Messages

A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” Devotional Manuscript: Is Your Worship ‘True Worship?’ Message By Dr Rick Mandl, December 1, 2020Recorded in Los Angeles, CA.
 
Hey church family I’ve got a question for you, and my question is – “Is Your Worship, ‘True Worship?’ It’s a fair question because when you go to the Bible, you find that not all worship is true worship. Some people will say, “But this is how I worship God — I worship by being out in the woods. . . Or I like to worship by using these statues or with this type of music.” Please understand, I’m not knocking what you do, I’m simply suggesting that what is acceptable to us might not be acceptable to God. Think about it this way. . . “The worship God accepts is the worship God prescribes”
 
In a conversation about worship in John chapter 4, Jesus said . . . “True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way” (John 4:23). The story of Cain and Abel gives us a little insight into what this is talking about. These two brothers provide us with an example of the difference between self-styled worship and spirit-styled worship.
 
Some of you are familiar with the story. . . One brother, Cain, who was a farmer, offered God a sacrifice from his produce – he brought some of his crops as a gift to the Lord (Genesis 4:3). The other brother Abel, who was a shepherd. . . Also brought a gift as an offering He brought a firstborn lamb (Genesis 4:4). We’re told that “The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, 5 but he did not accept Cain and his gift.” This upset Cain, and God confronted him and warned him that Sin was crouching at the door, eager to control him. But that he must subdue it and be its master” (Genesis 4:7). Cain responded by killing his brother (see vv. 5-8).
 
As you reflect on that story, here’s a question for you… Why did God reject Cain’s offering, and not Abel’s? It wasn’t because He didn’t accept offerings of produce. We know that grain offerings were a regular part of worship under the law of Moses. The reason was because God had prescribed a certain way He wanted to be worshiped. . . He had given certain requirements in which Adam and Eve had no doubt instructed to their sons. Cain & Abel. When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and realized they were naked, they tried to cover themselves with fig leaves. But God covered them with animal skins, sacrificing an animal to pay the penalty for their disobedience.
 
That sacrifice established three things we need to remember about worship: FIRST, we need a covering for sin; SECOND, God won’t accept garments of our own making; and THIRD, the covering for sin comes only through the death of an innocent substitute. Abel brought a blood offering, as required by God. Cain did not come with the shedding of blood but with the fruit of his own labor. The fruit he offered was the equivalent of the fig leaves his parents had once tried to use. His offering was probably beautiful—perhaps a neatly arranged bundle of leaves and flowers and grains. But there was no blood.
 
In a similar way we need the blood of Christ to approach God, to worship Him in the manner His holiness requires. Abel brought God what God wanted. Cain brought God what Cain wanted. In effect, what Cain brought denied his own sin, and the need for the shedding of blood. He didn’t believe the revelation God gave of the need for a blood sacrifice.
 
My question for you is Do you believe the revelation God has given? Do you believe that He saves us by grace through faith in His Son and His sacrifice. That fact should be at the heart of our worship. That’s part of what makes the worship we offer to God, “True Worship.” I pray that that would be so for each of us.
 
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA.
 
 

A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” When God wanted to communicate His love to us He didn’t just send a message or a messenger, He sent His Son. Reflecting on Galatians 4 and John 1, Judy Mandl reminds us of the incredible gift God gave to us on that first Christmas.

A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” Devotional Manuscript: Devoted To PrayerMessage by Dr. Rick Mandl, November 30, 2020, Eagle Rock Baptist ChurchRecorded in Los Angeles, CA.
 
Hey church family, don’t you love it when you’re praying for something and you see God answer? Charles Spurgeon said, “Prayer is the slender nerve that moves the muscles of omnipotence.” So why is it then, that more often than not we turn to prayer as a last resort, only after nothing else works and we’re at the end of our rope?
 
One of the early church’s priorities was prayer, according to Acts 2:42: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” They devoted themselves to prayer . . it was their regular, instinctive response to life. In Acts chapter 4, after the first Christians were arrested and commanded to stop teaching in the name of Jesus, we’re told that . . . “When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.” And in the prayer that they prayed, they left a pattern for you and me.
 
Their prayer began with

A proclamation of who God was.

“Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them” (Acts 4:24). The word they used their – sovereign Lord – is the Greek word despotés, or despot. They realized they were talking to the Lord who, as the absolute ruler of the universe, the one who has everything in His hands. And that’s the best place for you and me to start in prayer: by reminding ourselves of who it is we’re praying to. If God made the universe, it’s a safe bet that he can handle our problems.
 
The second thing we see in their prayer is that . . .

It had balance.

Their prayer wasn’t just a request; it was also filled with the recognition and praise of God. Take a look at verses 25-28, there we read that . . . “You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one. Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.’” These early believers acknowledged who God is, as well as what God had done, and what the Scripture says, about how awesome God is.
 
Their prayer also had . . .

Direction:

These early Christians were not afraid to ask God for what they needed. In their prayer they said, “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus”  (Acts 29-30). Their prayer was specific and directed, not wimpy and vague. It’s not that God needed informing; It’s just that when we’re specific, we can look back when a prayer is answered and say, “I prayed for that specifically,” and our faith is bolstered for the next go-round.
 
The last thing we see is that their prayer . . .

Had results:

“After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly” (Acts 31). This time in the life of the early church was a time of crisis, and what it produced was a praying people. Maybe that’s part of God’s purpose in all that we’re going through right now – that we would learn to lean on Him and pray regularly and instinctively, bringing everything to the one who truly is in charge of it all.
 
Reecorded in Los Angeles, CA.
 
 

A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” Reflecting on Galatians 4:4-5 and Psalm 31:14-15 Judy Mandl reminds us that although God’s timing is often different than ours, we need to remember that God’s delays are not necessarily God’s denials.

A message from the series “Waiting.” Sermon Manuscript: Waiting, Message 1- What Are We Waiting For?Sermon preached by Dr. Rick Mandl, Eagle Rock Baptist Church, November 28 & 29, 2020Recorded in Los Angeles, CA.
 
Hey church family… This Tuesday many of us will begin the countdown to Christmas, and different families have different traditions to do this. For some it’s a paper chain, For some it’s an activity like Elf on the Shelf or Star from Afar. For some it’s the Trader Joe’s Advent Calendar with a piece of chocolate behind each window. And just to make sure that your FURRY FRIEND is not forgotten. . . Costco now has an Advent Calendar for Dogs that comes filled with 100 meaty treats. For some it’s counting the shopping days left until Christmas.
 
In the church, we also commemorate the season leading up to Christmas, this season of Advent.  Today we’re beginning a new sermon series: Waiting, and it is appropriate for this time leading up to Christmas, this season of waiting. Today we’re going to examine the question: What are we waiting for? And as we look at that question in the light of Advent, it is helpful to understand what Advent is. The word advent comes From the Latin word Adventus which means “coming.” Advent looks back at the first coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and it looks forward to His Second Coming. So today, we’re going to look at the question…. What are we waiting for?
 
In light of Jesus’ first coming and His second coming, and then we’re going to look at it, in light of how He can come now. We begin with a look at . . . Waiting for Jesus’ first coming.
 
In Genesis 1 we read the account of creation. We see God giving form to the earth, gathering the waters, creating the sun, moon, and stars, the plants and the animals, the birds and the fish, and crowning His creation by making man and woman. We read in Genesis 1:31 that at the end of this process God proclaimed that it was “very good.” Adam and Eve lived in perfect communion with God and with one another.
 
Then in Genesis 3 we read of sin entering into the world when Adam and Eve chose to rely on their own understanding rather than to believe what God said. Sin came and there were consequences to that sin. Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden. Raising food became difficult, childbirth became painful, the relationship between man and woman was affected, and the relationship between people and God was fractured. The situation seemed hopeless.
 
BUT in the midst of these dreadful consequences of sin, we get the first glimpse of God’s redemptive plan. As God is pronouncing a curse on the serpent He says, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15). God says, a day will come when you, Satan, will be crushed. You will get in some blows, but they won’t be fatal; However, you will ultimately be destroyed.
 
