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🎵Music🎵 🎵Music🎵 🎵Music🎵 🎵Music🎵 🎵Music🎵 🎵Music🎵 Alright brethren, welcome to church this morning. Hope you're ready to praise the Lord. If you can find your seats and grab your hymnals. Please find your seats and grab your hymnals. And let's begin by singing hymn number two. Hymn number two in your hymnals. We'll begin by singing glory to his name. And when you have found it and if you're able to, can you please stand. Hymn number two, glory to his name. 🎵Music🎵 Alright, let's sing it up to the Lord. 🎵Music🎵 🎵Music🎵 🎵Music🎵 🎵Music🎵 🎵Music🎵 Okay, great singing. Let's go to a word of prayer. Heavenly Father, Lord, we want to thank you so much that we can be in your house this morning. Lord, I just pray that your spirit will be with us. Lord, that you touch our hearts and help us to be focused upon your service today. Lord, I pray you lift our hearts with joy and thanksgiving. Lord, I thank you for being such a great God. Thank you for sending your son to die in our place and for giving us everlasting life. Lord, we seek to please you to be in your house and we worship you, Lord, so I just pray that you bless each one of us this morning. We pray all these things in Jesus' name. Amen. You may be seated. Alright, our next hymn is hymn number 97. Please turn to hymn 97. Hymn 97. And we'll sing, I need thee every hour. I need thee every hour. Isabel, give me that drink of water. Hymn number 97. I need thee every hour. I need thee every hour. . Every hour I need Thee, O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee. I need Thee every hour. I need Thee, O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee. I need Thee every hour. I need Thee every hour. I need Thee every hour. I need Thee every hour. I need Thee every hour. Enjoy your pain. Come quickly and abide. All life is vain. I need Thee, O I need Thee, every hour I need Thee. O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee. I need Thee every hour. I need Thee every hour. Most holy one. O make me lie in Thee, Thou blessed Son. I need Thee, O I need Thee, every hour I need Thee. O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee. God will take care of you. Then we'll have our Bible reading. In the love of life, God will take care of you. God will take care of you through every day or over day. He will take care of you. God will take care of you. Through days of toil and heart that fill, God will take care of you. When they do see your progress still, God will take care of you. God will take care of you through every day or over day. He will take care of you. God will take care of you. No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you. In every word upon his rest, God will take care of you. God will take care of you through every day. Or over day. He will take care of you. God will take care of you. All you may need He will provide. God will take care of you. Nothing you ask will be denied. God will take care of you. God will take care of you. Through every day or over day. He will take care of you. God will take care of you. All right, please take your Bibles down and turn to the book of Nehemiah, please. Nehemiah chapter number 12. Nehemiah in your Old Testament, of course, and chapter number 12. Brother Michael's coming up for the reading. Nehemiah chapter 12. Thank you. So that's Nehemiah chapter 12. Now these are the priests of the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel, the son of Sheltiel, and Jeshua, Sariah, Jeremiah, Ezra, Amoriah, Maluch, Hattush, Shekeniah, Reum, Merimoth, Ido, Ginnetho, Abijah, Amiamin, Madiah, Bilgah, Shemaiah, and Joiah, Arip, Jediah, Salu, Amok, Hellkiah, Jediah. These were the chief of the priests and of their brethren in the days of of Jeshua. Moreover, the Levites, Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebaiah, Jediah, and Mataniah, which was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren, also Bekbukiah and Unni, their brethren, were over against them in the watches. And Jeshua begat Joachim, and Joachim also begat Elishab, and Elishab begat Joiada, and Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jeduah. And in the days of Joachim were priests, the chief of the fathers of Shereiah, Amoriah, of Jeremiah, Haniah, of Ezra, Meshulamah, and Amoriah, and Jehonan, of Melichu, Jonathan, and Shebaniah, Joseph, of Harim, Edna, and Merioth, Helchai, of Edo, Zechariah, of Ginnethon, and Meshulam, of Abijah, Zikri, and of Minayamim, and of Moadai, Piltai, Bilgah, Shemuah, and Shemaiah, and Jehonathan, of Joarib, and Metheniah, and of Jediah, Uzi, and of Saliah, Caliah, of Amok, Eber, of Hilkiah, Hashabiah, of Jediah, Nethanel, the Levites in the days of Eliyashib, Joiada, and Jehonan, and Jeduah were recorded chief of the fathers, also the priests, to the reign of Darius the Persian. The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Jehonan, the son of Eliyashib. And the chief of the Levites, Hashabiah, Sherebaiah, and Jeshua, of the son of Carmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks according to the commandment of David, the man of God, ward over against ward. Metheniah and Bakuchiah, Obadiah, Meshulam, Talmon, Achaab, were porters keeping the ward at the threshold of the gates. These were in the days of Joiakim, the son of Jeshua, the son of Josedek, and in the days of Nehemiah, the governor, Ezra, the priest, the scribe. And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought the Levites out of their places to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgiving and with singing, with simple psalteries, and with harps. And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netopathy. Also, from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Asmoveth, for the singers and builders builded them villages round about Jerusalem. And the priests and the Levites purified themselves and purified the people and the gates and the wall. Then I brought up the princess of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave things, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dungate, and after them went Hosiah and half of the princess of Judah, and Azariah, Ezra, and Meshulam, Judah and Benjamin, and Shemaiah and Jeremiah. And certain of the priests' sons with trumpets, namely Zechariah the son of Jehothan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zakur, the son of Asaph, and his brethren Shemaiah and Azariah, Mylalai, Gilalai, Myneth and Neel, and Judah and Naini, with the musical instruments of David, the man of God, and Ezra, the scribe before them. And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward. And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces, even unto the broad wall. And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananiel, and the tower of Mia, even unto the sheep gate, and they stood still in the prison gate. So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and half, and half of the rulers with me. And the priests Eliakim, Myasiah, Minanaimin, Micaiah, Zionai, Zechariah, and Hananiah with trumpets. And Massiah, and Shemaiah, and Eliezer, and Uzi, and Jehonanam, and Malkijah, and Elam, and Ezra. And the singers sang loud with Jezreah, the overseer. Also that day, they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced, for God hath made them rejoice with great joy. The wives also and the children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off. And at that time, where some appointed over the chambers of the treasures, for the offerings, for the first fruits, and for the tithes, together into them, out of the fields of the cities, the portions of the law, for the priests and Levites, for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that created. And both the singers and the porters kept the word of their God, and the word of the purification according to the commandment