–Chris Bennett  (Insurrection)

       “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
                      –James 1:17 (NKJV)
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I want to look this morning at a different Thanksgiving story.  It involves three men, actually four.  Men who served with each other; men who were pledged to each other because of war.  These men were bonded together because of blood, no, not the blood of family, but the blood of each other.  Warriors, all four.  
       Growing up there was nothing better than Boulder water.  It came from the Arapaho Glacier and there was a bank in Boulder with a water fountain that used this cold, pure water.  I remember traveling and trying to drink water in other areas.  Too hard, full of all sorts of minerals, not the pure mountain water of melted snow.  David must have had a similar experience.

               “And David said with longing, ‘Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!’  So the three mighty men (Adino, Eleazar, and Shammah) broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David.  Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD.  And he said, ‘Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this!  Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?’  Therefore he would not drink it.  These things were done by the three mighty men.”
                         –2 Samuel 23:15-17(NKJV)

       These men sacrificed their lives to bring David this special gift, one that he was longing for.  In our way of thinking David was foolish and silly by dumping the water on the ground.  What did the men think?  They dared to bring it to him and he does not even take a sip.   However, there is something deeper here.  What can be more significant than to give it as a sacrifice to the Lord?   David even considered this water as a blood sacrifice because of the risk it took to bring it to him.
       How does this relate to Thanksgiving?  Think about it.  The three warriors were so loyal and dedicated to David that they would risk their lives to bring him a special gift.  They were thankful, not only for his leadership and the future that was promised through David, but they were grateful for his friendship.  They knew he would risk his life for them so they risked theirs to bring him a gift.
       David was overwhelmed.  I remember well the times when we were blessed with Shauna and Kimberly.  It was a daunting responsibility.  God had given Annie and I two precious, special gifts of life and we were to raise them in accordance with His Word.  One of the first things we did was to give our daughters back to Him.  To some it may be but a symbolic ritual, something that is supposed to be done, but I trembled when we did it.  Not in fear, but in awe of what God had given us.  It was like David pouring the water out, giving it as an offering to God.
       Do you not think that David was thankful for these three men?  They had fought together, bled together, shared campfires together, now David was showing that he was thankful for their courage and loyalty as well as the risk of their lives.  What more could he do, for to drink it would almost be shameful.  For sure it would not have reached the pages of holy writ.  He poured the water out in thankfulness for his friends, for their lives, for their daring as an offering to the Lord.
       In this holiday season do not let the temporal and meaningless overcome the purposeful things.  Do not let pumpkin pie take the place of the time and effort of the person who lovingly made it.  Do not let a present, wrapped up so prettily take from the smile of the person watching you as you unwrap it.  Use this time, these special holidays, to be especially thankful and grateful to the Lord who is with you every minute of every day and yet we often overlook Him.  The blessings are wonderful, but the Giver is even more so.

                    –Robert Peecher  (The Glorieta Grudge)

      “The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples, so that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word.  He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.”

                    –Isaiah 50:4 (NASB)
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My wife, Annie, has started a study on Revelation.  She brought to my attention some thoughts regarding the church at Laodicea.  Now, I’ve heard numerous sermons preached about this church.  It was a favorite topic in past years of evangelists/revivalists.  Hmm, come to think of it, I can’t remember the last time I’ve heard a sermon on this particular topic.
       In her study she referred to a statement by Frank M. Boyd that gives a slightly different slant to what is normally heard.   Let’s look at a few verses:

               “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I could wish you were cold or hot.  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
                         –Revelation 3:15-16(NKJV)