God assured those first people of His care for them, and then throughout the Old Testament He continued to reveal His plan and remind His people of His ultimate restoration. He told Abraham that through his descendants the whole world would be blessed. He positioned Joseph to preserve the Israelites in the midst of famine. He raised up Moses to free God’s people from captivity in Egypt. He commissioned Joshua to lead the people into the Promised Land. God told David that through his kingly line one would come who would have an everlasting kingdom. He revealed to the prophets that this Messiah, this Savior would be born of a virgin in the town of Bethlehem. God used the prophet Isaiah to record this promise: “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this” (Isaiah 9:6-7).
 
God prepared His people for the coming of a Savior. They were waiting with expectancy. It was based on this foundation that the angel appeared to Zacharias the priest announcing the birth of John the Baptist It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. (Luke 1:17) It was based on this foundation that the angel appeared to Mary: And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:31-32). It was on this foundation that the angel appeared to Joseph: “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from the sins. Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet; Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means God with us” (Matthew 1:21-23).
 
The people of Israel had been waiting for generations for the coming of the Messiah. He came on that first Christmas in the form of a baby, born to a poor young woman who was away from home and family, placed to rest in a feeding trough, and celebrated by a group of shepherds. Jesus coming in that way, at that particular time, might seem like a mistake. But in our memory verses for this week, the apostle Paul tells us that this was God’s perfect plan. Galatians 4:4-5 tells us, “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.  God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.”
 
Jesus came at the right time. His first coming was in God’s perfect timing and plan. He came so that the relationship that was broken in the garden could be restored and we could once again live in relationship with God. The celebration of Advent helps us focus on that first coming of Jesus. When we intentionally participate in this time of waiting, we are preparing our hearts. We are remembering the brokenness of the world. We are identifying with those who were looking forward to the coming of the Messiah, and we are making space in our lives to welcome Him. During this time of Advent observance, we are remembering Jesus’ first coming, and we are also waiting for His Second Coming.
 
As Christians living in 2020, we are living between what theologians refer to as “The Already And The Not Yet.” Jesus has already come, but He has not yet returned. The Kingdom of God has come near, as Jesus proclaimed in Mark 1. “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” (Mark 1:15). But it has not yet come in all its glory.
 
As those who have trusted Christ for our salvation, we are already saved, but we are not yet experiencing all the benefits of that salvation. We have already entered into a relationship with God, but we have not yet seen Him face to face. So as we live in this time between the already and the not yet, we look forward to the second coming of Jesus. And as we live in this time between the already and the not yet,
 
We rest in the promises of God. What are those promises???

The promise that a place is being prepared for us.

Just before going to the cross, Jesus said to his disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:1-3). We live in anticipation of one day seeing that place that he has prepared for us. And one day being where he is.
           
We also live with . . . .

The promise that we will again see those we love who have died in Christ.

The Apostle Paul, writing to Christians living in a town called Thessalonica. Christians who had seen some of their friends and family die, and were worried that they might somehow miss out on the glory of Jesus 2nd coming . . . To alleviate those fears, Paul wrote, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.”
Those are words to “encourage each other with” because they are words that promise us that . . . we will again see those we love who have died in Christ.
 
A third promise that we can rest in and hold on to is . . .

The promise of a fully transformed life.

The Apostle John, in his third letter writes, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). Again, we are living in that ‘in-between time.” Between the “already” and the “not yet.” As “children of God” we’re already part of the kingdom of God. Nevertheless, we don’t see it yet in all it’s glory. That’s why when Jesus taught us to pray, one of the petitions that He encouraged us to pray is . . . “Thy Kingdom Come. . . Thy Will Be Done on earth as it is in heaven” “How is God’s will done in heaven?” It’s done perfectly. Is that happening on earth? Not now, but one day it will be. And on that day our transformation will be complete. Until then we cling to the promise, which is yet to be fulfilled of a “fully transformed life”
           
Another promise that will be fully realized at Jesus Second coming is . . .

The promise of worship with all peoples without division

I don’t have to tell you that we have all witnessed tragic division within our nation over this past year. One of the reasons that we long for the Second Coming of Jesus is that with that coming, those divisions will be done away with. Listen to the way that the Apostle John describes the vision that God gave Him of heaven. . . . John writes, “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9-10). That’s a snapshot of what our worship will be like in heaven, and it would be wonderful if we could see it happening more often hear on earth.
 
