Thanksgiving and it's going to be mainly Thanksgiving for spiritual blessings but we should be thankful for all the material blessings that we have. I want to read something to you. I found this on the door of a client of mine, one of the businesses I serve, and it goes like this: Read slowly. Please read slowly. If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your body, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep, you're richer than 75% of the entire world.

If you have money in your wallet and you can go anywhere you want, you're among the 18% of the world's most wealthy people. If you are alive today and healthy, you are more blessed than millions of people who will not survive this week and die. If you can actually read and understand this message, are more fortunate than more than 3,000,000,000 people in the world who are blind, deaf, or illiterate. It sums it up and says, Life is not about complaining. Life is about a thousand other reasons to be grateful and happy.

I thought that was pretty good. I took a picture of that, so that I could read that once in a while. Let me shut this off here. Okay. Another little saying I've heard, I think fits today, is when you have truly thanked the Lord for every blessing sent, then you'll have very little time to murmur or lament.

That's very true. I mentioned to you that the book of Colossians, one of the themes is Thanksgiving and another theme sometimes tied with the book of Colossians is the way back to God and it's interesting that Thanksgiving is the key and I think that's true. The way back to God if we're kind of struggling and we're kind of apart from the Lord or maybe we're not saved to begin with which we should, you know, we have to get saved in order to have the peace of God that we're going to be talking about here but let me just read some verses in Colossians here that mentioned thanksgiving just to give you a little little idea. Colossians one three, We give thanks to God and the father of our Lord Jesus Christ praying always for you. Verse 12 of chapter one, Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints and light.

Chapter two verse seven, Rooted and built up in him and established in the faith as you have been taught abounding therein with thanksgiving. Chapter three verse 15, And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which also you are called in one body and be thankful. Verse 16, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching, and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And verse 17, our text here, and whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God and the father by him and then chapter four verse two, continue in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving. Let's pray to start our message here today.

Thank you Lord for ministering to our hearts already and the singing and special music and we thank you Lord for the message that we can glean from those songs and we know that we have so many things to be thankful for in a physical and material way each and everyone of us. We we are blessed especially if we're compared to many other parts of the world and even many parts of our own United States Of America and Lord, we thank you for that. We pray Lord as the scripture seems to emphasize. We thank you especially for the spiritual blessings that we have in you and as we look at some of these today, Lord, it may not be a new truth to us but it's something that we need to be reminded of and something that we should be thankful for every day of the year. Lord, the blessings that we have in you and Lord, if there be one here today that's never trusted you as their personal savior, I pray this would be the day they'd make that most important decision that will determine where they spend eternity and how how it's important to make that decision before it's too late and we thank you Lord that you made a way for us to be able to make that decision.

You paid the price for us Lord on the cross. It's not about what we do, it's about what you've done for us, Lord and it's up to us to acknowledge that and to invite you to be our savior and Lord today and Lord again, we thank you for this week of Thanksgiving. It's a time to remember your blessings and it's also family time and Lord, there'll be many people traveling even from our church here and our pastor and his family. We pray for blessings upon them and that you would bring them back safe and healthy if you should tarry. In Jesus name I pray.

Amen. We need to be thankful for the peace of God. That's the first thing we're going to look at and the Bible teaches us that the peace of God should rule us individually and the peace of God, it's the peace of God that will give us peace and and will be at ease and content about the things that we have in life, the place that we are in life, the mates, and the family that we have been given in life will have peace and contentment about that. It starts at salvation. You know, when we think of peace and we relate it to God, there's first the need to have the peace with God and that's talking about salvation.

You know, we all need to deal with that some point in our life. Have peace with God and if we have peace with God, that means we're saved. That means we have a redeemer who lives, the Bible teaches and that's the Lord Jesus Christ and just think of this. You know, maybe we don't think of this too often but it is something to be thankful for and something to rejoice in. Well, our redeemer lives.

Sins of the past have been forgiven. If we have trusted the Lord and that means all sin. You know, as we look into our past, some of us have sinned more, some of us less, but it doesn't matter what we've done. He has paid the full price for that sin and if we've trusted Jesus, our sins have been forgiven and as a believer, the present is being overruled for good by the spirit of God. As a believer, the future is bright.

There there will never be and cannot be a separation between God and his own. And the Holy Spirit indwells us as believers, the Bible teaches, John sixteen seven. And that's peace with God I'm talking about and it's not based on what we've done. It's what he's done for us. You know, that's the difference between religion and true Christianity.

Religion is about what we do to earn our salvation which will not work. It is not acceptable to God but true Christianity is about Jesus is about Jesus coming and doing for us what we could not do for ourself. He paid the price for our sin, the peace of God but the Bible also teaches us about having not only peace with God but the peace of God. Yeah, there are two different things. Peace with is talking about salvation.

