Sermon 15 Thank The LORD!
By Rev. Mark E. Vatcher
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the
Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5
Those of us whom the LORD is pleased to use say: "The LORD is my Helper! I thank You LORD that You are always
near. I thank You for guidance. I thank You that my path of suffering was marked out in advance by our loving burden
bearer. I thank You that all things work together for good to those who love You and are of the called according to
Your purpose. I thank You for the grace sufficient which is supplied as needed. Enable me to make use of that grace,
so that I may not give way to doubt or despair, or to feelings of depression. Enable me to take up my cross to follow in
the footsteps of our beloved LORD and Saviour, and do it cheerfully."(Heb. 13:6, 1 Pet. 2:19, John 15:20, Rom. 8:28,
2 Cor. 12:9, Matt. 16:24, John 16:33)
Maintaining this attitude will surely please God. By it we acknowledge our insufficiency and His sufficiency. With
everything that life throws our way trusting in Him. It involves thankful acceptance of His favors granted to us with His
loving-kindness. It means trying to show others that God's grace is real, not a delusion. It means overcoming our
natural disposition to irritability, grumpiness or sulkiness through Jesus' living in us. It means living with a cheerful
countenance as befits the LORD’s children. It is proof that we want to be copies of God's dear Son. Our imitation of His
virtues recommends those virtues to others. (1 Pet. 2:9) “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His
wonderful light.”
We praise the LORD when we diligently respond to "the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14). How
wonderful that we are invited to joint-heir ship in Jesus' Kingdom (Rom. 8:17), to live and reign with Him in everlasting
glory (2 Tim. 2:12). We can show our appreciation of this calling by zealously making our calling and election sure. (2
Pet. 1:10)
“He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not
observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not
eat, and gives God thanks.”
(Romans 14:6)
We are to thank the Lord for everything that happens in our lives, not just what you consider good things that happen,
but give thanks for all things. But how can we praise God for His wonderful goodness when fiery experiences befall us?
Praise becomes possible when we realize that He permits suffering, anxiety and trouble as part of our discipline (Heb.
5:8,9, Rom. 6:16, 1 Pet. 1:14, 2 Cor. 10:5). They are permitted to try us, to see of what sort we are. If we are dross
(Isa. 1:25, Ezek. 22:18), we will imitate the Israelites of old. We will weary God with continual complaints. (Num. 14:22,
Heb. 3:8,15) Let us not complain but thank God for everything even the bad things, because they are permitted to
build us up all for the glory of God.
You and I are promised that "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Tim. 3:12). God no
longer promises temporal prosperity as He did before "the kingdom of the heavens" was introduced. Today's believer
often experiences poverty and distress. Suffering for Christ's sake is still to be endured. "Beloved, do not be surprised
at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening
to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His
glory, you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of
glory and of God rests upon you.” (1 Peter)
So then let us Thank God continually everyday as we continue our Christian walk. Praise God that He loves us, and we
are chosen to partake in what is the glory of God. Live, learn and thank the LORD! Let us pray:
Lord, we praise You! You are righteous and just with us all. For You are the giver of life and of all things in it. To You
Lord we give all thanks and praise. We are blessed to have been chosen to be partakers in Your glory. Keep us strong
as we continue to become more like Jesus in our walk as Christians. May we shine and glorify You with all that we do, in
Jesus name we pray. Amen
By Rev. Mark E. Vatcher
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the
Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5
Those of us whom the LORD is pleased to use say: "The LORD is my Helper! I thank You LORD that You are always
near. I thank You for guidance. I thank You that my path of suffering was marked out in advance by our loving burden
bearer. I thank You that all things work together for good to those who love You and are of the called according to
Your purpose. I thank You for the grace sufficient which is supplied as needed. Enable me to make use of that grace,
so that I may not give way to doubt or despair, or to feelings of depression. Enable me to take up my cross to follow in
the footsteps of our beloved LORD and Saviour, and do it cheerfully."(Heb. 13:6, 1 Pet. 2:19, John 15:20, Rom. 8:28,
2 Cor. 12:9, Matt. 16:24, John 16:33)
Maintaining this attitude will surely please God. By it we acknowledge our insufficiency and His sufficiency. With
everything that life throws our way trusting in Him. It involves thankful acceptance of His favors granted to us with His
loving-kindness. It means trying to show others that God's grace is real, not a delusion. It means overcoming our
natural disposition to irritability, grumpiness or sulkiness through Jesus' living in us. It means living with a cheerful
countenance as befits the LORD’s children. It is proof that we want to be copies of God's dear Son. Our imitation of His
virtues recommends those virtues to others. (1 Pet. 2:9) “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His
wonderful light.”
We praise the LORD when we diligently respond to "the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14). How
wonderful that we are invited to joint-heir ship in Jesus' Kingdom (Rom. 8:17), to live and reign with Him in everlasting
glory (2 Tim. 2:12). We can show our appreciation of this calling by zealously making our calling and election sure. (2
Pet. 1:10)
“He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not
observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not
eat, and gives God thanks.”
(Romans 14:6)
We are to thank the Lord for everything that happens in our lives, not just what you consider good things that happen,
but give thanks for all things. But how can we praise God for His wonderful goodness when fiery experiences befall us?
Praise becomes possible when we realize that He permits suffering, anxiety and trouble as part of our discipline (Heb.
5:8,9, Rom. 6:16, 1 Pet. 1:14, 2 Cor. 10:5). They are permitted to try us, to see of what sort we are. If we are dross
(Isa. 1:25, Ezek. 22:18), we will imitate the Israelites of old. We will weary God with continual complaints. (Num. 14:22,
Heb. 3:8,15) Let us not complain but thank God for everything even the bad things, because they are permitted to
build us up all for the glory of God.
You and I are promised that "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Tim. 3:12). God no
longer promises temporal prosperity as He did before "the kingdom of the heavens" was introduced. Today's believer
often experiences poverty and distress. Suffering for Christ's sake is still to be endured. "Beloved, do not be surprised
at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening
to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His
glory, you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of
glory and of God rests upon you.” (1 Peter)
So then let us Thank God continually everyday as we continue our Christian walk. Praise God that He loves us, and we
are chosen to partake in what is the glory of God. Live, learn and thank the LORD! Let us pray:
Lord, we praise You! You are righteous and just with us all. For You are the giver of life and of all things in it. To You
Lord we give all thanks and praise. We are blessed to have been chosen to be partakers in Your glory. Keep us strong
as we continue to become more like Jesus in our walk as Christians. May we shine and glorify You with all that we do, in
Jesus name we pray. Amen