One of the things that we try to do as a church to break down walls that might otherwise exist between us an others, is to form strategic partnerships with those who are ministering in areas of our city where they can minister more effectively than we can. Last week I shared with you that we kicked off our annual Showing We Care Special Offering. This offering enables us to support a lot of missions and ministries that we could not otherwise.
 
Last weekend I shared with you, that one of those is Pastor Peter & Didi Watts. And the work that they do through the ROCK church. Typically one of the highlights of our summer is each August when Pastor Pete comes to preach here at ERBC and The ROCK church comes and leads us in worship. Sadly, that’s one of the things that COVID stole from us this August. But it didn’t steal our partnership with the ROCK church and our commitment to support them in the work they’re doing. Again if you’ve been around here for any length of time, you know that another Mission Organization we support is Children’s Hunger Fund. All year long we distribute these Empty Food Paks. When we give them to you, they are just empty boxes with a market list inside. You fill them and bring them back to the church, and we truck them out to the Children’s Hunger Fund headquarters in Sylmar. Where teams of volunteers sometimes from our church, go out to repack them for distribution across our city.
 
One of the churches that picks up those boxes for distribution through their community is “The Rock Church” – pastored by Peter & Didi. They do an event at their church every two weeks called “Rock DA Block” where they distribute food and clothing to those in need. Last weekend I share with you an email that Peter sent me. It told about how “At 3:20 in the afternoon last Wednesday, Pastor Pete got a phone call from a volunteer at his church, telling him that he had gotten into an accident while driving their delivery van. It happened on the 405 near UCLA after picking up food for their weekly food distribution. Thank God the driver was safe, and no one else was injured, but their van was totaled. Pastor Pete put out a call for prayer to his supporting churches, one of which is us. He found a replacement van available for purchase for $6,000. He set up a go fund me campaign. And in less than 72 hours they had raised $12,640. Not only enough to buy the van they needed, but with money left over to do a little extra to serve families in their community.
 
Pastor Pete sent me a thank you note this past Wednesday which said, “We want to thank Eagle Rock personally for their efforts in this by donating $3000 towards helping us to reach our goal. We are pleased to let you know that we have met our goal to date and people are still wanting to give towards this effort. It is because of people like the Eagle Rock Baptist Church Community that we understand that with God all things are possible.” Peter included a few pictures of their new van that he was on his way to the dealership to pick up. And they’re calling what happened in God providing that van for them . . . “The Miracle On 20th Street.” And in sharing that story I want to thank each of you who has given so far to our Showing We Care Special Offering. Along with all of you who will be giving. Without your participation there is no way that we can be part of what God did in meeting that need of the Rock Church. If you’d like to be part of what God is doing to meet needs in our city, across our country, and around the world, you can find more information about our special offering on our website.
 
We wait for Jesus’ second coming…. And while we do we rest in the promises of God

The promise of worship with all peoples without division

            And . . . .          

The promise of a pain free eternity spent in the presence of God

There are a lot of things in our world that can be sources of pain. A lot of things beyond the present pandemic. But as followers of Jesus Christ we look forward to a day when pain will be no more. Again, in the Apostle John’s vision of heaven he writes, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
 
During the season of Advent we remember the first coming of Jesus… And we wait for the second coming. We live in that time in between. In the ALREADY, but the NOT YET. But as we wait, we also need to consider Jesus’ coming in light of today.
 
If you have never placed your trust in Jesus for salvation, consider these words of Jesus from John 14:6. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus came so that we could come to the Father. Without Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf, we would have no way to come to God. Good works won’t get us there. Following our conscience won’t get us there. Coming to church won’t get us there. Giving lots of money to Christian ministries won’t get us there. Without Jesus, the brokenness that was the result of sin way back in Genesis 1, would still be controlling us today. We would be without hope.
 