Peace of is talking about living for God day by day. Philippians chapter four verse seven says, And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. You know peace, the peace with God is a settled thing. The peace of God is something that we have to work at every day. We have to resolve to maintain it somehow.

We can lose it. You can't lose salvation but you can lose the peace of God that we have, that we must maintain. A lot of it's based on decisions that we make day by day. We got to resolve to make the right kinds of decisions. We got to resolve to question things that we're confronted with every day and make sure that our peace is not being jeopardized by something we choose to do.

I like the little saying, if in doubt, don't. If in doubt doubt, find it out before you proceed. And let the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Keep your hearts. That's also a word that is translated sometimes rule.

R U L E Rule your hearts. Athletic term. It means to preside over. It means to umpire our actions. You know, the umpire on a baseball game, he rules over the game.

He decides a strike. He decides a ball. He decides, you know, all kinds of things about the game and that's the word there. It's talking about allowing God to rule, allowing the holy spirit to rule in our life. When we obey, there'll be peace.

When we step out of God's will, we lose the peace. We don't lose our salvation. We don't lose the holy spirit but we lose the wonderful peace of God. If I was to take every believer here and talk to you, you would certainly be able to give a testimony about how wonderful it is to have the peace of God. Ruling in your life but you'd also be able to give a testimony about how on occasion maybe that peace was lost for a period of time because we've stepped out.

I mean, could be our attitude. It could be an action. But we can lose it. And we we do lose it sometimes. And then we get it back and we realize how wonderful it is to have the peace of God.

It's gotta regulate us. It's gotta rule us. The Bible says, as individuals but it also must rule and regulate us corporately, corporately as a church. See, the verse also speaks of one body which is the church. You know, for a lot of people, when we say church, what do people think about?

A building. The church on the corner of Bel Air And Missouri Avenue. The church that that's the church. Well, the the church in the Bible is not a building, it's people. And when there are no believers in this building, it's just a building, empty building.

What makes it a church is you. As believers, they come here and meet and worship and we're called a body. Ephesians chapter three or chapter four of three and four says, endeavoring to keep the spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, one spirit even as you are called in one hope of your calling. You know, peace, when the peace of God rules, it enriches our fellowship.

It makes it sweet and encouraging. You know, no fun being around a grumpy group of complaining people. And sadly, some churches are that way. When my wife and I traveled around missionary work and raising funds and deputation, we probably we probably were in several 100 churches. And once in a while, if you're in a church long enough, you begin to figure out, you know, a little bit about what's going on, what happens, and and I've we've had we've been in a few churches where, you know, it's filled with a bunch of griping, complaining people but we've been in a lot more that have been ruled by peace.

Where the hearts of the people are ruled by the peace of God. It's a little taste of heaven. To maintain that, we have to make decisions as a church, We have to consider what promotes peace. Does gossip promote peace? Does a bad attitude promote peace?

Does grumbling and complaining promote peace? I'll tell you what promotes peace. It's very simple. Obeying the Lord Jesus on an individual basis and you put that all together, you have this wonderful group of believers that are ruled by peace Learning and implying God's word. Striving for peace.

And that's the will of God. So, we have the peace with God through salvation. That's the start. You'll never have the peace of God if you don't have peace with God but you can have peace with God and not have the peace of God. But you know what I'm thankful for?

I'm thankful for the peace of God in a church. I'm thankful for believers who are ruled by peace. And I've seen it and I've experienced, I've experienced it both ways. And I've made a resolve a long time ago that I will not sacrifice the peace of God for anyone or anything. I want it to rule.

And I think you want it to rule. And we can be thankful for it. And it is something to be thankful for. It's something that every church doesn't experience. But we can it.

Another thing that we should be thankful for and that's why we sang we sang the hymn about the Bible. Remember the first hymn was about peace. Another thing we can be thankful for is the word of God. The Bible. There can be no peace of God without the word of God and without a resolve to live by the word of God, there will not be peace in our hearts.

And the result is a lot of doubts the flesh rules, not the spirit and but the word of God, you know, it gives us the framework where we can we can have peace. Be thankful for the word of God and these verses that we've read here tell us a few things about God's word. Well, it instructs us. It teaches us and when we talk about teaching, I'm talking about the positive imparting of God's truth, the positive imparting of God's precepts. And that's where we get the word doctrine.

You know, and doctrine is pretty important in a church. In fact, this whole message about peace at the first point. I wouldn't be able to give you that point if I didn't read that in God's word. What about the church operating? Where do we find out how to do that?

Well, God's word. What about man? You know, who created us? Where'd we come from? What are we supposed to be doing?

