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Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord, He is good. It is He that has made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Be thankful unto Him and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy endures forever, and His truth endures to all generations.

Father, as we now pause in prayer, we ask that You would prepare our hearts, Lord. That You would speak to us today. And Lord, as we stand at the head of a week that is supposed to be given to thanksgiving, we ask, Lord, that You would stir our hearts to be thankful. We would be those that exhibit in our lives a lifestyle dominated by praise, thanksgiving, and gratitude. For we ask this in Jesus' name, and all God's people agreed, saying, Amen. You can be seated.

Have you ever found it difficult to give thanks? I realize that's really a rhetorical question, and most likely just about everyone here will answer yes to it in some way. I think we've all experienced those times when we didn't want to or didn't know how to give thanks.

This first decade of the 21st century has been full of difficulty. We've seen terrorism, not just in our own nation, but around the world. We've witnessed war. We've experienced an economic downturn or collapse. We've endured earthquakes. We've seen tsunamis, hurricanes, floods, and fires. We could go on and on about the different things that have been in the news over the last ten years. Some mornings, it seems that you wake up expecting to hear something bad on the news.

On the radio or the TV, there are some places in the world that are mostly unaffected by these things. Not that they don't experience hardship and difficulty, but they are not bombarded hourly or even minute by minute by the troubles affecting the world like we are here in America. In such a climate, it is sometimes difficult for us to give thanks.

America is one of only a handful of nations that has a national holiday for giving thanks. Thanksgiving in America is a distinctive holiday in that it does not commemorate a battle or remember anyone's life, birth, or death. It simply is a day set aside to express thanks. As I have been thinking about Thanksgiving this last week, a few questions began to come to mind. Number one, are we giving thanks? Secondly, who are we giving thanks to? And third, what are we giving thanks for?

Are we giving thanks? For quite some time now, Thanksgiving has been more associated with turkey, football, and the start of the Christmas shopping season than with actually giving thanks. Many retailers are waiting for the week after Thanksgiving to give thanks so that they can see if they have met their benchmarks for success at the opening of the shopping season. It is amazing that we have a shopping season. Only in America is consumption a sport, a national pastime. Some people even take the day off on Thanksgiving to rest and get ready for the day of shopping that will come the next day. We sometimes get distracted from what it really is to be about.

It wasn't always this way. In 1789, our first president, George Washington, who was neither a Democrat nor a Republican, issued the first presidential Thanksgiving proclamation. He stated, "Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and to humbly implore His protection and favor." He also noted, "Whereas both houses of Congress have by their joint committee requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer."

Things may have changed a little bit. You can read through his whole proclamation and search for it online. There, he asks that all would unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks.

In Paul's first letter to Timothy, in the second chapter, he said, "I exhort therefore first of all, that supplications, prayers, and giving of thanks be made for all men." In verse 3, he said, "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior." A couple of things to note from those two verses, 1 Timothy 2:1 and 3, are significant. Notice that Paul says, "I exhort first of all." Thanksgiving ought to play an important part in our lives, not just on one day of the year. It should be a dominating part of our lives as followers of God and as Christians.

Secondly, Paul states, "This is good and acceptable to God." In Hebrews chapter 13, we read that we New Testament believers are to offer sacrifices to the Lord. One of the sacrifices mentioned there is the sacrifice of praise—the fruit of our lips giving praise or thanks to His name. A lot of times, when we think of the idea of a sacrifice, our minds immediately go to the Old Testament and the offering of lambs, goats, and oxen. However, the sacrifices in the New Testament are those offered to the Lord in thanksgiving and praise. The scripture says that these are good and acceptable to the Lord. It should be a dominating part of our lives because it is good and acceptable to Him.

In Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, he says, "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Again, notice two things in that verse. He says, "In everything give thanks." It is important to make the distinction that Paul does not say, "For everything give thanks," but "In everything give thanks." There are many trying and difficult things that come into our lives—things that are allowed by God. Ultimately, in Him, they work out for good, but they don't seem to be good at the time we are going through them. We would most certainly find it hard to thank God for those difficult things. However, I believe it is an important aspect of enduring tribulation.

Enduring difficult things teaches us to give thanks in them. You see, in giving thanks to God in difficult circumstances and situations, we are reminded of how good our God is, even if the circumstance we're facing is not good in and of itself. We are able to see that He is good. Therefore, in everything, give thanks. Paul says this is the will of God concerning you. It is God's desire; it is God's plan that we would be those who give thanks to Him.

