294: Sam Van Reuter - Exhortation: Be Thankful in All Circumstances

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1. 0:13

   Welcome to Good Chris Selfie and Talks. I’m Levi. And I’m Chris. And I’m Brian. Thank you for joining us this week on this podcast. We select One Talk a week to help us get the Bible in our Daily News feed. We post a new episode at the start of each week with the short intro beforehand to kind of set the stage for the talk you’re about to listen to. And now let’s talk more about this week’s talk. Hello, this is Brother Chris.

2. 0:52

   For our talk this week, we’re listening to an exhortation that was given right around Thanksgiving last year by Brother Sam Van Ruder, and the title of his exhortation is Be Thankful in All Circumstances. I really enjoyed listening to this one from Brother Sam because it was a good solid reminder of the mindset we need to go in when facing difficulties or trials, whether they’re trials we are facing or people around us are facing in the way in which we have to approach those. This is a classic exhortation where Brother Sam is looking at inspiration from different Bible characters. Some you might already be thinking of, some you probably weren’t thinking of when you heard what the topic of the exhortation was.

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   So I really enjoyed this one and thought this was a very solid, encouraging exhortation for anyone who is going through difficulties and trials. Brother Sam mentioned some of the trials that he himself is facing right at the beginning of his exhort, which I always appreciate when an exhort or or speaker is able to draw from their own personal experiences to form the talk that they are about to give.

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   So I found that to be really applicable and I hope that you were as encouraged and uplifted by this exhortation as I was and were the people who heard it live and the several people that recommended this as an exhortation they thought would be encouraging for people to hear on the podcast. So with that, I will turn it over to brother Sam van Ruder for his exhort entitled Be Thankful in All Circumstances.

5. 2:21

   Well, I don’t know if it’s just me or a lot of people in this country, but I I’ve been thinking about thankfulness this past week and that’s what I’m going to be working on, talking about for my exhortation today. For those who may not know, I was laid off from my job about 3 weeks ago, and for anyone who finds themselves in this situation, this can bring stress in the sense of uneasiness for the future.

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   But for Audrey and I, we’ve been trying to focus on the blessings that we do have that we can be so thankful for. And even in this time of uncertainty, Audrey and I can see some big things to be thankful for that God has provided for us in this period of unemployment. Like the blessing of our our beautiful kids living with Matthew and Jenny. These past two years have been amazing and so helpful to us and our our collegial family.

7. 3:16

   It’s it’s been really awesome to be able to see everyone lovingly interact with our children and also the generosity of the Christian community who have hired me for electrical work during these past few weeks. We are so thankful for these blessings and without them this would be such a more challenging time for us. And it’s kind of ironic planning the exhortation on thankfulness and then getting laid off a week later. But the timing actually made this study really hit home for me.

8. 3:48

   It’s easy to be thankful and glorify God when life is smooth and going according to plan. The challenge is being thankful when life is hard and nothing seems to go your way. And in this exhortation I like to look at people in the Bible that can that we can see their thankfulness in times of distress. So reading just a verse in three verses in First Thessalonians 5 we see what we should be focusing on in our lives. And verses 16 through 18 of First Thessalonians 5, it reads, Rejoice, always pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

9. 4:30

   And God calls us to be thankful in all circumstances. So this morning, like I I said previously, we’d like to talk about people who demonstrate great thankfulness despite many unique challenges that they were facing. The person that we would like to start to look at is Hannah. Hannah chooses the giver over the gift, And we read this in First Samuel 1, the story of Hannah.

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    And for me, Samuel is a very personal character in the Bible, since Samuel’s my namesake and my parents were having trouble having children. And I know that this story was close to my mom’s heart. So we read that Hannah was beloved by her husband. But Baron of Children, Hannah endured contempt and taunts from Penina, her husband’s other wife, who had many children. Hannah couldn’t even eat because of her anguish and deep pain, so she went to the Tabernacle and cried out to God. Promising if God gives her a son, she would give that son back to God by lifelong service in the temple. And God answers Hannah’s prayer and blesses her with a son for the next few years.

