Thankful heart. (“Okan ope”)

 

METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA

DIOCESE OF OSOGBO

SUNDAY BEFORE ADVERT, 22^ND NOVEMBER, 2020

GOD’S WORD TO GOD’S PEOPLE.

THEME: Thankful heart.   (“Okan ope”)

TEXT: Psalm 100:4

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praises. Give thanks to him and praise his name”

“E lo si enu ona re ti eyin ti ope ati si agbala re tie yin ti eyin: e maa dupe fun un, ki e si maa fi ibukun fun oruko re”

Psalm 100 is a fitting climax to the collection of royal psalms in the Old Testament scholarship, and it sums up their teachings on God’s supreme rule, goodness to his people, the responsibility of all nation to acknowledge him, and the importance of God’s people showing gratitude to him. (Ps. 95:1-2, 6-7). As Christians, we need to be thankful to God for his sustaining grace over us, especially throughout this Christian year which is coming to an end this week. Our eyes have seen a lot, our ears have heard so much unpalatable news and great evils have befallen us in Nigeria of which the attack of COVID-19 and its effects on our social-economic and religious life cannot be easily forgotten. But in the midst of all these evil attacks, the love and mercy of the Lord have continued to preserve and sustain us and his goodness to all his people are new every morning. For these and many other mercies of the Lord to us his people, I think it is necessary to continually show our gratitude to God, because ingratitude is a great sin before him. I have therefore chosen for our meditation today, Sunday before Advert, the topic or theme which says, “GRATEFUL HEART” and Psalm 100, which contains 3 characteristics of the believer who is controlled by God’s Spirit and God’s Word, as our main text.

1.    Joyful heart (Ps. 100:1&2). The Psalmist here presents the children of Israel shouting joyfully in praise to their great Jehovah (vs. 3&5), but also calls on all the nations of the world to praise God their Creator. Yes! We can easily understand that it was Israel’s responsibility to introduce the Gentiles to the true and living God just as the Church is commissioned today to take the good news about Jesus Christ to all the world. (Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15). How glorious it will then be when all God’s Children would gather at his throne from all nations of the earth, from all tribes, all peoples and all tongues? (Rev. 7:9). There shall be great joy and shout of joy on that great day when Jesus Christ shall come to take the Saints home. However, the joy of believers who are already enjoying the goodness of God begins here on earth. This shout of joy of ours ought to lead to real worship of the only true God, and our worship and songs of praise are received in heaven as sacrifices to the Lord. (Heb. 13:15).

2.    Submissive heart (Ps. 100:3) Here believers are called to acknowledge the sovereignty of God and his creating power. It is obvious that we confess openly the things which we have experienced in our hearts and as such we do bear witness of our great God (1King 18:39) He is the One who chose us as his people and constituted us as holy nation just as he did to Israel and was acknowledged by the Psalmist in verse 3 of Psalm 100. (Deut. 32:6, 15; Isa. 29:23). This verse is therefore a simple statement of faith showing that Jehovah is God, Creator, Redeemer and Shepherd, and as his people (flock) we must be submissive to him. Then he will guide and protect us, and will never allow us to stray into danger. Isn’t that enough to move us to burst into unending praises and thanksgiving to God?

3.    Thankful heart (Ps. 100:4&5) God’s Children are commanded to proceed in a worship procession through the gates into the sanctuary of their Father with praise and thanksgiving, because of his goodness, mercy, and faithfulness (Ps. 118:1, 136:1-3) We need to thank God because he is reliable and can be trusted from generation to generation (Ps. 90:1; Ex. 34:5-7) It is therefore important for us to know that the worship and service of parents today will have a significant influence on their children tomorrow. If truly the Spirit of God is in us, it will be revealed in the way we serve and worship God. If I may ask, are we being led by the Holy Spirit in our worship today? Or are we imitating the world? Is the Word of God really guiding our worship? I am optimistic that if our worship is led by the Word and the Holy Spirit, we shall be joyful in the Lord, submissive to the Lord and thankful to the Lord, and the difference will be clear in the sight of the worldly people. Do you even know that God wants our gratitude and thanksgiving? Consider what Jesus Christ said at the cleansing of 10 lepers; “… Didn’t  I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” (Lk. 17:17&18). Not only that, Jesus Christ taught us in Matthew 25:31-46 that a thanksgiving which is shared like offering among his brethren is most acceptable to him. As you appreciate the goodness of the Lord in your life, try and share what you have with people around you. Feed those who are hungry, give water to those who are hungry, give water to those who are thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the sick and those in prison, and put joy in face of others. Fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, note that a Spirit of thanksgiving can help us to overcome the weight which slows us down on our heavenly race, especially some of the sins which so easily trip us up and often invade our lives such as: pride, idolatry, complaining and ingratitude. Do you know that it was ingratitude behavior of Adam and Eve for what they had that made them listened to and believed Satan’s lie when he said God was not telling them the whole truth (Gen. 3:1-5). This of course led to their fall from grace to grass (sin). Brethren, get a thankful heart, for a thankful heart is a triumphant heart today, and you will not regret that you did.

 

Let us pray

Rt. Rev. A.K.O. Ogunrinde, JP, FICT.

Bishop, Diocese of Osogbo.

OS-CAN Chairman.