But God stepped into that brokenness and made a way for us to come. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!). If you have not yet placed your trust in Jesus, what’s stopping you from doing that today? He has made a way for you to come. It’s not complicated. It’s as simple as talking him in prayer and telling Him that you don’t pretend to understand it all, but you do want to respond to what you do understand. That you believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate. . . God become man… And that he left heaven and came to earth that first Christmas to do for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves. . . He paid the price for our sins at the cross. And he did it to settle the sin debt, and provide a way for us to be made right with God. He offers the gift of eternal life, and forgiveness for sins to any who will accept it. If you’ve never accepted that gift, again, what is stopping you from doing it right now. Simply say to Him, “Come into my heart Lord Jesus” and he will.////
 
For those of us who have already come to Jesus for salvation, there are other implications that Jesus’ coming has for our lives today, and we’ll be looking at some of them in the weeks ahead. Today, let’s consider just one. Jesus’ coming means that we can continue to come. Look at these words from Matthew 11. Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jesus says, “Are you tired? Are you carrying a heavy load? Come to me.”
 
I know some of us are weary. We are tired of the pandemic and all its implications for our lives. We are exhausted from trying to juggle all of the demands on our time. We are weary of trying to make ends meet and feeling like there is never enough. We are drained by fear of the future. Jesus says, “Come.” Lay down your burdens. Let me give you rest. Dietrich Bonhoeffer made this observation about Advent. “The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come.” That is our posture as we celebrate Advent. We know that this world is broken. We know that we are not all we should be. And we wait in expectancy for something greater to come.
 
As we are in this period of waiting, this season of Advent, let’s remember that Jesus came the first time, just as God promised; He will come again, just as God promised; And while we wait for that day to arrive, Jesus invites us to come to Him, And to come with Him on a journey unlike any other. Waiting may be hard. But it is NOT PASSIVE – we’ll be looking at this over the next few weeks. Waiting may be hard. But it is NOT PURPOSELESS. I think this quote from John Ortberg is a good point to close on. Biblically, waiting is not just something we have to do….until we get what we want. Waiting is part of the process of becoming what God wants us to be. Let’s ask God to help us use this time of waiting to do just that. Let’s pray.
 
Reecorded in Los Angeles, CA.
 
 

A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” Devotional Manuscript: The Transforming Power of ThanksgivingMessage By Dr Rick Mandl, November 27, 2020Recorded in Los Angeles, CA.
 
Hey church family, I know it’s BLACK FRIDAY and Thanksgiving is officially behind us . . . But for the Christian, it ought not to be, and so for that reason I wanted to conclude this week by once more talking about THANKSGIVING. Specifically about Giving thanks “in” and “for” all things. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 we’re told that we are to  “give thanks in all circumstances.” In Ephesians 5:20 (NCV) we’re told to “always give thanks to God the Father for everything.” You put those two together and you realize that God calls us to give thanks “in” and “for” all that we experience.
 
The problem is that in hard places and in hard times, this is hard to do. We can pretend that all is well, but God sees our hearts. We can claim that things will inevitably get better, but biblical examples of innocent suffering prove that it’s not necessarily so.
 
Last weekend I shared with you a familiar story of ten lepers who were healed by Jesus. You’ll remember that all ten were healed, but only one – – only the one who returned to give thanks was told by His Lord. . . “Your faith has made you well.” In Luke 17, we’re introduced to these 10. We’re told that Jesus met these suffering men as “he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee” (vv. 11–12). In response to their cry for mercy, he told them to “go and show yourselves to the priests” (v. 14a), this was necessary on the part of anyone who wanted to be pronounced clean of leprosy so he can reenter society. And the ten obeyed him, they were “cleansed” (v. 14b). However, only one returned to thank Jesus for his cleansing (v. 16a).
 
Luke makes clear the astonishment he expects his readers to feel when he adds, “Now he was a Samaritan” (v. 16b). As the gospel writer John notes, “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans” (John 4:9). Jews considered Samaritans to be a race of half-breeds resulting from intermarriage between Gentiles imported into the region by the Assyrians (2 Kings 17:24) and Jews who remained there after the Assyrian conquest. Consequently, the Samaritans and the Jews lived in enmity for centuries. The Samaritans because they were not allowed by the Jews to worship at the temple in Jerusalem, built a rival temple on Mount Gerizim. They accepted only the first five books of the Old Testament and rejected all Jewish traditions. So the idea that the only person returning to give thanks to Jesus was a Samaritan must have shocked Luke’s Jewish readers.
 