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    When her husband went to the annual sacrifices, Hannah remained at home with her son, saying, oh cana her husband said to her and verse 23 of First Samuel 1. Do what seems best to you, wait until you have weaned him. Only may the Lord will be done. And Hannah kept her vow and once weaned, took Samuel to live with Eli in the temple.

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    Hannah neither regretted or resented her promise. Instead she deeply she was deeply grateful. Hannah was so excited to have a son and that he was chosen to serve God. Though she loves Samuel, Hannah chose to worship the giver, not his gift. And may we also show our thankfulness to God always, rather than just focusing on the blessings that we receive.

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    Reading from First Samuel 2, we read of Hannah’s prayer verses one and two. My heart rejoices in the Lord. The Lord has made me strong. Now I have answers for my enemies. I rejoice because you rescued me. No one is holy like the Lord. There is no one besides you. There is no rock like our God.

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    And that the second person I would like to to look at is David. And David gives thanks in the face of deep injustice. And we read about this in in Psalm 69. David cries out to God to save him from his enemies who falsely accused him. He was sinking under the distress in the mocking, disgrace and injustice. They were taking huge physical and emotional tolls on him. And we read in Psalms 69 verse 4. How does David describes his situation? Psalm 69, verse 4.

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    More number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause. Mighty are those who would destroy me. Those who attacked me with lie. What I did not steal must I now restore? We’re not too sure. When in David’s life he wrote this Psalm. It could have been during the eight years he was on the run from Saul, constantly trying to stay one step ahead to save his life.

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    And maybe David wrote this when Israel waged civil war and refused to recognize him as king. Or maybe he wrote this after fleeing the insurrection of his own son. Absolutely. But in the midst of of the seemingly unfair suffering. David thanks God. When we read this in verses 30 and 31 of Psalm 69, I will praise the name of God with a song. I will magnify him with Thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull with horns and hooves.

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    David’s Thanksgiving in the midst of distress was better than any sacrifice or offering he could have made. What a great reminder that our gratitude is a beautiful offering to God. It is easy for us to have a self-serving at it and focus on fairness and negativity. But these times of injustice are good and a challenging opportunity, a challenging time to look at opportunities where we can be grateful. The third person I’d like to look at is Daniel. Daniel give thanks gave thanks to the Lord despite the risk to his life.

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    Daniel was born into a noble life but became enslaved as a teen. Daniel was exiled from his homeland, cut off from his family, and trained to be assimilated into the Babylonian culture. Yet Daniel did not. Daniel followed God with his whole heart and continually distinguished himself during the rise and fall of two Kingdom. We read in Daniel 6.

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    When the Persian king wanted to promote Daniel to second highest in the Kingdom, the other officials who are jealous of Daniel conspired to take him down. They convinced King Darius to issue an unchanging edict, pray to the king, or suffer the lion’s dead. With his life at risk, Daniel could have paused. It was only for 30 days. He could have paused his daily prayers until the edict was over and then continue praying, or he could have prayed in secret. But Daniel stayed steadfastly faithful, and we read how he publicly prayed even though the edict was in place. And we read this in verse 10 of Daniel 6. When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house, where he had his windows in his upper chamber open to Jerusalem.

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    He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Now Daniel chose gratitude despite the risk. Daniel’s love and faith in God was stronger than the fear of the lions in the pit. He knew that God was with him, and he wanted to thank God for his constant care, and if it was that he was to die by the teeth and claws of the beast, he would he would die without forsaking his Lord.

21. 10:46

    True to the King’s edict, Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den for an entire night. And the last thing that the king said to him, which I felt was really powerful in verse 16 of Daniel six, was May your God, whom you serve continually deliver you, and as we know from Sunday school lessons that God shuts the mouth of the lion. And Daniel emerged not only alive, but without as much as a scratch.