Many times, people ask the question, "What is God's will for my life?" Well, the scripture says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that one aspect of God's will for your life and mine is to give thanks. This brings us to the second question: Who are we giving thanks to?

A story is told of the 19th-century sociologist, writer, and atheist, Harriet Martineau. One morning, she was visited by a lady, and Harriet brought this lady into her garden, which was in full bloom. Waving her hands over the flowers, Harriet said, "Who wouldn't be grateful for blessings such as these?" The lady turned to Harriet and asked, "Miss Martineau, grateful to whom, according to your theory?" Harriet answered with a smile, "Well, I guess you have me there."

I find it very interesting that there is not more of an outcry among secular atheistic groups against the Thanksgiving holiday. For many years, there have been those trying to get rid of Christmas and Easter in the public sector, but they have not really addressed Thanksgiving. This is interesting because we know for certain that there are many pagan roots to things like Christmas and Easter, but not so much to Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is wholly focused upon, or should be, giving thanks to Almighty God. It is even proclaimed by the President every single year that Americans should give thanks to Almighty God.

Why is it that there aren't more atheists crying out against it? I would suggest that they recognize the need to be thankful, although they don't know who to be thankful to, as Harriet revealed with her friend on that day. They understand that gratitude is important. We, as Christians, know who we are thankful to.

In Psalm 92, the psalmist says, "It is a good thing to give thanks to God." In Psalm 75, verse 1, we read, "Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks. Unto thee do we give thanks." Psalm 105, verse 1 states, "O give thanks to the Lord." This sentiment is echoed in Psalm 106, verse 1, Psalm 107, verse 1, and Psalm 118, verse 1. Additionally, Psalm 118, verse 29, Psalm 119, verse 62, Psalm 122, verse 4, and Psalm 136, verses 1, 2, 3, and 26 all proclaim, "O give thanks to the Lord."

Are we giving thanks? Who are we giving thanks to? Thirdly, what are we giving thanks for? It is at this time every year that children, young and old, begin to make lists. There are lists of what we want for Christmas, lists of who we're buying gifts for, lists of who we're sending cards to, or maybe who we're not sending cards to. There are lists of things we plan to do better in the new year and lists of people we plan to invite to holiday celebrations.

But do you, do I, do we have lists of what we're thankful for? Do we take time to consider what it is that we're thankful for? We know that it is good to be thankful. We recognize that God desires it to be an essential part of our lives. He receives it as an acceptable sacrifice, as the scriptures make very clear.

But do we know what we're thankful for here at this Thanksgiving? As it is our tradition here at Calvary Chapel, we give the opportunity to publicly declare Thanksgiving. Every Wednesday before Thanksgiving, we have our Wednesday night midweek service dedicated to a time of giving thanks. We have microphones set up here, and we give the body of Christ the opportunity to come up and share what they're thankful for.

I hope to see you here this Wednesday night at 7 o'clock. Perhaps invite one of your neighbors, family members, or friends. I'm always amazed, and it has been one of my favorite services year in and year out.

I am always amazed at how people will get up and share things that are really difficult, and yet they will say, "I'm thankful to God." Why? Because it is in the midst of those difficult things that we find that God is there, that He is near. There are many, many things to be thankful for. I will save my list for Wednesday night, but I will say that I am thankful for my wife, my children, and the family that I have. I am also thankful for the extended family we have here in the church. Additionally, I am thankful that we live in a nation such as ours.

What does the Bible have to say about Thanksgiving and what we should be thankful for, though? I already mentioned Psalm 106, verse 1, which says, "Praise ye the Lord, give thanks to the Lord." It goes on to say, "For He is good, for His mercy endures forever." We should be thankful that God is good and that God is merciful.

In the book of Exodus, after the children of Israel came out of Egypt, they arrived at Mount Sinai in Exodus chapter 19, where they were to meet with God. Moses went up onto the mountain to receive from the Lord the word of God, the law of God. While he was there on Sinai, the children of Israel, back down the mountain, departed from the Lord in their hearts and in their actions. They made a god, a lowercase "g," a god of gold, and they began to worship this thing and dance around it. They gave thanks to it for redeeming them out of Egypt.

Praise and thanksgiving that is directed in the wrong direction is idolatry. Let me say that again: praise and thanksgiving that is directed in the wrong direction is idolatry. God told Moses, while all of this was happening, to go down the mountain, and he witnessed the idolatry of his people. After that event, God brought what I believe to be a great mighty test to Moses in the form of an offer: "Moses, we will destroy them. We will start over with you. They will no longer be the children of Israel; we will call them the children of Moses." That has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

I believe that this was a test for Moses. Instead, he passed the test by interceding on behalf of the people. He had an opportunity there in that passage to witness the mercy, grace, and goodness of God. In awe of God's mercy, he said, "Lord, show me your glory." God replied, "Moses, I can't show you my glory."

