Thanksgiving

PNG radio for today's culture and timeless truth come together it's reasoned relevant content apologetics worldview and answers to the questions that you need to know need to know from Alex McFarland evangelistic ministries welcome to truth for a new generation radio and now the man who preached in 50 states and 50 days speaker, writer, and advocate for Christian apologetics Dr. Alex McFarland Bible says that God inhabits the praises of his people.

That's actually a verse from Psalm 22 Psalm 22 verse three says that one holy God who inhabits the praises of Israel. Hi Alex McFarland dear Hope you're doing well and I thank you for listening to truth for new generation today. Have you ever pondered on that verse that God inhabits the praises of his people.

We were going to talk about that and that the nation and much of the world right now is thinking about the season of Thanksgiving and you know this is one of my favorite holidays because it's a wonderful thing to be grateful. It's wonderful thing to count your blessings. In fact, besides being faithful to the word of God.

It's just emotionally and psychologically healthy to cultivate a spirit of gratitude and I think about our rich Christian heritage. The pilgrims who came here from the Netherlands and they came to serve God in advance. The Christian faith. The Mayflower compact. Our first document of civil government for the New World said that the intent of the pilgrims was to advance the Christian faith. And yet, as one historian wrote HQ Wester Meyer said this that quote the pilgrims made seven times more graves than hearts.

New Americans have been more impoverished than these, who nevertheless set aside a day of Thanksgiving and we will look at Psalm 22 were going to talk about five attributes of Thanksgiving and I think it's very appropriate to do that at this time but Thanksgiving what you grateful for. It's easy to say well I'm grateful for life.

But really that is no glib statement. Life is such a wonderful gift and if you think about it, and I encourage you to think about it that we have countless things to be grateful to God for inner Aldous Huxley is certainly no friend of the Christian faith. In fact he was a Darwinian evolutionist and believed in the new world order, and even using drugs to subdue people and create dictatorships in the future. Aldous Huxley is certainly no person that you would naturally invoke when preaching a biblical sermon, but he said a few things were very true. One time he was asked about human potential and Aldous Huxley said, quote human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted."

And that's really true, and I would say we as a nation are very ungrateful nation right now with all this talk about social justice and demonizing our founders and denigrating what our nation was built upon our nation was built on biblical principles and really we are a nation that has so much that we ought to be grateful to God for and I'm going to read from Psalm 22 and then I want to talk about being grateful you know about 250 to 300 years before the birth of Christ there was the philosopher Epicurus who said quote do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for. If your not terribly grateful for what you have in life. Remember what you have right now. Probably that was a time in your life that you would've quested after what you have now where you are now is to state that many years ago. Perhaps you only dreamed of. And just think 2300 years ago Epicurus pointed this out. He said, don't miss experiencing what you now have by questing after craving desiring what you have not because what you now have was once among the things you at one time only hoped for Webb so much for which to be grateful. Now Psalm 22.

Let me read some of these verses and of course on 22 is almost universally recognized as a messianic Psalm very famously verse one Christ quoted from the cross of Calvary. My God my God why Stella forsaken me why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring but very famously. Verse three says that what holy God who inhabits the praises of Israel. Now in verses four and five. There's a section really that we might called trusted cried and delivered our fathers trusted in the they trusted and you delivered them God. They cried under the and there were delivered. They trusted in the and they were not confounded, six, seven, eight. Here's what this section could be summarized as debased, ridiculed, despised, marked, and Christ.

This is so pictorial of Jesus on the cross. I am a warm and no man a reproach of men despised of the people we talked about the word tell Leah to you LEH the crimson worm how Christ shed his blood on the cross to wash our sins away and he was he became the crimson worm. Remember second Corinthians 521 says that he who knew no sin was made to be sin for us and Jesus on the cross died for our sins will Psalm 22, written about 1000 BC. He says that he was debased, ridiculed, despised, marked he was a reproach despised of the people that he was laughed at school learned they verse seven of Psalm 22 shoot out the lip. They shake their head and say he trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him to let him deliver him, seeing he delights in him that when we come back working to talk more about Psalm 22 looking to give some attributes of the. The thankful life, but we see in Psalm 22 Christ being surrounded by Gentiles. His bones being pulled out of joint that the pleural fluid of the heart turning to jelly. In fact, there's a famous Christian leader who is going through a situation like that. Right now the pericardium is is diseased and the heart can't beat when it's surrounded like in in this wax and then the Gentiles in the wicked assembly that have accused and then, of course, in some 22 verse 16 pierced my hands and my feet.