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    And I as I read this, I think this is what he’s saying as he’s getting pulled up from the pit. Then Daniel said to the king, O king, live forever. My God has sent the Angel and shut the mouths of the lion. They have not harmed me because I was found blameless before him, and also before you, O king, I have done no harm. Then the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den.

23. 11:36

    So Daniel was taken up out of the den and no harm was found on him because he trusted in his God. We are very blessed to live in a nation where we’re not currently being persecuted for our belief. But there are believers right now around the world who have, who are, who have to fear for their lives for serving the Lord.

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    And we always remember to give thanks to the Lord, even in fear of persecution. The next person I’d like to look at is the prophet Jonah. Jonah gave thanks in the belly of the fish. Jonah is another character in a challenging situation for thankfulness. Unlike previous people that we looked at, Jonah found himself in a trial of his own creation and Jonah.

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    One God had told Jonah to go to Nineveh to warn of the judgement of God if they didn’t repent. Instead, Jonah jumped into the next ship to Tarshus, essentially the opposite direction, and when a violent storm threatened to capsize the ship, Jonah knew that God was the cause of the storm because of him. He told the sailors to throw him overboard. Jonah thought that if he could jump overboard, he could save the sailors because he knew that he was the reason why the storm was thrashing the boat.

26. 12:54

    Jonah was at fault for disobeying God’s command and suffered the consequences as he sink down through the water and the seaweed. He he was swallowed by a fish, a large fish, and we read in Jonah two, one through 10 his prayer. Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying, I call out to the Lord out of my distress.

27. 13:16

    He answered. Out of the belly of Sheol, I cried, and you heard my voice, for you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the Seas, and the floods surrounded me. All your waves and your billows passed over me. Then I said, I’m driven away from your sight. Yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.

28. 13:37

    The waters closed in over me to take my life. The deep surrounded me. Weeds were wrapped about my head at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars close upon me forever. Yet you brought me up life from the pit. Oh Lord, my God, when my life was fainting away, I remember the Lord.

29. 13:57

    And my prayer came to you into your holy temple. Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope, a steadfast love. But I, with the voice of Thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to you, Lord. And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land. So despite the circumstances, Jonah gave thanks to the Lord after three days and asked for forgiveness. He repented and thanked God, and after Jonah’s prayer with gratitude, God commanded the fish to promptly spit him on a dry land, and Jonah headed to Nineveh to preach the The story of Jonah can give us great comfort because even though Jonah was going through going against God’s will, God was still working with him once he repented. We all can find comfort in knowing that our God is steadfast and He does not give up on us. We can fail repeatedly and still be thankful to know that God is ready and willing to forgive us when we repent. Jumping into the New Testament, we reread of Jesus and how he his He gave thanks before there was enough. And we read this in Matthew 14 when Jesus fed the 5000 He was grieving deeply, having just learned of his cousin John the Baptist who had been beheaded.

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    He was also weary and had tried to get away to a quiet spot with his apostles Forrest, but the crowds followed and had and he had great compassion. Jesus taught and healed their sick. And seeing that the people were hungry, Jesus took five loaves and two fishes, and in Matthew 14, verse 19 we read. Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, taking the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up to heaven, and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves and gave them to his disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowd. And we we know that the people ate and were satisfied, and they were able to gather 12 baskets of leftovers. If we put our faith in God, he will have compassion on us and will give us what we need till we are satisfied. In the moment when we are struggling, it may be it may not feel like God is taking care of us, but He will. When we ask God to meet our needs, we can thank him in advance for his sure provision

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    in reading of Paul. We we know the story in Acts 27 when Paul gave things in the middle of a storm. This this account of Paul is like a modern day action adventure. Paul had been imprisoned. He was put on a ship for Rome under Roman guard. The ship was soon caught in a violent storm and the crew tried to hold the ship together by passing ropes underneath it.