You can't see my glory and live. But God makes provision for Moses. In some way, He passes by and allows Moses to see something of the glory of God. As He does, He declares His name to Moses, which in the Scriptures is synonymous with character and nature.

In Exodus chapter 34, as God passes by him, it says in verse 6, "The Lord passed by before him and proclaimed, 'The Lord, the Lord God, merciful.'" It doesn't end there. The Lord, the Lord God, is merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. The things that God reveals about His character there, the things that dominate His character, highlight mercy as the first attribute He puts forward. I am so thankful that the first thing He highlights in His character is His mercy.

But He goes on. God is gracious, patient, good, full of truth, and full of forgiveness. It also states that God is just; He by no means clears the guilty. However, we see God's mercy put forth as preeminent. We should be thankful to God for His mercy and goodness.

In Psalm 107, verse 8, we read, "Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love." We should be thankful today for God's unfailing love, the love He demonstrated towards us while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us, as stated in Romans chapter 5, verse 8. His love, which made us alive together with His Son while we were yet dead in trespasses and sins, is a testament to the fact that God, in Ephesians 2, verse 4, is rich in mercy and great in love.

We are thankful to God for His mercy and goodness. We are thankful for His unfailing love, which is everlasting. As Jeremiah 31 states, "The Lord appeared to me saying, 'Yea, I have loved you with an everlasting love.'" We are thankful, as Psalm 145, verse 18 says, because God is always near. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.

Some of the founders of our nation were, in fact, deists. They believed in God; they believed that there is a God, but they thought that He, so to speak, kind of wound up the clock.

He is somewhere out on the other side of the universe, and He just allows it to continue going as it will. He's not interested in the affairs of man, but that's not how God has revealed Himself in the Scriptures. God is near to those who call upon Him. Psalm 118, verse 21 tells us that God hears and answers our prayers. We should be thankful that God hears and answers our prayers.

I will praise Thee, for You have heard me and have become my salvation. Not only is God near to us, but He hears us when we call out to Him. In Jeremiah 33, He says, "Call to me, and I will answer you, and I will show you great and mighty things that you do not know." So, He is near to us. He hears our prayers and answers our prayers. We are thankful today because God has given us His everlasting Word.

David, in Psalm 119, verse 62, says, "At midnight I will rise and give thanks unto Thee because of Your righteous word, Your righteous judgments." Not only has God given us His everlasting Word, but we are thankful because God has given us everlasting life. Is anybody thankful today that God has given you everlasting life? In Hebrews chapter 12, verse 28, the author of the book of Hebrews says, "Therefore, since we have received or are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful."

We are thankful today, not only because we have everlasting life, but also because of God's everlasting Word. He hears our prayers and answers them. He is always near us. He has loved us. He is good towards us. He is merciful towards us. We are thankful to God because God has given us His only begotten Son. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever would believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. That everlasting life is a gift.

Ephesians 2:8 says, "For by grace are you saved through faith, and that is not of yourselves. It is the gift of God." In 2 Corinthians 9, verse 15, Paul says, "Thanks be unto God for this unspeakable gift." And so we give thanks today. Certainly, we could make a list of things that we are thankful for today that would be dominated by temporal things. We could say, "God, thank You for my house. Thank You for my car. Thank You for my dishwasher." Thank You for whatever it may be. All such things are good things to be thankful for, but they are temporal. They are passing away.

He is truly thankful who finds the enduring things of God in Christ because that person is eternally grateful. The enduring things that we should be thankful for are found only in Christ, and the person who finds those finds true gratitude.

The Greek word translated as thanksgiving is the Greek word "eucharistia." It's a compound word made up of two Greek words: the Greek word "ee" and the Greek word "charis," which means grace. We have received grace, and therefore we are graciously thankful. Today, Strong's defines grace as the divine influence upon the heart and its result in life, including gratitude. God working in our lives should cause us to be a people of gratitude. When the world sees Christians, they should see a people dominated by thanksgiving—not just one day of the year, but every day of our lives.

As I was preparing this and considering it this week, another question came to mind: What awaits the unthankful? Turn in your Bibles to Romans chapter 1. In Romans chapter 1, verse 16, a verse you have likely read before, if not memorized, Paul says, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone that believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For therein the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, the just shall live by faith." That's something to be thankful for.

