No Thanksgiving - No Christianity
Zechariah 8:18 - 23 (NKJV) 18Then the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, 19“Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘The fast of the fourth month, The fast of the fifth, The fast of the seventh, And the fast of the tenth, Shall be joy and gladness and cheerful feasts For the house of Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.’ 20“Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Peoples shall yet come, Inhabitants of many cities; 21 The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, “Let us continue to go and pray before the Lord, And seek the Lord of hosts. I myself will go also.” 22 Yes, many peoples and strong nations Shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, And to pray before the Lord.’ 23“Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’”
Introduction:
This is the first Sunday after “Thanksgiving Day.” This is uniquely an American holiday. My wife and I celebrated by having our family who could be with us, friends, and some of our church members who did not have family to be with over for the Thanksgiving feast. Oh, there was turkey, dressing and gravy, cranberry sauce, oyster casserole, salads, cake, and pumpkin pie. God told Israel to turn their fasting days into feasting days and to be filled with joy and gladness. It was His command!
a.Joy, happiness, and rejoicing are the end products of salvation.
A. The Gospel story began with joy
Matthew 2:7 - 11 (NKJV) 7Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” 9When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
B. The Gospel is found with joy
Matthew 13:44 (NKJV) 44“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
C. The End of the Gospel is joy
Matthew 25:20 - 23 (NKJV) 20“So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
D. God wants to fill us with joy
John 16:24 (NKJV) 24Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
b.Why did Israel fast?
A. Because they were in captivity, without God and without His blessings
Psalms 137:1 - 5 (NKJV) 1 By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept When we remembered Zion. 2 We hung our harps Upon the willows in the midst of it. 3 For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, And those who plundered us requested mirth, Saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 4 How shall we sing the Lord’S song In a foreign land? 5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget its skill!
i.If you do not know the joy of your salvation – fast!
Ill: Make your face as if covered with ashes, let your tears fall from your face, weep and cry in despair if you do not know my Savior.
Matthew 9:14 - 16 (NKJV) 14Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” 15And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse.
Luke 5:33 - 35 (NKJV) 33Then they said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?” 34And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.”
ii.Do you want to be in bondage?
Galatians 4:1 - 11 (NKJV) 1Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. 3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 8But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. 9But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
iii.The bondage of religion is always sad.
c.One touch of the Master
i.The first Church
Acts 2:46 - 47 (NKJV) 46So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
B. A healing touch
Acts 3:1 - 10 (NKJV) 1Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
ILL: He goes into the solemnest of temples “walking, leaping, and praising God!” – He has been touched!
C. Peter’s word to the Church
1 Peter 1:6 - 9 (NKJV) 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
ILL: Pascal - one of the great geniuses of all time – in 17th Century France, wrote:
“Greatness of the human soul,
O righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee,
But I have known Thee
Joy, joy, joy, tears of joy”
d.Thanksgiving for the future – hope & faith
ILL: Jerusalem was still in shambles but God told them to stop all the fasts and start feasting. Why? Faith and hope in what He was going to do.
Revelation 19: 9 (NKJV) 9Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
ILL: I have been invited to a wedding feast – why wouldn’t I be happy?
Conclusion: Joyful Christians - happy, prosperous Christians attract others!
Zechariah 8:21 - 22 (NKJV) 21 The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, “Let us continue to go and pray before the Lord, And seek the Lord of hosts. I myself will go also.” 22 Yes, many peoples and strong nations Shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, And to pray before the Lord.’
ILL: Haven’t you heard that honey will attract more flies than vinegar? A fasting, sad, lifeless Church does not have much attraction!