I remember when I was 21 years old, I got saved. You know, I didn't know where I came from. I mean, I knew I was born to my mom but I didn't know where I came from really. I didn't know what I was supposed to be doing with my life. I just kind of floundering around.

And I didn't know where I would go when I died. I didn't even know if there was an eternity. But when I got saved, all those questions were answered. Where'd I come from? God created me.

What am I supposed to be doing? Honoring and glorifying God. Where am I going to go when I die? Heaven because the Bible teaches me that if I trust Jesus as my personal savior, I can expect to be in his presence someday and you can too. Who is Jesus?

What about heaven and hell? How to be saved? You know, they're all in the Bible. And we're to teach these things. That's doctrine.

And then the word admonish is used. This is the negative element of teaching that deals with warnings from scripture. You know, one thing you can learn from the Bible and you don't have to know much about the Bible to conclude this and that is spiritual life is the most important thing there is. All these material blessings are great. And they're to be enjoyed and that you were to give God the credit and the glory and praise for them Even physical things.

You know, these are blessings. They're important. But there's nothing even close to being as important to the spiritual life of a person. Where the teaching has to do with doctrine, the admonishing has to do with duty. And all you have to do is think about your kids if you have kids.

You admonish them when they grow up. You warn them about things. It's for their own good. And there's a lot of warnings in scripture for us regardless of how long we've been saved, how mature we are as believers. There's a lot of teaching and and admonishing and warnings and and duty that's brought to us in the scripture.

And when we go to the word, we are built up by the word of Christ. We will have a song in our hearts. Look back in Colossians chapter three here. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching, and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. See, the word of God encourages us and we should be thankful for it.

In fact, if we are thankful for God's word, you know what it leads to? Praise. And then he goes on here and talks about hymns, Psalms, spiritual songs, and they're different. You know, those words tell us something different about music. Psalms is talking about Old Testament hymns that are inspired scripture like the book of Psalms and maybe you've been in a song service where you've sung scripture like Psalm nineteen seven through 11.

And speaks about the word of God. The early church did a lot of singing from scripture and even today, today's church, this hymnal is filled with songs and even though they might not be inspired and they may not be the words of scripture, they're based on scripture. And they're called hymns. They're Psalms, some of them. And then it talks about Psalm, hymns.

These are songs of praise directed to the Lord. These are not inspired but they are to be true to the Bible doctrine. That's what our book is there, the songbook. Then, spiritual songs. These are songs other than Psalms and hymns that express spiritual truth and the experiences of living the Christian life.

Could be your own song. In your heart. How many sing at home? Whether by yourself. And you're happy.

Do you ever just pray from your heart, sing something to the Lord? It's not not a song that you learned. That's how a lot of songs are written. You know, God gives a song and the person will get it out and write it down. Spiritual songs, they're good for the soul.

And whatever the music is, Psalms, hymns, or spiritual songs, they all have to be based on the word of Christ and the important part of the message is teaching and admonishing. Doctrine and duty. Imparting truth and giving warnings. All based on the word of God. So, we can be thankful for the word of God because it gives us a sure foundation We can build our life on a rock.

The Bible's rock. Not the sand of human philosophies. And unfortunately, that's pretty much what's taught in schools and and today. Build your life on human philosophy. That's very sad.

The Bible gives us meaning and purpose in life. I mentioned to you at age 21, I was just drifting around. I was up, I was down, I'd get in trouble, I'd ask God to get me out and not even really believing much about him. I I always kind of believed he existed but I never never knew him personally. I knew he was there to call upon but I wasn't willing to come on his terms to eyes at age 21 but I can tell you when I trusted him, life took on meaning and purpose.

That was the age of 21. I'll tell you another thing about the word of God. It produces real peace and builds real unity among God's people. How many have ever had a night where they just couldn't sleep and there were things on their mind and they got up and opened up the Psalms and read for a while. How many have ever done that?

I've done that many times. I like Psalm one twenty one one and two about looking to the Lord. I'll read it to you. I don't want to misquote it. Psalm one twenty one.

Sometimes when I sign my name, I put this verse. The whole Psalm is very good and encouraging for the believer. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth. You know, God can make the heaven and the earth.

He can help me as part of his creation. That's the word of God. It's the only thing that we can go to like that and get real peace and resolve our problems and our cares. I can't do that with the sports section. I mean, I get happy if my team wins or something but it's not going to bring peace, lasting peace.

I can't do that even reading a a good history book or a good western or something. I like to read. I do a lot of reading, a variety of reading but it's only the Bible that can bring me the peace. And unity with God's people that I want and need. The Bible says it should dwell richly in us, the verse says.