According to Boyd, “The words ‘cold’ and ‘hot’ here are related to the element water.  A ‘hot’ drink on a cold day revives the sluggish circulation and restores warmth.  A ‘cold’ drink on a warm day refreshes and cools.  Both produce desirable effects.  Consequently the inference from Christ’s words is not that He would rather see in them cold lifelessness, if they were lukewarm.  Both the condition represented by ‘cold’ (refreshment) and the condition represented by ‘hot’ (boiling activity, fervor) could be desires, but ‘lukewarmness’ is intolerable, for it nauseates and can only be ‘spewed out.'”
       I have heard many preach that Jesus meant that it was better to be “cold,” in sin, in the ways of the world than lukewarm.  This is contrary to the Scripture, and is also contrary to the character of Christ.  “Cold water is refreshing; hot water is useful for medical purposes.  Lukewarm is neither.” (NKJV Study Bible)   I remember the times when after a tiresome, dusty practice on a hot day, Mike Montgomery and I would stop at the A&W and each of us would buy a quart of cold root beer.  Cold–refreshing.
       Contrary to that idea, I have been out in the woods on many a cold day, either working, camping, or hunting, and upon coming to camp I wanted something to warm my hands and warm my inner parts.  Hot coffee (or tea) on a day where you are cold to the bone does wonders.    It’s like I have written many times about the blah, room temperature coffee.  It makes a person want to spew it out.
       In regard to being lukewarm there is an implication that it was once hot.  Boyd says that “Their lukewarmness indicated retrogression, for they must once have been fervent in ardor and love, since to be tepid indicates previous hotness.”  Perhaps, it is that “His gifts have been despised; His favor rejected; His Spirit grieved.”  Paul urges us to “stir up the gift of God which is in you…” (2 Timothy 1:6, NKJV)  Other versions translate it, “fan into flames the gift” or “keep ablaze the gift.”  Don’t let the gift become lukewarm, a campfire that you can lay your hand upon and feel only warmth from the previous fire is no good.  
       Our flame should be burning brightly, it is not to go out, or grow cold through disuse.  To let the flame go out, or the water to become tepid will most definitely grieve the Holy Spirit.  We are to use the “gifts” we have been given to further the Kingdom of God.  Notice a warning by Paul, “Do not quench the Holy Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19)  The Holy Spirit is the fire of God that burns within us–we are not to let our lives become lukewarm.
       We work with the Holy Spirit to be either hot or cold depending on what is needed at the moment.  We have a part to play in keeping our lives hot, or to be there to give a cold refreshing drink.  We must be in the Word so that the Holy Spirit can work through us the way He wants.  To be lukewarm means to be self-centered, not God-centered.  To be half-hearted in our efforts and to be self-satisfied.  The lukewarm person is a person who is self-deluded and is sickening to the Lord.
                

                    –Louis L’Amour  (Passin’ Through)

 

       “‘For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,’ says the LORD, who has mercy on you.”
                    –Isaiah 54:10 (NKJV)
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George Matheson wrote, “To seek God is a very bold aim, the greatest aim that marksmen ever took.”  But where do we go to seek Him?  Yes, it true that God is omnipresent and we can in a sense go anywhere to find Him.  The Psalmist wasn’t trying to seek God in Psalm 139, but trying to escape Him and made this statement:

          “Where do I go from Your Spirit?  Or where can I flee from Your presence?  If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.”
                    –Psalm 139:7-8 (NKJV)

But where do I go to find Him?  Is it in a grand and glorious edifice?  Perhaps He can be found in nature, but what part?  In the days of the Old Testament, man could only go so far as the outer court where he could give the priest an offering for his sins.  Now, with the wondrous sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary, man can go right on in to the Holy of Holies!  Why stay in the outer court when there is the Ark of the Covenant before us–the mercy seat of God?  What was once unreachable is now within the grasp of man.
       Matheson goes on to say, “Men speak of the everlasting hills; what thou needest is rather an everlasting climbing–a hill whose summit thou canst see, but canst never gain.  Christ is that hill of holiness.  His summit will be as far from thee at evening as at morning; but the climbing itself is the goal.”  I’ve been pondering the many aspects of what he was saying.  As we come closer to Christ, in one way we are truly closer, but in another since He is the infinite God we are not any closer than when we began.  
       My thoughts went to the old hymn penned by Johnson Oatman, Jr.