Psalm 22 is a Psalm that vividly shows Christ's crucifixion on the cross. One millennia before Jesus was even born. And yet it is a Psalm with much about Thanksgiving and was going to get to that and I will encourage you to think about the things for which you are grateful.

If this time of Thanksgiving. One of the most healthy wisest God honoring spiritually appropriate things you can do is to thank God for all of his blessings. She Christians don't necessarily agree with one another when it comes to questions of religious pluralism, homosexuality, the role of government portion of war. Too often, we manage these disagreements by ignoring them, yet were called to engage the world for the sake of Christ. How can we be effective if we avoid society's most pressing questions in 10 issues that divide Christians Alex McFarlane challenges us to drill down to the biblical core of 10 current issues such as social justice evil and suffering, photography, and environmentalism as he echoes the biblical invitation, this reason together only by engaging the Scriptures deeply thinking clearly and speaking truthfully can we, in God's family address our differences and discover the peace that comes with unity of purpose. 10 issues that divide Christians find this book and many others@alexmcfarlane.com are you tired of liberal agendas ruining our country but you don't know what to do about it. That's why truth and liberty coalition was founded. We want to equip you to take back our country and impact the world.

Here's how we do it educate broadcasts conferences in our website resources that form equip and motivate unified by collaborating with like-minded organizations like the family research Council, the family policy and my mobilize by providing practical tools you can use to impact your local community as Christians we are called to make disciples of together can change the course of our country for good joint truth and liberty to connect with believers in organizations not only want to see a change in our nation but a community that is actually doing something about it. Join us online for our broadcast describe the relevant updates on our website. Truth and liberty.net timeless truths in the soundbite culture for a new generation radio. Welcome back to truth for a new generation radio Alex McFarlane here were talking about Thanksgiving reading from Psalm 22.

When I think about the things that we've got to be grateful for if were honest with ourselves. We have much much to praise God for well in Psalm 22 going to pull out five attributes of gratitude that I want to continue walking through these these things about Jesus that are in this Psalm that was written 1000 years before he was even born.

There is the ordination of life and the preservation and the sustenance of life. Now in verse nine it says in Psalm 22 but thou art he that took me out of the womb, God. God delivered you into this world, my dear friend you were born from your your parents, and delivered in a baby born by God's decree, God ordained the life of Jesus. God ordained your life. Now it's interesting. Psalm 22, nine thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breast. You were preserved from your very infancy being nursed by your mother growing up as a toddler entering life in this world. Our hope is God. Our hope is in the Lord.

I love verse 10 of Psalm 22, I was cast upon the from the womb that work my God for my mother's belly listen when you were delivered. You were handed off into the clutches of the Lord. If we would only acknowledge that we live our lives.

We are preserved and sustained by the hand of God. Now verse 11. God is near, and God is our only hope they not far from me, for trouble is near for there is none to help. Let me say there is help in every circumstance, but it's not our strength or our abilities or even our resources are our friends.

It's God.

God is our hope now verses 12 and 13 of Psalm 22 talk about circumstances without things that are outside of his enemies, schemes, intimidation's many bowls have surrounded me.

The bulls of Bashan have been set me around.

They gaped upon me with their mouths as a ravening and a roaring lion life will throw at you. Things that are intimidating schemes that other set enemies and let me say the church right now like no other time in our nations history. The church is the enemy of the progressives and the liberals and they want to take away religious freedom and there are circumstances without that was true in the time of Christ. It was true for Christ it's been true for 2000 years of church history, it's true now that there are enemies and circumstances.

Without that there are circumstances within injuries, emotions, physical decay, okay, 14 to 16 very famously and poured out like water. My bones are out of joint.

My heart is like wax melted in the midst of my bowels. In other words, internal turmoil, much like the physical altercations that come from emotional distress. My strength is dried up like a potsherd.

In other words, short of clay pot has as much life in it. As I have physical decay Gentiles surrounding the assembly of the wicked have enclosed on me. They've pierced my hands and my feet get there is the lost world, and even opposition from religious colleagues, Jesus was opposed by the religious leaders. The Bible says he came unto his own and his own received him not to know.

It's bad enough when the world stands against you.