It should have the group's unanimous approval. If we want to have a group of peace. In fact, of peace and unity that we have is not based on an understanding and an application of God's holy word. It's not a real lasting unity and peace. It's full of cracks.

It will result in doubts and fears and divisions. But not God's peace, not the real peace. And then there's one more important thing besides being thankful for peace with God, peace of God, being thankful for the word of God. The other one is to be thankful for the name of Christ. Look in verse 17 and whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the father by him.

See, the name of Christ is the believer's anchor. It's a reminder to live in a way that honors him. It's not a little thing that we call our self Christian. It's not a little thing that we say that we're saved. Because that means we're obligated to live a Christ like life.

In the name of Jesus reminds us of that. Our words and our deeds must reflect him. You know, once in a while, I'm asked by a person if they can put my name down on an application which I'm glad to do that if I can do it honestly and sincerely. You can put my name down. But I I sure expect you to be true.

I expect you to be honest. I expect you to be a good worker. If you're going to put my name on an application as a reference. You know, the same is true. The Lord Jesus, we're going to use his name.

We better be committed to be true and honest and and a good character. You know, when we use his name, will it bring blessing to him, to to to me? Will it please him? Will it affect the peace of God? Would I want to be doing it if he were here?

You know, when we think of the name of Jesus, would I, if something I do, would it be a stumbling block to a young believer or an unsaved person? Will it help me to determine right or wrong? So, the name of Jesus, you know, something very special. We sing it a lot. We say it a lot.

But we gotta be thankful for it. We we should strive to live up to that name. You know, another thing that's amazing and important about the name of Jesus, it's our authority. We have the approval of Jesus to represent him and name him. He doesn't mind us using his name if we use it with reverence and obedience.

We can make judgments about right and wrong based on the name of Jesus. It's kind of a simple thought but if Jesus would do it, then, it's okay to proceed. If I have question whether or not he would do it or I'd be ashamed of him being there with me when I'm doing it, then, we ought to caution. We should honor the name of Jesus and we should be thankful for it. We should be thankful for the privilege of using his holy name.

Hebrews chapter two verse 11 says that he's not ashamed to call us his brethren. Jesus said that. And we should be honored and understand that we are privileged to be able to use his name. And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. So, the big point is that if we know Jesus Christ as our personal savior, then, we have every reason to be thankful.

Today and every day. Thankful for peace with God, thankful for the peace of God that can rule our lives and cause us to be a blessing to other believers. Thankful for the word of God that provides a firm foundation for our lives and and it causes us great joy. It will result in praise from our lips. It'll result in us wanting to sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.

And we won't be able to hold it in. If we're really thankful for the word of God. And then we need to be thankful for the name of the Lord Jesus which gives us a standard to determine what is right for us. Let me close with just a couple thoughts. Though all men ought to be thankful, the true believer has the greatest reason of all to be thankful.

Our sins have been forgiven. Our present can be one of peace and contentment because of Jesus no matter the circumstances. Know, some of the most content people and I like to read Christian history about Christian people in years past. Some of the most content and joyful people are those that had terrible circumstances that surrounded them. And here's another thing to be thankful for as a believer.

Our future is certain and we will be with the Lord Jesus for all eternity and no one or nothing can change that. Let's make it our practice to praise and thank God every day for material and and physical things but especially for the spiritual blessings that we have. You read about the life of Paul and other great believers in the Bible. They always focused on the spiritual blessings. Even when Paul prayed for people, it was for their spiritual blessings.

Let's make it a practice to praise and thank God every day. We will be truly blessed and we will be a blessing to others. Remember this, when you have truly thanked the Lord for every blessings sent, then you'll have very little time to murmur and lament. Show your thanks. It should show on your face.

It should show in your words and it should show in your deeds. Let's pray. Father, I thank you so much for the many spiritual blessings and Lord, I know these are not new things to most of us but there are things that we as human beings need to be reminded of. I'm thankful that I was able to study for this message and be reminded of them in my own personal life. And Lord again, there might be one here that doesn't know you.

I pray they would see me and I'd be glad to show them from your word how they can know you and leave this place today, rejoicing in salvation. Yet, Lord, most of us here, our battle is to maintain the peace of God in our lives and many times, we're not content. Many times, we live in doubt and fears and that ought not to be because you've given us a way to maintain our peace and that's by simple obedience to you. Finding out what you want and and asking you for the strength to carry through. And there's not a one here today.

Lord that's can't leave this place rejoicing in you. Either in salvation or having your peace again by calling upon you and allowing you to work in our lives and Lord, I know the book of Colossians, one of the themes is thankfulness and another theme is the way back to God and Lord, we know that's a good step to be thankful to you and to others and and for all the blessings we have. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.