of David and Solomon, his son. For in the days of David and Asaph of old, they were chief of the singers and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God. And all Israel, in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters every day his portion, and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites, and the Levites sanctified unto the children of Aaron. Dear loving Father in Heaven, we praise you so much for your word. We praise you Father in Heaven that we can be in church today. We thank you Father in Heaven for our pastor, for Pastor Kevin. We pray that you would please fill him with your Holy Ghost. I pray that our hearts, our minds, our ears would be focused on what you have for us, that we would have a beautiful spiritual feast and pray Father for forgiveness of sins. Pray for those who are not well, who would love to be with us, that you would heal them and that they would come to church next time and please help us to be more like Jesus. In his beautiful name we pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you brother. Okay, just before I get into the sermon, I just want to welcome our two first time visitors this Sunday, Sunday morning. So it was Ken, wasn't it? Ken. And sorry ma'am, I forgot your name. Barbara. Ken and Barbara. So please welcome them obviously after the service. So I hope it's a blessing to be in the church this morning. Definitely a blessing to have visitors in church. Now, we've been going through chapter by chapter through the book of Nehemiah and you know what I love about our church is the fact that we don't, we don't, we can look at a book like, a chapter like Nehemiah 12 and go, it's too hard to read. You know, it's too many names, too complicated. Hey, but this is a church that loves the word of God. It loves it, right? We love even the names that are here. Even this chronology of descendants that we have in this, in the Bible, I love the fact that we read it together as a church. Because we're given due honour, we're given due respect to God's word, right? We're not just this type of church that's seeking just to read the things that are as lovely to the ears as necessary. Or the things that might be exciting in the book. And look, there's plenty of Bible with that. But you know, also when it comes to the Lord detailing this, this level of detail for us, I think it's good for us to pause and consider what is being said. Now, before I preach through Nehemiah chapter 12, I just want to give you a rundown of what this chapter is about. So you can basically break down this chapter into two parts. The first part, in fact, let's have a look at verse number one. It says in Nehemiah 12 one, it says, Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbel, the son of Sheltiel and Jeshua, Sarahiah, Jeremiah, Ezra. So we see this list of priests and Levites that came with Zerubbel. Now don't forget, we're in the book of Nehemiah. Before Nehemiah was the book of Ezra, Zerubbel came in the first wave in the book of Ezra. There are three main waves that have left the captivity out of Babylon and have come into Jerusalem. Zerubbel was that first wave. So we're going all the way back to that first wave. When we're reading from Nehemiah, we're reading about the third wave to have come out of Babylon. And we're easily looking at about maybe 90 to 100 years between those two waves. And not only that, obviously several generations that have gone through this. And so you can really break down Nehemiah 12 into two main parts. The first part being just this list of priests and Levites that came out with Zerubbel. And the second part, beginning in verse number 27, and it's the dedication to the completion of the walls. Remember, they were building the walls up of Jerusalem. And now that it's all been done, the people that are left there in Jerusalem, they are dedicating this work. And they're dedicating to the Lord. And so they break up into two groups and the populace of Jerusalem, they basically go up on the walls. They climb up, I guess the walls are broad enough in order for large people to walk through. And they start just thanking, going from wall to wall, gate to gate, just dedicating each part of it to the Lord God. And they end up going to the house of God, to the temple, and giving praise to God. Alright, so that's what this chapter is all about. It's about dedicating mainly the walls of Jerusalem to the Lord God. And even you go, well what's the relationship between the first part about Zerubbel? Well one of the major themes that comes out of this, if you picked up while brother Michael was reading this, seven times in this chapter, the word thanksgiving or the word thanks is being mentioned. Seven times, okay. So each time that it gets brought up, I'm going to pause and you know draw something from God's word there. In order for us to be able to give thanks, right. These chapters, they're not just historical issues which we can read about, but we want to see how do we apply this to our lives. And I truly believe we can be better, I can be better. I know I can be better at being more thankful toward God, okay. I mean I can probably go times where I'm not even that thankful toward God. Even though I recognize he's done great things for me, even though I recognize that he's answered prayers, I can forget to thank the Lord, alright. And so I think when we stop and look at the seven times the word thanks or thanksgiving is mentioned, we can draw something that can help enrich our ability to give thanks to the Lord. So let's keep going there, verse number two. Some of the names of the Levites and priests Amoriah, Malak, Hattush, Shekiniah, Rehem, Merimoth, Ido, Ginnetho, Abijah, Mirmim, Maediah, Bilgah, Shemaiah, and Joarib, Jedariah, Salu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedariah. These were the chief of the priests of their brethren in the days of Joshua. Moreover, the Levites, Joshua, Benoah, Kadmuel, Cherubiah, Judah, and Mataniah, look at this, which was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren. So notice in verse number eight, not only are we just going through a list of Levites and priests, but it says these particular priests that I mentioned here, these particular Levites, it says they were over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren. So the first thing that we can take out of this, you know, if it's so important to appoint to the Levites, you're in charge of the thanksgiving. This is your role and responsibility. It's your responsibility that all of Israel stops and gives thanks to God. So important they actually make this a role amongst the Levites. The first thought that I want to take out of this brethren is that we need to make time for thanksgiving. We need to make time for it. Because we can forget it. We have to make time for it. Like I said, I guess the nation's thinking, we're not thankful enough. We've forgotten the Lord God. We've forgotten the great things that he's done for us. We've gone for the captivity because we've forgotten our Lord God. So let's make sure that certain of our Levites remember this is their job. They say, hey guys, it's time to stop and to give thanks to God. And brethren, if that can happen to the nation of Israel, this can happen in our lives. That we can forget. You know, we know that God has done great things for us. We can forget to just go, thank you Lord. How many times do we pray to the Lord and he answers our prayers, but we forget to say thank you. You know, I love Wednesday nights when we bring our request before the Lord and that's great, but I also love it when people say, hey, you know, just appoint to God's thanksgiving. Can we give God thanks because he's come through in this area of my life. Because he's answered these prayers. Yes, brethren, we need to remember that this is an important aspect, not just going to God and asking what we need from him. That's great, but also thanking him for what he's done. And the prayers that he's answered in our lives. And can you please keep your finger there and turn to Romans chapter 1. Please turn to Romans chapter 1 in your New Testament. Romans chapter 1. I'm going to read to you from 1 Thessalonians 5 18. 