But what really hurts is when fellow believers stand against you. There is, in 17 and 18 of Psalm 22, malicious victimization and oppression struggle, alienation, persecution. I may tell all my bones. They look upon me and stared a part my garments cast lots for my vesture or my clothing. Okay you know how Jesus's garment was gambled for by the soldiers well. The church still to this day injures persecution, physical persecution and may God grant that you never are physically beaten or persecuted or even martyred for the faith, but people stare and right now they're trying to take away the tax-free status that the church in America has had now for well over a century, and I read blog sites how atheists and skeptics mark the fact that churches have tax-free status and yet the church in America does so much benevolence the government could never fill in the gap of the church didn't exist.

And yet the church is viewed with malice that the church is oppressed and alienated and persecuted in so many ways now working to change gears as Psalm 22 goes on 19 and following. There are prayers be not far for me. Oh God, my strength, haste to help me.

In other words, come quickly. That's asking God to stay close by to help to deliver to save and to hear him and protect him from all of the predators that are around him.

Now it goes on in 22 through 26.

This is where we see really the life of gratitude and I want to focus in on this. I will declare thy name and my brethren in the midst of the congregation I will praise the you who fear the Lord, praise him, all you need. The seed of Jacob glorify him and fear him, all you the state of Israel, for he has not despise nor abhor the affliction of the afflicted. Neither is he hit his face from him when he cried unto him, he heard God hears you. My praise shall be of the Lord in the great congregation I will pay my vows before them that fear him, the meek shall eat and be satisfied. They shall praise the Lord that seek him. Your heart shall live forever. A good person of gratitude declares his name praises God's name, fears the Lord glorifies the Lord, and above all, obeys the Lord okay I will declare thy name and my brother and friend. I would ask you, are you declaring God's name are you pleased to speak a word for the Lord in the congregation do you praise God out in the world do you praise God, do declare his name and witness for the Lord and in praise his name to never be ashamed to say that you love the Lord your grateful for the Lord. Now when we come back were going to continue talking about five attributes of the life of gratitude and the pull out something I think very powerful from Psalm 22 here at this time of thanksgiving and will conclude with a prayer for the world for our nation for ourselves right after this break G and G radio America today is like a patient struggling to live yet is being forcibly euthanized by her quote doctors. The life force within the patient fighting for survival is the honest citizens like yourself team of quote caregivers are the local and national leaders actually contributing to the demise of the patient economy is crashing crime is exploding.

The Constitution is being abolished the assault on America how to defend our nation before it's too late by Alex Farland has one single purpose to get you prepared the real source of America's current problems that no one else is talking about and what you can do now to face tomorrow.

Regardless of what tomorrow brings. The assault on America how to defend our nation before it's too late. Available now at Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and local Christian bookstores wanted to raise your hand during the sermon will here is your chance by Alex McFarland hear from the nationalists indicated radio program exploring for more than 10 years, Michael Harper and I have taught Scripture and answered hundreds of vital questions. We've compiled a brand-new book of the top 100 Bible questions from listeners of all ages from questions about supposing Bible contradictions to apologetics facts that prove the truths of Scripture. This new book features practical content that will make the Bible come alive for you. Can we really be sure that God exists there contradictions in the Bible that will help me understand the Bible better. There's so much good content in this book. One Bible questions and answers published by Broad Street publishers and available at your local bookstores and also through resources.AFA.net in the midst of a culture obsessed with relativism. Alex McFarland is a voice you can trust to speak the timeless truths of Christianity in a timely way. You're listening to the truth or a new generation radio.

Welcome back to truth for a new generation with Alex McFarland. Happy Thanksgiving. Let me say how much I am grateful for each and every one of you that listens to this program. You pray you buy our books you support this ministry, you participate in the conferences that we do. I get so many emails hundreds of emails and letters throughout the year and I want to say that I thank God for each and every one of you. I'm so excited.

