What Do I Have to be Thankful For?
0 Amens
Big Questions for a Big God: What Do I Have to be Thankful For?
Colossians 1:12-14
Intro: Start with story and video of Kimery Hill
Proposition: We all know we need to be thankful. And we know we have reasons to be thankful. But we often get into unthankful attitudes, because we forget why we would be so thankful. We need reminders about the grace of God.
In Colossians 1 Paul gives us three reminders about why we should be thankful.
I. Reborn from the Present Situation. (12)
Paul says that we should always have an attitude of thanksgiving to God, because He has given us a completely new position in life. We have gone from hopeless sinner and slave to one who is a son with an inheritance and a saint!
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. Ephesians 2:1-3
Without God we were dead in sin, ruled by Satan, objects of God’s wrath. We were lower than a pregnant ant. We were worse than scum – we were dead scum!
Ex. Geo Storm wrecked – it was totaled. No hope. Destined for the junkyard.
We are born spiritually totaled. Destined for the junkyard. We can do nothing on our own to save us. It takes a supernatural act from a perfect God!
God stepped in and changed our present situation. He stepped in so that we can share in the inheritance as saints who live in light and not darkness.
Paul says God qualified us. Ever wanted a job you weren’t qualified for? I’ve always wanted to be a singer/piano player or ball player. Watching Olympics – told Amy we could do mixed doubles badminton. But we’re not qualified.
None of us on our own can qualify to live in “the
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28
Ex. Gold seekers – panning for gold. Shake out all the dirt so that all remains is gold.
One day Christ will return and those without Christ will be shaken away. But have been turned to gold and will remain!
We can be thankful and flush the past, because of who we are in Christ. You are more than a conqueror and a co-heir !
Ex. Abigail – lives today and everything else is yesterday.
II. Rescued from the Power of Satan. (13)
Paul says that part of being transferred to this new Kingdom of Christ is that you were rescued from the domain of darkness – you were rescued from the power of Satan.
Sometimes we act like there is not really that much difference between those with Christ and those without. We just hope they’ll have the joy we have one day. Well it’s much worse than that! People without Christ live under the dominion and power of Satan – whether they know it or not. Ex. Chick tracts – girl becomes a witch. What’s worse is people who live good lives having no clue they are under the dominion of darkness.
Listen to what Jesus told Paul about going to the lost:
I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. Acts 26:17-18
That’s what Christ did for us – He rescued us from darkness. He took upon Himself the sting of death and He destroyed the power of the grave and Hell.
Ex. Wyatt Earp. Dad came and snuck him out of jail for stealing a horse. He was going to be hanged. Christ broke in but didn’t just sneak us out – He paid the price of death for us!
55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:55-58
Ex. In Civil War there were slaves that were forced to be on the side of the South. When rescued many of them became soldiers for the Union Army. In fact, all but 50,000 of the 186,000 black Union soldiers were escaped slaves from Southern states. That is us too. We have been rescued and now we are soldiers who are to “always give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord.”
How do you know you that you are living a thankful life? It’s not just going back to slavery – it’s also fighting in the new kingdom. Are you “always giving yourself fully to the work of the Lord?” Are you out serving and helping win others to freedom?
I will glory in my redeemer.
Whose priceless blood has ransomed me.
I was the sin that drove the bitter nails,
and hung him on that judgment tree.
I will glory in my redeemer
who crushed the power of sin and death.
My only savior before the holy judge –
the lamb who is my righteousness,
the lamb who is my righteousness.
I will glory in my redeemer.
My life He bought, my love He owns.
I have no longings for another. I’m satisfied in Him alone.
I will glory in my redeemer.
His faithfulness, my standing place.
Though foes are mighty and rush upon me –
My feet are firm held by His grace,
my feet are firm held by His grace.
III. Redeemed from the Penalty of Sin. (14)
Paul also tells us that Christ has not only caused you to be reborn from your situation, He’s not only rescued from the power of Satan, but He has also redeemed you from the penalty of sin. Your sins are forgiven by the redemption provided by Jesus Christ.
What does redemption mean? Actually Paul defines it in detail to the Romans. He uses the exact same word for redemption.
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-- 26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. 27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Romans 3:23-27
Here Paul reminds us that we all deserve Hell. We all fall short. And God is a just God and His justice demands that the penalty for sin is death. God could not just wink at sin. He can’t just let it slide. And so He is not only just but if we are to be saved He must justify us someway. We must be redeemed.
He did this through the blood of His one and only son. God literally took every bit of your sin and my sin and placed it on Christ and then had Him die for that sin on that cross.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6
So Jesus took all your sin on that cross and then spoke the words – “It is finished.” Your debt is paid. It is sign, sealed, and delivered. You have been redeemed! How can we not be thankful? We have been pulled out of Hell and been made a righteous child of God.
Conclusion: The story is told of a man who found the barn where Satan stores the seeds he sows in the human heart: envy, greed, anger, hatred, lust, and so on. The man soon noticed that Satan had more seeds of discouragement than of any other kind. He learned that those seeds could be made to grow almost anywhere. When Satan was questioned, he reluctantly admitted that there was one place in which he could not get them to grow. "And where is that?" asked the man. Satan replied sadly, "In the heart of a thankful man."
Discouragement is real. And many of you might be in it now. It’s time to get out. We above all others should be people of thankfulness. For we have a great savior who has redeemed us!
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7
Comments:
Login to post comments