1 Thessalonians 5 18. Because if we can just stop and allocate time, you know, I'm going to give thanks. And I recommend if you're ever going to go to the Lord in prayer, you know, just spend a moment thanking God. Before you just bring your requests, right. We go to the Lord, let's worship him, let's praise him, let's think of him as our great God and Saviour and thank him for everything that he's done. And once you're done thanking God, then go, alright Lord, I need these things. Lord, I'm a needy person. Lord, I have weaknesses. Lord, I need help. Can you help me with these areas of my life? After you've thanked God, okay, make sure you allocate, make some time for thanksgiving. Now before we read Romans 1, I'm going to read to you from 1 Thessalonians 5 18. But often, the other thing I want you to think about, you say, well, Pastor Kevin, the reason I don't, you know, I'm not very thankful to God, the reason I just don't spend time on this is I just don't have much to be thankful about. You know, my life is going down the toilet. You know, I just feel like I'm just not achieving anything. I don't feel like the Lord's really stepping in and helping me in these situations. I'm going for a time of difficulty and tribulations and hardships. How can I turn around and give God thanks? And I can understand. That's human nature. We tend to want to give thanks when something positive is happening, right? I mean, if you come to me and you give me a gift or something, right, you know, then I'll be like, yeah, thank you for that, brother. What a blessing. That's easy. But if you come up to me and slap me in the face, it's very hard for me to say thank you for that, brother. Isn't it? But it says here in 1 Thessalonians 5 18, in everything, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you, brethren, in everything, give thanks. You haven't got a choice. If life is slapping you in the face, you say thank you, Lord. If life is giving you persecutions and troubles and tribulations, thank you, Lord, for the experiences that you're letting me go through. Thank you, Lord, that you're there to help me, to guide me, to give me direction. Lord, thank you potentially. This could be your hand of chastisement upon my life. Thank you for stepping in and giving me focus back upon you, upon your ways. Brethren, it doesn't matter what we're going through. In everything, give thanks. So there is no excuse to say, well, my life's messed up. It's all going downhill. There's no excuse to not give thanks. Give thanks to God for everything. He allows you to go through the difficulties that you were going through. There's some work that God wants to create in you, some change, some growth, some maturity. Thank God for the experiences. Thank God for problems. Brother Michael, you often say that to me, don't you? There's some difficulty, and I'm thinking, oh, man, yeah, some problems. Thank God for problems. Alright, yeah, thank God for problems. It gives us opportunities to know more of the Lord, to draw closer to him, to get his strength in our times of weaknesses. You're there in Romans 1. Look at Romans 1.21. Now, obviously, I'm not going to spend time teaching on reprobates this morning, but you guys are aware of the reprobate doctrine, where people can reject God so much that God then rejects them, okay? But I want you to notice this, this downward spiral of the reprobate that we read about in Romans 1. Notice the very first things that they started to develop in their lives that led them down that road. It says in Romans 1.21, because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, look at this, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. So notice that. This downward spiral of these reprobates. What's the very first thing? They know God. They know they should glorify him. But they say, no, we're not going to glorify God. They know they should be thankful for what God has done for them. They're not thankful. They say, I don't care what God has done. I'm not going to thank him for the great things he's given me. I'm not going to thank him for life. I'm not going to thank him for his direction, for his Bible, for the word. I'm not going to thank him for sending Jesus. I don't care about the Lord God. They don't care. They become vain in their imaginations. Then we see in that downward path, their foolish heart is darkened. They're darkened against the Lord. The Lord does a work in their life where they become reprobate, and we can read about that later, obviously in your book of Romans there. The downward spiral. But I want you to notice some of the very first things. They were not thankful. They were not thankful. Now you're saved. You can't become reprobate. Thank God for that. Once saved always saved. The moment you believe and trust in Christ, his death, burn, and resurrection, there's nothing you can do to lose it, because Christ has paid for it all. It's everlasting life. If it wasn't everlasting, it would be temporary life. No, God has given us everlasting life. All our sins have been paid for, past, present, and future, all paid for by Jesus Christ. It is a free gift. Praise God for salvation. But hey, now that we're saved, now that we're children of God, it's so easy to become unthankful, isn't it? When you think about that, think about your life, think about everything God has done for you. And then we're just not thankful to the Lord God. I want you to pause and think about, well, actually, that's the road that the reprobate took. I don't want to be lumped in that same sense of not being thankful to Lord God. This week we've been able to celebrate three birthdays, the twins, Matthias and Christian and Lilliana. Every time there's a birthday, I'm a little bit sad, honestly, when my kids, I don't know, it should be a time of celebration, but there's just a little sadness in me that goes, that's another year. It's great that they're a bit older, but it's just another year that I have less with them. As they get older, one day they're going to leave the house, one day they're going to have their own lives. And as they get older, man, that's another day. That's another year that's gone by. And it causes me to just be a little bit quiet, a little somber. But also, to thank God. To thank God, you know, like, oh Lord, you've given me these children. I wish I could just pause time. And nothing changes. I told Lilliana, can you stop growing? I told you last year, no more birthdays. You can't turn eight now, right? You don't know about, you know, life changes, right? Children grow. And as I see this time escape out of my hands, I just want to turn around and say, be thankful to God for what he has given me. To appreciate every moment that I have with my family, with the things that God has given me. Now, brethren, we need to make time to be thankful. You know, there are opportunities that we get, you know, coming to church is an opportunity to be thankful, to be reminded to be thankful toward the Lord God. Alright, back to Nehemiah 12. So, point number one, brethren, was make time for Thanksgiving. Make time for it. Nehemiah 12, verse 9. It says, also, Bekbukiah and Unai, their brethren, were over against them in the watches. And Joshua begat Joakim, Joakim begat Elisha, and Elisha begat Joiada, and Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jeduah. And in the days of Joakim were priests and the chief of the fathers of Sarahiah, Meriah, of Jeremiah, Hananiah, of Ezra, Meshalem, of Amoriah, Jehonanhan, of Melikou, Jonathan, of Shebaniah, Joseph, of