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Lesson: “A Season Of Thanksgiving, Thankful In The Face Of Uncertainty” 2021

The Call of Us

Call To Worship

1st Chronicles?16:8 Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples.

?9 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders.

?10 Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.

Processional

GOD Of Our Fathers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8V6VJLIC6M

St. Bartholomew’s, New York City, New York ?

Passing Of The Peace Of Christ

May the Peace of Christ Be With You

ALL: And Also With You!!

Please take a minute to pass the peace of Christ

Hymn

A Mighty Fortress Is Our GOD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqczuaFQpVQ

Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California

First Reading

1Sa 26:1 ? Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?"

?2 So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having with him three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph.

?3 Saul camped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, beside the road, and David was staying in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness,

?4 David sent out spies, and he knew that Saul was definitely coming.

?5 David then arose and came to the place where Saul had camped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army; and Saul was lying in the circle of the camp, and the people were camped around him.

?6 ? Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, saying, "Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?" And Abishai said, "I will go down with you."

?7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul lay sleeping inside the circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people were lying around him.

?8 Then Abishai said to David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand; now therefore, please let me strike him with the spear to the ground with one stroke, and I will not strike him the second time."

?9 But David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD'S anointed and be without guilt?"

?10 David also said, "As the LORD lives, surely the LORD will strike him, or his day will come that he dies, or he will go down into battle and perish.

?11 "The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD'S anointed; but now please take the spear that is at his head and the jug of water, and let us go."

?12 So David took the spear and the jug of water from beside Saul's head, and they went away, but no one saw or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a sound sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.

?13 ? Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance with a large area between them.

?14 David called to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Will you not answer, Abner?" Then Abner replied, "Who are you who calls to the king?"

?15 So David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came to destroy the king your lord.

?16 "This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, all of you must surely die, because you did not guard your lord, the LORD'S anointed. And now, see where the king's spear is and the jug of water that was at his head."

?17 Then Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And David said, "It is my voice, my lord the king."

?18 He also said, "Why then is my lord pursuing his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand?

?19 "Now therefore, please let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If the LORD has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering; but if it is men, cursed are they before the LORD, for they have driven me out today so that I would have no attachment with the inheritance of the LORD, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.'

?20 "Now then, do not let my blood fall to the ground away from the presence of the LORD; for the king of Israel has come out to search for a single flea, just as one hunts a partridge in the mountains."

?21 ? Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again because my life was precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have committed a serious error."

?22 David replied, "Behold the spear of the king! Now let one of the young men come over and take it.

?23 "The LORD will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I refused to stretch out my hand against the LORD'S anointed.

?24 "Now behold, as your life was highly valued in my sight this day, so may my life be highly valued in the sight of the LORD, and may He deliver me from all distress."

?25 Then Saul said to David, "Blessed are you, my son David; you will both accomplish much and surely prevail." So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

(NAS95)

This Is The WORD Of The LORD

Response By All: ?Thanks Be To GOD

Hymn

Come Ye Thankful People Come

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fs-yU2Xj3as

Vintage Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

The LORD’S Prayer & Nicene Creed Read By All

Matthew 6:9 ? And Jesus said "In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

?10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

?11 Give us this day our daily bread.

?12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

?13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Christian What Do You Believe?

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

?

The Doxology

Praise GOD From Whom All Blessings Flow: Tune All Creatures of Our God and King

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3zXtUBKqVI

Second Reading “A Season Of Thanksgiving, Thankful In The Face Of Uncertainty Part 1”

1Corinthians 10:1-16

1 ? For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea;

?2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

?3 and all ate the same spiritual food;

?4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.

?5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.

?6 ? Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.

?7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY."

?8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.

?9 Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents.

?10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

?11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

?12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.

?13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

?14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

?15 ? I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say.

?16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?

This Is The WORD Of The LORD

Response By All: Thanks Be To GOD

This Is The WORD Of The LORD

Response By All: Thanks Be To GOD

Lesson: “A Season Of Thanksgiving, Thankful In The Face Of Uncertainty”

Let us look at

1 How Can This Be I am Hurting So?

2 But I Have Been Good What Happened

3 Yes The LORD Really Is Faithfull

11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

?12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.

