Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, Nov. 26, 2000, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

THE BIGGEST TURKEY IN GEORGIA

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 3:1-7

Text: 2 Tim. 3:2

2 Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Introduction: One of the characteristics of the perilous times in the last days is that people are “unthankful.” Those who practice the sin of ingratitude are mentioned in the same list as blasphemers and traitors!

Likewise, when the Bible discusses the filthy heathen who turn to sodomy and lesbianism in Romans chapter one, it says that the people who do that are ungrateful:

Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

This morning’s message is titled, “The Biggest Turkey in Georgia.”

The word, “turkey,” means a failure or a flop. It is used in a derogatory sense to describe someone who is lacking in either intelligence or in character.

The biggest turkey, in my mind, especially at this time of the year, is the man or woman who has enjoyed the blessings of God upon his life without being thankful to the Lord.

I. A MAN IS A TURKEY IF HE IS UNTHANKFUL FOR THE FREEDOMS OF OUR COUNTRY

Luke 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

The Lord is “kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” Well, that describes God’s kindness toward America, doesn’t it? We are unthankful, and we are evil.

A. We should rejoice in the liberties that we possess as Americans

B. We should remember our leaders in prayer

Ben Franklin, in a letter to his daughter, proposed the turkey as the official United States bird. We really are a land of turkeys if we are unthankful.

II. A MAN IS A TURKEY IF HE IS UNTHANKFUL FOR THE FOOD THAT WE CONSUME

1 Timothy 4:4-5 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

We love to eat! … but are we thankful?

In 1999, the average American ate 17.95 pounds of turkey.

A. We have fancy meals

1. We have access to Italian food
2. Greek food
3. Oriental food
4. Mexican food
5. Steaks, hamburgers, pork chops
6. Chicken and fish
7. Turnips, potatoes, collards, and okra
8. Banana pudding, egg custard, cheesecake
9. And, the wonder food that made the three Hebrew children so healthy: GRITS!

B. We are filled with food

1. Most Americans are overweight
2. We are on diet programs.
3. Everywhere you see signs outside of restaurants, “All You Can Eat.” And we give it our best shot, too.

C. We have forgotten how privileged that we are

1. Most people in this world will NEVER eat a steak, a Big Mac, or a breakfast of fried eggs, grits, toast, and bacon.

III. A MAN IS A TURKEY IF HE IS UNTHANKFUL FOR THE FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIANS

Philippians 1:3-5 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

A. Our fellowship is special

1. It is the fellowship of the redeemed!
2. There is nothing else like it!
3. No club, fraternal order, or other group has our kind of fellowship.
4. It is a highly restricted group – the group of those who are born again!

B. Our fellowship is spiritual

1. The Spirit of God gave us life.
2. He gives us all direction.
3. He gives us all comfort.
4. He gives us all joy and peace.

C. Our fellowship is supernatural

1. GOD is active in our fellowship!
2. People get SAVED in it!!
3. People get convicted of sin!
4. Prayers are answered!
5. Lives are changed!

The ballroom dance, the “turkey trot,” was named for the short, jerky steps that turkeys take. When a believer goes somewhere else than church when church services are being held, whether it be a family reunion, a television program, or a sporting event, he is a TURKEY doing the turkey trot!

IV. A MAN IS A TURKEY IF HE IS UNTHANKFUL FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF CALVARY

Psalms 86:12-13 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. 13 For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

A. That forgiveness is exceptional

1. It is bestowed upon the undeserving, the unrighteous, and the unholy.
2. It saves from the guttermost to the uttermost.
3. It does what man cannot do.

B. That forgiveness is eternal

1. Although we may sometimes need forgiveness as sons, to avoid chastisement, we who are saved are forgiven ETERNALLY as SINNERS!
2. We have ETERNAL forgiveness, ETERNAL life, ETERNAL salvation, ETERNAL sonship, ETERNAL access to God, ETERNAL security, and ETERNAL assurance of salvation!

C. That forgiveness is extended to all

1. Christ died for EVERY sinner!
2. He died for you!
3. Won’t you trust Him today?

The heaviest turkey ever raised was 86 pounds, about the size of a large dog. You’re a bigger turkey than that, though, if you are so ungrateful for the Lord’s death on Calvary that you have never trusted Him as your Savior. You are a bigger turkey than that if you have trusted Christ for salvation but are not living for Him in obedience.