Harim, Adna, and Merioth, Hilkiah, of Edo, Zechariah, of Ginnethon, Meshalem, of Abijah, Zikrai, of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltiah, of Bilgah, Shemua, and Shemaiah, Jehonathan, and of Jairib, Metaniah, of Jeduiah, Uzziah, and Selahiah, Caliah, and Amok, Iba, of Hilkiah, Shebaiah, of Jeduiah, Nethanil. The Levites in the days of Elisha, Joiada, and Jehonan, and of Jeduiah, were recorded chief of the fathers, also of the priests, to the reign of Darius the Persian, the sons of Levi, and the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Jehonan, the son of Elisha, now look at verse number 24, and the chief of the Levites, Hashabiah, Cherubiah, and Joshua, the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, look at this, to praise and to give thanks, this is the second time that we see the thanks, or the thanksgiving mentioned, to praise and to give thanks, look at this, according to the commandment of David, the man of God, ward over against ward, alright, so they're looking back to King David, okay, this was many years ago for them, alright, they're looking back, alright, how did King David instruct us to give thanks, you know, what kind of example did King David, we know that King David brought in the musical instruments, right, as a way to give thanks unto the Lord, and so they're harking back to David, saying alright, let's do exactly how David commanded us to give thanks and to worship him, let's do it all over again. Now the thought that I want to take out of verse number 24, it says there, according to the commandment of David, it says, it refers to David as the man of God, ward against ward, so the man of God is a title given to David, David being the king of Israel when he reigned during that time, this title the man of God is also given to many prophets in the Bible, you often read about that title primarily given to prophets in the Bible, but also as you saw he given to King David, now that title also exists in the New Testament, the man of God, alright, and that title is given to church pastors, the one that holds the office of the bishop is referred to in the New Testament as the man of God, so keep your finger there please, and turn to 1 Timothy chapter 6 in your Bibles, turn to 1 Timothy chapter 6, and so this brings me to my second point, okay, if the New Testament refers to the pastor as the man of God, then the second point that I have for you brethren is that the pastor should be known as being thankful, the pastor you know should be known or given an example of being thankful, you know if you have a pastor that's whiny, that complains, that does not praise God, is not thankful toward God, you've got a bad pastor, okay, the man of God is to set the example of how we ought to give thanks to the Lord God, and as I said to you, you know the New Testament refers to the pastor as the man of God, I just want to show you this, so the book of 1 Timothy and the book of 2 Timothy are known as pastoral epistles, they're written from the apostle Paul to pastor Timothy as he pastors the churches, these are the only places that we find this term the man of God, but it says in 1 Timothy chapter 6 verse 11, 1 Timothy chapter 6 verse 11, it says now this is Paul to Timothy, but thou, O man of God, flee these things and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness, okay, so Paul is calling Timothy, O thou man of God, O man of God, okay, that is a title that is given to pastors, can you please go to 2 Timothy, 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 14, next book over, 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 14, again Paul to Timothy, 2 Timothy 3, 14, it says but continue thou in the things which thou has learned and has been assured of, knowing of whom thou has learned them, so notice thou, thou, thou, we know that's a singular form of the word you, okay, Paul referring to Timothy here, thou, drop down to verse number 17, it says that the man of God may be perfect, truly furnished unto all good works, alright, so Paul is reminding Timothy, you can read the other verses if you want, but Paul is reminding Timothy that you know, you've received the scriptures, you know, spend time studying the scriptures, so that the man of God may be perfect, truly furnished unto all good works, and so I just want to show you just a few examples there that in the New Testament the pastor is referred to as the man of God, and again, you know, there's this title, oh so pastor you think you're the man of God, right, no, no, you know what, you know, when I think of that title, that I'm supposed to be the man of God, it doesn't lift me with pride, it doesn't, oh look how great, I am the man of God, right, it makes me think man, if I'm the man of God, and King David is referred to as the man of God, and all these great prophets in the Old Testament are referred to as the man of God, boy it brings me a lot of humility, it actually gives me a lot of fear to think this is a title that God wants to give me, so I better live up to that name, that's what I'm thinking, so I better live up to that, right, I mean it puts me again in a very somber, you know, thoughtful position, if I'm the man of God, and King David was an example of thanksgiving, I mean he wrote so many psalms, how many psalms are just constantly giving thanks to the Lord, then I need to be that way, I need to have this positive attitude, I need to bring forth this sort of this, you know, being thankful, giving that example to others, because you know, in many ways the church family are going to reflect what the pastor is like, there are going to be qualities of the pastor that you pick up and he's going to be part of your Christian walk, that's why you want to make sure you've got a decent pastor behind you, and if you've got a pastor that's just a whiner, complainer, you know, who's constantly in conflict, constantly just fighting against members, or just someone that's not trained in God's word, then it's going to affect your Christian life, if you've got a pastor that's thankful to the Lord God, then you're going to see that he appreciates what God has given, that's going to reflect, it's going to rub off on the rest of you, to also want to give thanks to God for what God has given you. And so it's so important that the pastor is someone that is known as being thankful to the Lord God, and again, he puts this sort of pressure, this expectation upon me, and I want to fulfill that. You know, I want you guys to look at me as your pastor, and say yes, pastor Kevin is someone that thanks the Lord, someone that appreciates everything that God has given him. Back to Nehemiah 12, verse number 25. Nehemiah 12, 25, it says, Mataniah and Bukaiah, Obadiah, Meshelem, Talmud, Acha, were porters keeping the ward at the threshold of the gates. These were in the days of Jehoiakim, the son of Jehoshua, the son of Josadak, in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe. Now look at verse number 27. So this begins the next thought. Now we've seen the list of all the priests and the kids and the children they had that goes all the way down to Ezra and down to Nehemiah, and then it says in verse number 27, the next thought that we have here, and at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought the Levites out of all their places to bring them to Jerusalem to keep the dedication with gladness, look at this, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, sultries, and with harps. And so Nehemiah gets all the Levites, all the priests, listen, we're going to give God thanks. We need to come together and just praise God for the work that we've done, the rebuilt walls of Jerusalem. Let that be a reminder to you, brethren. As soon as God does something great in your life, as soon as he answers a prayer, please stop and just give God thanks. But notice, how do they give God