?13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Believe it or not this firm truth is labeled as one of the great lies of the Bible, when in all actuality it is one of its Greatest Truths, and shows perspective can twist anything that said even the truth. Lesson: “A Season Of Thanksgiving, Thankful In The Face Of Uncertainty”

It is also wise to remember the life of the Author of our new Testament Text 1st Corinthians and soberly review Paul’s life, and reflect on how “easy” it was for Him bumps, bruises, beatings, even beheading and yet NO one can say it was not to be use for the Perfect will if GOD, and for the purpose HE willed.

Let us look at

1 How Can This Be I am Hurting So?

2 But I Have Been Good What Happened

3 Yes The LORD Really Is Faithfull

11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

?12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.

?13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Believe it or not this firm truth is labeled as one of the great lies of the Bible, when in all actuality it is one of its Greatest Truths, and shows perspective can twist anything that said even the truth.

1 How Can This Be I am Hurting So?

Though we will look at this more in point three let’s walk through some background.

I am sure many of have been or are hurting even today, and you may even be facing uncertainty, I know my Wife and I are, and you have even prayed LORD What have I done to be in such a spot, again I know I have prayed that.

But the truth of the matter is, that as long as we are on this side of Life, we are actually do nothing as we have never been, nor will we ever be good enough to meet GOD’S Holy Standards.

So I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer, but the situation you are going through may never Change!

We talked about Stephen the first Martyr post ascension of Jesus and how he did what appears to be everything right and still ended up dead, a massage so contrary to the Health and Wealth Preachers Message, and to be quite frank the very message we hear week in and week out at the Church we are currently going to as their message is about treating others better and sacrificial giving more, that somehow springs out of the passage they just read.

This kind of preaching, no matter if the Church claims to be Bible Believing, is pure manipulation, and is NOT Biblical.

The Reason Stephen was Stoned to dead is simple, The LORD Willed It, and YES HE Gave Stephen amazing Strength.

It should also be a reminder that Corinth was under Roman and though we in the US do not have understanding of what it is like to be under the rule of a foreign power, we can look back to the picture of the German Army marching into Paris, and the tears in the eyes of so many of the residents. As we look back it was a short period to endure the Nazi rule but as it was happening I am sure one must have been in despair.

That said the original audience is not being told this instruction while things are perfect, but indeed they are under Roman rule and living in a City rebuilt after it had been destroyed by Rome.

This will build us to our second point

2 But I Have Been Good What Happened?

A: This is one of the greatest lies perpetrate by both the Atheist and the Church, as NO we have NOT been Good and to think so is looking in the mirror and lying.

We sat and endured a Sermon whose passage was based on John 13:21-27

21 When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me."

?22 The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking.

?23 There was reclining on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.

?24 So Simon Peter *gestured to him, and *said to him, "Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking."

?25 He, leaning back thus on Jesus' bosom, *said to Him, "Lord, who is it?"

?26 Jesus then *answered, "That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him." So when He had dipped the morsel, He *took and *gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.

?27 After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus *said to him, "What you do, do quickly."?

Somehow out of that passage the Pastor claimed we need to be on our guard, treat people better, give more time to the Church, consider more sacrificial Giving. Please note as my Wife said almost out load, “What does this have to do with the passage and Judas”, what was funny (ironic) was from Robin’s Phone Siri actually said “Please repeat that, I Did not understand what you are saying”.

Suri was the only one with guts enough to say out loud what we all should have, and Suri and my Wife where right. This was pure manipulation as the Church is way behind on the finances, and perhaps it’s due to this kind of preaching.

You might be asking what does this have to do with being Thankful while facing Uncertainty, and I will tell you we are about to pivot and you will see.

B: When things get tough, the LORD is still ordaining all things, and NO HE is not Helpless.

It sure does not feel like it at the time, as my 1300 plus Job Applications reject, even though Monster.com has rated my resume in the top 4% for Management and Administration in the Nation.

I even thought I had “friends” in High places, only to have them reject me twice the second I never even got past the review process, and it is a Government Managers job, I still found myself being rejected.

But in all this frustration I still should have a Thankful heart for all the LORD is doing for us, it is why the Book of Job is in the Bible, though we don’t preach it as a compilation of all that Job goes through all Ordained by the LORD.

The truth is the End of this life may very well be the path the LORD is taking us too for HIS Honor and Glory.

Stephen proclaims at the end of his life two things first Ac 7:55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;

?56 and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

And as they are Stoning him to death;

Ac 7:59 They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!"

?60 Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" Having said this, he fell asleep.