32. 16:50

    Then they throw cargo and later the ships tackle overboard trying to stay afloat. And by the 14th day in Acts 27 verse 20, it says when neither the sun or the stars appeared for many days and no small Tempest lay on us, all hope of being saved was at last abandoned. But that night an Angel appeared to Paul in a dream, assuring him that no one would die. The storm raged and the ship looked like it would be dashed against the rock.

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    They dropped 4 anchors and prayed for daylight. No one had eaten for 14 days and reading in verse 33 through 36 of acts 27 at read as day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying today is the 4th, 14th day that you have continued in suspense and without food having taken nothing. Therefore I urge you to take some food, for it will give you strength, for not a hare is to perish from your head of any of And when they had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, He broke it and began to eat.

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    And they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. And we read that the next day all those who are aboard made it safely to shore. Paul didn’t wait to give thanks until after the storm had passed, but right in the midst of the storm he prayed with Thanksgiving. So when we are feeling our lowest, we can give thanks.

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    When winds are blowing about us and it feels like the rain is soaking us to the bone, we too can bow our heads in prayer and thank our Heavenly Father. In conclusion, Jesus gave thanks before going to the cross. We read of the The Last Supper passage in Luke 22 and Matthew 26, Mark 14, and 1st Corinthians 11. And on the evening of the Last Supper Jesus he had eagerly desired to eat this Passover with his apostles, Knowing that he was about to be betrayed, arrested, mocked, beaten, and crucified, and Jesus gave thanks, he pauses during the meal to give thanks.

36. 19:01

    And let’s read Luke 2214 through 20. And when the hour came, he reclined at the table, and his apostles with him. And he said to them, I earnestly desire to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I tell you, I will not eat of it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. And he took the cup.

37. 19:21

    And when he had given thanks, he said, take this and divide it amongst yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God come. And he took bread. And when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, This is my body which is given to you, for do this in remembrance of Me. And likewise the cup after they had eaten same this cup is the poor is poured out for you, and a new covenant in my blood. Jesus gave thanks for the bread and the wine that represented his body broken and his blood poured out for us. The meal was a demonstration of Christ’s willingness to obey God and offer himself as a sacrifice. It is incredible that during this distressing time leading to His death, Christ was able to celebrate the Passover. With His closest friends and give thanks to the Lord, He gave up his life to God into the world, not forced, but with love and with gratitude, obeying and submitting to His Father’s plan. In the highs of our lives, may we pray that we do not take our blessings from our Heavenly Father for granted. And when we’re in the valleys of our walk to the Kingdom, we can find it hard to see our blessings we have and give thanks for them, recognizing our blessings and putting our focus on them rather than the negative. It can be a catalyst to changing our mindset so we can start our ascent out of our valleys And in review of what we discussed this morning, Like Hannah, may we

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    offer gratitude to God for who he is over what he give. And like David, may we offer gratitude in the face of deep injustice. And like Daniel, may we offer gratitude to God no matter what we face. And like Jonah, may we offer gratitude to God for difficult consequences that lead to our repentance.

39. 21:17

    And like Paul, may we offer gratitude to God after but in the midst of the storm. And like Christ, may we offer gratitude to God even when following His will means suffering. Now, as we come to the table of remembrance, let us turn our minds to the Emblem, and let us remember the many blessings that we have through Christ.

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    We have so many opportunities every day to offer gratitude to God. Let us remember to pray when life is getting us down, even when it feels hard to bring ourselves to our Heavenly Father and thank Him. Our hope for everlasting life would not be possible without Christ, our Savior’s sacrifice. It is through Christ’s broken body that we have forgiveness of sins, the greatest blessing of our lives. And may we also remember to give thanks to the Lord for all the ways He has blessed us, our health, our safety, our comfort and family and friends, our joy, our trials, and our hope. And this morning, as we take of the emblems, let us remember and be thankful for Christ’s willing sacrifice to save each and every one of us.

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