thanks? It says at the end of verse number 27, and with singing, with cymbals, and sultries, and with harps. Brethren, point number three is give thanks with music and song. Give thanks with music and song. Again, if you need a hymnal, please let me know. I will give you a hymnal to take home. I want you to get in the habit of not just giving God thanks when you pray, or just a random time, I want you to get in the habit of singing to the Lord. Singing praise, giving him thanks. That's why we come, and we open the hymnals, and we sing to the Lord God. We just want to praise him. We just want to thank him for the great God that he is. Brethren, don't underestimate how important singing is. And again, the commandment that came from King David was to praise him with the musical instruments. David was a very musical person. As I said to you, he wrote most of the psalms, and we know that many times instruments are mentioned there. If you've got that musical interest, if you're naturally talented in these areas, let me encourage you to work on this area of your life. I'm not very musically talented, but other people are. Some people just love it. They've got that ear. I've met people that can just pick up any instrument, and they hear, and they can just play it. They can just pick up, they can hear the sound, and they can just take it and bring it forth out of an instrument. You know, if you've got that skill, brethren, one great need that we have in our church are for people to play instruments. You know, I don't want to rely forever on the speaker system to play our music. You know, if you've got some level of skill, and you want to give God thanks, you're going to help our church by playing those instruments, by practicing, getting good at it, becoming skillful, and bringing your talent, your skill to this house of God, and allowing us to praise God with live music and with song. I'll just quickly read to you Ephesians 5.19, because you guys know it. It says, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. And I want you to remember that, making it from your heart, because then it keeps going to verse number 27, giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Again, singing is a way that we can give thanks to the Lord. But don't forget, it's making melody in your heart at the end of the day. You know, and again, if you haven't got the voice, you haven't got the tune coming out of your mouth, I don't care what you sound like, please just sing it up to the Lord, give him thanks. What's more important is what's coming out of your heart. You know, I hope we're not a church that just opens those hymnals, and we just sing out of our mouth and have no meaning coming from our heart. You know, thanking God is really a heartfelt thing that then should proceed out of our mouth as we sing to the Lord. So as I said, brethren, point number three is give thanks with music and song. Give thanks with music and song. I think giving thanks to music and song actually makes it a lot easier. You know, because just having that leading of the music, having the leading of the words there, and bringing yourself and lifting your heart to the Lord, I think sometimes it's easier to take those words and speak to the Lord through those words in song than sometimes coming up with your own thoughts and ideas. So, you know, definitely music and singing can help you in your thanksgiving toward God. Let's go back to Nehemiah chapter 12. I think you're ready there anyway. Verse number 28, verse number 28. It says, And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country, round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netapathani. Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Asmiveth, for the singers had built them villages round about Jerusalem, and the priests and the Levites purified themselves and purified the people and the gates and the walls. Then I brought up the princes of Judah. Notice the next things here. So they're getting ready to dedicate the walls. They want to just thank God for everything that's been happening here. Then it says, then I. We know I is returned to Nehemiah. Then I brought up the princes of Judah. Now what I like about this is that Nehemiah, you know, he's looking around, all right, who wants to get involved in thanking God? And then Nehemiah makes his own personal job to go and get the princes. When you talk about princes, these are people of power and authority, right? People that are the political realm, if you want, to view it that way, okay? He gets these, the religious, not the religious, he gets the national leaders. He goes, we want the priests to come and be part of this. And so he makes the effort of getting them himself. He says, and I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dunghates. And after them went Hosheaiah, look at this, the half of the princes of Judah and Azariah, Ezra and Meshilim, Judah and Benjamin and Shemaiah and Jeremiah. So what I want you to notice there, it's not just the priests, it's not just the Levites, it's not just the average person in Jerusalem giving thanks. Nehemiah says, all right, we're going to get the princes, we're going to get those in authority. Because, and this is point number four, point number four is this, Thanksgiving keeps you humble. Point number four is Thanksgiving keeps you humble, all right? Because we have different levels of success in our life. Obviously princes, they've got the power, they've got the wealth, okay, they've got authority. You know, from a social standpoint, they're viewed as higher over the others. All right? And we know that when you take on a prominent position, the heart of man, the sinful flesh, can sometimes elevate itself. Well done, pat you on the back. You know, you're better than others. But when it comes to Thanksgiving, you know, it doesn't matter what we've achieved, it doesn't matter how big your bank account is, it doesn't matter what your social status is, we come together and we give God thanks for everything that we received. You see, it brings us to a level ground. Because we're not boasting of ourselves. We're not boasting of our positions. We're just saying whatever we are, God, by your grace, Lord, thank you for what you've given us. That's what it does, brethren. You know, thanking God. Because if we forget to thank God, you're going to be elevated in your pride. Look what I've done. Look what I've achieved. I've been smarter than others. You know, I've got this authority. I've got this power. You know, I can just look down on my fellow man. But brethren, whatever you've got, just remember God has given this to me. And when you all thank God, it doesn't matter. We just say, well God, we're all the same. You've given us everything. Thank you for what you've given us. Again, it brings us back to a level of humility, lowering ourselves, knowing that it's by God's hand. God has done everything. He's given us these gifts. He's given us life. He's given us salvation. He's given us a church. He's given us a house. He's given us a family. He's given us a job. Whatever God has given us, we can turn around and say thank you, Lord, regardless of your status, regardless of your position. Again, it brings humility. You forget to thank God, brethren. You're going to be high and lifted up, nose up, looking down at other people, and it's just going to make you a horrible person. I love how Nehemiah gets the princess. I need you guys involved as well. Nehemiah has already dealt with the nobles. Remember the nobles of the land. They didn't want to get involved in the work. He goes, no, not this time. You guys come in, and we're going to give God thanks for everything that is done. I'm going to quickly read to you from 2 Corinthians 2, verse 14. It says, now thanks be unto God, and notice these next words, which always causes us to triumph in Christ and maketh