This will walk us to our Third point

3 Yes The LORD Really Is Faithfull

If we were to have our eyes opened through as we read the Bible we might actually see the pain most of those the LORD Had it written about endured.

This final point will include us reading again Hebrews Chapter 11, and I want us to really look at each of these people.

You have heard me say for years now this is not the list of All Stars or Heroes Of The Faith, but indeed Sinners like you and Me Saved by Mercy and Grace in Christ Jesus alone.

Please take time to see the struggles they went through, the times they fell and the LORD picked them back up, and be encouraged that one of the fruits of a regenerated heart is to be thankful in all things.

Since July of 2011 things have not been easy for Robin and I, Robin knew she was going to lose her job in Denville and we could not make ends meet of a Sales Rep Salary and Town Council Stipend that news flash actually nets out to .19 cents an hour including benefits, so I insisted that if I had to move from Hackettstown we look in other areas of the Country so we packed up and followed a Job Robin got in California.

What followed was I sunk into depression, and it was deep, when the LORD allowed me to come out of it, it was Spring and Robin reminded me I needed to keep a promise I made to my Pastor the Reverend John H Criswell and apply to Seminary.

The LORD kept me to my word, as I promised 20 years previous that the ONLY two Seminaries I would attend were Knox Seminary in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and RTS in Orlando, Florida, as these two accepted my Application as a Probationary Student who based on Grades could become a full Master Of Divinity Student.

The Only Seminary that did not accept me was the one 85 miles away in California.

So based on a job offer in Palm Beach County we chose Knox, and I am thankful I did.

After graduating May of 2014 I have applied for as I stated 6000 jobs, an in all of these rejections, many form Churches who rejected me upon receipt of my resume not because I am not a good preacher, in fact those who actually have heard me have exclaimed “You one of the best they have ever heard” but do to a heartless matrix of hiring Pastors between 33-44 with children, and yes I have been told this numerous times. But still I have had to keep a Thankful Spirit, The LORD knows I have melted down quite a few times.

This brings us to December 2015- through to today,

This has perhaps been one of the toughest years emotionally that Robin and I have been through, in December as we came back to New Jersey to get some end of year paperwork and Car inspection done our Cat So Crates (she was going on 21) died while we were in Hackettstown, as 2016 was just getting Started in February we lost our Uncle Albert Lang, this was followed by the end of the month us hearing the news that My Brother and Best Friend Dave had Died, by April and May I would lose two other close friends John Zellars and Charley Tillou both within months of our return to Hackettstown, so we were not able to pay them the respect they really deserved.

Upon arriving in town I heard of a job with a group whose board I helped appoint, should be a slam dunk, well know, by Summer’s end a second job with another Group I helped appoint and yet again a rejection, in fact this group was as cold as a Church in Vero Beach, Florida that told me they would not consider my application and to not apply again.

I finally landed a full-time job, and still continue in the Ministry as much as I can, serving as Fire Department Chaplain, and visiting the Sick and Nursing Homes, and My wife too is employed, but yes it was truly frustrating, and yet, in each step the LORD brought us to be more reliant on HIM during this time, and continues to do so through Christ our LORD.

2021, has again not been an easy year, as Covid went through our Family, and Mom after falling in December 2020, was declining, she would finish Her tour of duty here July 2021, we also raced to Texas as My Father in law too has some health issues, and in the last two months we lost a long time neighbor, and two of our Brother Firefighters

So we ask, through the real hurt and tears, in all of this we are to have a thankful heart, Really????

YES Really, as we have been cared for, our Mom and Friends in Jesus Christ our LORD Really are in Heaven, having fulfilled their LORD ordained days, and do have friends and family to lean on, as the doors finally seem to be opening, so YES we are to give GOD the Thanks and Glory HE is due.

Please really read through Hebrews Chapter 11, and take some time to reflect on each of these people as the LORD granting Salvation to We Sinners saved by Grace alone in Christ alone.

Heb 11:1 ? Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

?2 For by it the men of old gained approval.

?3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

?4 ? By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.

?5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.

?6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

?7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

?8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

?9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;

?10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

?11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.

?12 Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE.

?13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

?14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

?15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.

?16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

?17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;

?18 it was he to whom it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED."

?19 He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.

?20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.

?21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

?22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

?23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

?24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,

?25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,

?26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.

?27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.

?28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.

?29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.

?30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.

?31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

?32 ? And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,

?33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,

?34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

?35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection;

?36 and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.

?37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated

?38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

?39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,

?40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.