PLUS

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Hebrews 4:15 “For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

II Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”

John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

George Müller was a Nineteenth Century Christian evangelist well known for his prolific care of orphans in Britain.  He once stated the following:  “Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible.  There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible.  Faith begins where man’s power ends.”

This Christmastime, it is vital to remember that the miraculous birth of Christ is outside the realm of the possible – the humanly possible.  The coming of a Savior extends well beyond where man’s power ends.  Our high priest is an unspeakable gift.  The dwelling of the Word among us brought glory to God and redemption to man.  May we give thanks to God for His glory, His grace, and His truth – during the Christmas season and throughout the calendar year.

PLEASE PRAY WITH ETERNAL APPRECIATION FOR A GOD WHO OPERATES WELL BEYOND WHERE MAN’S POWER ENDS. Christ’s birth is God demonstrating His power and His love well outside the realm of the possible.

Romans 1:22 “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools”

I Corinthians 1:25 “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

I Corinthians 3:19-21a “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.  For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.  Therefore let no man glory in men.”

Looking back at World War II, Charles Lindbergh made the following comment:  “Nazism was scientific truth, unbalanced by the truths of religion.  The German scientists had partaken of the fruit from which death had surely followed.” He went on to say that an overemphasis on science “weakens the human character and upsets life’s balance.” Those are strong words coming from this aviation hero who fought valiantly in the skies over the Pacific as a civilian “observer” of the war.  

Lindbergh’s thoughts say a lot about the urge for self-sufficiency in the human race. Man’s search for knowledge is a fundamental component of our existence, and science is essential to our understanding of the world around us.  Yet, it is not sufficient by itself because knowledge and truth come from heavenly as well as earthly sources.  Indeed, without the context of Biblically revealed truth, our nature uplifts the self over everything else.  The ultimate extension of such thinking is imbalance and a weakening of the human character. That is what Lindbergh observed first-hand during the lead-up to conflict in Europe as he witnessed the German aggressive build up.  

PLEASE PRAY FOR AN AMERICAN SOCIETY THAT PROPERLY BALANCES SCIENTIFIC TRUTH BY THE TRUTHS OF RELIGION. Otherwise, we become fools as we profess ourselves wise.  May we not partake of the fruit from which death surely follows.

ADMIN NOTE:  The Lindbergh quotes came from The Aviators

I Thessalonians 5:18 “In every thing give thanks:  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Jonah 2:9 “But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed.  Salvation is of the LORD.”

I Corinthians 4:7 “For who maketh thee to differ from another?  and what hast thou that thou didst not receive?  now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”

In this weekend after Thanksgiving, our sense of gratitude should be burning bright.  As we reflect upon our amazing blessings and the richness of God’s love that is manifested in the upcoming Christmas season, we should be filled with a desire to praise God and serve others around us.  It should all stem from a profound sense of gratitude to a Lord and Savior who have given us far more than we deserve or could ever earn. We are magnificently blessed.  Yet sadly, so many of those around us are not living in an uplifted and encouraged state.  Their spirits are dull, dim, and dour.

Os Guinness, the son of a missionary and a social critic, stated that a society with “no sense of God produces modern people with no sense of gratitude.”  In far too many cases, this describes the situation perfectly.  Our societal self-sufficiency has sapped our ability to see the source of our blessings. We don’t recognize our dependency and moral debt to the One who richly provides all things.

PLEASE PRAY FOR A SOCIETAL SENSE OF GOD THAT YIELDS A PROPER SENSE OF GRATITUDE.  Modern people need Him just as much as anyone ever has.