manifold, the saver of his knowledge by us in every place. Notice that, which always causes us to triumph in Christ. That's why it says, now thanks be unto God. Whatever you triumph in, whatever you achieve, whatever you succeed in, give God thanks. God, you've made me to achieve because I'm in Christ Jesus. It's through Christ that I've been able to do anything in my life. Again, that humility, thanksgiving, keeps you humble. Nehemiah 12, verse 35. Nehemiah 12, 35. It says, and certain of the priest's sons with trumpets, namely Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mataniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zirchah, the son of Asaph, and his brethren Shemaiah and Azarael, Milaliah, Gilaliah, Maiaiah, Nathanael, and Judah, Hananiah, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them. And at the fountain gates, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward. So again, they divide into two groups, and they've climbed up the stairs, they're now all on top of the walls, okay? So obviously the walls are of good quality to hold all these people. They've broken up into two groups, they're going through gate after gate after gate, again, giving God thanks for everything that they've done. Verse number 38. And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and half of the people upon the wall, and beyond the tower of the furnaces, even unto the broad wall. All right, so the next point that I want to take out of that, verse number 37, or sorry, verse number 38, it says, and the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them. So the next point when I thought about this is, again, they're giving thanks to God, but they're doing that as a company. They're there together with other people, okay? And when I think about us being together as a group, you know, I love it when I hear testimonies of how God has done something great for you, and how you're thankful for what God has done. You know, it's a great testimony to speak, and you know, sometimes we don't speak because we feel like, oh, maybe we're puffed up and we don't want to sound like we're holier than thou, but let me encourage you, you know, we ought to learn how to be thankful amongst a company, amongst a group of people. You know, tell one another what God has done for you. So point number five, Brevin, is tell others what you're thankful for. Tell others what you're thankful for. The Bible says in Psalm 26, six, I will wash my hands in innocency, so will I compass thine altar, O Lord. Then it says this in verse number seven, that I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all thy wondrous works. So notice that Psalmist just wants to publish with a voice of thanksgiving all the wondrous works that God has done for him. And Brevin, again, look in your life. God has done great things for you. God has done, whatever you have, Brevin, God has given it to you. My problems too, yep, your problems too. Okay, you know what, and it's good for us to speak to one another, to get together and say, you know what, I'm thankful God has done this in my life. God has stepped in. You know, we ought to share testimonies of one another. Yeah, testimony, you've been able to preach the gospel and see someone saved and you're thankful for that. Yeah, share that testimony. You know, God has helped you through a time of difficulty and you're now on the other side and you're thankful for it. Yeah, tell one another that you're thankful for what God has done. Point number five, Brevin, is tell others what you're thankful for. You know what you'll do? You'll motivate, you'll encourage others. So yes, thank you, Lord, that you're working in the life of my brother or sister and Lord, maybe I forgot how you've worked in my life. Thank you for what you've done for me also. So Brevin, let's not be ashamed when God steps in and does something great for us. And don't be shy when God steps in and lets you go through some hardship. Brother, can you pray for me? I'm going through some difficulty, but thank the Lord that he's allowed me to go through this challenge for whatever reason. Let's learn to be thankful and tell others. Tell others, you know, let's not be ashamed of when God does great things for us that we can share that with other people, that we can publish the thanksgiving, the wondrous works that God has done in our lives. Back to Nehemiah 12, verse number 39, it says, and from above the gate of Ephraim and above the gate of the old gate, so again, they're above, they're walking on the walls, right? That's why it says above there. And above the old gate and above the fish gate and the tower of Hananiel and the tower of Mia even unto the sheep gate, and they stood still in the prison gates. So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God and I and the half of the rulers with me. So the next thing, again, we see the thanks here, verse number 40, but now they're giving thanks in the house of God, giving thanks in the house of God. Again, in the Old Testament, the house of God was that temple, the newly rebuilt temple for us in the New Testament, the house of God is our local church. For you who are members of this church, it is New Life Baptist Church. Point number six, brethren, is give thanks in the house of God. Give thanks in the house of God, meaning you should give God thanks when you're not in the house of God, but definitely when we come to the house of God, when we come to the house of God, we should also be able to give thanks to him, all right? Can you please keep your finger there and go to Psalm 35 with me. Go to Psalm 35, verse 18. Psalm 35, verse number 18. Give thanks in the house of God. Psalm 35, verse 18. The Bible reads, I will give thee thanks in the great congregation. I will praise thee among much people. Yes, that's what the Psalmist says he's going to do. Brethren, what is the great congregation? What does the word church even mean? The word church means congregation. It's the assembly. It's the coming together of God's people to worship him, but also to give him thanks, yeah? So we ought to think about church as a place where God wants us to be, not just to hear great preaching, not just a place to sing, but to give him thanks. And again, we do that primarily through song. And again, just a reminder once again, you know, when you come to church, be on time, or be before the time, all right? You know, when you go to work, when you go to work, you know, you can turn up just on time, but you know, if there's traffic, if there's something in the way, you might end up coming late, then you kind of ruin your reputation a little bit. Brethren, please just remember to come to God's house. You say, well, you know, it's only really important when the preaching starts, no. Thanksgiving, I will give God thanks in the great congregation. That's why we come, we sing praises. We worship the Lord. We give him thanks by song and by music. That's our opportunity, brethren, to thank God in the house of God. So church is so important. You know, come to God's house with a thankful heart. Come to God's house just seeking the Lord God. You know, and again, you know, religious things like coming to church, religious things like reading the Bible, it can all become mundane and robotic, and our heart's not in it, but we need to just remind ourselves when these things happen, that it's just you've become a little bit cold to all the things of God, all right, and just remind yourself, well, Lord, I'm becoming a bit cold towards you, Lord. I'm reading my Bible, yes, I am, but I'm not really paying attention to the words. I'm not thinking, I'm not meditating upon these words. I'm not thinking how it applies to me. Yes, Lord, I'm going to church just to show my face, but really, you know, I can think of other things that I'd rather be doing, Lord, or I'm distracted by other things, and