               “I’m pressing on the upward way,
               New heights I’m gaining ev’ry day;
               Still praying as I’m onward bound,
               ‘Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.’

                         Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
                         By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,
                         A higher plane than I have found;
                         Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Upward, always upward.  Heaven is above.  The thought that we are to be “everlasting climbing” is grand.  It is aspiring, yet remember, there are hills and there are mountains.  In studying Scripture, mountains are often referred to as the “government seat of God.”  He will rush out of Zion, and we look to the mountains.  
       But what about the valley?  Hmm, there are definitely valleys in life, but we cross them moving ever upward towards the summit.  Jack Hannah wrote,

               “The trail seems always uphill,
               Courage is what I’ve got,
               The harder it gets, I’m cinching up tighter still.”

Hang on, keep climbing, the way will be worth it once we are in Heaven.  Christ is with us, the Holy Spirit is guiding us, encouraging us.  Don’t falter, and for sure don’t quit!  We are not on the climb alone and no matter how hard the way is, “Even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139:10, NKJV)

                    –Louis L’Amour  (The Mountain Valley War)

       “His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun.  And men shall be blessed in Him; all nations shall call Him blessed.”

                    –Psalm 72:17 (NKJV)
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I sent a little message out to some friends Saturday with the following note:  “If you fell down yesterday, stand up today.”  Too often we forget, or we stay down, or we don’t complete the task.  The central theme of Psalm 106 is the acknowledgement of sin; it is pretty much a lengthy confession.

          1 — Praise the LORD!  Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!  For His mercy endures forever.
          2 — Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD?  Who can declare all His praise?
          3 — Blessed are those who keep justice, and he who does righteousness at all times!
          4 — Remember me, O LORD, with the favor You have toward Your people.  Oh, visit me with Your salvation.
          5 — That I may see the benefit of Your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, that I may glory with Your inheritance.
          6 — We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
          7 — Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; they did not remember the multitude of Your mercies, but rebelled by the sea–the Red Sea.
          8 — Nevertheless He saved them for His name’s sake, that He might make His mighty power known.
          9 — He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it dried up; so He led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.
        10 — He saved them from the hand of him who hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
        11 — The waters covered their enemies; there was not one of them left.
        12 — Then they believed His words; they sang His praise.  (NKJV)

     This is a psalm of sin, iniquity, forgetfulness, forgiveness and praise.  It is interesting that it begins with a declaration of praise.  To begin we must remember that praise is an act of the will.  We choose to praise, and perhaps, this psalm might imply that the opposite of praise is forgetfulness.  God’s love and mercy endure forever.  Then there is the question, who can proclaim His mighty acts?  Ponder that.  Who can?  Man cannot, for we cannot grasp nor adequately speak of His infinite being, but we can praise Him in our own finiteness.  He then speaks of righteousness and justice; “this inner purity brings inner joy and happiness” (Lawson).
     “Forgetfulness brings disaster” (William Petersen) and that is what the psalmist wants us to remember and understand.  When people begin to forget the acts of kindness of the Lord, they drift away from Him.  God sends revival, He works miracles, He provides–then they again and again forget Him.  That is one reason why we see the stories repeated over and over is that we forget. (Or maybe we don’t want to remember).
     Israel, God’s chosen people, had a long history of rebellion against God.   Verse 6 is translated by the NLT, “Both we and our ancestors have sinned.  We have done wrong!  We have acted wickedly!”  Repentance must come, for God cannot bless sin.  God provided so much in the way of plagues to the enemies of Israel, and did so many miracles to aid Israel, yet still–they forgot.  That is why we must remember!  Charles H. Spurgeon said, “We inherit from our fathers much sin and little wisdom.  They could only leave us what they themselves possessed.  The sin of the understanding leads on to the sin of the memory.  What is not understood will soon be forgotten.”  That is why a legacy of godliness is so important so that we can continue to tell the story of God’s love, power, and mercy.

               “I will tell the wondrous story,
               How, my lost estate to save,
               In his boundless love and mercy
               He the ransom freely gave.”
                       –Philip P. Bliss