We just have added staff this month. In November 2021 have added two new staff members that I'll be telling you about and we are committed to take the gospel throughout the nation. Apologetics biblical worldview were doing our utmost to evangelize the lost and click the save and add to that and I want to remind you about our camp coming up to things I want to tell you about our camp for youth and then I'll be returning to the cove next summer. But listen to this, our worldview. Camp is coming up July 17-22 will be in eastern North Carolina right just outside of Raleigh, North Carolina. This is for middle and high schoolers and the theme is unashamed building your biblical worldview. Now I will be there personally to spend a week with your youth and I'm going to teach them apologetics. And what I've learned over 30 years of traveling the world researching, writing, debating atheist. We're going to talk about how to stand up for the Christian faith had a stand of the United States of America and I want your youth group to be there. Now you can go to Alex McFarland.com Alex McFarland.com learn more about the camp were going to be talking about what it means to be a disciple how to live as a Christian, how to overcome temptation how to defend the Christian faith how to defend that God exists that the Bible is true that America is good and we should love America and try to better our country not denigrate or tear down America. I also want to say to the adults you can't come to the camp but you can come to the cove. The Billy Graham training center at the cove. I was actually there earlier today as I record this I was at a meeting there at the Billy Graham Center with Will Graham and some wonderful people but I'll be back there at the cove July 8-10 I'll be teaching to the book of first Peter in 2023. I'll be teaching to the book of second Peter, but the wonderful all my goodness what a wonderful book the New Testament book of first Peter July 8-10 and I want to encourage you to go to the website. The cove.org THD CO VE the cove.org and you can register and I look forward to seeing you and you will be there. It's going to be a great time next summer at the cove will right now. Let's conclude let's talk about Thanksgiving because Psalm 22 goes on and it talks about declaring his name praising his name, fearing the Lord giving him glory, and then obeying the Lord in verse 25 says my praise shall be out of the in the great congregation I will pay my vows before them that fear him. Okay that's not just giving offering and tithing and financial payment, but it's doing what God says to have you quote pager vows to the Lord who saved you a living for Christ. Are you praying every day. Are you reading the word. Are you growing. Are you loving your family be being true to your spouse. Are you giving your employer a good day's work and are you being a representative of Christ to the watching world around you.

We are all to quote pay our vows and show our gratitude by obeying the Lord, but but finally our prayer. God for the world God to be remembered and worshiped 27 through 31, all the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord and all the kindreds of the nation shall worship before the for the kingdom is the Lords and he is the governor among the nations.

It talks about serving the Lord and all of the nations coming to God and declaring his righteousness unto a people that shall be borne that he is done this. Now this is what's so amazing that as we praise God and serve God.

Yes, it's a witness to this generation, but it's a witness to a generation that may not be borne until centuries from now. See you and I are the recipients of faithful folk who have preceded us. We come from a godly heritage. We really do.

Our nation was founded on biblical principles. So much we could say about the godly heritage of our nation. Let's go back to Psalm 22 verse three for just a moment as we close it says that God inhabits the praises of Israel. His people know what is that mean God is in their midst and let me say if you need the Lord to be close to you and you need to feel like God is near get in the habit of praising God.

He is in the praise of his people. He is in the midst of those that are acknowledging his goodness in their life. The wisest thing you could ever do is to acknowledge the Lord I've had atheist sarcastically say you know oh is God on some cosmic ego trip that he needs people to worship him. No, listen carefully as we close you know that even in calling people to worship him. God is showing us love and I'll tell you why, because I've said it many times on the program. The most alive you'll ever be is the closer you are to God, the source of life. Conversely, the more lifeless the more closer to death. You are the farther you are from God.

God calls us to himself out of love and when we are praising God were grateful to God. See when we are giving God glory were actually speaking truth and living truth because God is eternal God is over and victorious above any circumstances you face. God loves you, he will never abandon you never forsake you. So get in the habit of praising God, thanking God nurturing and cultivating that appreciative heart and watch God be very very present in all of your circumstances and all of your situations. Give thanks in advance. He said, but I don't know how things are going work out. I really don't see how things could work out. Praise God and watch him work things out. May God bless you, thank you for listening and remember to declare his name, praise his name. Fear his name give him glory and show our appreciation by obeying him as well keep us in prayer you can learn more about all that we do. Alex McFarland.com and give God the glory.

And remember, we are thankful for you and we thank God for each and every one of you listening.

Have a great day in the TNG radio is made possible by the friends of Alex McFarland evangelistic ministry, PO Box 10231, Greensboro, NC 27404. That's PO Box 10231, Greensboro, NC 27404 call us at 877 yes, God one. That's 877 yes, God, and the number one. Forgive online@alexmcfarland.com while you're there, listen to program archives. Read Alex's blog invite Alex to speak at your event or contact Alex with a question or comment, Alex McFarland.com. Thanks for listening today and join us again next time.

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