We know also because this Samaritan was the only one who returned to say “Thank You” that he was also the only one who received Jesus’ word of blessing: “Your faith has made you well” (Luke 17:19). That word translate “Well” means “to be delivered” or “to be saved.” The other nine were healed physically; only this man was healed spiritually. And it’s from that Samaritan leper, one of the unlikeliest of all faith heroes, we learn an important spiritual lesson: and it’s simply this. . . Thanking God for his material gifts puts us in a position us to receive even greater spiritual gifts. The reality is . . .  No matter how hard things are, we can always find a reason to give thanks. And when we do, we experience what God can only give to those who are willing to so.
 
Let me share with you one example: A Scottish pastor was famous for beginning his invocation each Sunday with a word of thanksgiving. He could find something positive in even the most negative of times. Then came a Sunday when the weather was atrocious: icy streets, frigid temperatures, howling winds. When the pastor rose to pray, those in the congregation thought, “Certainly there is no way that he’ll  begin his prayer with thanksgiving on such a terrible day.” But they were wrong: the pastor opened his prayer with the words, “Lord, we thank you that it is not always like this.”
 
If there’s nothing else in your circumstances for which you feel like you can thank God today, you can offer that same prayer of thanks – – – “Lord, we thank you that it is not always like this.” If this has been a Thanksgiving when gratitude has been hard for you, I encourage you to look for ways and reasons to give thanks. God’s Word encourages us to “enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4), knowing that when we do, we encounter the Lord himself. And that’s what makes it a Thanksgiving to remember.
 
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA.
 
 

A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” Judy Mandl reflects on Psalm 34:8 and reminds us of God’s invitation to take Him at His Word, and encourages us that when we do, we will find his promises to be true.

A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” Devotional Manuscript: Happy Thanksgiving Message By Dr Rick Mandl, November 26, 2020Recorded in Los Angeles, CA.
 
Hey church family, just wanted to take a moment to wish you a HAPPY THANKSGIVING. And speaking of Thanksgiving, here’s something for you to think about… The average American will consume 3,000 calories eating dinner today. Drinks, dessert, and appetizers can push that total up to 4,500 calories. Experts warn us that half the weight we gain during the holidays can stay with us into next summer. Now aren’t you glad it’s Thanksgiving Day? Actually, we should be.
 
That term “Happy Thanksgiving” is more than a wish for today—it’s a fact: those who give thanks are happier than those who don’t. CNN has a fascinating report on the positive effects of gratitude. If you’d like to read it for yourself, I’ve provided a link in the description right below the video. One of the things that their report reveals is that neuroscientists have discovered that thankful thoughts produce pleasure in the brain. That’s not surprising. But they have also found that such thoughts stimulate areas of the brain regulating stress.
 
In addition, multiple studies have shown the connection between gratitude and resilience. Counting blessings was a factor in managing post-traumatic stress for Vietnam War veterans, and it also served as an effective coping strategy for many after 9/11. The more grateful you are, the more likely you are to exhibit patience and self-control. College students who implemented methods for increasing gratitude such as keeping a gratitude journal slept longer and better. And couples who exhibit thankfulness tend to be more committed to each other and are more likely to remain in their relationships.
 
In short, thanksgiving is good for us. Plus, ungrateful people tend to be unhappy people. Nothing ever satisfies them. They never have enough. They are “when-and-then” people who think, “When such and such happens, then I’ll be happy.” But the Bible gives us a better way. First Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God’s will in Christ Jesus that you do this” (GWT).
 
When you stop to give thanks today, everyone who sees you, sees your faith on display. The connection between giving thanks, and proclaiming our faith is one reason that thanksgiving is such a common biblical theme. Since we are called to “give thanks in all circumstances” that means that every circumstance can be a platform for praise and opportunity for ministry. In other words, if you truly give thanks today, someone else is more likely to give thanks tomorrow.
 
My prayer for each of us is that Thanksgiving would not be something that is limited to today, but rather is our daily practice every day. 
 
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA.
 
 

A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” Judy Mandl and friends share from Psalm 100 and encourage us to take time this Thanksgiving to thank God for those things that never change.

A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” Pastor Andrew reflects on Philippians 3:10 and the kind of power that ought to characterize the lives of those who are living in the resurrection power of Jesus.