I Thessalonians 5:18 “In every thing give thanks:  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

In the midst of the Revolutionary War, the Second Continental Congress issued the following Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1779:

“The committee appointed to prepare a recommendation to the several states, for setting apart the second Thursday in December next, as a day of general thanksgiving, brought in a draught, which was agreed to as follows:

Whereas it becomes us humbly to approach the throne of Almighty God, with gratitude and praise for the wonders which his goodness has wrought in conducting our forefathers to this western world; for his protection to them and to their posterity amid difficulties and dangers; for raising us, their children, from deep distress to be numbered among the nations of the earth; and for arming the hands of just and mighty princes in our deliverance; and especially for that he hath been pleased to grant us the enjoyment of health, and so to order the revolving seasons, that the earth hath produced her increase in abundance, blessing the labors of the husbandmen, and spreading plenty through the land; that he hath prospered our arms and those of our ally; been a shield to our troops in the hour of danger, pointed their swords to victory and led them in triumph over the bulwarks of the foe; that he hath gone with those who went out into the wilderness against the savage tribes; that he hath stayed the hand of the spoiler, and turned back his meditated destruction; that he hath prospered our commerce, and given success to those who sought the enemy on the face of the deep; and above all, that he hath diffused the glorious light of the gospel, whereby, through the merits of our gracious Redeemer, we may become the heirs of his eternal glory: therefore,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the several states, to appoint Thursday, the 9th of December next, to be a day of public and solemn thanksgiving to Almighty God for his mercies, and of prayer for the continuance of his favor and protection to these United States; to beseech him that he would be graciously pleased to influence our public councils, and bless them with wisdom from on high, with unanimity, firmness, and success; that he would go forth with our hosts and crown our arms with victory; that he would grant to his church the plentiful effusions of divine grace, and pour out his holy spirit on all ministers of the gospel; that he would bless and prosper the means of education, and spread the light of Christian knowledge through the remotest corners of the earth; that he would smile upon the labors of his people and cause the earth to bring forth her fruits in abundance; that we may with gratitude and gladness enjoy them; that he would take into his holy protection our illustrious ally, give him victory over his enemies, and render him signally great, as the father of his people and the protector of the rights of mankind; that he would graciously be pleased to turn the hearts of our enemies, and to dispense the blessings of peace to contending nations; that he would in mercy look down upon us, pardon our sins and receive us into his favor, and finally, that he would establish the independence of these United States upon the basis of religion and virtue, and support and protect them in the enjoyment of peace, liberty and safety as long as the sun and moon shall endure, until time shall be no more.

Done in Congress, the 20th day of October, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine, and in the 4th year of the independence of the United States of America.”

This amazing Thanksgiving Proclamation is a textbook example of prayer and praise.  The colonists were to humbly and solemnly express gratitude and praise for God’s goodness, protection, nurturing, nourishment, deliverance, sustaining and prospering.  Above all, they were to ask God to diffuse the glorious light of the gospel, spread the light of Christian knowledge through the remotest corners of the earth, and establish the independence of these United States upon the basis of religion and virtue.

PLEASE OFFER THANKSGIVING WITH THE FAITH AND FERVANCY OF OUR FOREFATHERS.  Thanks to their focus on God, this nation was established on the basis of religion and virtue.

II Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

Job 23:12 “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”

I recently had the opportunity to spend a Sunday morning worshiping in a church in Seoul, South Korea. The church was run by an American missionary, but was unique in one important way – it was fully bilingual. The entire service was performed in both Korean and English.  The preaching and announcements were fully translated.  The singing included verses in both English and Korean.  It was a blessing to worship with the English speakers in the English language and the Korean speakers in the Korean language. Each derived great blessing and encouragement by being part of a service that they could understand, and to see others blessed and encouraged by being part of a service that they could understand. 

John Wycliffe, the 14^thCentury English theologian, stated the following:  “Englishmen learn Christ’s law best in English. Moses heard God’s law in his own tongue; so did Christ’s apostles.”  He recognized the importance of every single person having the opportunity to own God’s word, read God’s word, and study God’s word – in his own language.  In that way, it was most accessible to all! Such accessibility had not been the norm throughout our history and around the world.

PLEASE PRAY THAT WE WOULD VALUE GOD’S WORD APPROPRIATELY IN OUR LAND.  After all, it should be esteemed more than our necessary food. It furnishes us for all good works, and it is profitable!