of your life with which you are discontented. You may discover that those are the same areas over which Jesus may not have complete control.  You and I need to ask God to take these aspects of our life and have His way in the whole of our lives.

The children of Israel became discontented after waiting 40 days for Moses to return from meeting with God on Mount Sinai.  Their discontentment led them to grievous sin!  While the sin of the nation of America does not take this particular form, we are guilty of our own types of idolatry. According to this passage from The Message Bible the root cause of Israel’s sin was discontentment.

6 The same thing could happen to us. We must be on guard so that we never get caught up in wanting our own way as they did. 7 And we must not turn our religion into a circus as they did—“First the people partied, then they threw a dance.” 8 We must not be sexually promiscuous—they paid for that, remember, with 23,000 deaths in one day! 9 We must never try to get Christ to serve us instead of us serving him; they tried it, and God launched an epidemic of poisonous snakes. 10 We must be careful not to stir up discontent; discontent destroyed them. 1 Corinthians 10:6–10 (MSG)

I believe that discontentment is destroying our nation today and many Christian families along with it.  The danger of discontentment is further illustrated in The Message Bible in the following text.

14 Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. 15 Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. 16 Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. 17 You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears. Hebrews 12:14–17 (MSG)

That discontentment has led many in our nation to be guilty of this “Esau syndrome” is evidenced each day as our politicians haggle over how to cut spending from this year’s federal budget all the while acknowledging that a failure to do so will burden our children and grandchildren with crippling debt.

You and I are also guilty of this “Esau syndrome” each time we borrow from the future to pay for pleasures and conveniences in the present.  It is discontentment which fuels our debtor economy and has led America to become a debtor nation made up of debtor citizens. You and I need to put off “discontentment” and put on “contentment.”

You say you are debt free and therefore have no problem with being discontented. Perhaps the following verse will enlighten you. Are you guilty of grumbling or complaining? If so the root of these expressions is being discontented. Jude warns us that there are individuals within our churches who are discontented and grumble because deep down they are really seeking their own way and not God’s.

16 These people are discontented grumblers, walking according to their desires; their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering people for their own advantage. Jude 16 (HCSB)

I have come to understand that many times in my life when I have prayed that phrase in the Lord’s Prayer “thy will be done on Earth, as it is in heaven” that I really did not mean it.  Instead, had I been more honest I would have prayed “my will be done in heaven as it is also done on Earth.”

When I truly learn and except that God’s will is best for me, for you and for everyone, then and only then, can I become truly contented.  It is in this state of contentment that I can trust God to meet my needs and can cease attempting to serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24). The Hebrew writer explains it this way;

5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” Hebrews 13:5 (NASB)

Indeed the apostle Paul says it very well when he states;

6 Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, 1 Timothy 6:6 (ESV)

Yet, for you or I to experience this great gain in godliness we must learn to be content with what we have and quit seeking to constantly gain more and more for our own selfish purposes.

8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 1 Timothy 6:8 (NASB)

Perhaps the greatest New Testament passage which deals with learning to be content with what one has is contained in the letter which Paul wrote to the church at Philippi while he was imprisoned in Rome. Paul writes;

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of [being content] whether facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:10–13 (ESV)

How as Paul learned this great secret of being content?  He tells us in 2 Corinthians.

7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7–10 (ESV)

Scholars have written many pages trying to convince one another of what exactly was Paul’s “thorn in the flesh.” I do not intend to add my voice to theirs. Instead, I want to focus your attention upon the effects which Paul says this “thorn in the flesh” wrought in his character.

Paul says that this “thorn in the flesh” taught him to be “content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.” It is precisely weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities which you and I seek to insure ourselves against by every means possible in our daily lives.  Our society is built upon the “pursuit of happiness”  precisely by preventing such troubling personal experiences to befall any one of our citizens. Yet, Paul teaches us that whenever he was experiencing these things we naturally seek to avoid he discovered that during those times he was strong with the Lord.

I need to put off “discontentment” and put on “contentment!”  As I do so I must learn to strive for less of this worlds goods and for more, much much more of God and the things of God.

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40 Days of Preparation Day 10

Mar21
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Warner Smith

Today, Monday March 21, 2011, is the tenth day of preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. We are 25 percent through our 40 Days of Preparation.  Today we will discuss why I need to “put off”complaining and “put on” praise.

If you’ve ever read the Old Testament account of God leading the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage to the promised land it is hard not to notice that the children of Israel seem to be natural complainers. It is very easy with hindsight which the Scriptures provide us to condemn them for their complaining and grumbling toward God and Moses. If  we were honest with ourselves however, we must admit that we too are natural complainers.  It is clear from the teaching of Scripture that a complaining attitude is unpleasing to God. We each have much to learn from the following passage.

1 Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the Lord; and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. Numbers 11:1 (NASB)

Do you agree with me that were the Lord to burn up the outskirts of our cities, towns, neighborhoods, cul-de-sacs, or yards each time we were to exhibit the attitude of complaining due to the adversity of life that this would be a scorched earth. While I would like to think that were the Lord to burn up my yard I would learn my lesson but an honest assessment of my life experience would suggest otherwise.  The apostle James suggest that we should not complain against one another because God who is our judge is near.

9 Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. James 5:9 (NASB)

Paul teaches that we are to do everything without complaining or arguing.

14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, Philippians 2:14

I don’t know about your house but were my family to apply this verse literally to our household I’m not certain that anything would ever get done. As a pastor of a Baptist Church I’m fairly certain that were we to apply this verse literally to the work of our church very little would be accomplished.  So you can see by these two statements of fact that I need to “put off” complaining and “put on” praise.

We praise God for who He is.  Whenever I praise Him I am removing my focus from the menial and placing it on the eternal. When I stop to consider who God is if I am His child I will naturally give Him praise. I believe that this is why the writer of Hebrews instructs us to give continually to God a sacrifice of praise.

15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Hebrews 13:15 (ESV)

By placing praise to God upon my lips I am removing complaining and grumbling which displease God and am instead placing upon my lips a sacrifice of praise which in the words of the Old Testament KJV are “a sweet savor unto the Lord.”

In in addition to replacing complaining with praise I am placing myself in a position which will bring us blessing and not judgment from the Lord.  One way to accomplish this is that whenever you feel tempted to complain or are feeling despondent, sing a song of praise. It is one of the best ways to experience calm and contentment when life becomes bleak.

Today as you “put off” complaining and “put on” praise why not sing?  Sing loud and proud for all to hear!  Oh you say you can’t sing, well neither can I. The Bible does not say that only those who can sing well, may sing, but rather to “make a joyful noise unto the Lord.”

4 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: Make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Psalm 98:4 (KJV)

See I was not kidding, the text actually says “make a joyful noise” so however horribly your singing is anyone’s singing qualifies as noise. For your singing to qualify as praise you just must sing joyfully. So today as as you join me in “putting off” complaining and “putting on” praise lets sing, loudly, proudly and most importantly joyfully, and according to the clear teaching of Scripture God will be praised!

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