But what awaits the unthankful? Verse 18 states, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness." Look at verse 21: "Because that when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God."

James tells us in James chapter 1, verse 17, that every good and perfect gift comes from God. Man, whether he is a follower of God, a disciple of Christ, or not, has received great gifts from the Lord. God causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust. God is a good and gracious giver of great and abundant things.

Man has received the common grace of God, but one of the signs, Paul says, of the last days in 2 Timothy chapter 3 is that men would be unthankful. This know also: in the last days perilous times shall come, for men shall be lovers of themselves, covetous boasters, proud blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, and unholy. A judgment awaits those who are not thankful, as the Scriptures reveal. They are not thankful to God for the immeasurable blessings that He has poured out upon us.

Perhaps you would even wonder, how could someone be unthankful? How could someone not have gratitude? I would suggest that it falls under one of four reasons: either they are clueless, careless, calloused, or covetous.

They may be clueless, not realizing that they should be thankful. They have not recognized the great and awesome blessings that God has poured out upon them. Or maybe they do recognize them, but they are careless. They might think, "Oh, I just didn't notice that I should be thankful. I didn't realize that this is something I should do."

Perhaps they are callous; they simply do not care. They might say, "I don't care to worship. I don't care to be thankful. I don't want to." Or they could be covetous, feeling shortchanged. They might think, "I didn't get what I think I should have gotten. That other guy over there has more than me, and that's not fair."

Oh, that men would praise the Lord! Oh, that men would be thankful! Make a joyful noise, Psalm 100 says, all ye lands. This exhortation of Psalm 100 is not just to the nation of Israel; it is not just to one small group. He says, "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye nations." All nations are under this exhortation.

Not just all nations, but verse 5 says, "For the Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations." This is not just for one group of people at a specific time, but in every generation and in every nation, men ought always to give thanks. This is good and acceptable.

To give thanks in the form of worship with singing, giving a joyful noise to the Lord, is important. Perhaps today you say, "Well, I don't sing well." That's okay. God didn't say to make a really good sounding song.

To the Lord, it says, "Make a joyful noise." Perhaps you're dreadfully out of tune, but make a joyful noise. I won't identify the person, but a good friend of mine from high school was the most tone-deaf person I've ever met. However, every time we gathered together for worship, he would sing at the top of his lungs, as loud as he possibly could, and he made a joyful noise. I know God was pleased.

Not only do we worship the Lord and give thanks to Him by making a joyful noise, but we also give thanks to Him by serving the Lord with gladness. Do you realize that your service to the Lord is worship to God? It gives thanks to His name when you serve Him with gladness, not begrudgingly, as if you have to do this. When you come before His presence with singing, why should we do these things?

Well, know that the Lord, He is God. He has made us, and not we ourselves. I love that it says we have not made ourselves; we are not self-made. America thinks that we are full of people who are self-made, and so they have no reason to be thankful. Why? Because they think, "I made myself. I ought to thank myself." This is false. God made you. You have what you have because God has been gracious. Because of the abundance you have, you have a responsibility to be thankful.

We are His people. Not only has He made us, but He has made us His people, and He has made us the sheep of His pasture. He is a good shepherd to us. Therefore, we enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. This means that we have to make it our aim to appear before Him to worship Him. We have to plan to be thankful. I have found, and perhaps you have seen this too, that thanksgiving just doesn't happen. You have to plan to be thankful.

Make a point to come before Him, be thankful unto Him, and bless His name because He is good, and His mercy is everlasting. His truth endures to every generation. It is my hope and my prayer that in my life, people would see thanksgiving not just on the fourth Thursday of every year, but that it would be evident.

In every aspect of my life, I recognize and realize that that's not always the case. I pray that God would work in me that recognition. He is good; His mercy endures forever, and He is worthy of our praise, worthy of our devotion, and of our glad service to bring glory to His name. Amen?

Let's stand and pray. Father, we thank You today. We bless Your name for all that You are and all that You've given to us. God, we don't even fully comprehend the greatness of the blessing that You have poured out upon us. We don't completely know how good we truly have it from Your hand. But throughout eternity, we will begin to grasp and understand the greatness of Your love, Your mercy, and Your truth.

God, even now, as we close this service and as we prepare for a holiday wherein we are to give thanks, help us, Lord, to recognize Your goodness and to bless Your name. We praise You in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank You.