say, Lord, well, you know what's going to bring you that focus back? Just thanking God. All right, God, what have you done for me? Okay, you've saved me. Okay, great. Start there. All right, God, you've given me this family. Great. Lord, you've given me a roof over my head. You've given me food on the table. Lord, there are places in this world that they don't even know when they're going to eat. There are places in this world where they don't even know where they're going to get fresh water from, and I don't even have to worry about these things. God, you've given me so many things. We're going to sing at the end of the sermon. Count your blessings. What has God done? Think about it. Just go through a list. I've heard other pastors, and I don't do this personally, but I think it's a good idea. Some people have a journal, maybe a prayer journal, or a Thanksgiving journal, where they write down the things that they want to pray for, and when God answers the prayers, they check the box. Yes, God has come through, and now not only is it just a prayer journal, it's a journal of Thanksgiving, and so whenever there's a time of hardship, of sorrow, they can turn back to their writings and go, well, the Lord stepped in here. The Lord has done these things for me. I just have to be thankful to God for all the great things He's done, and I know He's going to see me through to the other side as well. And so just remembering what God has done for you, we tend to kind of have this goldfish memory, five seconds and then you forget, whatever. Okay, what did you do for me today, God? What has He done for you over the years? How many great rewards, how many great gifts has He given you over the years? How many great blessings has He given you? I mean, I just count living on the Sunshine Coast as something to be thankful for. What a great blessing. What a great part of the world to live here on the Sunshine Coast. I'm thankful for just being here. There are so many things that God has done for us, and so, yeah, don't let your heart grow cold. You know, come to God's house and desire to give thanks to God in His house. That's point number six. All right, Nehemiah 12 to 41. And the priests alike him, Mausiah, Minamim, Micaiah, Eleoniah, Zechariah and Hananiah with trumpets, and Mausiah and Shemaiah and Eleazar and Uzziah and Jehonanah and Micaiah and Elam and Esau. And the singers sang loud with Jeraziah, their overseer. Sing loud. Sing loud. I love that again when you see that from the Bible. Singing loud. Just put the best effort you can to praise and to thank God. Verse number 43, Also that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy. So notice that. When you remember what God has done and you become thankful for that, it's going to give you great joy. Great rejoicing. And I love the next words. The wives also and the children rejoiced so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off. And, you know, fathers, please remember you're a leader in your house. You're the head of the wife. You're the head of the family. You know, if your family, your wife, your children see you rejoicing, see you being thankful for what God has given you, it's going to rub off on them. Now the wives and children are getting involved. Hey, dad's happy. Dad's thankful. Dad's thankful. Dad's rejoicing. Let's do it as well. You know, we all set examples as leaders to those that are under our authority. Verse number 44, And at that time, when some appointed over the chambers of the treasures, for the offerings, for the first fruits and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities, the portions of the law for the Levites and, sorry, for the priests and Levites, for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited. And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God and the ward of the purification according to the commandment of David and of Solomon his son. For in the days of David and Asaph of old, there were chief of the singers and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God. So this is the seventh time in this chapter that we see thanksgiving or thanks being mentioned. I mean, in context of what? In context of what? Let's look at verse number 46 again. This is for in the days of David, so we know who David is, very popular figure in the Bible, King David and Asaph. Does anyone know who Asaph is? You've read his name many times. Yes, sister, who do you think? Yeah, yeah, he wrote many of the, some of the psalms. Okay, so when you think about the days of David and Asaph, what we're talking about are the psalms. That part in the middle of your Bible, okay, the 150 psalms that are there, this is, you know, basically what it's saying. From the days of David and Asaph of old, there were chief of the singers and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God. And so, brethren, point number seven is, model your thanksgiving after the psalms. I don't know how to be thankful. How do I do it, Pastor Kevin? I get a bit uncomfortable when I start just thanking God because I'm not used to it. You know what you do? Go to the writings of David and Asaph. Go to the psalms, all right? There is so much thanksgiving. There is so much elevating of God and praise in him and even being thankful when they're surrounded by enemies. There's so much, the great words. And brethren, that's why we have the book of Psalms. The Psalms is a songbook of the Bible. It teaches us how to praise. It teaches us how to be thankful. Okay, we know David. His name is written over many of the psalms. And even some of the psalms where his name is not written, some of the stories, it sounds like David. Okay, he's the name that's given. He's the author with the most psalms as far as where they actually name him because not all the psalms are actually given the name of the author. And when it comes to Asaph, just for your information, he wrote Psalm 50 and also all the psalms from Psalm 73 all the way to Psalms 83. So they were all written by Asaph. So at least 12 psalms with the name of Asaph. And he probably wrote more. Again, not every psalm has a name of the author over that, okay? So model your thanksgiving after the psalms. Keep your finger there and please go to Colossians chapter 3. Go to Colossians chapter 3 and verse number 16. Colossians chapter 3 and verse number 16. And you know, brethren, there have been times, again, I've just been honest with you as your pastor. And again, it doesn't really happen now because life is different for me. You know, church is such an important part of my life. Preparing sermons is such an important part. You know, praying to God, giving him thanks is such an important part, you know. I'm just thinking about how many times I've gone to God in prayer today. There's been on the trip here, on the van, you know, we had an opening prayer in church. There was a time of prayer before the preaching. And even while the Bible reading has been read, I'm going to God in prayer. I can probably count at least five times, probably more, already this morning that I've been going to God in prayer and being thankful for what he's done. And so, you know, my life as a pastor is a little bit different because I'm fully dedicated to God's people, God's house, God's word. But again, going back before I was a pastor, there were times where, again, I just grew cold in the Lord, you know. I just got to read my Bible, just didn't pray, just didn't commit myself how I should. And sometimes I just felt so far from God, I didn't even know how to open my mouth and pray to him. And one thing I would often do when I was in this state and I felt, you know, I felt guilty and I realized, man, I need to get right with God here. I would just go to the Psalms. I'd just go to any Psalm. I'd just look at the words here. And for example, Psalm 84, just for example, you know, how amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts. My soul longeth, yea, even fainter for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. And I just read a portion like that and I go, Lord, that's me. That's what I want, Lord. You know, please revive me. Lord, give me a fire. Please bring me back to love in you and to love in your word. And I just read these words and sometimes I just read it. I just say, Lord, I don't know how to speak to you. I don't know how to be thankful. You know, I'm so ashamed that I've been far from you. But Lord, whatever the words are in this Psalm, that's what I want from me in my heart towards you. There have been so many times that the Psalms have just encouraged me to walk back to the Lord. And Lord, these aren't necessarily my words, but I want them to be my words. Lord, the way the Psalmist praises you and thanks you, Lord, I want that in my heart. This is what I want, God. Can you make it happen? Because sometimes it's just hard in the flesh. I'm so far from you. And so this is why I just look at this. I love the fact in this chapter it mentions David and Asaph because that's it. There's so many times that I've had to go to the Psalms just to get back on fire with God. You know, I say, Lord, I feel far from you, but these words, this chapter, this Psalm that I just read, I want that to be real in my life. I want to lift you the same way these Psalms are lifting you. And so many times I would model my thanksgiving, my prayers, even sometimes how I pray at church, is modeled off of words, things that have stuck in my mind about how great God is, how we desire to be with him, to know him, and to thank him. And I got you to turn to, what did I get you to turn to? Colossians chapter 3, verse number 16. Colossians chapter 3, verse number 16. Just as a reminder, obviously Colossians is a to read into a church, New Testament church, and it says in Colossians 3, 16, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. Look at this, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord, and whatsoever you do in word of deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Giving thanks to God. Notice before it says teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. And so, brethren, the psalms are such an important part of our life. You know, please don't get to this point where you think, well, every psalm is kind of the same. I guess I can skip the psalms. I want to know my Bible, I want to go for my Bible. I'll skip the psalms because, man, this psalm sounds like that psalm, sounds like that psalm. Listen, they're written there for you to learn how to give God thanks, to give him glory, to give him worship, to give him praise. You know, I mean, I personally think the psalms is such an important book, you know, that we should be reading on a regular basis. You know, if you've got a Bible reading plan, and let's say you're on some difficult books and you haven't read the psalms in a while, let me just encourage you just from time to time, there are so many of them, and they're not long, many of them are not long, okay, you can just spend a moment, you know, reading that psalm, maybe in the morning, maybe when you wake up in the morning to praise God, turn to the psalms and maybe go through them one by one and just, you know, take that same attitude that I took in the past, where I would say, God, my heart might be a little distant from you, but I want to praise you the way this psalm is written toward you. So, point number seven, brethren, was model your thanksgiving after the psalms. Model your thanksgiving after the psalms. And then we're back in Nehemiah 12, 47, and all Israel in the days of Zerubel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the portions of the singers and the porters every day his portion and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron. Alright, so that's Nehemiah chapter 12. I hope you can see the main theme in that chapter was all about thanksgiving. Alright, so in conclusion, brethren, just the seven points once again. Number one, make time for thanksgiving. Number two, the pastor should be known or should be an example of being thankful. Number three, give thanks with music and song. Number four, thanksgiving keeps you humble. Number five, tell others what you're thankful for. You know, give that testimony. Point number six, give thanks in the house of God. And point number seven, model your thanksgiving after the psalms. Alright, let's go to a word of prayer. Lord, we want to thank you for the book of Nehemiah, so many great things that we've learned so far and we're coming to the end now. And Lord, I just thank you that we've seen this example of the Israelites of old, Lord, where they rebuilt the walls, you know, they've got a newly built temple and Lord, they stopped to dedicate this. Lord, I thank you for Nehemiah for being that example, you know, for causing this to happen, to bring the Levites, the priests and the princes of the city, Lord, to come together and Lord, not to boast of man, not to boast of, you know, be prideful, not to boast of how much they've worked and what they've accomplished, but Lord, just to turn around and say thank you, Lord, for what they've done. And Lord, you've done so much for us. Lord, salvation, you've given us Jesus. Lord, you've given us the Bible. Lord, you've given us precious things in life. Lord, you've blessed us so many different ways. And Lord, I just pray you teach us to be thankful for these things. Help us not to forget you, Lord. We don't want to be unthankful the way the reprobates were, Lord. We'll read about that in Romans chapter one. So Lord, I just pray, Lord, if there's anyone cold towards you, Lord, or Lord, just forgotten the great things you've done, Lord, I just pray that you'd bring a fire back in their hearts. Lord, that this sermon will touch their lives. Lord, that it would bring a sense of thankfulness, Lord, back to you. And Lord, even if we're going through hardships, even if we're going through trials, difficulties, problems right now, Lord, that we would remember to stop and to thank you, Lord, and to dedicate our struggles towards you, Lord. We pray all these things in Jesus' name. Amen. Okay, brethren, please take your hymnals. And let's finish up with hymn number 439. Hymn number 439. And let's then count your blessings. 439, count your blessings. This fire is making all this fuss. Count your many blessings, sing them one by one. And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. Count your blessings, sing them one by one. Count your blessings, sing what the Lord hath done. Count your blessings, sing them one by one. Count your many blessings, sing what the Lord hath done. Are you aware of holdings with a load of care? Does the cross entail that you are poor to bear? Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly. And you will be singing as the days go by. Count your blessings, sing them one by one. Count your blessings, sing what the Lord hath done. Count your blessings, sing them one by one. Count your many blessings, sing what the Lord hath done. When you look at others in their hands and fold, Think that Christ has promised you his work untold. Count your many blessings, now they cannot die. Glory, glory, can you know your hope on high? Count your blessings, sing them one by one. Count your blessings, sing what the Lord hath done. Count your blessings, sing them one by one. Count your many blessings, sing what the Lord hath done. Show unto me the conflict, whether grey or small, Do not be discouraged, God is all they know. Count your many blessings, angels will attend. Open up and give the two to turn His hand. Count your many blessings, sing them one by one. Count your many blessings, sing what the Lord hath done. Count your many blessings, sing them one by one. Count your many blessings, sing what the Lord hath done.